This episode first aired January 30, 2003
Peter Falk was 75 at the time of this episode. He wanted to make one more Columbo to bring the series run to an even 100, pitching the network a script(“Columbo’s Last Case”) in 2007. But the network passed and, soon after, Falk was diagnosed with dementia.
The executives at ABC green lit this episode only on the condition that it would include a younger cast and themes to, no doubt, capture that “younger, edgier” audience. Despite this, “Columbo Likes the Nightlife” ended up being the lowest rated installment of the show’s entire run, effectively killing any hope of further episodes.
Actor Jorge Garcia, who plays a bouncer in this episode, would go on to portray the character of Hurley on 121 episodes of Lost.
Actor John Finnegan’s made 13 appearances over the show’s 30 year run. This episode would prove be his onscreen appearance.
Actor Steve Schirippa portrayed another connected character – Bobby Baccala – in 53 episodes of The Sopranos. He also appeared in Stargate: Atlantis’s “Vegas”.
Actor Matthew Rhys (Justin Price) played Philip Jennings in 75 episodes of The Americans.
My thoughts on this episode in chronological viewing order…
I always used to get Matthew Rhys confused with the late Julian McMahon.
Why would he be stupid enough to date the ex wife of the gangster he is borrowing money from?
Okay, this death was clearly an accident. I already feel sorry for her.
The secret photos this guy took are a little too perfect. It’s like he was in the room with them.
Time to take out the blackmailer – as is the custom in this series.
Boy, we’ve come a long way from those early off-screen murders.
Julian did it out of love. The love of money.
Ye olde rickety Peugeot.
Columbo rockin’ the full grey.
What the hell is that neon green stain on the tire?
Columbo sniffing out the mouthwash is weird, and kinda gross.
As is his pulling off the guy’s sock and checking his bare feet (Why?)
As is his rooting around in the toilet with his bare hands.
He found the toe nail clippings! Dear lord.
The Mystery of the Missing Calendar date!
“Lieutenant, there’s one more thing…”
Columbo wearing the feather boa. Hmmm. I suppose it could have been a lot worse.
Come on, Columbo. Don’t you remember Jarvis serving you chili a few episodes back?
Falk is pretty great in this episode, especially in this scene where Columbo questions Vanessa.
Columbo notes she bought a new coffee table. How suspicious!
Columbo talking to himself as he notes there are no photos in the file folder. Spoon feeding the audience.
This scene of the two murderers meeting at the diner is pretty compelling. I actually feel sorry for both of them.
Columbo shopping for Hawaiian shirts! Are he and his wife off on another cruise?
Boy, this scene of him questioning the maid is weird, in an awful sort of way. The discussion centers on the accuracy of pee hitting the toilet. Hoo boy.
Not a huge fan of this mob angle. It’s a little…cheesy.
Confronting Vanessa with the phone records. Poor gal.
Club scenes on t.v. shows are never convincing. There aren’t enough people.
There are rules for fish tanks? Did not know that.
How curious re: the oddly numbered koi.
Oooh, pulling out the big guns = the ground penetrating radar.
He’s sleeping with the fishes!
Well, this was one of the better Gotchas!
And one of the better later episodes. Given the premise, the previews, and some of the fan reviews, I expected this one to be abysmal but was pleasantly surprised by an episode that, for the most part, played it straight. A solid cast, a couple of sympathetic murderers, and Falk going out at the top of his game. Sure, there were a few questionable choices, but the same could be said for most Columbo episodes. All in all, not a bad way to end this rewatch.
What did you you think?
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I’ve had kind of a personal grudge against this one since I first saw it. I was in college and I’d previously gotten my roommate into watching another show (SG1 coincidentally, which had just moved over to Syfy), and I heard about a new Columbo coming out and told him it was this great detective series from the 70s and 80s that I watched reruns of when I was younger, and they were actually making a new one. Then we tuned in and watched this one and it was just… not great. Like hyping up a restaurant to someone and then you go there and they serve you a microwaved steak. Looking back at it now it’s certainly not the worst of the bunch, but watching it in that way ruined Columbo for me for a while.
Anyway, thanks so much for doing all of these. I grew up being a huge fan of Columbo and it’s awesome to see them revisited like this, especially from someone so involved with one of my other all time favorite shows. Congrats on the new series!
Thanks, Greg. And I agree. While better than a lot of the new Columbos, it still doesn’t hold a candle to those early episodes.
Great review!
This episode was better than the last one.
The maid was a fun character and very likeable.
I thought about the “swimming with the fishes” line, too.
I meant to ask how your mom is doing? Has she seen the Telenovela staring Sharky?
Mom is doing well. She has not seen Sharky’s microdrama yet. We are flying out tomorrow to see her for Christmas.
Safe flight and Merry Christmas to you and your family and to our extended blog family.
Sadly I haven’t been able to watch many of the final episodes of Columbo. I started a new job a couple of weeks ago and have been travelling. Free time has been hard to find.
Having never seen a Columbo episode before this I’m glad to come away with a better understanding of the show and especially the character of Columbo. But I don’t think I can count myself as a fan. The show was just OK, with some good episodes and a lot of dire episodes. I don’t understand why he’s regarded as TV’s greatest detective. He’s astute and an exceptional judge of human character but a lot of his adversaries were bumbling fools and most of the gotchas were improbable, often inadmissible, and sometimes downright illegal. That being said, I haven’t watched a lot of detective procedurals on TV so maybe he is the best of a bad bunch?
Anyway, thanks for organising this and encouraging me to broaden my TV viewing habits.