...and the same piece of music that alex benedict conducts in 'etude' is also heard during the scene in 'the most crucial game'..when columbo notices that there is a problem when the recptionist is on the phone..and it messes up the audio of the music.

That song in both episodes is called "Pass Me By" and is first heard in the 1964 Cary Grant movie "Father Goose". Since that was a Universal movie, I guess there was no problem on the rights issue.

I'm sure that the end music on "Ransom for a Dead Man" is repeated as background music in a club in the first Season...I think it's in "A Lady in Waiting" when Columbo meets Leslie Nielsen's character near the end to clarify his witness statement....

Can somebody confirm this?

The ending music for "Ransom for a Dead Man" also shows up in the scene in "Stitch in Crime" where Columbo drives up to Dr Mayfield's house where that Yuppie party is being held--BTW I think the scene where Columbo is wolfing down the food while talking to Mayfield and then gets a tummy ache from eating too fast is absolutely priceless! One of Peter Falk's greatest moments as an actor.

The basement in "Most Dangerous Match" was also used in an episode of "Banacek." Same metal staircase!

The "Ransom For a Dead Man" music also shows up in "Murder By the Book" (while Ken Franklin and Lilly La Sanka are dining) and "Publish or Perish" (while Riley Greenleaf is feigning being drunk and threatening Allan Mallory.)

Ken Franklin's Mercedes in "Murder By The Book" was also Elliot Markham's Mercedes in "Blue Print For Murder". Same license plates too. However, Elliot did remove Franklin's "Have A Nice Day" bumper sticker!