My feeling is that "putting out fires" was always Kay's job. I agree that had Mark not been killed, she would have done much of the same thing that day EXCEPT that Mark would have jumped in and either canceled the show or taped it so Valeie would not have to perform live.

I think she did the work and Mark just delegated to her what had to be done. I can't see Mark editing The Professional the way she did on the first scene. That's not something you do just before being promoted to run the whole network. Mark delegated to several people but trusted Kay in several key areas. That's why he jokes, "Kay Freestone guarantees a 40 share". He is teasing her because if she says the film will be ready in 3 days, then the film will indeed be ready in 3 days. I don't think he really expects a 40 share rating, but he's teasing her because he knows how hard she worked to perfect that film.

That's why the motive for the killing is really two-fold. I think she felt Mark betrayed her both professionally and personally.

Things that I don't like in this episode:

1) it has the worst filler of all time when Columbo is alone in the production booth playing with all those silly buttons; (it would have been much nicer to fill the episode with more scenes involving Mark and Mr Flanagan, especially if those scenes enlightened the viewer as to Kay's motive on the killing; both actors were great in this episode, too);

2) the carnival/carousel scene at the end. I find it loud, distracting and unsophisticated. I realize Kay was supposed to be "on location" but it would have been more interesting to see the inner workings of an interior shoot of something enlightening to a a real movie production. Instead, we are subjected to cloying carnival music and more camera special effects that don't hold up well over time.

It's either the last or second to last episode of the original 70's run, and these 2 silly scenes are kind of indicative of what's to come on the 90's episodes.

Having said that, I still really liked this episode. I just think it could have been even better.

I definitely agree about that scene with Columbo in the production booth, JenSam. I've been showing the series (first seven seasons, at least) to family in the last couple years or so, and that's the only scene in any episode where I could tell there was an awkward feeling among the audience. The scene does nothing to move the story, and it's one of the few (if only) instances in the first seven seasons where the humor intended seems to fall completely flat.
I know many fans consider "Last Salute to the Commodore" to be an unbearable episode, but for me, even though it's quite strange and awkward, I feel the humor is done artfully and is absolutely hilarious. This production booth scene, however, is, as you pointed out, meaningless filler that, for me, doesn't even fulfill a need for a humorous diversion.

I thought the humor in "Last Salute to the Commodore" was pretty funny. I assume you're referring to the driveway scene. I love seeing Robert Vaughn's hair blowing in the wind.

I think that episode is ok, but not one of my favorites. I like the fact that there are 2 murders and that the viewers originally think Vaughn is the murderer. I also like that it's the only episode to deviate from the original Columbo formula, where the audience usually sees the murder in the opening scenes.

In my opinion, the best things about "Make me a Perfect Murder" are the smart characters. I think the Mark MacAndrews character is attractive and entertaining. I really wish he hadn't been the victim so we could have seen more of him. (Luckinbill is actually a fine actor. Unfortunately, many people in younger generations only know him for his dumbed down performances in Murder She Wrote. I think the director asked all guest stats of Murder She Write to dumb down their performances.).

I also like the Mr Flanagan character. Not sure if Patrick O'Neal is making fun of studio bosses with his indecisive manner , but he's believable in the role and fun to watch. I like the scene where he's watching The Professional and he's sitting at the edge of his seat. I always wondered if he ad-libbed his 'shush" to his underling in that scene.

The shush was in the script: http://leethomson.myzen.co.uk/Columbo/Columbo_7x03_-_Make_Me_A_Perfect_Murder.pdf

This apparently was an earlier version, I find it fascinating the differences compared to what was aired. For example Columbo watches "The Professional" with Kay instead of with the TV repairman.

Also, the stage directions give us a lot of clues. Also some random trivia like the fact that the character in the Professional is named "Roark".

I thought there were a few other instances in "Commodore" that were great, but, yes, the scene in the car is one of the major highlights. Also, in regards to "Murder She Wrote", I agree that the show had dumbed-down characters. It seems as though "Columbo's" inverted-mystery (I believe that's the correct term; not exactly sure) format allowed for a richer exploration of its characters, while "Murder She Wrote's" traditional mystery format was too focused on plotting and maintaining the core mystery throughout each episode that it had little opportunity to develop each character or performance. I've never actually viewed any other mystery programs other than these two, and wonder if there ever has been a traditional mystery series with characters as deep as in "Columbo"?

Also, thank you, Clay, for posting that link! I've often wondered whether one could find "Columbo" scripts online, so I'm very grateful for your posting that (though I realize it was in response to an earlier post, and not to satiate my desire to find "Columbo" scripts online )

Glad you enjoyed the script Bryce! The same site has scripts from three other episodes. Lots of good stuff there.

Fantastic! I'll have to check all those out. Thanks again, Clay!

But this is part of the reason why this episode is not among my favourites: we are supposed to think Kay is competent, but this decision is so bad that I have trouble accepting her as being competent in the first place. I suppose the point is that she's a good 'number two' but not cut out to be number one - but apparently the Valerie Kirk show was always supposed to be live, and the bosses went along with this the whole time??

It's a little like the mistake the chess champion Emmet Clayton makes when losing a match in the simultaneous chess tournament when Columbo is bugging him: it's the shortest checkmate possible. I can accept that he would be distracted into making a mistake, but not that particular mistake.