Re: How many times does Columbo appear before the murder takes place...
Oh you little heel nipper you!!!! You are right!!! After reading your post, Paul, I looked it up in the Columbo Phile and there it was...it said that "...for the third time Columbo makes a surprise appearance during the initial credits. .....singing....Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Yankee Doodle, My Darling Clementine....."
You are good, Boy!!!
Re: How many times does Columbo appear before the murder takes place...
Greenleaf, you are right...the chess one...The Most Dangerous Match...Columbo really does appear before the murder. Clayton has already pushed Dudek in the trash compactor....but he doesn't die...so Columbo does appear before the actual murder.
And the football/ice block one is The Most Crucial Game....very similar titles.