The Lt. Columbo Forum

An area where fans from all over can ask each other questions and voice their own ideas and opinions on anything Columbo.

This Forum is fondly dedicated in memory of  "cassavetes45"  (Carleen Zink),
Columbo's greatest fan and a great friend to us all.
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Re: Which Murderer Irritated You The Most

The whole of Murder In Malibu was ridiculous to me, but I particularly hated the Brenda Vaccaro character, Jess:

Jess is shown to be quite intelligent and successful.
She believes (correctly) that a worthless gigolo/playboy (Wayne) is using her “baby” sister, Theresa.
Wayne is incredibly handsome and irresistible to women, except smart ones like Jess who see right through him.
Jess has a very close and protective relationship with Theresa and is also her business manager.
Theresa is found murdered and the prime suspect is Wayne.
Jess is convinced that Wayne is in fact her sisters killer.
Wayne, who can get any woman he wants, breaks down and confesses to the below-average looking Jess that he’s infatuated with her.
Despite the suspicion of murder on Wayne, and with Theresa’s body still warm, funeral arrangements to be made, etc., Jess hops into the sack and starts a serious romance with Wayne.

Does anybody else find this scenario ridiculous? Ugh! Overall I love the “new” episodes, but Malibu is close to No Time To Die In badness.

Re: Which Murderer Irritated You The Most

Yes, Pete, yet another thing wrong with this horrid episode.

Re: Which Murderer Irritated You The Most

I find the murderers in the newer episodes to be more annoying. I think they were puposely written that way. It's hard to beat the two frat boys in "Columbo Goes to College".

As far as the older episodes, I think the writing focused more on making the murderers arrogant and boorish rather than just plain irritating. But I agree, Beth Chadwick was pretty annoying. Roddy McDowall was a bit irritating too.

Re: Which Murderer Irritated You The Most

In some ways, Alvin Deschler. Don Gordon (who was always great a "hard luck" characters) really makes you believe in him as the "ex-con trying to go straight." And that makes him so grateful to Paul Galesco that he's naive about him, and look where that gets him.

Re: Which Murderer Irritated You The Most

Also Gene Stafford, for one of the same reasons. Philip Bruns was great at playing a "put-upon" character on the show MARY HARTMAN, MARY HARTMAN, and Gene is a really put-upon character. Ruth admits it about herself by saying "Between Milo and me, he didn't have anything BUT trouble." And of course trying to do something about it gets him murdered. So I don't have to dislike Milo Janus as much as some people do to be bothered about that one.

Re: Which Murderer Irritated You The Most

quid_quo_pro
I find the murderers in the newer episodes to be more annoying. I think they were puposely written that way. It's hard to beat the two frat boys in "Columbo Goes to College".

As far as the older episodes, I think the writing focused more on making the murderers arrogant and boorish rather than just plain irritating. But I agree, Beth Chadwick was pretty annoying. Roddy McDowall was a bit irritating too.
Yep....Justin and Cooper from Columbo Goes to College are (and have been) my top pick forever. All that potential and money and famous (somewhat) fathers - at least justins was. They were both two big putzes.

Re: Which Murderer Irritated You The Most

William Shatner irritated me the most. In both episodes, "Butterfly in Shades of Grey" and "Fade into Murder." He is so arrogant and self-centered, I don't even watch those episodes.

Re: Which Murderer Irritated You The Most

Just thought of another total creep. Dr. Collier. Murdering the very mentally ill Nadia Donner was very bad. Especially the way he did it.

Re: Which Murderer Irritated You The Most

Jarvis Goodland in the Greenhouse Jungle! His whole attitude to everyone, his nephew, his wife, Columbo!