The Top Ten Columbo Episodes

In February of 1968 a short, disheveled, seemingly incompetent detective debuted on television investigating the murder of a psychiatrist's (Gene Barry) wife in "Prescription For Murder." Thirty-five years and 68 episodes later, this detective solved his last case. Of course without further description, everyone recognizes Lieutenant Columbo, LAPD played so brilliantly by Peter Falk.

So popular and timeless, this series appeared in the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's and the first decade of the new millennium. Starting at NBC rotating with other shows on the Sunday Mystery Theater, Columbo's final home would be at ABC where it was presented as a number of "Specials."

Although every Columbo episode is enjoyable and features a big name star committing murder within minutes of the credits, here is a list of this author's top ten episodes.

10. It's All In The Game.
First aired:October 31, 1993
Writer:Peter Falk
Director:Vincent McEveety
The Killers: Faye Dunaway as Lauren Stanton
Claudia Christian as Lisa (Lauren's daughter)
The Victim:Armando Pucci as Nick Franco

The Motive:Gigolo dates (and abuses) younger woman moving on to seduce her mother
The Means:Victim shot in the middle of the night as enters his apartment

Clearly the best work done on Columbo at ABC, this fine episode garnered Golden Globe nominations for both Faye Dunaway and Peter Faulk. Emmy nominations also followed with Dunaway winning for "Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series."

This episode, the only episode where Columbo allows one of the murderers, Lisa (Claudia Christian) to go free, centers on a mother/daughter team that has been set-up and fleeced by the same con man, Nick Franco (Armando Pucci). The girls get the last laugh and the gigolo comes home to the duo hiding in his apartment waiting to end his abuse of women once and for all.