What was the best season of Columbo?

Cafe Society
1

I have always been a fan of early 1970’s detective shows: the all-star cast, the parlor room exposition, etc. (Today they’re called “procedurals” and they mostly take place in the police station.) I lived for the “whistling-man” intro to the Saturday Mystery Movie. (Some of the movies from this period, like The Last of Sheila, also fit the formula very well.)

I would like to relive my past by getting some of this stuff on DVD, but unfortunately my choices are limited. There ain’t no Hec Ramsey, gol’ dang et. There is a little bit of McCloud and McMillan & Wife, but only a few seasons – the Mac & W third season episode, “The Devil You Say,” which scared the crap out of me as a kid, is nowhere to be found.

What there is a lot of, is Columbo. Practically every season. I do remember specific episodes, but I can’t associate them with titles or seasons.

So, any recommendations? What was your favorite Columbo episode or season?

2

I gotta go with Season 4, where he takes apart Robert Conrad, Dick Van Dyke, Patrick McGoohan, Robert Vaughn, Oskar Werner, and George Hamilton – and the one with Dick Van Dyke is probably my favorite of the series.

3

Excellent! And didn’t DVD also play a murderous judge 20 years later, on Murder She Wrote?

4

Actually, that was Matlock.

5

Ah yes, it was one of the first episodes. And then he was a sleuthing doctor on Diagnosis: Murder, which Andy Griffith guest-starred on – full circle.