The Columbo Confab Podcast

Steve and Sean, both of which have different experiences with the show, break down each episode of "Columbo" one at a time. Everything between 1968 and 2003 is included, in no particular order.

Episode 72: "Double Exposure" with Matt and Shawn from Monster Party 12/21/2025

Episode 72: "Double Exposure" with Matt and Shawn from Monster Party /episode/index/show/columboconfab/id/39487085

Episode 71: "Forgotten Lady" with Caleb, Isaac, and Eric from The Novel Elitists 09/16/2024

Episode 71: "Forgotten Lady" with Caleb, Isaac, and Eric from The Novel Elitists /episode/index/show/columboconfab/id/33081767

Sean and Steve on "The Novice Elitists" Podcast 04/21/2023

Sean and Steve on "The Novice Elitists" Podcast /episode/index/show/columboconfab/id/26614815

The Cabot Cove Confab Podcast 09/01/2021

The Cabot Cove Confab Podcast /episode/index/show/columboconfab/id/20341154

Episode 70: The End 05/11/2020

Episode 70: The End So this is it. To cap the podcast off, Steve and Sean discuss their top five and bottom five episodes in both the 70's era of "Columbo" and the 90's. They also reveal the plans for their next project! /episode/index/show/columboconfab/id/14298800

Episode 69: The Bye-Bye Sky High I.Q. Murder Case (1977) 05/04/2020

Episode 69: The Bye-Bye Sky High I.Q. Murder Case (1977) Accountant Oliver Brandt (Theodore Bikel) is threatened with exposure by his business partner for embezzling funds from their clients. Brandt executes a Rube Goldberg-esque murder scheme to murder his colleague at the home of the Sigma Society, a club for individuals with remarkably high I.Q.'s. Brandt soon finds out he may not be the smartest man in the room when Columbo is assigned to the case. Is this episode as smart as a tack? Or is it as dumb as a post? /episode/index/show/columboconfab/id/14259242

Episode 68: Murder Under Glass (1978) 04/27/2020

Episode 68: Murder Under Glass (1978) When affluent restaurant critic Paul Gerard (Louis Jourdan) finds himself in a pickle of a disagreement with the owner of a successful Italian restaurant, he kills the main by poisoning a bottle of wine. Columbo is hot on the case, and he's pretty sure Gerard is his murderer, but he can't figure out how the poison got into the bottle. Is this one a Michelin three star? Or is it as palatable as a gas station burrito? Listen in and find out what Steve and Sean think! /episode/index/show/columboconfab/id/14152499

Episode 67: Playback (1975) 04/20/2020

Episode 67: Playback (1975) Electronics engineer Harold van Wyke (Oskar Werner) murders his mother-in-law to retain his role in the family business and to cover up his extramarital affairs. When Columbo stumbles upon the crime scene, however, Van Wyke soon realizes that it's going to take more than just some fancy videotape equipment to outsmart the policeman. Is this one worthy of the top shelf at Blockbuster? Or will you find it in the bargain bin at Target? Listen in and find out what Steve and Sean think! /episode/index/show/columboconfab/id/14052854

Episode 66: Swan Song (1974) 04/13/2020

Episode 66: Swan Song (1974) In "Swan Song" (1974) country music artist Tommy Brown (Johnny Cash) is tired of being blackmailed by his domineering evangelical wife. He arranges a complicated murder scheme involving an airplane crash, some spiked coffee, and a parachute. Tommy's a nice fellow, despite his vices, but he keeps his cool when pursued by Lieutenant Columbo. Is this one worthy of the Grand Ole Opry? Or does it belong in the discount bin at Wal-Mart? Listen in and find out what Steve and Sean have to say! /episode/index/show/columboconfab/id/13937165

Mrs. Columbo: Caviar with Everything (1979) 04/04/2020

Mrs. Columbo: Caviar with Everything (1979) It's time once again for a "Mrs. Columbo" discussion, and we promise this will be the last one! In "Caviar with Everything" (1979) Caterer Sybil (Claudette Nevins) bumps off her business partner with an overly complicated involving caviar and train tracks. Is this one a smooth Russian sampling? Or can you find it on the bottom shelf at the gas station? Listen in and find out what Steve and Sean think! /episode/index/show/columboconfab/id/13847702

Episode 65: Lady in Waiting (1971) 03/02/2020

Episode 65: Lady in Waiting (1971) Ambitious and young, Beth Chadwick (Susan Clark) must get out from the thumb of her domineering brother to live the life she desires badly, so she shoots him as he enters her bedroom, pretending that she thought it was an intruder. Of course, things aren't that easy for Beth, because Lieutenant Columbo is on the case, and it only takes a newspaper on the hall table to set him on Beth's trail. What did Steve and Sean think of this one? Listen in and find out! /episode/index/show/columboconfab/id/13353380

Episode 64: Requiem for a Falling Star (1973) 02/25/2020

Episode 64: Requiem for a Falling Star (1973) In "Requiem for a Falling Star" (1973), when aging starlet Nora Chandler (Anne Baxter) has a motive for bumping off a gossip columnist but mistakenly kills her personal assistant instead, it becomes clear to Lieutenant Columbo that the death was a tragic murder-turned-accident...or is it? Is this one worthy of an Academy Award? Or should it be in the back pages of the newspaper? Listen in and find out what Steve and Sean thought! /episode/index/show/columboconfab/id/13287023

Episode 63: How to Dial a Murder (1978) 02/17/2020

Episode 63: How to Dial a Murder (1978) Psychiatrist Dr. Eric Mason (Nicol Williamson) uses his dogs and his love of movie props to murder his best friend for revenge for his adulterous affair with Dr. Mason's late wife. The stakes are raised when Mason finds himself being pursued by the pesky Lieutenant Columbo. Is the episode a blooming rosebud? Or is it for the dogs? Listen in and find out what Steve and Sean have to say! /episode/index/show/columboconfab/id/13173545

Episode 62: A Case of Immunity (1975) 02/10/2020

Episode 62: A Case of Immunity (1975) In "A Case of Immunity" (1975), a diplomat (Hector Elizondo) murders a colleague for his own financial and political gain. However, Columbo finds himself embroiled in foreign and political affairs when he quickly discovers who the killer is. Is this a tasty dish of curried beef? Or a rotting bit falafel in a gas station heater? Listen in and find out what Steve and Sean thought! /episode/index/show/columboconfab/id/13079969

Episode 61: A Matter of Honor (1976) 02/03/2020

Episode 61: A Matter of Honor (1976) We're back! We kick off lucky Season 13 of the podcast with "A Matter of Honor" (1976), starring Ricardo Maltaban as a murderous Mexican matador who bumps off a man who witnesses too much. However, Columbo's in town, and when he crosses paths with the local police, he can't help but get involved. Is this one worthy of a standing ovation? Or is it just a lot of rice and beans? Listen in and find out what Steve and Sean think! /episode/index/show/columboconfab/id/12976373

Mrs. Columbo: A Puzzle for Prophets (1979) 01/22/2020

Mrs. Columbo: A Puzzle for Prophets (1979) It's been a while since we brought our listeners a new episode, and while we promise more reviews of more "Columbo" episodes in the near future, check out our discussion of the "Mrs. Columbo" episode "A Puzzle for Prophets", in which Kate pits herself against a murderous medium. Is this one truly mystifying? Or is it worthy of James Randi's shoe heel? Listen and find out! /episode/index/show/columboconfab/id/12839462

Episode 60: Candidate for Crime (1973) 10/28/2019

Episode 60: Candidate for Crime (1973) In "Candidate for Crime" (1973), Nelson Hayward (played by Jackie Cooper) shoots his campaign manager because he knows where all the proverbial bodies are buried. Columbo must sift through a myriad of clues including a smashed street lamp, a broken watch, and a new jacket to pin the crime on Hayward. Is this episode a grand old party? Or is it not even good enough for the primaries? Listen to what Steve and Sean thought and find out! /episode/index/show/columboconfab/id/11793773

Episode 59: Old Fashioned Murder (1976) 10/21/2019

Episode 59: Old Fashioned Murder (1976) Ruth Lytton (Joyce Van Patten) commits a double murder to keep her beloved museum of antiquities open in "Old Fashioned Murder" (1976). Columbo will need to brush up on his knowledge of relics and drag out a few skeletons in the Lytton family's closet to solve this crime. Is "Old Fashioned" hip in a mid-century sort of way? Or does it belong in your grandmother's basement? Listen in and find out what Steve and Sean say! /episode/index/show/columboconfab/id/11672507

Episode 58: Now You See Him (1976) 10/14/2019

Episode 58: Now You See Him (1976) In "Now You See Him" magician The Great Santini (Jack Cassidy) is in a dilemma when his manager discovers he's a former Nazi and his holding his feet to the fire for a bigger share of the profits. When Santini kills him to keep his secret safe during his own performance, everyone's favorite rumpled detective is hot on the trail. Is this one worthy of David Copperfield? Or should it be reserved for showings at children's birthday parties? Listen to what Steve and Sean think and find out! /episode/index/show/columboconfab/id/11616221

Episode 57: Negative Reaction (1974) 10/07/2019

Episode 57: Negative Reaction (1974) When professional photographer Paul Galesko (Dick Van Dyke) bumps off his nagging wife and makes it look like the work of a kidnapper, Columbo must focus to bring down a killer who is as ornery as he is talented. Is this episode suitable for framing? Or should it be discarded into the fireplace? Listen in and find out what Steve and Sean think! /episode/index/show/columboconfab/id/11534399

Episode 56: Short Fuse (1972) 09/30/2019

Episode 56: Short Fuse (1972) In "Short Fuse" (1972) chemical genius Roger Stanford (Roddy McDowell) rigs an exploding cigar box to kill his uncle and inherit his position and stay within his aunt's good graces. But when Columbo appears on the scene, does Roger become too clever for his own good? Was this episode a blast? Or was it a bomb? Listen to what Steve and Sean have to say and find out! /episode/index/show/columboconfab/id/11438609

Bonus Episode: Mrs. Columbo: Word Games (1979) 09/16/2019

Bonus Episode: Mrs. Columbo: Word Games (1979) In this very, very special episode, we take a peek at the "Mrs. Columbo" pilot, "Word Games", starring Robert Culp as a lawyer who pays a professional assassin to murder his wife and then finds himself becoming a murder victim himself. Does Kate Columbo have the detective skills to outsmart this psychopath? Or is this worthy of a game of ding dong ditch? Listen in and find out what Steve and Sean thought! /episode/index/show/columboconfab/id/11251289

Episode 55: Dead Weight (1971) 08/05/2019

Episode 55: Dead Weight (1971) In "Dead Weight" (1971), Major General Martin J. Hollister (Eddie Albert) bumps off a former colleague to cover up his illegal doings and drops the body into the drink. The problem is, someone saw him do it! With no body and an eye witness who's slowly retracting what she saw as she becomes involved with the Major General, Columbo finds himself with his hands full. Is this four star episode? Or is it literally just a lot of fruit salad? Listen in and find out! /episode/index/show/columboconfab/id/10772453

Episode 54: A Friend in Deed (1974) 07/29/2019

Episode 54: A Friend in Deed (1974) What happens when Columbo's boss commits murder? We find out in "A Friend in Deed" (1974), in which police commissioner Mark Halperin (Richard Kiley) covers up one murder to blackmail his neighbor in covering up the murder of Halperin's wife. Is this one on the top ten most wanted list? Or should it be relegated to the pickpockets? Listen in and find out what Steve and Sean thought! /episode/index/show/columboconfab/id/10678112

Episode 53: A Deadly State of Mind (1975) 07/22/2019

Episode 53: A Deadly State of Mind (1975) In "A Deadly State of Mind" (1975), devious psychiatrist Dr. Mark Collier (George Hamilton) accidentally kills his lover's husband and uses the power of hypnotism to cover up. As Columbo shuffles through clues involving lighters, tires, headlights, and socks, Dr. Collier slowly realizes he's as trapped as a mouse in a maze. Does this one have a clean bill of health? Or should it be euthanized? Listen in and find out what Steve and Sean thought! /episode/index/show/columboconfab/id/10595951

Episode 52: Murder by the Book (1971) 07/15/2019

Episode 52: Murder by the Book (1971) In "Murder by the Book" (1971) mystery novelist Ken Franklin (Jack Cassidy) bumps off his writing partner and finds himself harassed by everyone's favorite rumpled detective. Will Franklin get away with not one - but two - murders? I this episode worthy of the bestseller list or should it be relegated to the bargain bin? Listen to what Steve and Sean have to say and find out! /episode/index/show/columboconfab/id/10507607

Episode 51: Troubled Waters (1975) 07/08/2019

Episode 51: Troubled Waters (1975) In "Troubled Waters", Columbo takes a busman's holiday while on a cruise with his wife. Executive Hayden Danzinger (Robert Vaughn) comes aboard with murder on his mind, and kills his lover to stop her from exposing their affair to his wife. There's lipstick, amyl nitrate, and plenty of rubber gloves and mystery on the high seas when Columbo agrees to take over the case. Was this one worthy of the captain's table? Or did it make us seasick? Listen in and find out what Steve and Sean thought! /episode/index/show/columboconfab/id/10425353

Episode 50: By Dawn's Early Light (1974) 05/13/2019

Episode 50: By Dawn's Early Light (1974) In "By Dawn's Early Light" (1974), Colonel Lyle Rumford (Patrick McGoohan) rigs a cannon to eliminate the man who wants to turn he beloved military academy into a boarding school. It looks like an accident...at least until Lieutenant Columbo arrives on the scene and strips away Rumford's slick veneer like an artichoke. Is this one worthy of a ten-gun salute? Or does it deserve a dishonorable discharge? Listen in and find out what Steve and Sean thought about it! /episode/index/show/columboconfab/id/9768344

Episode 49: The Most Dangerous Match (1973) 05/06/2019

Episode 49: The Most Dangerous Match (1973) In "The Most Dangerous Match" (1973) chess champion Emmett Clayton (Laurence Harvey) realizes he's going to be outmatched by his opponent Dudek, so he tries killing him by pushing him down the hotel's industrial-sized garbage disposal machine. This doesn't kill Dudek, however, only knocks him out. Worse, Clayton is now being pestered by Columbo and his questioning. Is "The Most Dangerous Match" fit for a king? Or is it a disappointing gambit? Listen to see what Steve and Sean have to say and find out! /episode/index/show/columboconfab/id/9663788

Episode 48: Murder in Malibu (1990) 04/29/2019

Episode 48: Murder in Malibu (1990) In "Murder in Malibu" (1990), greedy gigolo Wayne Jennings (Andrew Stevens) bumps off his fiance after she dumps him over the phone. Or did he? What does the victim's sister Jess (Brenda Vaccaro) know that Columbo doesn't know? Where did Andrew Stevens go to acting school and should he get a refund? Listen in and find out what Steve and Sean think! /episode/index/show/columboconfab/id/9564320

The Columbo Confab Podcast

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