#Columbo undercover part two series
#Columbo undercover part two tv

These weren’t all intended to be Columbo mysteries : Two of the very worst Columbo episodes, Undercover from 1994, and 1992’s No Time to Die, weren’t originally written as adventures for the Lieutenant at all, and BOY does it show. I’d argue that it’s harder to dig these guys than it is to dig Cassidy, Culp, Gordon, McGoohan et al

#Columbo undercover part two tv

Many of them, although undoubtedly talented, could have been cast in just about any other lesser TV show of the time. It made it more difficult to connect with the killers, because it was harder to really dig the actors. “Had Columbo only existed in the 80s/90s I shouldn’t think anyone would still be talking about the show today.”Ĭalibre of the guest stars: Okay, there were some notable exceptions (Faye Dunaway, Patrick McGoohan, William Shatner, George Hamilton), but as a rule of thumb the standard of guest star killers in the new episodes was at a different stratosphere than we were treated to in the 1970s. That’s not what I want for the character. Worst of all, some of the affected mannerisms just came across as him being an annoying old codger, like your Granddad acting the fool. He wasn’t really playing it for laughs in the same way he seems to be in some of the new episodes. 70s Columbo was sometimes very funny ( Negative Reaction has some real rib-tickling scenes, for example), but Falk’s portrayal of the Lieutenant was generally on the level and restrained. The subtlety, the believability, has gone.Ĭritics have also slammed Falk’s broader comedic turns in the 80s/90s episodes, and I tend to agree. In the new episodes the character feels more forced, as if Falk himself is doing an impression of the younger Columbo – or even a parody. The mannerisms and actions seemed natural and believable for the character. Falk’s Columbo subtly evolved through the 70s episodes. Guess which episode was filmed in the 90s?įalk’s portrayal had changed: As discussed above, Falk brought back all of Columbo’s idiosyncracies to the new series. Not necessarily bad, just normal, not standing out against other shows of the time, and not being nearly as inspirational or memorable. Had Columbo only existed in the 80s/90s I shouldn’t think anyone would still be talking about the show today. Indeed, the newer episodes more often feel rather bland and workmanlike. And where are the cutting edge camera work and editing techniques that so defined the classic series? Conspicuous by their absence, that’s where. Gone are the sumptuous scores that graced each 70s episode, replaced by saxophone swill, overuse of the ‘This Old Man’ theme, and the occasional pop hit.

The production values were different, too. By way of comparison, ‘first class’ in the 80s and 90s seems a lot more sleazy and a lot less, well, classy. Music, fashions, automobiles, it was first class all the way.

#Columbo undercover part two series

The original series provided us with a glorious snapshot of 70s opulence and fine living. TV had changed: Time waits for no man, and the world of the late 80s and 90s, when the bulk of the new episodes were produced, was massively different from the late 60s and 70s. The essential ingredients were there, but the end result, reasonably often, was something of a let down.

Falk reprised the role, of course, and he brought back with him the coat, the car, the cigar – even Dog. The Columbo formula, so well established between 1968-78, was largely unchanged. Enough time has elapsed to allow for a level playing field in terms of passing judgement.Īnd on the surface, much was the same. “There are several gems tucked away amongst the ‘new’ episodes that really stand up to repeat viewing.”īut why was that the case? Surely it’s not simply a case of rose-tinted glasses? After all, the oldest ‘new’ episode is now more than 25 years old the newest, well over a decade.

But when comparing apples with apples, the quality of the new episodes compared to the old is almost always found wanting. There are several gems tucked away amongst them that really stand up to repeat viewing. If you’ve ever read my article on my top 10 favourite Columbo episodes, you’ll have noticed that not one of them is from the new batch. And by ‘new’, I mean any of the 24 episodes released on ABC between 19. In fact I’d watch almost any ‘classic’ Columbo outing before I delved into the ‘new’ ones. Give me a choice of any episode and I’d be diving straight into the 70s classics.