I don't understand how the squibs would be affected by the arm of the record player. They're attached to a battery with wires with clamps on either end, but nothing that I could observe would've sent an electric current to them to set them off, unless both clamps touched against each other, thereby completing the electric circuit. Maybe I'm missing something.

I'll have to rewatch it, but i think you're right. Given the IQ levels, it seems a rather, well, less than genius contrivence.

Yes, I'd have to agree. The set-up itself is clever but the execution left me puzzled. Also, when the other geniuses present Columbo with their theories, it actually makes them appear to be not-so-smart, or maybe perhaps a little too eccentric (e.g. the suicide theory). Although the young girl is on the right track when she guesses that the murder was premeditated and not a robbery.

It's been a while since I watched it but if I remember correctly, one clamp is attached to the metal arm carrying the stylus. The second to the metal stop on one side and the third on the stylus arm cradle.

The record player stops at the set point and the stylus arm swings back to touch the stop. Just before this it taps the pen that falls and hits the book. When the metal stylus arm hits the stop it completes the first circuit.

The arm then swings back and rests in the cradle which completes the second circuit.

The arm being metal acts as a bit of wire.

That's how I think it was supposed to look like.

No, there's only two wires/clamps attached to the record player and neither of them are attached to the metal arm. I assume that the writers/producers wanted viewers to believe that the metal arm making contact would be sufficient to trigger the battery and thus set off each squib, though that still wouldn't be logical absent an electrical current within the metal arm.

Regardless, I really do enjoy the episode.

I understand now.

As I said,its been a while since I've watched that one. I never realised there were only two clamps.

Also, for a genius, there are a couple of other flaws in his plan. The unnecessarily obvious line across the book to mark the balance point for example. Also the firing sequence being bang bang fall and the covering sound sequence being bang fall bang. Given how elaborate the set up you would have thought every angle would have been covered.

Yes, I agree. There would need to be another wire attached to the stylus in order for the squibs to activate. Also, given how elaborate the set-up was, I don't understand how he was able to simply reel the wires back in without disturbing anything. Also, he forgot to shut the window at some point in order to prevent the door in the back of the room from closing whenever someone opened the door from the main hallway.

Yeah, Michael, a unique part of that Bye Bye plot with the other Mensa members was that each one of them offered-up a truthful tidbit to the case that, while framed as insanely goofy or dumb ideas, was actually correct. Even the dude who invokes "up the chimney" wasn't off base either.