This episode aired May 5, 1974.

This episode was directed by Peter Falk’s good friend and fellow actor Ben Gazzara. Gazzara on working with his pal: “Peter can exhaust you. Peter can go on forever. He’s warming up on take seventy. I’d beat him to it. I’d say “Let’s do it again.” He’d say “Yeaaaah!”.” The executives visiting set were less than enthused however and, knowing this, Gazzara and Falk played it up. According to Gazzara, he would say: “We’re going to do it until we get it right.” And, despite being on take 50, Falk would reply: “I’m just warming up, Ben. I’m just warming up.”

Falk would tell Gazzara: “The clues are the thing, Ben. That’s what the audience wants – the logic of the clues.”

This was writer Peter Fischer’s favorite script: “The premise came from Hargrove and Kibbee – What would happen if Columbo had to go after the guy who was his boss? That one was done under tremendous pressure, but if I had to pick out one that I particularly like, it would be “A Friend in Deed”.

Richard Kiley, who played Mark Halperin, reflected back on his experience: “I loved the show, so I was quite pleased to appear on it. It was a wonderful experience. It was doubly enjoyable because Ben Gazzara directed the episode. He was an old friend of Peter’s, so it was an enormously enjoyable, easygoing set. Peter really set a tone of quality.”

Apparently, the first time Kiley met co-star Rosemary Murphy was the scene where he jumps into the pool to save her character. His character desperately tries to save her by performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Then, the second Gazzara called “Cut!”, Kiley gallantly held out his hand to Murphy and introduced himself: “How do you do? I’m Richard Kiley.”

Actress Arlene Martel, who played the jewelry store saleswoman, previously appeared as Gloria West in “Greenhouse Jungle.”

The $5000 blackmail price would be equivalent to a little over 35k today.

Three weeks after this episode aired, Columbo won the Emmy for Outstanding Limited Series.

My thoughts on this episode in chronological viewing order:

Loved Mark Halperin’s introductory scene. He is one cool customer. I can already tell he’s going to prove a challenge for our dear Columbo.

Oooh. The actor playing the grieving husband is…not strong.

Halperin IS cool AND calculated, undressing the victim, making it look like a robbery.

“Janice is that you?!”asks Hugh Caldwell loudly after calling his own home, clumsily establishing his alibi. And then to the bartender: “She’s been all day shopping. She’s exhausted.” “Yes, sir,” says the bartender but his look says: “Whatever, buddy.”

This looks like the same bedroom set as “Lady in Waiting”.

Oh, Halperin is a cop. Even more interesting!

Great intro to Columbo here, clumsily searching for his fallen cigar in the car.

“Good looking broad except for the marks around her neck,”remarks one of the cops on the scene. Er, wut?

This silly argument between Artie and his wife does feel like padding. As does his ensuing argument with his too-cool-for-school fence.

“Does this mean your wife can identify this man as well as yourself?” Why would a reporter ask this question – aside from the purpose it serves as a clunky set-up.

Margaret Halperin out there wearing her best three button gardening suit.

The wife’s prints are not on the dresser. Really? Why wouldn’t they be? Did Halperin wipe down the handles? Why would he if he was wearing gloves?

She was in the habit of folding her nightgown and putting it under her pillow. Aha!

I love the fact the woman driver slows down just long enough for Columbo to try to catch up, and then keeps going.

What was with the extended car trouble sequence? Yes, this is one of those maxi episodes.

It seems like he suspects Harlperin here or believes he’s being evasive. Why?

Is that carpeting around the bath tub?

Well, that was a quick drowning.

“Where’s Margaret?”
“She’s at home.”
Lol

Quid Pro Quo. It’s like reverse Strangers on a Train.

“What are you waiting for for Godsake? Get an ambulance!”shouts Halperin at the cop who… proceeds to just sit there and do nothing.

“Way things looks around here, I’d like to get outta here,”remarks the witness who happened upon the scene.
“Yeah, I bet you would,”says the asshole cop.

Why would a burglar kill her as a potential witness when her husband, a cop, is already an eyewitness?

Aha. Why call for Columbo when he didn’t know the neighbor’s wife was dead at that point? That’s why he suspected him earlier.

Aha. Didn’t remove the victim’s diamond ring because it was a fake. But how would he have known? Was it that obvious?

Chlorine dissipates so wouldn’t show up in the autopsy report. Did not know this.

Hey, it’s Star Trek, Twilight Zone, and Outer Limits veteran Arlene Martel!

Aha! If the burglar was savvy enough to recognize the fake ring, he would have noted the same of the other jewels – yet he took them anyway!

“Well Mrs. Caldwell was beautiful and charming…for a woman of 36.” !

I do like the beat of the salesman trying to make an offer on Columbos’ car.

Columbo says no to an offer of cognac because he wants to keep his head clear. It feels like Columbo is on the wagon this season.

Aha! The victim didn’t answer the phone when her boyfriend called – but answered for her husband.

Yes, Columbo. Maybe he DID have an accomplice.

Aha! Soap in her lungs!

I like Columbo enlisting the help of the roguish Artie here.

“No violence.”
“Why Hugh, I’m no more violent than you are.”
Indeed.

I feel lie Artie Jessup is taking a real chance here by allowing Columbo to set him up. He’s very trusting for a burglar.

THIS was a brilliant Gotcha, now my favorite Gotcha of the series to date. Fantastic.

“A Friend in Deed” was fairly devoid of those comedic Columbo moments that typified previous episodes and yet it’s none the poorer for it. In this outing, Columbo seems a lot more focused, clearly up to the challenge posed by a pretty remarkable opponent in Mark Halperin. Yes, there were instances of padding and a few clunky beats but, overall, this was an incredibly strong episode, ending the season on a high note.

My revised episode rankings: 1. Any Old Port in a Storm, 2. Double Exposure, 3. A Friend In Deed, 4. Double Shock, 5. A Stitch in Crime, 6. Death Lends a Hand, 7. Suitable for Framing, 8. Publish or Perish, 9. Dagger of the Mind, 10. Requiem for a Falling Star, 11. Prescription: Murder, 12. Murder by the Book/Ransom for a Dead Man (tie), 13. Swan Song, 14. Lady in Waiting, 15. Etude in Black, 16. The Most Crucial Game, 17. Blueprint for Murder, 18. Lovely But Lethal, 19. The Most Dangerous Match, 20. The Greenhouse Jungle 21. Dead Weight, 22. Short Fuse, 23. Candidate for Crime, 24. Mind Over Mayhem.

Finally, let’s ask ourselves – does Columbo have enough evidence for a conviction or is Halperin getting away with murder. GUILTY or ACQUITTAL? Well, the Gotcha is pretty damning – as will be Hugh Caldwell’s testimony when he inevitably flips on Halperin. GUILTY!