Columbo

Columbo (1971)

2 corrected entries in season 3

(34 votes)

Starring: Peter Falk

Genres: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Publish or Perish - S3-E5

Corrected entry: Riley pays hired killer Eddie off with a wad of bills which he says totals a thousand dollars. But just the top note in the cash roll he hands Eddie is a $1000 bill - so obviously, it's more than a thousand dollars. (00:05:00)

Jean G

Correction: It is not a $1,000 bill, but a $100 bill. The $1,000 bill (last printed in 1945) has either a large portrait of the bald eagle or the words United States of America (depending on the year). The bill seen has neither of these, and in fact you can see part of the Independence Hall portrait that's on the $100 bill. Additional evidence it is a $100 is the way 100 is printed, curving around the border, the $1,000 bill has the numbers flat or curving in the opposite direction.

Bishop73

Publish or Perish - S3-E5

Corrected entry: When Columbo talks with a publisher and agent at a fancy restaurant, he asks for Chili, which the snobbish waiter indicates they don't have. However, when asked by the publisher to help him out, the waiter returns minutes later with a bowl of chili, which would be impossible. You don't need to be a chef to know that chili takes two or more hours to prepare.

Correction: What he brought was probably heated up chili from a can.

Old Fashioned Murder - S6-E2

Factual error: In common with many other episodes, Columbo and all the other police officers at the crime scene hopelessly contaminate it - none of them wear gloves or protective clothing. Not one artifact recovered from the scene would be usable as evidence.

PEDAUNT

More mistakes in Columbo

Columbo: Oh, I didn't come to ask any more questions. I came to arrest you.

More quotes from Columbo

A Deadly State of Mind - S4-E6

Trivia: Unusually enough for a television show devoted to a homicide detective and the way he unravels the plans of cunning murderers, the fact is that Columbo has nothing to do in this episode. Doctor Collier is seriously assaulted by Carl Donner who then goes on to violently attack his wife. Use of deadly force to prevent such an attack is allowed in the United States. Collier does not commit murder; he doesn't even commit a crime. You'd think such a hightly educated man would know enough to keep his head, call the police and explain what had happened. He wouldn't even be charged.

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Show generally

Question: Why was Columbo never promoted, given that across the whole show he solves all the murders in such a spectacular fashion?

Answer: In the show, he was already a Lieutenant. A promotion would put him in the next rank up, which for the L.A.P.D. would be Captain. However, some of a Captain's duties would be overseeing other officers and ensuring they're compliant with policies, regulations, and standards. It would also most likely take him out of the field. This is something Columbo has no desire for as he rarely goes to police HQ's. Nor does he show interest in compliance and standards (for example, not going to his semi-annual evaluation at the firing range). However, he could still be assigned to a higher pay grade based on expertise, which is a form of promotion that does not include rank advancement. This would be going from Lieutenant I to Lieutenant II. I don't believe in the show it's ever started what his pay grade is. Although, in s02e01 (I believe) he mentions making $11K a year. Whether or not this was a true statement on his part, if you could find pay scale information for an LAPD Lieutenant in the 70's, it could give you an idea of his pay grade.

Bishop73

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