Re: Which 'New' episodes hold up to the 70's series
I have a problem with the 2nd generation episodes. The villains are usually unfamiliar to me and the plots are not as interesting to me. I think the episode with Patrick mcgoohan as an Undertaker holds out as well as the first generation episodes.
Re: Which 'New' episodes hold up to the 70's series
Non. They were all a pale imitation of the 70's series. However if I had to choose one it would be "It's all in the game". Lots of interesting twists (if you've never seen it) and the end scenes are very good indeed. Faye Dunaway brought a real panache to the film and Lt Columbo was in awe of her.
Re: Which 'New' episodes hold up to the 70's series
Welcome aboard, Ash :) You named two that I really think hold up well in: "Wolf" and "College" and I'd also included "Death Hits the Jackpot" since Falk and Rip Torn play off each other so well and "Murder Can Be Hazardous to Your Health" since the way he breaks down the clues is very similar to the original series run.
Re: Which 'New' episodes hold up to the 70's series
"College" has one big fly in the ointment for me, and it's at the very end. One of my problems with the later series is how often it gave Columbo a sort of stereotyped "tough cop" partner to work with (as opposed to a "Sergeant Kramer" type), something that clashes with the whole idea of the show. I know a lot of people like seeing "those young punks" get what's coming to them, but when the partner grabs hold of one of them and says "C'MON!" in that bitten-off voice, it really annoys me, because it's such an "anti"-COLUMBO kind of moment.
As I said, it's a fly in the ointment in an otherwise very good one.
Re: Which 'New' episodes hold up to the 70's series
I don't know it well, but it's nice that "It's All In The Game" finally gave the show a "femme fatale" - I mean a character who becomes one with Columbo himself, as opposed to other men.
Re: Which 'New' episodes hold up to the 70's series
None. They are unwatchable. Falk seems tired and uninspired. The Columbo character is mostly a parody of himself. The plots and solutions are ridiculous. Instead of the realistic atmosphere of the 70s and murderers with substance we get a plastic phony atmosphere and annoying brats.
Re: Which 'New' episodes hold up to the 70's series
I used to call them unrecognized actors, but "Annoying brats" is a more accurate statement. I only enjoy the episodes that utilize actors I am familiar with. The exception to that was yesterday's episode Columbo likes the nightlife The Killers were "annoying brats" but Steve schirripa made the whole episode watchable for me. besides, I think it was John Finnegan's final Columbo
Re: Which 'New' episodes hold up to the 70's series
Bruce
I used to call them unrecognized actors, but "Annoying brats" is a more accurate statement. I only enjoy the episodes that utilize actors I am familiar with. The exception to that was yesterday's episode Columbo likes the nightlife The Killers were "annoying brats" but Steve schirripa made the whole episode watchable for me. besides, I think it was John Finnegan's final Columbo
Columbo likes the Nightlife was everybody's final Columbo. :wink: