This episode first aired May 15, 1997.
This episode marks the (mercifully) final appearance of Shera Danese (Mrs. Peter Falk).
Actor David Rasche, who plays Patrick in this episode, was the star of ABC’s “Sledgehammer” and uses his character’s catchphrase from that series at one point in this episode: “I know what I’m doing.”
The writer of this episode, Charles Kipps, made his mark on “The Cosby Mysteries”.
Episode director McEveety has a small role as one of the helpers in the restaurant.
At one point in the episode, Columbo asks for Patrick’s help in questioning a suspect and says “Three eyes are better than one.”, suggesting that, like Falk, Columbo has a glass eye.
My thoughts on this episode in chronological viewing order…
The way they plot this murder is kind of lame. These are two of the most milquetoast killers in Columbo history.
Ah, back in the days when everyone didn’t have cell phones and you’d have to beg to use someone’s landline in an emergency.
Checking to make sure there’s no one else in the house in the most obvious way.
That cat has GOT to figure into this investigation somehow.
THAT is a lot of cat fur.
Why would the murderer be stupid enough to leave their cigar bit at the scene?
Why the need to set the alarm? I assume to establish a timeline, but it will, I’m sure, prove more troublesome than it’s worth.
At least this guy is smart enough to get rid of the murder weapon instead of burying it in his backyard.
Nothing subtle about all that cat fur getting smeared all over the back of his jacket.
Hmmm. Clearly the murder victim did not hit the panic button given where his body is found.
Oh, he works in the forensics department!
“That cat may be the only witness to this terrible crime.” !
Columbo back to his klepto ways, stealing the chocolates. Good thing the silverware has been locked away.
“If you answer a couple of questions I’ll be out of your hair.” Kind of obvious, but I guess it works.
Columbo finagles himself a cigar.
The gun is missing!
Columbo annoys Calvert by asking him point blank if he killed Howard Seltzer. If I was Calvert, I’d take my cigar back.
Ah, the backfiring Peugeot.
“It’s no secret how little cops make” as she sends him off with a fruit basket.
“That cop just came in. He’s handing out apples. I think the guy’s a little goofy.” Love this.
Patrick is more of a banana man. Columbo finds this hilarious.
“Oh, by the way. I vacuumed the rug. Guess what? I found a dime.”
“Good for you, lieutenant.”
It’s like talking to a child.
Columbo is relieved they found the cat.
And speaking of finding…aha! The cigar bit!
Columbo spends much of this episode nicking stuff – first the chocolates, now the cigars.
Why would a guy drive 5 miles after killing someone to buy cough drops? Maybe to establish an alibi?
“And now that dopey detective wants to talk to me!”
Columbo feigning stomach cramps.
Hooboy. This whole “Columbo noticing” sequence is so incredibly heavy-handed that it’s embarrassing. Not only does he look like he’s having a stroke in the middle of the diner, but he has to retreat to the bathroom in order to emote. Then, to top it all off, we get this seamless bit of subtle exposition: “These two know each other. They know each other well.”
“I’m not here as a cop. I’m here as a human being.”
“As opposed to what? A kangaroo?”
Aha! Calvert uses a cigar cutter. And he is critical of Columbo’s technique: “You gnaw on it like a beaver.”
Wow. Cathleen has quite the wardrobe of tacky orange outfits.
He claimshee found a fiber from the upholstery of a foreign car on the knife. Is she stupid enough to believe this? Yes. Yes, she is.
It takes surprisingly little effort from Columbo to turn them against each other.
News break! The lovers are testifying against each other!
This explanation tag is weird. They really should have done a better job of integrating this into the Gotcha!
Author David Koenig described Falk’s portrayal of Columbo in this episode as “borderline senile” and, well, it’s hard to argue against this interpretation given Columbo’s over-the-top facial gestures and body language. At times, it feels like this episode was dumbed down for elementary school viewers who might have missed the nuances, so everything is BIG! Overall, a few fun moments, and Barry Corbin as Clifford Calvert absolutely steals every scene he is in, but this one suffered from two exceptionally bland murderers. And, like I said, a very cartoonish Columbo. Not as bad as those Ed McBain episodes I suppose.
Next episodes, “Ashes to Ashes”, sees the return of Patrick McGoohan. Dare I get my muted hopes up?
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Please forgive me if someone has already posted this. From Wikipedia: “Danese was Falk’s conservator and, according to his daughter Catherine, prevented some of his family members from visiting him, did not notify them of major changes in his condition, and did not notify them of his death and funeral arrangements. Catherine Falk later encouraged the passage of legislation, called Peter Falk’s Law, that provides guidelines that guardians and conservators for an incapacitated person must comply with regarding visitation rights and notice of death.[8][9][10] As of 2016 more than ten states had enacted such laws.”
This is very sad. Was Falk estranged from his family?
Apparently there were issues: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-may-28-me-falk28-story.html
That story sounds like the Casey Kasem saga. Very sad.
Great review!
It did seem dumbed it down for the audience.
Yeah, I caught the three eye comment, too. Interesting…
The cat looked like a Persian and they do have a lot of cat hair.
I’m surprised the crime scene investor didn’t wear a clean suit. He would have cat hair on his clothes, too. Those long haired Persians have hair that floats in the air. It gets in food, on contact lenses (as me how I know), in your nose/mouth and on clothes.
Shera played the wife, yes? Did you notice her eyebrows? They should make a documentary on “the evolution of eyebrow fashion in entertainment”.
The wife had nice clothes.
You are right about Barry Corbin. He was fun to watch and he’s good in everything I’ve seen him in. Did you watch Northern Exposure?
When do you think Columbo suspected the crime scene guy? He had the eureka moment at the restaurant but Columbo was very chatty with the guy from the first.
Those houses were nice!
It was an okay episode. We’ve certainly seen worse!
My son watched a few minutes of this episode with me. I had fun explaining the pay phone.
One more episode, yes? We can take a break. You have a lot of life changes in your future and you still need to juggle mom visits.
Never watched Northern Exposure.
I honestly don’t know when Columbo began to suspect Patrick.
Three more episodes!
Great review yours, too,Tam!
Your cat comments reminded me that I was watching a recent Family Feud Show. The question was: “We asked 100 people, on a scale of 1 to 10, how much do you like cats?” I blurted out “10!!” I LOVE cats and think they are very cool even thou I am highly allergic to them and can’t have one. 🙁 The two contestants answered 2 and 1. (That family lost Fast Money) The most common answer was 10! Yeah!
That’s funny about the pay phone. Kids today missed out on so much.
Thank you, Joseph! Please keep on!
The whole “they knew each other!” thing was badly done. On one of those USA network dramedies from the 2000s like Monk it could have worked well enough to have the celebrated forensics expert just happen to be in on the crime, but such a weird coincidence feels contrived on Columbo. Making it even worse is the extreme emoting you mentioned – I had forgotten about that, and yeah, what’s with the explanation at the end? Of all the episodes to add that, does this one really need it? I didn’t really think it was that complicated. Maybe the runtime came up short. All that said, it might have been interesting to see a kind of “inside man” story like this done back when Columbo was in its prime.
Yes. I do wonder how all of the elements of this story would have been handled with a more deft touch.
Yes, I remember thinking toward the end “Are they running short and need to fill up some more time?”. It was kind of weird.