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.
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
The Lt. Columbo Forum
Start a New Topic 
Author
Comment
Episode Titles

Just watching Suitable For Framing on Cozi TV right now and I was reminded how much I like the title of this episode and how appropriate it is. It’s a nice play on words for both the art aspect and the attempt to frame Aunt Edna. One of my favourite episode titles.

Some are not so great though such as Bye Bye Sky High IQ Murder - too long and awkward of a title.

Anyone have any particularly favourite titles or least favourite titles?

Re: Episode Titles

I always kind of wish "The Conspirators" weren't such a "straightforward" title, because almost all the others are more unusual, just as you say. But it's not like it doesn't make sense.

To me, about the best one is "An Exercise In Fatality." It's a play on "an exercise in futility," but it's also about Milo's profession. So it's two different kinds of wordplay.

Re: Episode Titles

So many good titles. Just off the top of my head: "By Dawn's Early Light" not only plays off the killer's military character by quoting the national anthem, it also hints at the key clue that solved the case.

Re: Episode Titles

Death Lends A Hand is a good one. Not only does Brimmer kill Mrs. Kennicut with his hand, but by being death in her murder, he lends a hand to the investigation.

Re: Episode Titles

Yeah I’ve always thought Death Lends A Hand was a great title as well, also one of my favourites.

I like when the title immediately identifies the episode in your head. Requiem For A Falling Star was always one that didn’t seem ideal to me. And I always thought it was identifiable to Forgotten Lady.

Re: Episode Titles

I agree about Requiem and Forgotten Lady. I have a similar issue with Double Exposure, which always makes me think of the Negative Reaction episode. Ironically, Negative Reaction is one of the best titles in the entire series, but that doesn't stop my brain from taking a wrong turn.

Re: Episode Titles

Those two also make me have to stop and think through which episode is which each time, despite seeing them both 50 times each 😁

Re: Episode Titles

"Murder By The Book" is an appropriate title for the episode. Ken Franklin actually uses his own idea in the Mrs. Melville books to kill Ken Franklin. However, Columbo mentions that the way he killed Lilly La Sanka was sloppy and "Mrs. Melville would be disappointed."

Apple TV has, I believe, the first seven seasons of Columbo. Unedited. I am sure it is the first five seasons. It's nice to have him back.

Re: Episode Titles

So many times over the years Bye Bye Sky High IQ Murder has made me think of Roddy McDowell in the cable car with the cigars over the floor rather than the actual episode. Also I find it difficult to remember which Jack Cassidy author episode is which.

Re: Episode Titles

"A Friend in Deed" is a catchy play on words. Indeed --> "In Deed", as in both friends helped each other with a very dirty "deed".

As already mentioned above, "Negative Reaction", "Suitable for Framing" and "An Exercise in Fatality" are excellent. And don't forget about "Any old Port in a Storm" (port wine play on words).

I never liked the title "Murder Under Glass", never made much sense to me.

Re: Episode Titles

I don't usually watch the later episodes. But the one that I do watch is "Uneasy Lies the Crown". I enjoy that one and it took me awhile to figure out what the title meant but did figure it out.