Frankly, the weirdest thing about Columbo from the perspective of modern network television isn't the narrative structure – it's the episode length. I'm checking Wikipedia right now to make sure I'm remembering this correctly, and apparently episodes of Columbo range from 73 to 98 minutes in length. Like, the shortest episodes of Columbo are on par with the longest episodes of Game of Thrones. The minimum length to be classified as a "feature film" is 80 minutes, so 50% of the episodes are technically movies. Including commercial breaks for broadcast television, this show would have originally aired in a two-hour timeslot. When folks remark on how weird it is that Columbo himself often doesn't even show up until the second act, you need to understand that what we're talking about is a show where the title character is often first strolling on screen thirty-five minutes in.
Columbo walking into a pool fully clothed and then drinking pool water.
The Most Crucial Game, season 2 episode 3 (1972)
Just one more thing…
Apparently, lots of mutuals liked how I draw Columbo! so here’s a preview of the stickers I’m making!watched columbo for the first time tonight it was so swag. i like how he doesn't show up for 15-20 minutes. he should get a subspace emissary style freezeframe and nameplate when he makes his first appearance in each episode
I've been watching Columbo with a friend, it really is the best, the absolute blueprint lmao. His shtick of playing up the hapless himbo routine and actually being secretly genius is so good.... there's a reason everyone loves him still today, if this show was airing now, whew
anyway, he's perfect, so I drew a bunch of em