yes.....I dislike this episode too..it is in fact a Whodunnit...giving it a bit more intricate plot I suppose...but I find Falk in this episode to really be in self-parody....he's really DOING Columbo and at times it seems very obvious and over the top....very rare for him....in my opinion...

I must admit though that Bryce has made some very strong Pro points...

I don't hate the episode actually. For the most part, I don't mind a little shake-up of the formula now and then and Falk IMO phoned in a "caricature" performance in more notable ways than this one (especially all through the 90s).

yes...the 90s full of caricature...but as for the golden era...this one s up there

I liked it; actually, it's one of my favorites from the original run.

I get the departure-from-the-tradional-formula complaint. It just does not bother me that much.

I especially liked

a few of my favorite non-recurring actors/characters: Mac (Dennis Dugan) and Kittering (Wilfrid Hyde-White) in the Columbo meets Mac and circling the driveway scene, and closing stencil explanation/murderer-is-identified scene.

my favorite recurring actor/character: Bruce Kirby as Sgt Kramer trying to help Columbo quit cigars, holding the lamp upside-down, etc.

my favorite recurring actor in non-recurring role: John Finnegan as the guard. I love the way he talks, and his dialogue with Columbo is always entertaining.

I know there are some good elements to this episode. But the other day I misplaced my remote and had to watch it. Definitely not my favorite.