This episode aired September 19, 1972
The Benedict’s home would later appear in the opening credits of Benson (1979).
Because the show found early success in a 90 minute format, the network, of course, decided to tinker with what worked by insisting on longer episodes. As a result, Steven Bochco’s original 90 minute script was rewritten by writer-producer Dean Hargrove to fit the requested 2 hour format. Said series co-creator Richard Levinson: “Against all our advice, they pushed the show to two hours. They did it for financial reasons. You could charge more for more commercials. That part of it made good business sense, especially with an expensive show. It was easier to justify going over budgets. But the show was bloated at two hours. It was too long for this show to hold.”
Bochco felt much the same way: “Columbo was crisp at ninety minutes. It worked best at ninety minutes. At two hours, it was a bit indulgent and inflated.”
Series star Peter Falk felt much the same way: “Some of the two hour shows are alright. As a rule, you were safer at ninety minutes. You can tell the story better in ninety minutes.”
Series producer Dean Hargrove would, 14 years later, reuse the same flower clue for his pilot of Matlock (1986). Levinson would later remark: “Well, you can’t copyright a clue.”
The network kept on asking the producers to give Columbo a young sidekick, so Levinson and Link responded by giving them a dog. Falk, however, was not enamored of the idea. He revealed: “[Director]] Nic Colasanto loved the idea. My reaction was, he has the coat, the car, the car, the wife. That’s enough. He doesn’t need anything more. Nic said “Can I show you the dog?” I was “Well, if you want to, Nic, but I tell you, I’m against it.” Then he brought in the dog. I said “You’re right. That’s Colombo’s dog.“ There was no name you could give this hound – just Dog.”
Sadly, the original canine performer to play Dog passed away at some point during the show’s run and was replaced by a younger pooch. According to Falk: “The second dog was much younger than the original, so they had to put make up on the second dog to make him look older. Now I’m no time at all in makeup – one, two, three and I’m ready to start shooting. I’d go in early in the morning, I’m sitting in one makeup chair, and they’re making up the dog right next to me. I’m out in no time and waiting to start because the dog is still in makeup.”
Although he was called Dog on Columbo, the basset hound got the proper name of Henry, the fire house on the t.v. series Emergency where he was a recurring character as well.
John Cassavetes, a friend of Peter Falk’s, agreed to appear in the episode in exchange for Falk agreeing to star in his next film, A Woman Under the Influence (1974), and financing half the movie’s $250,000 budget.
Director Nicholas Colasanto would later find fame as Ernie ‘Coach’ Pantusso on the television series Cheers (1982).
Actress Blythe Danner was pregnant with Gwyneth Paltrow during the filming of this episode.
My thoughts in chronological viewing order:
Why does that suicide note look like a wedding invitation?
Right from the get-go, Alex Benedict is pretty suave – the early promise of worthy adversary!
Some ten minutes in and I have to say, this is a pretty dynamic, well-directed episode. Apparently Falk shared directing duties with Cassavetes on this one.
No one notices him running around in broad daylight or parking his car out front of the murder house? Hmmmm.
Great cutaway to the screeching bird for the killing blow.
Jenifer spelled with one N? At first I thought “He misspelled her name. That’s how they’re going to get him!” But no. Apparently, there was an adult film star named Jennifer Welles at the time so the production elected to spell their Jenifer with the single N.
Aha! Wifey reacts to hubby knowing Jen’s number off by heart!
Great sequence cutting back and forth between the concert and the crime scene.
The freeze-frame on Benedict’s realization he dropped his flower is truly a cinematic choice of its time.
Columbo adopted a senior dog, rescuing him from certain death! My kind of guy!
Why would Columbo be investigating a suicide? I mean, I do love the scene where he explains why he can’t accept the prospect this beautiful young woman took her own life, but wouldn’t the decision to investigate be up to the department and not him?
“I’d like to see everyone die of old age.” Nice.
I love the fact that his new dog is an actual character and running gag throughout this episode.
Why is this douchebag wearing sunglasses indoors? It would make me instantly suspicious – and annoyed – of him.
Also very much enjoy Columbo’s occasional mentions of his wife, like the fact that they both enjoy listening to the Maestro’s music.
Paul’s freakout over Jenifer’s death feels weirdly brief. He’s in and out in less than a couple of minutes.
Love this precocious youngster reprimanding Columbo for locking his dog away in his car.
It’s a young Pat Morita as…”The Houseboy”?
I see Columbo is back to smoking his cigars – in people’s homes no less. A fun little scene but this is clearly little more than padding, one of the extra scenes added by Hargrove to hit the requested 2 hour run time.
Columbo makes $11k/year. That’s about 80k/year today.
Benedict: “Who’s that (sitting in my car, revving my engine)?” Mechanic: “Don’t know. He said he was a friend of yours.” Wut? “Oh, you’re a friend of his you say? Well then he are the keys to his car. Help yourself!”
Columbo, the animal lover, notes the victim did not make plans for her beloved bird. Nice catch.
Columbo’s hypothesis on what is wrong with his car “To tell you the truth, I think the engine is missing.” is a great line.
Love Columbo playing Chopsticks at The Hollywood Bowl. Over and over and over again!
Another great catch re: the typewriter not being aligned!
The speedometer! One more piece of circumstantial evidence.
“Just one more thing…” It’s now being investigated as a homicide. Great throwaway.
Columbo visiting the kid in dance class is weird enough, but smarmy Audrey (How old is she? 13?) responding to his “I’m very impressed with you.” with “Really? Is it my body or my mind?” was a decidedly weird moment.
Did Cassavetes spend any time studying actual conductors or is he just waving that baton around willy nilly? It really looks like the latter.
I found it odd that, rather than just bringing Audrey a photo of Benedict to identify, he brings the kid to rehearsal so she can make an in-person identification. I don’t know. Maybe he does so to unnerve Alex. However, having the kid identify Paul instead is a great twist.
Aha! Yet another scene in which Columbo asks for a drink. Isn’t he on duty?
Did not love the plot-driven contrivance of the vet just happening to watch a rerun of the concert – which gives Columbo the idea to check the tape.
The appearing and disappearing flower!
The episode is over and he never named his dog!
Overall, there was a lot to really love about the episode – a calculating adversary in Alex Benedict, a wonderfully unexpected performance by the great Myrna Loy as Lizzie Fielding, dynamic direction, some delightfully character-specific comical moments, and, of course, Dog. On the other hand, I thought Benedict’s murder plot (racing through the streets and stealing his car in broad daylight) really beggared belief. While I found the ending dramatically satisfying, I did have issues with this particular Gotcha moment. Having said all that, despite the extra 20 minutes or so tacked on, this episode flew by and never really dragged for me. I’m sure I won’t be able to say the same of future 2 hour episodes.
Finally, it’s time to consider the evidence Columbo has gathered and ask ourselves whether our murderer would be looking at a GUILTY verdict, or an ACQUITTAL. Alas, this brings me back to my issue with the Gotcha moment. While certainly dramatic, that flower is proof of nothing. Tough to say how wife Janice would respond if the case goes to trial. Would she testify against her husband? Without knowing for certain, I’d fall on the side of ACQUITTAL.
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