Tom Cruise would make an excellent Columbo villain. Perhaps the small screen is not his thing, though I would think he could make an exception for a show as internationally loved.

Really liked the idea of Cruise as a villain. How about a murder occuring during the filming of a reunion show from the 70's? One in which there was some publicized tension--Laverne and Shirley, MASH, etc. Motive might have something to do with residuals, unhonored contracts, etc. Of course, reassembling the casts would be expensive.

Michael, that's a FANTASTIC idea! The only thing wrong with that is, I wish i had thought of it first!!

Glad you liked it. I was also thinking along the lines of a cop show that was 180 degrees different from Columbo, shows whose plot lines and detective techniques were along the lines of Starsky and Hutch or whatever that show was with the two motorcycle cops? And the Tom Cruise idea I don't think is farfetched . . .

C.H.I.P.S??

CHIPS, of course. As I recall there was some tension on that set from Eric Estrata and whoever his partner was. The playing of a Columbo villain would be the challenge of Estrata's acting career. Which might bring up a new topic of . . . who would be the most unlikely Columbo villain? Both Bob Keeshan and Fred Rogers are deceased--but I bet they could have pulled it off.

Yes...good old conceited Erik Estrada as Ponch Poncherello..and Larry "white bread" Wilcox as Jon Baker.

As far as unlikely murderers? How about Kermit the Frog??? ...pretty unlikely.......But Miss Piggy is a different story!! She would make a great guest murderer!!

Actually I was going more for people like Durwood Kirby. Hey, there's a reunion of I've Got a Secret and . . . but most of those folks are, unfortunately, no longer with us.

Not to discount Miss Piggy's homicidal abilities, but I was thinking in terms of actors of some ability-- who on the surface we wouldn't think of as Columbo villains--but may have the talent to pull it off. Carl Reiner? Ray Ramono? Kelsy Grammer, mentioned earlier, would be fantastic, but what about Niles?

No one could ever discount Miss Piggy!! And she may have a few words to say to you Michael about her acting abilities!!!

But if I could think of some "real" person who would be an unlikely murderer....how about James Garner....or Bill Cosby...or Tony Danza...Alan Alda...or Doris Day...???

And to take this a step further.....wouldn't it have been great to see the wonderful Vito Scotti as a guest murderer!!....oh the fun he and Peter would have had filming that one!!

Cassa, with Vito Scotti as the guest murderer, now that's the one I wouldn't mind sitting in on! Say, how about Tom Hanks, Billy Crystal, Danial Stern, Jack Palance and Joe Pesci?.

Some good picks there Stan....especially Tom Hanks and Billy Crystal.