Columbo 1971
“Oh, just one more thing...”
What is Columbo?
Columbo is an American crime drama television series that originally aired on NBC as part of The NBC Mystery Movie. The show stars Peter Falk as Lieutenant Columbo, a homicide detective with the Los Angeles Police Department.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 1971
- Status
- Ended
- Episodes
- 67
- First aired
- Sep 15, 1971
- Last aired
- Jan 30, 2003
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- US
- Networks
- ABC, NBC
- Genres
- Crime, Drama, Mystery
- Updated
Where to watch
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How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 67 episodes and an average 45-minute runtime.
Trailer
Overview
Columbo is an American crime drama television series that originally aired on NBC as part of The NBC Mystery Movie. The show stars Peter Falk as Lieutenant Columbo, a homicide detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. Columbo is a friendly, verbose, disheveled-looking police detective who is consistently underestimated by his suspects. Despite his unprepossessing appearance and apparent absentmindedness, he shrewdly solves all of his cases and secures all evidence needed for indictment. The series was created by Richard Levinson and William Link and features Peter Falk, Mike Lally, Dianne Travis, and Bruce Kirby. A full list of episodes is available, and the series can be streamed online for free. The show's episodes are also available to watch on YouTube. The series initially aired from 1971 to 1978, with two pilot episodes preceding the main run.
Should you watch it?
“A disheveled detective outsmarts confident criminals in clever murder mysteries.”
- Brilliant lead performance by Peter Falk
- Intricate plotting with satisfying reveals
- Timeless procedural format that inspired many
- Episodic pacing may feel slow to some
- Limited character development beyond Columbo
You enjoy classic crime dramas with intellectual puzzles.
Suitable for most audiences, with crime themes handled respectfully.
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Your verdict
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Cast
Episode guide
Season 1 · 7 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide →- E1 Murder by the Book Sep 15, 1971
- E2 Death Lends a Hand Oct 6, 1971
- E3 Dead Weight Oct 27, 1971
- E4 Suitable for Framing Nov 17, 1971
- E5 Lady in Waiting Dec 15, 1971
- E6 Short Fuse Jan 19, 1972
- E7 Blueprint for Murder Feb 9, 1972
Season 2 · 8 episodes
- E1 Étude in Black Sep 17, 1972
- E2 The Greenhouse Jungle Oct 15, 1972
- E3 The Most Crucial Game Nov 5, 1972
- E4 Dagger of the Mind Nov 26, 1972
- E5 Requiem for a Falling Star Jan 21, 1973
- E6 A Stitch in Crime Feb 11, 1973
- E7 The Most Dangerous Match Mar 4, 1973
- E8 Double Shock Mar 25, 1973
Season 3 · 8 episodes
- E1 Lovely But Lethal Sep 23, 1973
- E2 Any Old Port in a Storm Oct 7, 1973
- E3 Candidate for Crime Nov 4, 1973
- E4 Double Exposure Dec 16, 1973
- E5 Publish or Perish Jan 18, 1974
- E6 Mind Over Mayhem Feb 18, 1974
- E7 Swan Song Mar 3, 1974
- E8 A Friend in Deed May 5, 1974
Season 4 · 6 episodes
- E1 An Exercise in Fatality Sep 15, 1974
- E2 Negative Reaction Oct 15, 1974
- E3 By Dawn's Early Light Oct 27, 1974
- E4 Troubled Waters Feb 9, 1975
- E5 Playback Mar 2, 1975
- E6 A Deadly State of Mind Apr 27, 1975
Season 5 · 6 episodes
- E1 Forgotten Lady Sep 14, 1975
- E2 A Case of Immunity Oct 12, 1975
- E3 Identity Crisis Nov 2, 1975
- E4 A Matter of Honor Feb 1, 1976
- E5 Now You See Him Feb 29, 1976
- E6 Last Salute to the Commodore May 2, 1976
Frequently asked questions
Is Columbo based on a book?
No, Columbo was created specifically for television by Richard Levinson and William Link.
How many seasons are there?
The series ran for multiple seasons between 1971 and 1998, with additional revivals later.
Does Columbo have continuity between episodes?
No, each episode is standalone with self-contained stories.
Who plays Columbo?
Peter Falk stars as Lieutenant Columbo, winning multiple Emmy Awards for the role.
Where can I watch Columbo?
Columbo is available on various streaming platforms including Tubi and Prime Video.