Wow, I can tell you must be The Definitive Columbo Fan I didn't know those two eps were held in low regard by most fans and even Peter Falk. It's just not fair to the viewer to throw violence and, like you say, idiotic moments in a Columbo episode.

There's another rather odd ep that doesn't follow the typical pattern, a later one, and unfortunately I can't remember the name of it, but it has Peter's wife in it, and she plays one of two wives of the murderer. The murderer is a painter or sculpter or artist of some kind, and murders his first wife, and one of the clues is her contact lens (and also a painting). Again, it's not the usual Columbo, and I always feel cheated when I watch it. It's so suspenseful -- those "dreamy" sessions with the psychiatrist always give me the chills. And the monacle as a clue, well, that was rather far-fetched, I thought.
Carol

"Dagger of the Mind" is an episode that I enjoy a lot. I thought Basehart and Blackman were hilarious. The ending may be a bit far-fetched, but I think it is still clever and highly amusing!

"Dagger" is also the first episode of "Columbo" that I ever saw...way back in June of '98, so it also has some sentimental value for me!

welcome, carol! it is a fun board.

i agree with you re: dagger of the mind. in fact, i just posted about it under another topic. i dislike the over-the-top performances of both murderers and that horrible hanging body.

i also am not fond of the conspirators, and, in fact, particularly dislike the line about the pinball machine. it seems too self-referential for columbo. i like him better when he is humble and unassuming, and ends up trapping the murderer who totally underestimates him.

i agree with others on the board that columbo became arrogant (and at times goofy) in the later episodes. i think i read that richard alan simmons wanted columbo to be more intense and threatening (in a columbo-ish way) toward the murderers in the later episodes....but for me, having columbo appear in a dramatic cloud of smoke (as in "Bye Bye Sky High IQ") is much less effective than having him fumbling around looking for his pen when Leslie Williams opens the door in "Ransom."

hello Carol - i am Kat from Salt Lake City, Ut - great to have another fan on the board - i can relate to your joy - for the longest time all of my friends thought i was crazy - but i just knew i could not be the only fan of such a great show and this board proves it.

so welcome aboard!!!

Ain't it the truth?! I always kept my Columbo obsession a secret. And wow, but some of the people on this board are even more into Columbo than I am. They're like walking encyclopedias.
It seems like there are many more men on this board than women. Am I correct?
Also, I noticed C. Crisp posted something 4 hours before my time -- it was like 8:30 pm my time, and his/her post was time-dated the next day, 1:30 am. Have we ever polled everybody to see where everybody is from?
Sorry if you folks have already gone over all this. Carol

hi again carol. yes, there are so many people on this site that know their columbo stuff backwards and forwards and in between.. they are amazing.

there are a lot of beloved ukers (that's what i like to call them..because that is what they are ) on this site..and if you noticed, the time is set at uk time. that is 5 hours different than est.
i don't know if a poll was ever taken about where everyone lives but it sounds like a cool topic.

and yes there are many more guys here than women........why do you think i hang out here so much!!!