Columbo. Why was it so popular?
During the 1970s and 80s, Columbo was a very popular television series. In the 60s there were two excellent Pilot episodes, and during the 90s there were still episodes being filmed.
The series character, played by Peter Falk, was very different from the normal television Cop, no shoot outs, no car chases, no last scene fights. Columbo went against the grain, neither hero nor anti hero. From the very first pilot, nothing changed in terms of production layout. This layout was different to most Television Cop series. There would be a long drawn out murder so the viewer knew, who did it, how, and why.
The character Columbo was not a sex object or a man's man, in fact he was totally the opposite of what men or women normally like in their Cops. Columbo was scruffy, disorganised (on the outside), hated guns, was squeamish, and quite frankly annoying at times.
The pilot episode in 1968 was a blueprint for every other episode over the next decades. The traits that this episode introduced have become Television Legend, cigars, shabby raincoat, equally shabby car, and anecdotes about his wife and relatives, 'Oh, just one more question'. Columbo would always notice something trivial, that everyone else missed, this would lead to a suspect, and that poor person would be hounded day and night. This hounding would lead to mistakes, and then Columbo would quietly accuse them.
Television Success is based generally on copying or adapting, however, Columbo was so different it should have failed, but due to the consistent quality and probably that difference, it remains a classic, watched by millions around the world, even now. A television series is a set of ingredients with an unknown plus factor that compels people to watch. However close you try to copy success you are not guaranteed equal success. In Columbo, the factor was the portrayal of Columbo by Peter Falk. Put anyone else in that raincoat, stick a cigar in their mouth and have them stumble about, would lead to widespread derision, if they tried to make a serious return of Columbo.
There was always a certain amount of glamour in Columbo, the murderers were well known faces, who would go out of character by being the Baddie. After the killing, the guilty party would be unable to turn a corner or go into a room without Columbo being there. Viewers like glamorous settings, and as every killer was rich and successful, people could savour their lifestyles, and the contrast between the killer and the poor shabby Detective.
An episode was a little like a chess game, attack, defence, bluff, sacrifice. But always Columbo would check mate the killer, with no chance of their escape. Quality of script was always there, and although he was different, he was still mainstream, which is why he is so well known and loved around the World, even know.
Their is far more to this little detective than at first appears. Columbo had a reason for everything, like appearing dim and unprofessional. In fact he is a very fascinating character.
http://columbotvseries.org.uk
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