And no sexism here either....even though I am a woman...but I prefer the episodes where the murderer is a guy. It just sits better with me. Any thoughts on this?

I think a lot of the writers went out of their way to make the female murderers sympathetic. Rather than making those episodes better, it often interfered with the "he got the killer" satisfaction we get when Columbo nails a really nasty villain.

The best episodes are usually those when an arrogant jerk gets what's coming to him - "Murder by the Book", "Suitable for Framing", "Murder Under Glass". A lot of the episodes with female killers try to show that the killer really isn't all that bad and that Columbo regrets nabbing them. Sometimes it works ("Forgotten Lady" is a standout). But a lot of times it doesn't.

Though I loved Ruth Gordon, and thought Vera Miles and Honor Blackman were both pretty cattily good. For some reason, though I've only ever liked her on the X-Files, I feel that Gillian Anderson could do a good job.

Most definitely, Dirk. Maybe it was a sign of the times....but boy!! it was annoying!...I always wanted to see a male murderer..I never really enjoyed the murderer to be a female...........and as you say, the writers tried to make the females sympathetic...a ploy they used with some male ones...it worked for Donald Pleasence...and possibly Johnny Cash...but not for some of those women.....they were tyrants..Beth Chadwick??

All from season 5:

Dagger Of The Heart
A Case Of Immunity
A Matter of Honor

The only out of country episode I liked was Troubled Waters.

Last salute is simply too weird and spooky to grade. I still watch it and wonder whats going on and ive seen it a fair few times.

Forgotten lady is an amazing episode and is on Hallmark on sunday. I forgot all about that. 10 hours of columbo.

God bless,

Matthew