I've just read in more detail the "formula" and it was quite interesting.I would actually agree that this formula worked well. What was the series success is the writing and Peter's interpretation of this complex charactor,absolutley excellent.No doubt Peter is modest about the series but I trust his is duly proud of his work.
The wit, the remarks all are really great, they could easily be missed if not paying full attention.Columbo is rarely congratualed.But was called "genious by Alex Benedict(John Cassavetes)Astute by Dr Keppel (Robert Culp).
Yet Columbo never shows any form of emotion in catching the killer.Never shows any loathing for the killer.But just gets on and catches the killer no matter what.The timing is crucial with all the comments, remarks like "this bothered me" he seems to say this more than the usual comment he is associated by.Sorry to go on but Peter should be very proud of the series I trust he is,not forgetting all the baddies he caught along the way for all therir work.

I also like the way the killers in "Columbo Goes to College" apparently failed to realize how smart Columbo was, right till the end... just a couple of self-centered kids.

Columbo does express dislike for a few murderers -- A Stitch in Crime and Murder Under Glass come to mind, although I think Alex Brady of Murder, Smoke and Shadows may be the one he hated the most. Our hero certainly gloated more openly over trapping Alex than any other killer.

Russell Martin
He did show a slight dislike for alex brady, and rightly so.He was quite a dislikeable murderer. Quite a snivelling little brat,I wonder who was the charactor based on.