Talk:Columbo

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[edit] Columbo speaking Italian

Does Columbo really speak Italian? There was an episode where he solved a murder with the help of a maffioso. When this guy asked him in Italian, Columbo pretty much seemed that he didn't speak any Italian at all, despite his Italian ancestry. How comes this statement then? Chery 07:13, 24 August 2005 (UTC)

Yes, Columbo speaks Italian. In the episode with Rip Torn as the uncle who murders his lottery winning nephew he speaks Italian to the old lady. He also speaks quite a bit of Italian to Mario, the young waiter, in "Murder Under Glass". I've never heard him speak Spanish, however.---B- 02:32, 13 October 2005 (UTC)
And a great deal of Italian with Vito Scotti, for whom Patrick McGoohan writes the speech that destroys his alibi, in "Identity Crisis". He speaks some Spanish in "A Matter of Honor", although mostly of the phrase book variety. -- Signinstranger 16:16, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Columbo's Family

It's very difficult to say for certain what his family structure is or what they do. He refers in almost every episode to a nephew, brother-in-law, or other family member but it's never clear if these people actually exist or if they are just an invented device that Columbo uses to gain the confidence of the suspect or to convey some idea or information in a non-threatening way. His wife we can be certain exists because she is seen by other characters (though not by the audience of course) in "Troubled Waters". He apparently does have at least one niece and one nephew since he flashes a picture of them in "A Friend in Deed" and if he has a niece and nephew then clearly he must have at least a sister/brother or inlaws.

If he really does have all of the family he alludes to throughout the run of the series he'd have to have a fairly large and diverse family.

As to children, there is no evidence that Columbo and his wife have any children.---B- 08:21, 17 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Internet Movie Database

As there is no single series entry on the IMDb, and there aren't separate Wikipedia pages for each episode, would it be worth linking each story title to its IMDb page? --Whouk (talk) 16:34, 2 January 2006 (UTC)

As no-one has objected, I'll go ahead with this. Any preference for format? We could have...
Should the date format be wikified for user preferences at the same time? —Whouk (talk) 16:06, 8 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Gun

I was reminded tonight that Columbo does, reluctantly, carry a gun in one episode. In "Undercover" he is ordered to carry a gun and so he does -- even pulling it on Mo Weinberg early in the show. ---B- 07:07, 26 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Episode Details

I'd have to look it up to see who the actor actually was, but it certainly was not Anthony Edwards from ER playing Elliott Blake in "Columbo Goes to the Guillotine." ---B- 08:33, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

It's Anthony Andrews from Brideshead Revisited. —Whouk (talk) 08:56, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

"Forgotten Lady" : simple question: I wonder if this is the episode where Coloumbo "arrests" the husband of the killer instead ? - because she was suffering from some sort of senile disorder so she didn´t know that she had killed people - and futhermore she was dying so she would not stand trial anyway, and then her husband (with Colombo´s approval/knowledge) would admit the crime and then change testemony after she was dead

Probably not, since in "Forgotten Lady" the murderess killed her husband. It would be kinda hard for a dead man to admit to his own murder to cover up for his wife.

Sign your posts. The talk page is not a public social forum to discuss minutiae about the subject of the article, it's an editorial forum to discuss changes to the article itself. Canonblack 01:33, 20 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Misc

I changed the description of Shera Danese's roles from "small" to "various" because she actually had some moderately substantial roles; including playing the scheming wife in "A Trace of Murder" and the greedy Art Gallery owner in "Columbo Goes Undercover." She gets killed in "Columbo Goes Undercover" but since she's not really the primary victim I'm not sure that counts for our purposes as a "victim."---B- 23:33, 14 March 2006 (UTC)

Ida Lupino is listed as a murderer and victim, she was never a murderer. As far as I can determine, only Shera Danese and Robert Vaughn have played both roles. Since Shera Danese, if memory serves, was only an accessory... Robert Vaughn is unique. Cave Draco 13:19, 8 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] This page is way too long...

Would anyone object to creating a separate page to house the list of Columbo episodes?

Agreed, especially as I'm seeing warnings about the page size when I try to edit. I have created the List of Columbo Episodes page, and linked it in the spot on this page where they appeared previously.MArcane 04:41, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Old Neighborhood

If he's of Italian decent, and from "a neighborhood near Chinatown," can we assume he's from Little Italy, which abuts Chinatown? --♥ «Charles A. L.» 23:42, 12 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Books

Would it be useful with a list of the books written by Harrington? -- Kms 14:57, 24 September 2006 (UTC)

I've added book information from MCA publishing, see Columbo Books

--TonyinJersey 15:21, 5 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Columbos' first name

From the article:

"Columbo's first name came under more speculation by the release of the first series on DVD. In the episode Dead Weight where Columbo introduces himself to General Hollister, the audience is shown a close-up of his badge, complete with the signature that appears to say "Frank Columbo". Since this is only a prop and the creators of the show have always insisted that Columbo's 1st name has never been revealed it looks as if this issue will always be a hot topic of debate amongst fans."

I'm confused by the phrase "Since this is only a prop...". Obviously it's a prop - just like his car, his raincoat, and practically everything else in the show. Why does the fact that it's a prop make it less likely to be genuine within the fictional context of the series?

I agree - it was shown on screen and therefore is canon. This paragraph was originally more definitive, but it was edited a month or so ago to imply that "Frank Columbo" is merely a working theory rather than anything factual. Marwood 16:42, 27 October 2006 (UTC)
I've removed that sentence, it's clearly nonsense. Anyway, whoever wrote it could only manage to spell "first" as "1st" so I guess it's to be expected. 172.188.35.109 02:00, 31 October 2006 (UTC)
I re-worded the start of the sentence to fix poor grammar - but it looks like someone has reverted it. Marwood 09:08, 1 November 2006 (UTC)
I've now changed it back, but I'm wary of this becoming a reversion war. Marwood 09:17, 1 November 2006 (UTC)
After some toing and froing, this bit now reads: "Since this is only a prop we can't assume that Frank is in fact Columbo's real name. It may have been a joke from the prop department, after all the creators of the show have always insisted that Columbo's first name has never been revealed. It looks as if this issue will always be a hot topic of debate amongst fans." The following note was added to the article by user 88.105.183.62 in response to a comment that I inserted to the effect that the sentence made no sense:
"How can it not make sense. The badge is a prop. The guy who made it probably just made it up. If Columbo's real name was Frank then why isn't it common knowledge. Surely when asked the creators of the show would say "oh it's Frank, didn't you read the ID badge in Dead Weight?" They don't say that, they say it's never been revealed and they should know, they created the character."
Reply by me (Matt). The phrase "since this is only a prop" does not make sense because everything in the show is obviously a prop. You might just as well say that since the cigars Columbo smokes are props, we can't assume that Columbo does in fact smoke cigars. The suggestion that it may have been a joke from the prop department needs to be supported by a reference. Otherwise, all we know for sure is that the show's creators say the name has never been revealed, but apparently it was revealed. Matt 11:44, 3 November 2006 (UTC).
Does anyone have a citation from Levinson and/or Link saying Columbo's name was never revealed? Dead Weight was a series one episode when Levinson and Link were actively involved in the production of the show - they would very likely have seen the rushes with the name "Frank Columbo" obviously visible. "It's only a prop" means nothing - the props department isn't autonomous. They would have been briefed and their work checked by the director and/or producer; especially when creating a prop as important as Columbo's police badge which is going to be seen in every episode. It was on screen and unless there is anything else on screen to contradict it, then it is a fact. 80.93.170.99 16:18, 3 November 2006 (UTC)
Please listen to this radio interview Dawidziak Interview It's with Mark Dawidziak, author of The Columbo Phile who many people believe to be the most comprehensive Columbo book ever written. Columbo's first name is discussed about 11 minutes 30 seconds into the interview.88.105.183.62 17:51, 3 November 2006 (UTC)
That interview was conducted in 2003, before the series was available on DVD. On the VHS release, the name "Frank" is too blurry to make out. On the DVD it is very clearly "Frank", irrespective of what Dawidziak says. Irrespective of what anyone says, the only first name given for Columbo on screen was Frank. 80.93.170.99 18:00, 3 November 2006 (UTC)
The episode dead weight has been out on region 2 japanese DVD since 2002 and how can you say irrespective of what Dawidziak says? The guy obviously did his research. He must have interviewed everybody involved so spoke to the creators. Why, after the episode of dead weight aired do the creators still say he doesn't have a first name? Peter Falk says Columbo doesn't have a first name and he must have looked at the ID badge while filming.88.105.183.62 18:17, 3 November 2006 (UTC)
Might I suggest the following wording for this paragraph:
"Probably the closest thing to a definitive answer came to light following the release of the first series on DVD. In the episode Dead Weight where Columbo introduces himself to General Hollister, the audience is shown a close-up of his badge, complete with the signature that appears to say "Frank Columbo". However, the creators of the show have always insisted that Columbo's first name has never been revealed, so its apparent disclosure on the badge may have been unintentional. Whatever the case, the question of Columbo's first name is likely to remain a hot topic of debate amongst fans.
Any objections? Matt 20:43, 3 November 2006 (UTC).
I have no objection to that, it's perfect. I just think it's important that people know that the creators of the show never intended Columbo to have a first name and they never gave him one.88.105.183.62 23:41, 3 November 2006 (UTC)
What "the creators" think does not matter - what appears on screen is what matters. Sydney Newman (creator of Doctor Who) did not intend the Daleks to appear in the series - they still did. Joe Straczynski (creator of Babylon 5) did not intend for Sinclair to leave at the end of series one - he still did. Stan Lee (creator of the Incredible Hulk) did not intend the characters name to be David Banner - he still was. You show me something that occurred on screen - within the continuity of the programme, that contradicts "Frank" and I'll believe you.80.93.170.99 09:32, 4 November 2006 (UTC)
Levinson and Link were the writers/producers of the episode dead weight so had a great deal of control over that episode. I agree with you 100% that the name on that id badge appears to be Frank but my arguement is, it's not Columbo's first name. That prop was created at the start of the series and a name was needed to go on it. When asked what the characters name was the reply would have been he hasn't got one. Thats part of the Columbo gimmick, just like we never see his wife. So now the prop maker chooses his own name or maybe the name of a relative, who knows, and puts it on the ID. I don't think anyone involved with the production would have thought that in 30 years people would have DVD clarity and the ability to zoom in and enhance the image.
Now you say it is definitely Frank because of whats written on the ID and above you wrote "the props department isn't autonomous. They would have been briefed and their work checked by the director and/or producer." That means Levinson and Link would have been involved in this stage of the production so would have agreed that the characters name is indeed Frank. So why, to this day do they say that the character was never given a first name? 88.105.186.68 16:15, 4 November 2006 (UTC)

We do see his wife, though. She had her own series, remember? Guv2006 22:53, 8 April 2007 (UTC)

This is how I see it. In my opinion we need to distinguish between guesswork and uninformed speculation, and facts that can be backed up, or at least informed opinion that we can give a source for. The appearance of the name badge is a fact. I'm assuming that the creators' consistent position that Columbo's first name has never been revealed is also a fact. The problem, then, is how to make these two statements compatible. The most neutral and non-speculative wording I could think of was "its apparent disclosure on the badge may have been unintentional". Matt 21:07, 4 November 2006 (UTC).
My arguement is that what Levinson, Link and Falk believe is irrelevant - it is what is shown on screen that counts. Indeed, what the creator of any TV series believes should not rank above what is shown on screen. If David E. Kelley put our a press release tomorrow saying that throughout the series Ally McBeal, Ally was actually working for an architect not a law firm, that doesn't make it true. It blatantly contradicts what was on screen. From on-screen evidence, Columbo's name is Frank. Nothing shown on screen contradicts that. Dawidziak can say it was never revealed in as many books as he likes. He is wrong - it was revealed, in Dead Weight. 80.93.170.99 14:36, 7 November 2006 (UTC)
It should perhaps also be noted that the same ID badge is seen several times in the first season. Yes, "Dead Weight" is the only episode in which it is shot in close up (so that we can clearly read the 'Frank Columbo' signature), but one can also clearly see the very same ID card being shown in "Murder By The Book". It is also shown very briefly (and less clearly) in a few other episodes as well. Interestingly, later (post-1989) episodes have Columbo showing a police ID card that gives his actual name as "Lt. Columbo"!

You can also see "Frank" on his badge in episode 4 of season 5, A Matter of Honor. (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:%27%27Frank%27%27_Columbo.jpg ) --NoiZy 08:41, 1 January 2007 (UTC)

I think that's a clearer picture than the one currently on the main page. Why don't we swap them out? MArcane 21:14, 2 January 2007 (UTC)
Anybody else notice that the rank and badge number on the ID card (that says "Frank") don't match with the gold shield? Not that it affects the name debate, just interesting. ---B- 21:57, 2 January 2007 (UTC)


Why would a police detective be shuffling around with an ID card saying Frank Columbo if that wasn't his name? If indeed Frank wasn't his name, surely Columbo, on producing his ID, would say "Uh, by the way sir, my name isn't Frank - the police department screwed up," or words to that effect. Whatever the show's creators say, there is obviously evidence that his first name is indeed Frank. Therefore, this evidence should be viewed as fact as there is nothing within the show that contradicts it. The show lives within its own universe, and writers, producers etc cannot alter what has already been created by attempting to pretend something didn't occur which clearly did. Guv2006 22:48, 8 April 2007 (UTC)

Just another thought... Prior to the DVD-release during the original tv run, were there ever any appearance of this famous badge that made it possible to read the first name? Following the 'just a prop' line, could that have been placed there as a filler, instead of just scribbling, but never intended to be legible on screen? And in fact, as shown on TV, never were revealed? Of course, this entire argument falls apart, if it actually were readable during original broadcasts... In comparison, if Peter Falk, while making "notes" from a murder scene, actually wrote down his groceries, and only a still image from a digitally enhanced image would reveal it, doesn't really make those groceries a part of the story... I'd say the same goes for "unreadable" names... Loial (talk) 23:35, 21 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Faye Dunaway

Is listed as one of the murderers but doesn't seem to appear in the list of episodes. Anybody know which one? SmokeyTheFatCat 17:35, 8 November 2006 (UTC)

She appears - she was in "It's All in the Game" in the 11th season. ---B- 23:15, 20 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] List of Columbo Episodes

Per a recommendation made above, and due to the overly lengthy size of this article, I created the List of Columbo Episodes page. I have moved relevant talk items to that page's talk section. MArcane 04:56, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Infobox

Added the TV show infobox to help this match the style of other TV articles. The non-standard nature (ie. movie of the week) of this show makes me wonder about the show's run info, though. Not sure if it should only include NBC airings or the latter ABC movies as well? I included both for now, but am open to suggestions.MArcane 05:05, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Guest Stars

The List of guest stars was so long and clunky that I decided to make it into a table showing murderers and victims. I added the blurb about the victims, because I don't recall an episode in which Leslie Neilson is murdered, but I recall one where he was a witness. I left the miscellaneous guest stars section alone, since it has so much unique info that would be hard to put in a table. Suggestions welcome.MArcane 06:33, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

Still seems clunky to me. I want to add that Dean Stockwell has appeared in two episodes, being a victim in one of them. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 69.5.147.1 (talk) 15:42, 11 January 2007 (UTC).

[edit] Denny Columbo

I've removed the reference to Columbo's full name possibly being "Denny" Columbo -- sounds like a mondegreen to me, as what's clearly being said (abeit quickly) is "Lieutenant" Columbo. Which sort of sounds like Lieu-tenny is said quickly, which is where the misheard Denny comes from... 141.117.210.191 01:19, 29 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Columbo As a Parole Officer?

I wasn't sure whether to put this in the section on his family, his biography (after the comment about becoming a police officer to make up for his youth), or whether it didn't even belong because it's too speculative. Part of the problem is I forget the episode, but it was one of the last ones, though it could be in others. The comment would go something like this: "It is possible that some of tghe "cousins" which Columbo mentions are actually youth for whom he served as parole officer." The reason for this is because in (one of the last episodes) someone asks how often he sees this cousin he referred to, and Columbo says "Once a month."" Feel free to discuss or add if you thnk it belongs; again, someone who knows the episodes would have to check where.Somebody or his brother 02:25, 3 August 2007 (UTC)

Sounds totally speculative to me. I've seen every episode, most of them many times, and I don't recall even much of a hint that he was ever a parole officer. He wouldn't be a parole officer AND a homicide detective at the same time so it would have had to be something he did before he became a policeman or after he retired. Either way it couldn't be a "present tense" thing. ---B- 05:34, 4 August 2007 (UTC)
Thanks, I kind of thought one couldn't be both at the same time, but truthfully, I'm nto as familiar with American police and how they handle paroles and stuff; it must be a full-time position then.
Yes, in a big city like Los Angeles it's definitely a full-time position. Perhaps some small-towns might have officers who also do Parole duties, but I'm not sure. ---B- 00:23, 10 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] The Raincoat

OK, this might just be my own "fetish", and I may have been exposed to too many urban legends, so please set me straight... Didn't the prop crew spend a lot of time and effort trying to create the worn-out look? I remember something about having the coat dragged around behind a moving vehicle. I also seem to recall it having been auctioned off for some ridiculous amount of money. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 88.195.74.30 (talk) 10:24, 16 March 2008 (UTC) Actually as I understand it the raincoat was actually Peter Falk's own raincoat and was already sort of old and worn. ---B- (talk) 05:14, 10 April 2008 (UTC)

Well, from what I remember of his autobio (which i don't have to hand) the first raincoat he used was his, afer that it was a prop. And in the pilot episodes, he's considerably smarter than the show proper. Ged UK (talk) 11:43, 10 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] fame of guest star

"In many, but not all, of the new episodes, the guest villain is relatively unknown to the public and not easily recognized by the audience." - I don't think this is correct. I'm a Brit and some of the guest stars may be less well-known here than there, but most look like well-known actors to me. Some are Brits and more well-known here. 82.69.1.202 (talk) 13:52, 16 March 2008 (UTC)