Columbo
A rumpled detective who always asks 'Just one more thing.'
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Columbo is an American crime drama television series that follows Lieutenant Columbo, a Los Angeles Police Department homicide detective played by Peter Falk. The show is known for popularizing the inverted detective story format—sometimes called a "howcatchem"—where the audience sees the crime and the killer at the beginning, and the story focuses on how the detective catches them, rather than on who committed it.
The series began with two pilot episodes in 1968 and 1971, then aired on NBC from 1971 to 1978 as part of *The NBC Mystery Movie*. It later moved to ABC, airing on *The ABC Mystery Movie* from 1989 to 1990, and continued with less frequent episodes until 2003. Over its run, the show earned 68 award nominations and won 22, with Falk taking home four Primetime Emmy Awards (1972, 1975, 1976, 1990) and a Golden Globe (1973).
Columbo is a shrewd and exceptionally observant detective, known for his rumpled beige raincoat, unassuming manner, a cigar, a battered Peugeot 403, a love of chili, and a frequently mentioned but unseen wife. He often leaves a room only to return with the catchphrase "Just one more thing" to ask a critical question. His genius is hidden behind a frumpy, friendly, and disarming demeanor, and he sometimes whistles "This Old Man" as clues fall into place.
The suspects are frequently affluent members of high society, leading some critics to see class conflict as a recurring element. These suspects carefully cover their tracks and initially dismiss Columbo's circumstantial speech and apparent ineptitude, but grow unsettled as his pestering behavior teases out incriminating evidence. His relentless approach often leads to self-incrimination or outright confession. Columbo generally maintains a friendly relationship with the murderer until the end, even after their confession, despite both being aware of their adversarial positions. He usually suspects the killer within moments of meeting them, often based on their reaction to the victim's death.
Episodes are between 70 and 98 minutes long and have been broadcast in 44 countries. The BBC has described the show as "timeless," and it remains popular today. In most episodes, the audience sees the crime unfold at the start and knows the culprit, with Columbo rarely appearing in the first act. The narrative is largely dénouement, driven by characters and the criminal's reactions to Colum
- field
- Television crime drama
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Inverted detective story format, Peter Falk as Lieutenant Columbo
- first_pilot
- 1968
- last_episode
- 2003
- award_wins
- 22
- primetime_emmy_wins_by_falk
- 4
Lore & Background
The character of Columbo was created by Richard Levinson and William Link, partially inspired by Fyodor Dostoevsky's Porfiry Petrovich and G. K. Chesterton's Father Brown. The character first appeared in a 1960 episode of The Chevy Mystery Show, played by Bert Freed. Levinson and Link adapted the story into the stage play Prescription: Murder, performed in 1962 with Thomas Mitchell as Columbo. In 1968, the play became a television movie starring Peter Falk, who was much younger than the writers had originally envisioned.
Columbo's trademarks include a rumpled beige raincoat, an unassuming demeanor, a cigar, a battered Peugeot 403, love of chili, and a frequently mentioned but unseen wife. He often leaves a room only to return with the catchphrase 'Just one more thing' to ask a critical question. The series originally aired on NBC from 1971 to 1978 as part of The NBC Mystery Movie, then on ABC from 1989 to 2003.
Episodes are between 70 and 98 minutes long and have been broadcast in 44 countries. The show has been described by the BBC as 'timeless' and remains popular today. During its run, the series received 68 award nominations and won 22; Falk won four Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award.
Reader's Guide
Columbo's significance lies in its pioneering use of the inverted detective story format, which shifted focus from 'whodunit' to 'howcatchem.' By showing the crime and the killer at the outset, the series emphasized character interaction and psychological tension, as the audience watched the murderer's growing unease under Columbo's persistent, seemingly bumbling questioning. The show's suspects are often affluent members of high society, leading critics to see class conflict as a recurring element. Columbo's genius is hidden behind a frumpy, friendly demeanor, and his true thoughts are sometimes concealed until the episode's end. The series has maintained enduring popularity, with episodes broadcast in 44 countries and a reputation for timeless appeal. Its legacy includes influencing later detective shows and cementing Peter Falk's portrayal as an iconic television character.
Did You Know?
- The character of Columbo was partially inspired by Fyodor Dostoevsky's Porfiry Petrovich from Crime and Punishment.
- Peter Falk won four Primetime Emmy Awards for his role as Columbo, in 1972, 1975, 1976, and 1990.
- Columbo episodes are between 70 and 98 minutes long.
- The show originally aired on NBC from 1971 to 1978 as part of The NBC Mystery Movie.
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