This episode aired November 5, 1972. Members of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team make a cameo in this episode, among them a young Pat Riley. The Wagner house was also featured in "Murder by the Book". Robert Culp makes his second of four Columbo appearances in this episode. The writer of this episode, John…

Apparently 23andMe, the biotech company that offered personalized genotyping reports, is going bankrupt and people are urging customers to request the deletion of their data given the likelihood the information may fall into the hands of government agencies that will use it to create bioweapons fashioned to target YOU.  Or something.  A friend reached out…

Since everyone is doing one, why don't we? Kicking off the Classic TV Detective Tournament! Who you got? Head on over to https://x.com/BaronDestructo to cast your votes! Our 100 Supervillain Stories continues with... #7. "The Thanos Quest" (1990) Thanos of Titan, the mad Eternal, has been released from Death's domain. In return, he's pledged to…

Our Columbo rewatch continues with.... "The Greenhouse Jungle" This episode aired October 15, 1972 The character of Sgt. Wilson makes a second appearance seasons later in "Now You See Him", but his name changes from Frederic to John. Arlene Martel, who played Gloria West, was the vulcan T'Pring in the original Star Trek's "Amok Time".…

Showing off his vocals and song writing skills... Acapulco?  Alcapulco? Headed to the airport... Montreal-bound... Meditatus Interruptus... Out and About with Sharky...double coffee outing! Crispy shrimp! PB Time!

#4. "Lex Luthor: Man of Steel" (2005) A look into the mind of Superman's arch rival Lex Luthor to discover what drives Luthor in his tireless quest to rid the world of Superman. Writer: Brian Azzarello Penciler: Lee Bermejo Inker: Lee Bermejo, Mick Gray, Karl Story, Jason Martin Colorist: Dave Stewart, Lee Bermejo Letterers: Rob…

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…

They're renaming Shakespeare's plays for modern audiences! The tragedies... The comedies... Akemi and Sharky and I are off to Montreal for 10 days.  Wish us luck! In the meantime, a reminder that our Columbo rewatch continues tomorrow with... "Étude in Black" A ruthless conductor murders the gifted pianist with whom he is having an affair.…

5 famous films and their original titles (Round 4) - Answers revealed! The Coldest City = Atomic Blonde (Based on the comic book, The Coldest City, by @AntonyJohnston and Sam Hart). Head Cheese = The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Head Cheese was the working title in early development but later changed to Leatherface during production, and…

This episode aired February 19, 1972 This is one of the rare Columbo episodes where the murder is committed off-screen. The secretary's desk is the same desk used by Investigator Brimmer in "Death Lends a Hand" and lawyer Frank Simpson in "Suitable for Framing". The blue convertible Elliot Markham uses to transport the body of…

Delicious venison... Sharky demonstrates proper use of a lick mat... Messy boy... Special tuna treats from Japan! Wrestling with dad... Snoozing with dad...    

My friend, Trung Phan asked for some international crime show recommendations. He asked for my Mt. Rushmore but, to be fair, this list is more like my Zoucheng's Thirteen Confucian Tombs. The recommendations are based on his parameters (relatively short runs and no drop off in the quality of the writing). I suggested the following...…

This episode first aired January 19, 1972. After they had finished carefully plotting out the show's 6-episode first season, co-creators Richard Levinson and William Link received a last minute request for an extra episode. According to Levinson: “The network was so pleased with what they were seeing that they wanted the seventh. We were furious.…

Last night... Me: I'm super cold.  Hope I'm not coming down with something. Akemi: I'm super hot.  Hope I'm not coming down with something. Starting something new!  Today, I kick off 100 Supervillain Stories with "Triumph and Torment"! Doctor Doom and Doctor Strange enter Mephisto's realm in an all-out effort to free the soul of…

Brown Butter and Garlic Wings? Kokusan barbecue beef ribs? Wagyu A5 brisket? Cornbread chili? Buffalo chicken and Taco Nachos? BEST: Wagyu A5 brisket WORST: Strawberry shortcake yakisoba