# A pre-Columbo Peter Falk series **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 26, 2026, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-pre-columbo-peter-falk-series/1027027 "2026-01-26T02:21:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2026, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-pre-columbo-peter-falk-series/1027027/1 "2026-01-26T02:21:00Z")
Does anyone remember this show from 1965? [The Trials of O’Brien (TV Series 1965–1966) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058850/?ref_=tturv_ov_bk) I certainly don’t, but the viewer revues are quite good. I wish I could get a set of the hard-to-find DVDs, if there are any still around. There’s a series of videos on YouTube presented by actor Paul van Scott that list the worst-rated TV shows of previous years, most of which I barely remember if at all. It’s definitely worth a look. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2026, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-pre-columbo-peter-falk-series/1027027/2 "2026-01-26T03:13:24Z")
A couple episodes are available on Youtube: > **[The Trials of OBrien -- Over Defence is Out](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st39Im8PHMg%2F)** > > O'Brien babysits the daughter of a client recently released from prison while he goes to retrieve his long-hidden loot. However, instead of a fortune, the cl... > **[The Trials of O Brien -- A Gaggle of Girls](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pw6JSnzg_U%2F)** > > O'Brien acts as a middleman between a Presbyterian youth center and a strip bar next door both of whom want the other gone. Then a murder complicates the talks. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2026, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-pre-columbo-peter-falk-series/1027027/3 "2026-01-26T03:25:29Z")
Here’s where you can buy a set of six of the episodes: > **[The Trials of O'Brien (1965-1966 TV series)(6 episodes on 2 discs) DVD-R](https://www.lovingtheclassics.com/trials-of-obrien-tv-series.html)** > > 6 rare episodes on 2 discs! > > > A flamboyant, Shakespeare-quoting, New York City defense attorney always seems to get into trouble. > > > Starring Peter Falk, Joanna Barnes, Elaine Stritch, David Burns, Dolph Sweet Here’s where you can buy another set of several episodes: > **[The Trials of O’Brien (1965–1966) Starring Peter Falk Episodes on DVD |...](https://ioffer-movies.com/dvd/the-trials-of-obrien-1965-1966-starring-peter-falk-complete-on-dvd/)** > > This sale is for The Trials of O'Brien from (1965) starring Peter Falk and Joanna Barnes on DVD. Which Seasons are Included - 6 Mixed Episodes are included from The Trials of O'Brien DVD. Plot for The Trials of O'Brien: A flamboyant,... ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2026, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-pre-columbo-peter-falk-series/1027027/4 "2026-01-26T03:27:06Z")
Thanks! I’ll take a look at those when I have some time to spare. The series was on about the time I first became aware of Peter Falk from seeing _ **Robin and the Seven Hoods** _, _ **The Great Race** _, and _ **Penelope** _. I liked him immediately because he did comedy so well. It wasn’t until much later that I saw him playing a Castro-like dictator in reruns of _ **The Twilight Zone** _. He could do serious drama equally as well as lighter fare. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2026, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-pre-columbo-peter-falk-series/1027027/5 "2026-01-26T03:42:43Z")
According to IMDb, CBS aired Falk’s show at 10:00 pm EST on Friday nights, up against NBC’s _ **The Man from UNCLE.** _ This could be why I’d never heard about it, since at that hour I was probably watching either _ **12 O’Clock High** _ or _ **The Avengers** _ on ABC. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-pre-columbo-peter-falk-series/1027027/6 "2026-01-31T02:53:12Z")
There’s another one at [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mJ877DFKOI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mJ877DFKOI) .