I agree completely, but I was trying to say that Columbo hints at even larger issues. The "good" see themselves as part of a whole, whereas the "bad" cannot see themselves as a part of the whole--they are "separate" and unto themselves. And people who believe in their separateness often view themselves as superior to the whole. While Columbo is eccentric as the dickens and quite the unusual character, he realizes that life doesn't revolve around him--he's a part of life, not the center of it. Columbo has--I think--a near religious message about the value of humility. Isn't pride the worst of the Cardinal Sins?

Interesting stuff...and of course we have the great Columbo line at the mensa club, something like "Here I am among the top 2% (etc etc) and I didn't even realize"!

Well Michael......what can I say?...........you bring up a very interesting and insightful point. And I believe that what you say is true. The humility of the Columbo character is what draws us to him...because in our own lives, that is the way most of us deal with things everyday. Those "others" are so filled with their own prestige and presence in life that they cannot imagine a world which didn't have them as a member. Their self-centered ways will not allow them to do so. And your point about Columbo being an almost spiritual experience is well-taken with me. You have made that fairly clear to me. The values he possesses...politeness..humility..are all things that are the makings of a blessed human being...and they are qualities which should be admired and emulated.

So eloquently stated! This sounds a bit far-fetched, but I'm sure you've seen those books with titles like "The Gospel in Peanuts" and the like. It would seem to me that an imaginative person could make the case for "The Gospel in Columbo."

Thank you Michael.
And yes, I have heard of those Peanuts books....they are quite similar to the books The Tao of Pooh and The Tao of Piglet....there is a deeper meaning to Pooh and Piglet....as well as Columbo.