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.
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The Lt. Columbo Forum
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Re: Double Columbo

HAH! Gotcha on that, didn't I, Cassa?

No, no, no. Dear Cassa, you are neither a moron nor a moroff. Peter Falk as Columbo and as the murderer... what a concept! I love it. Truly, I do!

Re: Double Columbo


Well at least someone had the "you know whats" to call me a moron!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Re: Double Columbo

Maybe the Columbo "double" could be the character Falk portrayed in the series prior to Columbo . . . unorthodox defense attorney Daniel J. O'Brien. The prob is that O'Brien was always the good guy, too. Or maybe it could be that for the first time in 30 years, Columbo fingers the wrong guy and O'Brien helps him get the right guy? I always loved the "Trials of O'Brian" and figured it was some kind of fluke that caused its cancelation. Does anyone remember what shows it competed against?

Re: Re: Re: Double Columbo

The first telecast of Trials Of O'Brien was Sept. 18, 1965 and the last telecast was May 6,1965 It was aired on a Saturday. It competed against:

ABC-Lawrence Welk Show
NBC-Get smart and NBC Saturday At The Movies

Re: Re: Re: Re: Double Columbo

Thanks for the info. Against Welk and Get Smart, it's easy to see how O'Brian could lose out in the ratings. I was just a kid but don't remember missing an episode. Great guest stars--Milton Berle, for example.

Re: Double Columbo

Interesting ideas there Michael. I have the pilot episode of Trials of O'Brien on tape.....Too Many Thieves...it had guest stars Britt Ekland and Nehemiah Persoff. Good show.

Re: Double Columbo

My advice to you is....get more sun!

Really though, I like this idea. The idea of him
being both the murderer and the detective out to catch the villain is a rather intriguing one. I don't know if it would be all that good, as it would depend on how comfortable Peter is playing two parts, and whether or not they went over the top with the idea. But I think it could be a lot of fun, if somewhat (well, perhaps very much) unrealistic. I think the idea of someone helping Columbo who looks almost identical to him may be be even more far-fetched, though it could be interesting as well.

Allowing for the idea of him playing the murderer, then of the 2 ways Jilted Barfly suggested the parts could be played, I think I would enjoy seeing both Columbo and the murderer have a similar kind of mind, and both going off at tangents with each other, if only for the rather bizarre entertainment value in seeing that happen. Though to be honest, I think the episode would work out better if they were opposites. But however it were to be done, I like the idea of seeing him playing two parts, idiotic or not.

Re: Re: Double Columbo

I haven't seen O'Brien since the final episode, but I think there's a lot of O'Brien in Columbo . . . though I believe O'Brien was something of a dandy. What I enjoyed about the show were the well-depicted supporting characters such as McGonogol (sp) and the secretary. Very different from Columbo in that not many recurring characters unless we count Dog.

Re: Double Columbo

Boy!! lots of great ideas here guys. Maybe everyone is getting a lot of sun!!!!!

Re: Double Columbo

I've never seen "Trials of O'Brien". If it's anything like "Late Night With Conan O'Brien," then it's probably pretty funny. I wonder if the two characters are supposed to be related?

Re: Re: Double Columbo

Daniel J. O'Brian was an unorthodox criminal defense attorney, who despite the luxury office with faithful secretary, was a gambler, pool player, bet on the horses, etc. He was either rolling in dough, or dead broke. Consequently, he was always behind in his alimony payments and paying secretary's salary, etc. Guest defendant each week in which O'Brien got off, of course. An investigator named McGonogol (dressed like a vaudeville comedian) was hysterical--carried around a large briefcase and the routine was that he had to go through it every time to find things. It was a great show, wonderful cast, and the only good thing about its cancellation is that Falk went on to do Columbo.