Unlike a lot of people here, for me it is one of the worst "new era" episodes. Columbo formula is broken, and the atmoshpere is also not like Columbo, all this lavish lifestyle, music... I'd say "too modern" for Columbo
- two funny things in the very beginning, you can see Columbo's car behind the limousine just in the first seconds of movie, and then when the swimming pool is shown, you can also see Columbo in the background! What was he doing there? :D
- I can't stand this Sean guy
- this Tina girl is one of the most annoying character ever in the history of Columbo for me
- now when I of course know the ending it seems quite strange.. Sean and Dian are arguing in the beginning, and they know that secretary is listening, so they just play. As for playing they look too serious!
- Sean is talking on the phone, and says "you have to do it quick. Two minutes. Just do it". To whom is he talking to?
- why did Dian use a cream to her coffee on the airport?? I don't believe she would have predicted that somebody will pay attention to that
- it was always funny for me that in all of the movies, whenever somebody turns the TV on, always there are news about this particular case :)
- Sean told girls at the shopping mall "you have exactly two minutes". Hmm, what can you do in the shop within two minutes? :P
- how did he build and paint that wall after hiding body inside? so fast? he must have been a good builder!

I think most fans believe this is the cream of the new episodes.

Btw I heard a radio suspense play where the murderer was caught because his victim - whom he.buried under the floor boards-. had set her alarm clock.
Written by Jackson Gillis!

Funny story about the first time I saw this episode, on TV.

After Tina returned alive from Europe, I knew that this episode wasn't following the traditional Columbo "formula". I thought that, for once, they were spoiling Columbo's perfect record. There was a commercial break after Tina's return, the champagne celebration, and Columbo dumping his out in disgust. I thought that was the end, and I turned it off! It was late and I was tired. It wasn't until years later when I saw the episode again, and realized I had missed the final 15 minutes!

Interesting that this is the only episode where the murder takes place in the last 15 minutes instead of the first 15 minutes!

I like how there were similarities with the following three episodes:

Prescription: Murder - Imposter on the plane. Or not?

Blueprint for Murder - Columbo spends big bucks to find the buried body, and fails. Thus eliminating this technique as a future option.

A Trace of Murder - Watching how she takes her coffee.

[ Correction to above, again missing that EDIT feature ! ]

When Dian returns alive from Europe, not Tina.

Yeah, about thinking this would break Lt. " perfect record"...
I think that is what made this ep such a memorable one. They waited till the very last second for the GOTCHA!

This is one of the better of the later Columbo episodes, but I agree with Matti - I can't stand either the Sean or Tina character. The movie is enjoyable, but I find both of them incredibly annoying. I suppose that's a credit to the two actors.

I didn't like this episode at first, but it grew on me. I also can't stand Tina. She acted in the same phony way as Ed Begley's girlfriend in Undercover. I also thought it was kind of ridiculous that Sean and Dian would expect the police to get surveillance tape from England, notice the coffee, etc. It's a little far-fetched, but if you can get over that, it's a very entertaining episode. And I hated Sean so much that it was one of the best "gotchas". Literally in this case.

If I saw the episode for the first time today, I would immediately have thought that Dian had crossed the cartel and Hector Salamanca took care of things (for the Breaking Bad fans out there).

If I saw the episode for the first time today, I would immediately have thought that Dian had crossed the cartel and Hector Salamanca took care of things (for the Breaking Bad fans out there).

Absolutely, Pete! Last week was my first post-Breaking Bad viewing of Columbo Cries Wolf, and I immediately recognized Hector. First time I've seen him out of the wheelchair. I'm not familiar with the actor, so this was the first time I've seen him elsewhere.