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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Ask anything about Columbo — answers are spoiler-safe.
Your verdict
Is Columbo worth watching?
Cast
Episode guide
Spoiler-Safe Browsing Progress
Season 1 · 7 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide & lore primer →- E1 Murder by the Book Mytharc Sep 15, 1971
- E2 Death Lends a Hand Core Oct 6, 1971
- E3 Dead Weight Core Oct 27, 1971
- E4 Suitable for Framing Core Nov 17, 1971
- E5 Lady in Waiting Core Dec 15, 1971
- E6 Short Fuse Mytharc Jan 19, 1972
- E7 Blueprint for Murder Mytharc Feb 9, 1972
Season 2 · 8 episodes
Open the complete Season 2 guide & lore primer →- E1 Étude in Black Mytharc Sep 17, 1972
- E2 The Greenhouse Jungle Core Oct 15, 1972
- E3 The Most Crucial Game Core Nov 5, 1972
- E4 Dagger of the Mind Mytharc Nov 26, 1972
- E5 Requiem for a Falling Star Core Jan 21, 1973
- E6 A Stitch in Crime Core Feb 11, 1973
- E7 The Most Dangerous Match Mytharc Mar 4, 1973
- E8 Double Shock Mytharc Mar 25, 1973
Season 3 · 8 episodes
Open the complete Season 3 guide & lore primer →- E1 Lovely But Lethal Mytharc Sep 23, 1973
- E2 Any Old Port in a Storm Core Oct 7, 1973
- E3 Candidate for Crime Core Nov 4, 1973
- E4 Double Exposure Core Dec 16, 1973
- E5 Publish or Perish Core Jan 18, 1974
- E6 Mind Over Mayhem Core Feb 18, 1974
- E7 Swan Song Mytharc Mar 3, 1974
- E8 A Friend in Deed Mytharc May 5, 1974
Season 4 · 6 episodes
Open the complete Season 4 guide & lore primer →- E1 An Exercise in Fatality Mytharc Sep 15, 1974
- E2 Negative Reaction Core Oct 15, 1974
- E3 By Dawn's Early Light Core Oct 27, 1974
- E4 Troubled Waters Core Feb 9, 1975
- E5 Playback Mytharc Mar 2, 1975
- E6 A Deadly State of Mind Mytharc Apr 27, 1975
Season 5 · 6 episodes
Open the complete Season 5 guide & lore primer →- E1 Forgotten Lady Mytharc Sep 14, 1975
- E2 A Case of Immunity Core Oct 12, 1975
- E3 Identity Crisis Core Nov 2, 1975
- E4 A Matter of Honor Core Feb 1, 1976
- E5 Now You See Him Mytharc Feb 29, 1976
- E6 Last Salute to the Commodore Mytharc 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.