Even a great episode like this, admittedly isn't perfect, and there is just one flaw in the episode that keeps it from being perfect IMO. I don't mean the fact that Columbo failed to explain away the possbility that Grace could have just fallen asleep when the reel broke, which is minor, or the inconsistency in the Carson show being a Friday show (June 27, 1975 BTW. The guest he's interviewing is Della Reese) and then suddenly the next day is Friday.

Raymond goes back to change the reel and catch it at the precise instant it's ready to make a switch so he doesn't miss much of Carson. In that case, since over fifteen minutes were lost when the reel broke, then isn't it a stretch that Raymond would still arrive at the precise instant that it was time to make a reel change without skipping a beat? Or did they establish that the changes took place on a reel every 15 minutes which would at least explain why Raymond would not arrive to a situation where he'd be thinking, "Hmmm, why does the reel still have this much time to go when it's never been that way before?"

Of course, if Raymond has done this particular film a number of times, he should surely be aware how long the running time is. Unless Grace has only in very recent times started this habit of watching movies late at night and he hasn't yet familiarized himself with how long a particular film runs.

This is the kind of flaw that admittedly isn't as serious since you only really think about it after multiple viewings. That's a testament to how strong the episode is character and story wise!

Well Eric there is one factor why Raymond may not have noticed that the film was running longer than usual.........if you recall he was hitting that chardonnay pretty hard!!!

While we are on the subject of anniversaries, I will note that today (September 15, 2005) is the 45th anniversary of when Nora Chandler's husband disappeared.

Very Good David.

And on this date September 15th....Murder by the Book first aired in 1971, and Excercise in Fatality first aired in 1974.