In thinking about your comments I would have to agree that my viewing habbits coincide with yours. However I have never really made the connection until now.

I always find that when I've had a tough day at the educational front and bureaucracy has got me down then I turn to Fielding, Mr Brimmer, Dr Kepple or the Great Santini.

If I'm in the mood for a real relax then has to be A Friend in Deed or An Exercise in Fatality.

wow, i almost posted this exact same question once!

i definitely have different columbo habits depending on mood. and i'm not even sure others would agree with my reasons/assessments of the episodes. for some reason i find "by dawn's early light" to be a darker episode. even though i like it and especially patrick mcgoohan's performance, i am less likely to watch it on a day when i am feeling depressed.

on difficult days i am more likely to gravitate toward episodes with lighter/funnier or gentler characters, like Dr. Heidemann in "Stitch in Crime" or Goldie in "Blueprint for Murder." I am always cheered by the episodes where Columbo has gentle interactions with people...as with Suzanne Pleschette in "Dead Weight," describing her sculpted llama to him.

When I am in a mood to really focus on the episode and want to appreciate Columbo in his richest form, I will go for one of the trios with Robert Culp or Jack Cassidy....nothing better.

i can't watch "dagger of the mind" when i am upset. for some reason that hanging body just gets to me.

i love "ransom for a dead man," but have to be in the right mood for it...it is so long, and leslie williams is so evil. on stressful days i am much more likely to go for the jazzy, lighter tone of "prescription: murder." it just feels warmer and brighter (like paintings of soup cans!).