Columbo

As part of our Covid entertainment strategy, Graham has decided that Columbo is A-OK. This is our first foray deep into the archives of TV shows since we watched the first Star Trek. So far, so good.

Graham has immediately fastened on to certain of the key Columbo ticks. Aside from the most famous, namely getting to the door while leaving a discussion with a suspect (always the perp) and then going: "Oh yeah, there's just one other thing that's been bothering me." There is the persistent trope of the forgotten object, for example. In each of the three episodes we've watched thus far, the perp forgets something which would be an obvious clue, then comes back and grabs it just before heading out the door him/herself.

Then there are Columbo's consistent references to his wife: "Oh, it's my wife who's the athletic one," or "My wife is always telling me I need to do X more." Graham very quickly glommed on: "Do we ever get to meet his wife?" The answer is, of course not.

Graham has also noticed the crumpled detective's constant self-deprecation before the haughty would-be "genius" murderers, whom he always bags through a mix of good instinct but also diligent adherence to basic professionalism. "You see, murderers don't have much experience, often it's their first time. We do this hundreds of times a year."

We are not in very deep yet, but I have a feeling we're going to be seeing a whole lot more of this kind of stuff. Frankly, I wouldn't be saddened if the episodes sped up or diversified a little. I love the guy, but we get an awful lot of the same thing.

But, for now, if Graham is down with it, we'll stick with it. It's good for him to get exposure to a novel Gestalt.