Columbo
1971 · 10 seasons · 67 episodes · Crime, Drama, Mystery
Created by William Link, Richard Levinson
“Oh, just one more thing...”
Columbo is a friendly, verbose, disheveled-looking police detective who is consistently underestimated by his suspects. Despite his unprepossessing appearance and apparent absentmindedness, he shrewdly solves all of his cases and secures all evidence needed for indictment. His formidable eye for detail and meticulously dedicated approach often become clear to the killer only late in the storyline.
Why it's worth watching
Columbo is a masterclass in storytelling, offering viewers a series of intricate and suspenseful mysteries that are both entertaining and thought-provoking. The character of Columbo himself serves as an example of integrity and dedication to justice.
What it praises
The show praises virtue through the character's relentless pursuit of truth and justice, highlighting the importance of careful observation and meticulous attention to detail in solving crimes.
For discernment
Columbo is a masterclass in patient, intelligent storytelling, and its moral architecture is unusually satisfying for a believer: we watch a proud, well-heeled murderer think he's gotten away with it, and a humble, underestimated detective quietly dismantle him—arrogance undone by diligence and truth. The murders are present every episode but are typically quick and off-screen rather than lurid. The honest small flags are Columbo's ever-present cigar and occasional drinking modeled as ordinary, and a handful of episodes (especially in later seasons) that include sexualized camerawork, cleavage, or an implied bedroom scene with a glimpse of a woman's back or breasts. These are exceptions in an otherwise remarkably restrained series, and the show's steady exaltation of careful observation, honesty, and justice makes it genuinely worthwhile viewing.
- ViolenceA murder anchors every episode, though it is usually shown quickly and largely off-screen or non-graphic.
- SubstancesColumbo constantly smokes cigars and occasionally drinks, presented as ordinary; one episode depicts hallucinogenic-drug effects.
- SexualityA few episodes feature cleavage, sexualized close-ups, or an implied bedroom scene with a brief glimpse of a woman's bare back and breasts.
Cast
Peter Falk
Lt. Columbo
John Finnegan
Barney
Bruce Kirby
Sergeant Kramer
Mike Lally
Security Guard (uncredited)
Shera Danese
Trish Fairbanks
Vito Scotti
Thomas Dolan
Ed McCready
Ed
Robert Culp
Paul Hanlon
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