Hi, cass,
I enjoyed that episode, too. I'll admit (and i hope i'm not bombarded w/reasons why porno is good or acceptable) i really enjoyed this show, even though pornography was dragged into it. Yes! I'm a prude! but even I had to laugh when Columbo walked into that "shop" and the guy was in there in his raincoat. Thought that was really funny. Especially since it followed up the gal's comment to Columbo as he was walking toward the store, "do you want to show me what's under your raincoat." ... or something to that tune.
As for the poison, i can't answer your question. i did a quick search on ebay, since you're supposed to be able to buy anything over ebay. rest assured, you can't buy that poison on auction - at least not today, haha. maybe another fan that saw the first 30 minutes of the show caught that and will let us know. now that you've brought it up, i'm wondering myself as to where he'd have pick it up.
One more comment about this episode. i've never been comfortable w/the dog scratches. without ruining the ending for anyone who may not have seen it, i just have never seen a dog make such uniform scratches. i think they were reaching a bit w/that piece of evidence. jmo

hope everyone has had a fantastic weekend. it's "back to school" for my family!

~ kelly

hey kelly....you brought up a lot of good points...The thing about the raincoat was great...(Ted...no offense..but he almost looked like you did when you were on The View!! ) (You know, Ted, that I say that in the most kindest way!! )
Yes..the dog scratches were a bit much.....but I have to tell you....one of my husband's first dog's was named Sheba...he was black and white...and he was a honey for my honey...but the Sheba dog in this episode resembled a later dog of my husband's..he was called Apollo...so we had this dog which had the name of Sheba, and he looked like Apollo...and we just sobbed during the episode, because both of these pups are gone.........at least we have our Benny the Beagle.....
The scratch marks were a bit much...a little too identical...I know Columbo ordered a special lens for the camera to really show the marks..but it was a bit over-the-top........
Well..it was fun to see a newer episode...I will get to see one next Saturday too while I am down here with the Biography Channel...so I will see...
(My son doesn't go back to school until September...I miss him already!!...but I hope it will be a great year for your munchkin(s)!!! )

He could have gotten the poison off the gardener's truck, I believe it is an insecticide. Why was this not brought out in the show?

Joe

Very interesting Joe...sounds plausible.

Wonder if this was in the original script titled, I believe, "Smokescreen". Oh, Rex.....

Joe

Cass', far from being offended, I have to congratulate you on being so observant. The "raincoat pervert" in that scene did, in fact, strongly resemble me. (Except he's shorter, to be a better match for Peter, and to fit into what I assume was a Columbo "stand-in" raincoat copy.)

What I wouldn't give to have played that role! -- but it wasn't me, just a look-alike.

I'm glad you got to see that scene. It was always cut out during the years when that ABC episodes could only be seeen re-run on "The Family Channel".

For anyone who has not seen this often-cut scene, you can see a couple of stills from it, and a description, in the Scrapboook article "Columbo's Raincoat". It's near the end of the article, following much more raincoat lore:

http://www.columbo-site.freeuk.com/raincoat.htm

Thanks again to David Sherman -- who, coincidentally, sat next to me in the audience at "The View" -- for sending me a copy of the uncut tape.

Oh...good..I am relieved. I had posted that about you and then I looked at it later and thought maybe I shouldn't have said that......I would never want to offend the Grand Maestro!!