List one or two of your favorite indirect insults that were spoken to Columbo. Whether it was meant to be directed at him or not, I have a couple to offer up to start.
Col. Rumford: " I wear our uniform. You wear.... I suppose you could call that a uniform"
Helen Stewart: from Dead Weight. "Some people don't want to look like an unmade bed"
Columbo Goes to College also has that great moment when they ask Columbo if he gets a lot of offers on his car... and then ask if he gets offers on his suit, too. "Ahhh, you guys are pullin' my leg."
Ken Franklin in Murder by the Book has a subtle dig the first time he meets Columbo. " Just how long have you been a lieutenant, lieutenant"? Mrs. Melville would have put it together like that.
Oh, so sorry he thinks the fictional character from the books ( that he didn't do any of the writing on) is sharper than Columbo. Makes me want the arrogant self centered Ken Franklin caught.
In Requiem for a falling star, Columbo pulls up to the Movie Studio guarded gate and the guard looks at his car and thinks he is there for the demolition derby car crash scene. He proceeds to tell him where to go for the scene. Columbo says he doesn't know anything about that, he's a cop. The Guard lastly asks him if he's ever thought of getting another car. Columbo says he has one but it's nothing special, just for transportation......so Hilarious........
In Requiem for a falling star, Columbo pulls up to the Movie Studio guarded gate and the guard looks at his car and thinks he is there for the demolition derby car crash scene. He proceeds to tell him where to go for the scene. Columbo says he doesn't know anything about that, he's a cop. The Guard lastly asks him if he's ever thought of getting another car. Columbo says he has one but it's nothing special, just for transportation......so Hilarious........
And in the same episode Fallon tells Columbo that he would never Typecast him as a detective.
I'm not sure if it does, but if this includes completely accidental ones, there's Arlene Martel having to explain to him that she's quoting the price of the band not an entire watch.
Of course, he doesn't take it badly and neither would I.