I think just about all these characters were written to be annoying, so I don’t see how that makes him special.
Yeah, the first time she had a guy killed I was really shocked and even thought it was way out of character. Then she did it again, and she fucked over the FBI and even the local prosecutors routinely, and it became clear that she was pathological.
Especially her handling of Turrell Baylor. Not only did she not handle killing him properly (she could have been more subtle and no one would have ever even caught on - it’s not like he didn’t actually deserve it, you know!) but it seemed that she wouldn’t even admit to herself that she did it! She seemed genuinely confused that people accused her of doing exactly what she did. She didn’t seem to be pretending for the public, as it were. Even in private with Fritz she didn’t think she did anything wrong. That is some deep psychosis.
The show spent far too much time with the TB story line, when I always thought they could have actually prosecuted her (not a civil suit) for the killing of the cop in Tijuana Brass. There’s an actual paper trail on that!
ETA: It not that she has questionable morals that really bugs me about the show (it does, but it’s not the main thing). It’s that everyone keeps covering for her. She never gets called on her crap. If she’d actually have to take responsibility (like the subplot of her car accident) now and then, for anything, maybe I’d be somewhat willing to overlook the murder of the Russian mobster. maybe. I forgive Magnum for shooting Ivan in cold blood (and how did he ever get away with that?)
Frank, I believe it was (and not Philip, as is sometimes claimed).
Colombo never chose suspects at random. There was always something that immediately indicated they were guilty, and he would latch onto it.
In other words, the man had “heightened powers of observation.”
It’s a toss up for me.
Martin Milner in “Adam 12”. He kept trying to be “street,” but just couldn’t pull it off. The other was Adam West in “The Detectives.” He couldn’t have been more white bread.
Martin Milner may have been the most boring TV cop ever, but he didn’t strike me as particularly annoying.
I disagree. Gannon was even more annoying.
I think you’re right. Gannon was the one who thought he had a sense of humor.
If real cops are eligible, I nominate that smarmy grey-haired asshole from COPS who became the narrator of all those hokey World’s Dumbest Police Chases videos, or whatever they were called.
Officer Kirk was always giving Fonzie and the gang a hard time.
Yeah, it was never spoken on the show, but I’ve seen his I.D. card in closeup in a couple of episodes and his signature said “Frank Columbo.”
Here’s a screenshot of his I.D.
https://media.cdnws.com/_i/5532/3104/1/5/carte-identification-card-id-columbo.jpeg
Speaking of Adam West; how about Commissioner Gordon and Chief O’Hara? Could they actually do police work without the help of Batman?
Weren’t they intentionally written to be somewhat buffoonish, though? Especially O’Hara.
Yes, but the OP didn’t say anything about intentionally or unintentionally. For that matter, does Batman count as a cop? Wasn’t he deputized or something? He could certainly be considered annoying.
Not as annoying as Robin.
Holy annoying!
If I had to really watch him, rather than just see him in passing, I’d nominate whatever character Thomas Gibson plays. I think he’s actually the star of his show, and all he can manage is an “intense” beetle-browed scowl. He’s just terrible.
I don’t even know what show you’re talking about, let alone the character’s name.
In that case, I nominate Gunther Toody.
What was really annoying was that he didn’t get his just desserts until the post-show books.