Columbo is a friendly, verbose, disheveled-looking police detective who is consistently underestimated by his suspects. Despite his unprepossessing appearance and apparent absentmindedness, he shrewdly solves all of his cases and secures all evidence needed for indictment. His formidable eye for detail and meticulously dedicated approach often become clear to the killer only late in the storyline.
Étude in Black 7.4
Air date: 1972-09-17
Runtime: 97 min
Overview: The mistress of a conductor becomes a target for murder after threatening to tell all to her lover's wife.
The Greenhouse Jungle 7.0
Air date: 1972-10-15
Runtime: 74 min
Overview: Jarvis Goodland, along with his nephew, plan a kidnap scam to break the nephews trust fund, but after the money has been collected, Jarvis kills his partner.
The Most Crucial Game 7.2
Air date: 1972-11-05
Runtime: 74 min
Overview: The manager of a football team kills the team's owner, disguising himself as an ice cream vendor as a cover. He then uses a recording of a faked phone call as an alibi to prove he was elsewhere at the time of the murder.
Dagger of the Mind 6.3
Air date: 1972-11-26
Runtime: 98 min
Overview: While on a work trip to London, to learn the techniques of the British police, Columbo gets involved with the murder of Roger Haversham, a rich old businessman who is financing the careers of two rundown theater stars. When Sir Roger threatens to end their careers, because he felt betrayed, he's killed. A short while after, his butler figures out the motives for his master's murder, and blackmails the actors, who have no other choice than to kill him and make it look like he commited suicide due to remorse, because he murdered his employer. Columbo stills manages to catch both the murderers, with the help of a pearl and a new umbrella.
Requiem for a Falling Star 7.3
Air date: 1973-01-21
Runtime: 74 min
Overview: A fading movie star tries to murder a writer who is attempting to blackmail her, but accidentally kills her P.A.
A Stitch in Crime 7.9
Air date: 1973-02-11
Runtime: 74 min
Overview: Leonard Nimoy plays a heart surgeon whose talents turn to murder. Stung by jealousy, he's planning a surgical death for his brilliant but ailing associate. Will Geer plays the intended victim.
The Most Dangerous Match 7.2
Air date: 1973-03-04
Runtime: 74 min
Overview: A chess grandmaster disposes of the champion, who keeps coming back on him.
Double Shock 7.5
Air date: 1973-03-25
Runtime: 74 min
Overview: A wealthy man is murdered; his twin nephews stand to inherit, but which one committed the crime?