Matti, to several of your points:

* Talking Behind His Back - yes, I have always found it hard to believe that someone as sharp as Gerry wouldn't have heard or thought something was funny when Fielding started talking behind his back.

* Been There Before - actually, Columbo establishes that Chase was there previously for Gerry's birthday party.

* This is one of the better of the new episodes. I like the line where the policeman says to Columbo that "we have an EAR witness".

Along with WOLF...AGENDA...the best of the revival eps