The fifty ninth episode of Columbo was titled A Bird in the Hand… and was the final episode of the show’s eleventh season. Columbo has a choice of killers as a family implodes. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at an episode with a critical and surprising twist.     Harold McCain (Greg Evigan) spends his time chasing gambling debts in Vegas and back home in California. When his wealthy uncle, Big Fred (Steve Forrest), refuses to help and Fred’s wife Dolores (Tyne Daly) cannot help he...

The fifty eighth episode of Columbo was titled No Time to Die and was the second episode of the show’s eleventh season. A family wedding becomes a manhunt as the bride goes missing. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at a major departure from Columbo‘s usual format.     It is a day (and night) of celebration as Columbo’s orphan nephew, Detective Andy Parma (Thomas Calabro) of the LAPD, marries Melissa Hays (Joanna Going), daughter of the wealthy Sheldon Hays (Donald Moffat) and Louise...

The fifty seventh episode of Columbo was titled Death Hits the Jackpot and was the first episode of the show’s eleventh season. Greed oozes from every pore as a lottery winner is killed for his prize. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at an altogether unpleasant group of people.     In the midst of a divorce from his wife Nancy (Jamie Rose), Freddie Brower (Gary Kroeger) is thrilled to see his lottery numbers come up. With a $30m ticket in his possession, all his problems seem to be...

The fifty sixth episode of Columbo was titled Columbo and the Murder of a Rock Star and was the final episode of the show’s short tenth season. Blackmail once again proves unwise as a peerless defence lawyer murders his rock star lover. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at a tricky case with some unusual clues.     Hugh Creighton (Dabney Coleman) is A Big Deal, or so he believes. Unbeaten as a trial lawyer and in a relationship with former rock star Marcy Edwards (Cheryl Paris), he has...

The fifty fifth episode of Columbo was titled Caution: Murder Can Be Hazardous to Your Health and was the second episode of the show’s tenth season. A television presenter’s career is threatened by blackmail and he resorts to murder. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at a returning killer and some nifty video editing.     Wade Anders (George Hamilton) has caught a lucky break and progressed from a security consultant to host the popular crime solving television show Crime Alert....

The fifty fourth episode of Columbo was titled Columbo Goes to College and was the first episode of the show’s tenth season. A pair of privileged college students kill their professor to avoid punishment for cheating on an exam. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at a particularly arrogant couple of killers and the welcome return of a much-loved face.     Cooper Redman (Gary Hershberger) clearly enjoys being the big man on campus, but when a third girl in eighteen months has an abortion...

The fifty third episode of Columbo was titled Murder in Malibu and was the sixth and final episode of the show’s ninth season. A successful author first agrees to marry her young partner, then appears to withdraw that agreement. In response he resorts to murder. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at an unusually weak motive and an uninspiring killer.     Wayne Jennings (Andrew Stevens) is the secret young lover of novelist Theresa Goren (Janet Margolin). Despite his regular...

The fifty second episode of Columbo was titled Uneasy Lies the Crown and was the fifth episode of the show’s ninth season. A dentist tries to preserve his cushy lifestyle by killing his wife’s lover and framing her for the killing. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at the twisted motivations of a selfish murderer.     The title of this episode is adapted from Shakespeare’s Henry IV Part I and there is some overlap in the theme of a disgruntled family owed a debt by the principal actor...

The fifty first episode of Columbo was titled Rest in Peace, Mrs. Columbo and was the fourth episode of the show’s ninth season. Retribution is in the air as the widow of a man Columbo sent to jail seeks revenge on those she blames for his subsequent death. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at a change in format and a uniquely personal case for Columbo.     Helen Shaver stars as killer Vivian Dimitri, a brilliant real estate agent with a secret vendetta. Dimitri’s husband was...

The fiftieth episode of Columbo was titled Agenda for Murder and was the third episode of the show’s ninth season. Political aspirations drive an ambitious lawyer to murder ahead of the California primary. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at a returning guest star and developments in the work of a returning director.     After two appearances in the original run (Season 4’s By Dawn’s Early Light and Season 5’s Identity Crisis) Patrick McGoohan returns as attorney Oscar Finch. A close...

The forty ninth episode of Columbo was titled Columbo Cries Wolf and was the second episode of the show’s ninth season. A publicity-hungry pair dupe Columbo, before their plans take a fatal twist. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at the change in format and whether it helps or harms the episode.     We are introduced to a pair of soap opera legends as Ian Buchanan‘s Sean Brantley and Deidre Hall‘s Dian Hunter take centre stage in the episode. Their elaborate plan to stage Hunter’s...

The forty eighth episode of Columbo was titled Murder, a Self Portrait and was the first episode of the show’s ninth season. A famous artist murders his ex-wife to protect a dark secret. In this podcast Gerry and Iain examine the killer’s motives and assess Columbo as an oneirocritic.     There are once again echoes of episodes past here as we meet Patrick Bauchau‘s Max Barsini, a man who has killed before and kills again to protect this secret. In Murder, a Self Portrait his victim is...

The forty seventh episode of Columbo was titled Grand Deceptions and was the final episode of the show’s eighth season. A Colonel working at a conservative think tank kills to hide his financial indiscretions. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at the case in detail and review the first season of Columbo’s revival.     There’s a return to the military theme in this Episode, last visited in Season 4’s By Dawn’s Early Light. Colonel Frank Brailie (Robert Foxworth) is taking advantage of...

The forty sixth episode of Columbo was titled Sex and the Married Detective and was the third episode of the show’s eighth season. A sex therapist witnesses her partner engaging in an affair and kills him in revenge. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at the subject and tone of this episode as well as the detail of the crime.   Due to the subject matter of Sex and the Married Detective, this podcast episode may not be suitable for all audiences.   Columbo arrives on the cusp of the...

The forty fifth episode of Columbo was titled Murder, Smoke and Shadows and was the second episode of the show’s eighth season. A hotshot movie director kills his friend to protect a dreadful secret. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at the highs and lows of this film lot investigation.     The Columbo revival continues with a return to familiar territory as the lieutenant investigates a Hollywood killing. Fisher Stevens‘ Alex Bradey is a rising star, directing feature films at a young...

The forty fourth episode of Columbo was titled Columbo Goes to the Guillotine and was the first episode of the show’s eighth season and the first episode of its revival. A phony psychic conspires to win a government contract and kills for revenge along the way. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at the start of Columbo’s revival and how this new episode fits in with what came before.     Peter Falk and Columbo made a long-anticipated return to the television screen in early 1989 after...

Before Columbo‘s 1971 pilot, audiences were introduced to Peter Falk as the iconic detective through 1968’s television movie Prescription: Murder. A psychiatrist uses a patient to help create an alibi for the murder of his wife. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at Columbo’s beginnings and how well this story holds up against the subsequent series.     Now that the Columbo Podcast has considered all of the show’s original run it seemed fitting to take some time and look back on the...

The forty third episode of Columbo was titled The Conspirators and was the final episode of the show’s seventh season and the last of the original run. An Irish entertainer kills when he believes he has been double-crossed in a weapons deal. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at the end of Columbo’s original run and reflect on season 7.     Clive Revill takes top billing as Joe Devlin, an all-round entertainer and an active participant in the then-ongoing military dispute in Ireland. He...

The forty second episode of Columbo was titled How to Dial a Murder and was the fourth episode of the show’s seventh season. A behavioural psychologist seeks revenge on his best friend for an affair with his wife, with the help of his well-trained dogs. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at an episode that tests the boundaries of criminal responsibility.     Nicol Williamson stars as Dr Eric Mason, an apparently grieving widower whose wife – we learn – has recently died in an accident....

The forty first episode of Columbo was titled Make Me a Perfect Murder and was the third episode of the show’s seventh season. A television executive seeks revenge after she is betrayed by her lover. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at an interesting episode with echoes of previous shows throughout.     Studio executives Kay Freestone (Trish Van Devere) and Mark McAndrews (Laurence Luckinbill) are involved in a secret relationship at the outset of this mystery, a pairing that...

The fortieth episode of Columbo was titled Murder Under Glass and was the second episode of the show's seventh season. A famous food critic kills to keep his extortion of restaurant owners concealed. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at a suave killer who isn't prepared to come quietly.

The thirty ninth episode of Columbo was titled Try and Catch Me and was the first episode of the show’s seventh season. A successful author seeks to avenge her niece’s murder. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at a game of cat-and-mouse between a playful killer and the lieutenant.     Season seven kicks off with a memorable contest between Columbo and Ruth Gordon‘s Abigail Mitchell.  Over the course of the show the two gain respect and no small degree of fondness for one another; but...

The thirty eighth episode of Columbo was titled The Bye-Bye Sky High IQ Murder Case and was the final episode of the show’s short sixth season. On the brink of exposure for embezzlement, a genius uses his ability to plot the perfect murder. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at a contest between two highly intelligent characters.     Although not sticking to a classic head-to-head format throughout, this episode is nevertheless dominated by Peter Falk’s Columbo and Theodore Bikel as...

The thirty seventh episode of Columbo was titled Old Fashioned Murder and was the second episode of the show’s sixth season. Faced with the loss of her life’s work, a museum curator turns on those closest to her. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at the impact of an emotional story.     There was a familiar face opposite Columbo in this episode as Joyce Van Patten returned to the show after a small role in Season Four’s Negative Reaction. Playing Ruth Lytton, curator of the family...

The thirty sixth episode of Columbo was titled Fade in to Murder and was the first episode of the show’s sixth season. A television star turns to murder under pressure of blackmail. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at a fascinatingly layered story of a famous TV detective.     A smaller cast was used in this episode, compared to Season Five’s finale and it was Star Trek veteran William Shatner who had the chance to shine as we were presented a traditional head-to-head between Columbo...