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Season 1 – Columbo

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Columbo 1971 Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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90% Tomatometer 21 Reviews 94% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
"Columbo" isn't the typical detective whodunit TV show. On most detective shows, viewers don't know who committed the crime until the detective pieces the clues together and figures it out. On this show, however, viewers see the crime unfold at the beginning of most episodes, including who the perpetrator is. The mystery and fun for viewers is trying to spot the clues that will lead Lt. Columbo (Peter Falk) to discover the culprit and watching the tricks he uses to get a confession. Episodes of "Columbo" were movie-length and ran sporadically on multiple networks during its run.
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Columbo — Season 1

Columbo — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

Peter Falk's deceptively buffoonish Columbo puts a wily spin on the detective story, tantalizing audiences not with a mystery -- but with the star's enthrallingly eccentric performance.

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Critics Reviews

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Colby Sinclair Orlando Sentinel It was a very bad story. Badly written around a bad plot, badly directed and badly acted. Feb 26, 2021 Full Review Harry Harris Philadelphia Inquirer The special treat in Columbo is seeing the face-off between a sure-of-his-own-superiority killer and the deceptively diffident deducer in the cruddy raincoat. The formula could become too predictable. Feb 26, 2021 Full Review Kay Gardella New York Daily News As for Falk, he brings the character of Columbo to life right from the start. His portrayal will unquestionably be one the best of the new season. A big plus, too, was Henry Mancini's theme music. Feb 26, 2021 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Second only to All in the Family as my all-time favorite TV series, Columbo remains one of the most consistently entertaining and consistently intelligent prime-time shows ever to grace the small screen. Rated: 4/4 Dec 26, 2023 Full Review Rick Du Brow United Press International Falk portrays a cagey police detective whose pedestrian manner and dress conceal his animal shrewdness, and he is very, very good in a well-thought-out and well-written characterization. Feb 26, 2021 Full Review Dwight Newton San Francisco Examiner Columbo, the shabbiest cop on film, is sharp as a razor behind his dumb puss. His "Mystery Movie" stories are intricately constructed. Feb 26, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (4) audience reviews
Early W Columbo is a classic police procedural drama that deserves more recognition than what it receives (and it already receives a lot!) The formula diverts from the traditional mystery drama of "who dunnit" and shows you the crime and culprit from the initial start of the episode and leaves you, the viewer, to observe how the titular Lt. Columbo eventually solves the case. What makes the series is Peter Falk. He owns the character who is portrayed as a fumbling, dim witted detective. But this is just a facade to have the criminals underestimate him until he has them right where he wants them. You probably have seen Columbo spoofed in other shows more than you have actually seen the series. The iconic "Oh and one more thing..." just to hit them with a bombshell of a revelation has gone down as one of the most iconic lines/tropes of television history. I know season 1 was filmed in the 70s and if watching old shows is a deal breaker for you I recommend giving this one a shot. There is a reason it went on for 10 seasons and lasted even into the early 2000s until Falk was diagnosed with dementia and eventually died in the early 2010s. Columbo is worth the binge. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/10/25 Full Review babarizam D I like this show very much. Simplicity and curious nature of Columbo makes even viewer uncomfortable which is fascinating. Great writing and acting. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/23/24 Full Review Audience Member Amazing episodes full of irony, charm and intelligence. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Best show of all time! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Columbo — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Richard Levinson

Creator

William Link

Creator

Peter Falk

Lt. Columbo

Robert Culp

Investigator Brimmer

Pat Crowley

Mrs. Lenore Kennicutt

Patrick O'Neal

Elliot Markham

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Sep 15, 1971 Murder by the Book A blackmailer interferes with a mystery writer's scheme to kill his former partner in a perfect crime. Details Episode 2 Aired Oct 6, 1971 Death Lends a Hand Columbo investigates the case of an unfaithful wife who was murdered when she refused to be blackmailed. Details Episode 3 Aired Oct 27, 1971 Dead Weight No body, no weapon and a witness courted by the war hero she thinks committed murder, complicate a case. Details Episode 4 Aired Nov 17, 1971 Suitable for Framing Evidence points to an innocent woman after an art critic and his protege murder an uncle to inherit a collection. Details Episode 5 Aired Dec 15, 1971 Lady in Waiting Bitter sibling competition for control of a family-owned corporation escalates into murder. Details Episode 6 Aired Jan 19, 1972 Short Fuse An explosion kills an executive as he calls his wife from a car phone, and suspicion falls on a company attorney. Details Episode 7 Aired Feb 9, 1972 Blueprint for Murder At tremendous expense to the city, Columbo excavates the area surrounding the newly poured foundation of a building to search for a corpse. Details

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Columbo — Season 1

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Season Info

Director
Steven Spielberg, Peter Falk, Hy Averback, Edward M. Abroms, Jack Smight, Bernard L. Kowalski, Norman Lloyd
Creator
Richard Levinson, William Link
Executive Producer
Richard Levinson, William Link
Screenwriter
Steven Bochco, Jackson Gillis, John T. Dugan, Richard Levinson, William Link
Network
NBC
Rating
TV-G
Genre
Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date
Sep 15, 1971
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