Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 18

March 24, 2025: Our Columbo rewatch continues with The Greenhouse Jungle!

Our Columbo rewatch continues with….

“The Greenhouse Jungle”

This episode aired October 15, 1972

The character of Sgt. Wilson makes a second appearance seasons later in “Now You See Him”, but his name changes from Frederic to John.

Arlene Martel, who played Gloria West, was the vulcan T’Pring in the original Star Trek’s “Amok Time”. Eagle-eyed viewers who joined our Outer Limits rewatch will also recognize her as Consuelo Biros from the seminal “Demon with a Glass Hand”.

Sandra Smith, who played Cathy Goodland, was also a Star Trek veteran, appearing as Dr. Janice Lester, a diabolical scientist who occupies Kirk’s body, in “The Intruder Within”.

Ray Milland returns following his season 1 appearance in “Death Lends a Hand” but with a full head of hair this time! (Spoiler: He was wigged)

No stuntman was used for the sequence in which Falk tumbles down the incline. It’s uncertain whether Falk planned the stunt or simply lost his footing on the way down.

My thoughts on this episode in chronological viewing order…

Wait. Is her wife checking in on her husband in his separate bedroom?

“I know all about your skills in the office.” Zing!

Hang on a second. This guy gifted his wife and mistress a signed photo of himself? Okay, this guy deserves to die.

Ah, classic patrol cop, not recognizing Columbo.

Still, it’s nice to hear Columbo has received some recognition around the office. Levinson and Link, who were no longer involved in the show’s day-to-day operations, bristled at this, preferring Columbo to be the low-key detective that travels under the radar.

So, is Sgt. Wilson the sidekick character the network had been demanding for years? I do like how Columbo plays him, skirting the line between entertaining and patronizing.

The wife not reacting to Columbo’s news about her husband is very strange and goes beyond what the character knows at the time. It’s just an odd way to play the scene.

They’re asking for 300k is the equivalent of about 2.5 million today, a reasonable ask but, in the case of this victim, I would say absolutely not. I mean, look at that hairstyle!

Hey! It’s William Smith as hunky Ken Nichols! At one point, he apparently held the record for doing 5,100 sit-ups in five minutes. He was an amateur boxer, kung-fu enthusiast, two-time arm wrestling champion and, according to my internet sources, an ex-CIA and NSA spy. But 11-year-old me will always remember him as Falcon Eddie (his character’s name was actually Falconetti but that made less sense to me at the time) in Rich Man, Poor Man.

Columbo popping up from behind the row of plants in the greenhouse is classic Columbo – very hard to buy, and kinda ridiculous.

“That was a lucky thing,”states Columbo about the money being available. Oh, he’s on to them!

A good point is raised. Why IS a homicide detective asking to stay on a kidnapping case?

I know many fans of the show love this Sgt. Wilson character for his brief appearance, but I don’t really see what he adds besides some scant opportunities for humor.

A great act out! Falling at the 37 minute mark, this must be the latest murder in a Columbo episode.

Love Columbo bringing in his sickly potted plant for a second opinion.

Jarvis seems a little too quick with all of the answers to Columbo’s quandaries.

Clearly, Columbo has Jarvis rattled.

“That’s obvious.” “Yeah, awfully obvious.” Nothing gets past Columbo!

I laughed at Gloria trying to convince Columbo that Tony would only swing by her place “to talk”.

Gotta say, I’m not loving a lot of the guest performances in this episode, but I am liking Arlene Martel’s clueless Gloria. Great little scene where you think she’s gone to see Jarvis in order to blackmail him – and get herself killed in the process (Shades of Lily La Santa!) – only it turns out she actually suspects the wife! Had she been 30 seconds later with her theory, Jarvis would have added her to his kill list.

Okay, I’ve known some pretty sound sleepers in my time, but this scene is absolutely ridiculous. And the instances where it looks like Cathy is about to wake up only to roll over and go back to sleep are actually comical, and I don’t mean that in a good way. This episode, directed by Twilight Zone vet Boris Sagal, is kind of a disaster.

Why the hell would Sgt. Wilson go pay Cathy a visit with his sirens blaring?

Didn’t realize Columbo’s favorite chili place has a patio.

It appears as though they’re using those metal detectors to look for loose change behind the couch cushions.

They’ve been over that closet twice with the metal detectors and missed the gun? These guys are truly inept. It’s no wonder everyone thinks so highly of Columbo.

How the hell does Columbo keep gaining access to the greenhouse? I mean solarium?

I actually prefer Grover over Wilson.

Man, that is a fast turnaround on that ballistics report!

Good thing Jarvis never tidied up around the place!

Well, this one was…not so good. While I did love Columbo and all of his little moments of standout humor, I thought all of the guest performances, with the exception of Arlene Martel’s, were annoyingly one-note. A better director would have pushed the cast for more nuanced performances but, clearly, Sagal was not up to the task. There were just too many sequences that stretched credulity to the point it felt like I was watching a parody of the show – ie The stakeout hanging back while Tony races down the hill to get the money, then races back up and down the other side where Jarvis’s car is waiting for him. I mean, why bother showing up a all?

Ludicrously fast turnaround on the ballistics report notwithstanding, the Gotcha moment hinges on Columbo being very very very lucky, and Jarvis being very very very sloppy, which ultimately makes for a dramatically unsatisfying ending.

So, where does this episode place in my ongoing Episode Ranking? Well, I’m glad you asked: #1 Death Lends a Hand, #2 Suitable for Framing, #3 Prescription: Murder, #4 Murder by the Book/Ransom for a Dead Man (tie), #5 Etude in Black, #6 Lady in Waiting, #7 Blueprint for Murder, #8 The Greenhouse Jungle #9 Dead Weight, #10 Short Fuse

Finally, let’s look at the evidence Columbo has gathered and ask ourselves whether Jarvis would be looking at a GUILTY verdict or at an ACQUITTAL. Well, given that ballistics report, I don’t think Jarvis talks his way out of this one. GUILTY!

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March 23, 2025: Sharky Sunday!

Showing off his vocals and song writing skills…

Acapulco?  Alcapulco?

Headed to the airport…

Montreal-bound…

Meditatus Interruptus…

Out and About with Sharky…double coffee outing!

Crispy shrimp!

PB Time!

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March 22, 2025: 100 Supervillain Stories – #4-#6: Lex Luthor! Kraven the Hunter! Sinestro!

#4. “Lex Luthor: Man of Steel” (2005)

A look into the mind of Superman’s arch rival Lex Luthor to discover what drives Luthor in his tireless quest to rid the world of Superman.

Writer: Brian Azzarello
Penciler: Lee Bermejo
Inker: Lee Bermejo, Mick Gray, Karl Story, Jason Martin
Colorist: Dave Stewart, Lee Bermejo
Letterers: Rob Leigh, Phil Balsman, Pat Brosseau, Nick J. Napolitano

I found this reframing of Luthor’s motivations for wanting to rid the world of Superman fascinating as he is driven, not by personal ambition or petty jealousy, but a sincere distrust of Superman as an outsider, a powerful alien whose god-level powers and abilities could, one day, be turned against humanity. Thus, his misinformed mission is to warn humanity of the dangers presented by the man of steel before it’s too late. But as we watch Luthor’s carefully crafted plot unfold, we ask ourselves “Does the end justify the means”? and it doesn’t take long for any level-headed reader to answer no in this case it doesn’t. But the fact that Luthor undoubtedly believes so, that killing civilians, children among them, is the price to be paid for the greater good demonstrates a villain who is as equally mad as he is brilliant. And yet, for all of the death and destruction he causes over the course of the story, he remains unnervingly objective and seemingly devoid of emotional vulnerabilities – which marks him as perhaps the most dangerous of Superman’s foes. That said, his repeated breaking of his word, killing of innocents, and sacrifice of those once loyal to him paints him as a less nuanced, less sympathetic character in comparison to the likes of Dr. Doom or Magneto.

#5. “Kraven’s Last Hunt” (1987)

Kraven the Hunter has killed every animal known to man. But there is one beast that has eluded him: the web-slinging Spider-Man. To prove that he is the hero’s master, Kraven will don his costume and become the wall-crawler…after he shoots and buries him six feet under.

Writer: J.M. DeMatteis
Penciler: Mike Zeck
Inker: Bob McLeod
Colorist: Bob Sharen, Janet Jackson, Mike Zeck
Letterer: Rick Parker

Published in the late 80’s when books like The Killing Joke and Watchmen were heralding a darker turn in comic book storytelling, Kraven’s Last Hunt presents a grim tale that explores a hitherto C-list villain, granting him lethality and gravitas far beyond his previous appearances. DeMatteis’s detailing of Sergei Kravinov’s obsessive pursuit of his most dangerous game is a riveting slow-build descent into madness complimented by Zeck’s atmospheric and, at times, unconventional artwork. Haunting.

#6. “The Sinestro Corps War” (2007)

Sinestro has gathered an army of soldiers fueled by the fear they instill in others. And as one of the Book of Oa’s prophecies comes true, the Green Lantern Corps makes a last stand that reveals the reincarnation of one of their fold!

Writers: Geoff Johns, Dave Gibbons, Peter J. Tomasi
Pencilers: Ethan Van Sciver, Ivan Reis, Patrick Gleason, Angel Unzueta, Pascal Alixe, Dustin Nguyen
Inkers: Oclair Albert, Prentis Rollins, Drew Geraci, Vicente Cifuentes, Julio Ferreira, Rodney Ramos, Rob Hunter, Mario Alquiza, Jamal Igle, Derek Fridolfs, Tom Nguyen, Dan Davis, Rebecca Buchman
Colorists: Moose Baumann, Guy Major, Jerry Ordway, David Curiel, JD Smith
Letterers: Rob Leigh, Phil Balsman

In terms of landmark books, it’s tough to top this 18 issue, multi-title tie-in cosmic event. The scope and scale of the story and its visuals are enormous, Its exploration and expansion of Lantern lore delighted hardcore fans while leaving some more casual viewers overwhelmed. I landed more in the latter category, occasionally mired down by the complexities of the mythology while, at other times, finding myself somewhat exhausted by the extended high-stakes battles. Standout for me were Ethan Van Sciver’s gorgeous detailing and character designs as well as the work of other artists and the book’s overall vibrant green and yellow palette. Unlike a lot of critics, I didn’t find it particularly compelling as a character study although I did find Sinestro’s machinations fascinating.

The post March 22, 2025: 100 Supervillain Stories – #4-#6: Lex Luthor! Kraven the Hunter! Sinestro! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

March 21, 2025: Our Columbo rewatch continues with…Etude in Black!

This episode aired September 19, 1972

The Benedict’s home would later appear in the opening credits of Benson (1979).

Because the show found early success in a 90 minute format, the network, of course, decided to tinker with what worked by insisting on longer episodes. As a result, Steven Bochco’s original 90 minute script was rewritten by writer-producer Dean Hargrove to fit the requested 2 hour format. Said series co-creator Richard Levinson: “Against all our advice, they pushed the show to two hours. They did it for financial reasons. You could charge more for more commercials. That part of it made good business sense, especially with an expensive show. It was easier to justify going over budgets. But the show was bloated at two hours. It was too long for this show to hold.”

Bochco felt much the same way: “Columbo was crisp at ninety minutes. It worked best at ninety minutes. At two hours, it was a bit indulgent and inflated.”

Series star Peter Falk felt much the same way: “Some of the two hour shows are alright. As a rule, you were safer at ninety minutes. You can tell the story better in ninety minutes.”

Series producer Dean Hargrove would, 14 years later, reuse the same flower clue for his pilot of Matlock (1986). Levinson would later remark: “Well, you can’t copyright a clue.”

The network kept on asking the producers to give Columbo a young sidekick, so Levinson and Link responded by giving them a dog. Falk, however, was not enamored of the idea. He revealed: “[Director]] Nic Colasanto loved the idea. My reaction was, he has the coat, the car, the car, the wife. That’s enough. He doesn’t need anything more. Nic said “Can I show you the dog?” I was “Well, if you want to, Nic, but I tell you, I’m against it.” Then he brought in the dog. I said “You’re right. That’s Colombo’s dog.“ There was no name you could give this hound – just Dog.”

Sadly, the original canine performer to play Dog passed away at some point during the show’s run and was replaced by a younger pooch. According to Falk: “The second dog was much younger than the original, so they had to put make up on the second dog to make him look older. Now I’m no time at all in makeup – one, two, three and I’m ready to start shooting. I’d go in early in the morning, I’m sitting in one makeup chair, and they’re making up the dog right next to me. I’m out in no time and waiting to start because the dog is still in makeup.”

Although he was called Dog on Columbo, the basset hound got the proper name of Henry, the fire house on the t.v. series Emergency where he was a recurring character as well.

John Cassavetes, a friend of Peter Falk’s, agreed to appear in the episode in exchange for Falk agreeing to star in his next film, A Woman Under the Influence (1974), and financing half the movie’s $250,000 budget.

Director Nicholas Colasanto would later find fame as Ernie ‘Coach’ Pantusso on the television series Cheers (1982).

Actress Blythe Danner was pregnant with Gwyneth Paltrow during the filming of this episode.

My thoughts in chronological viewing order:

Why does that suicide note look like a wedding invitation?

Right from the get-go, Alex Benedict is pretty suave – the early promise of worthy adversary!

Some ten minutes in and I have to say, this is a pretty dynamic, well-directed episode. Apparently Falk shared directing duties with Cassavetes on this one.

No one notices him running around in broad daylight or parking his car out front of the murder house? Hmmmm.

Great cutaway to the screeching bird for the killing blow.

Jenifer spelled with one N? At first I thought “He misspelled her name. That’s how they’re going to get him!” But no. Apparently, there was an adult film star named Jennifer Welles at the time so the production elected to spell their Jenifer with the single N.

Aha! Wifey reacts to hubby knowing Jen’s number off by heart!

Great sequence cutting back and forth between the concert and the crime scene.

The freeze-frame on Benedict’s realization he dropped his flower is truly a cinematic choice of its time.

Columbo adopted a senior dog, rescuing him from certain death! My kind of guy!

Why would Columbo be investigating a suicide? I mean, I do love the scene where he explains why he can’t accept the prospect this beautiful young woman took her own life, but wouldn’t the decision to investigate be up to the department and not him?

“I’d like to see everyone die of old age.” Nice.

I love the fact that his new dog is an actual character and running gag throughout this episode.

Why is this douchebag wearing sunglasses indoors? It would make me instantly suspicious – and annoyed – of him.

Also very much enjoy Columbo’s occasional mentions of his wife, like the fact that they both enjoy listening to the Maestro’s music.

Paul’s freakout over Jenifer’s death feels weirdly brief. He’s in and out in less than a couple of minutes.

Love this precocious youngster reprimanding Columbo for locking his dog away in his car.

It’s a young Pat Morita as…”The Houseboy”?

I see Columbo is back to smoking his cigars – in people’s homes no less. A fun little scene but this is clearly little more than padding, one of the extra scenes added by Hargrove to hit the requested 2 hour run time.

Columbo makes $11k/year. That’s about 80k/year today.

Benedict: “Who’s that (sitting in my car, revving my engine)?” Mechanic: “Don’t know. He said he was a friend of yours.” Wut? “Oh, you’re a friend of his you say? Well then he are the keys to his car. Help yourself!”

Columbo, the animal lover, notes the victim did not make plans for her beloved bird. Nice catch.

Columbo’s hypothesis on what is wrong with his car “To tell you the truth, I think the engine is missing.” is a great line.

Love Columbo playing Chopsticks at The Hollywood Bowl. Over and over and over again!

Another great catch re: the typewriter not being aligned!

The speedometer! One more piece of circumstantial evidence.

“Just one more thing…” It’s now being investigated as a homicide. Great throwaway.

Columbo visiting the kid in dance class is weird enough, but smarmy Audrey (How old is she? 13?) responding to his “I’m very impressed with you.” with “Really? Is it my body or my mind?” was a decidedly weird moment.

Did Cassavetes spend any time studying actual conductors or is he just waving that baton around willy nilly? It really looks like the latter.

I found it odd that, rather than just bringing Audrey a photo of Benedict to identify, he brings the kid to rehearsal so she can make an in-person identification. I don’t know. Maybe he does so to unnerve Alex. However, having the kid identify Paul instead is a great twist.

Aha! Yet another scene in which Columbo asks for a drink. Isn’t he on duty?

Did not love the plot-driven contrivance of the vet just happening to watch a rerun of the concert – which gives Columbo the idea to check the tape.

The appearing and disappearing flower!

The episode is over and he never named his dog!

Overall, there was a lot to really love about the episode – a calculating adversary in Alex Benedict, a wonderfully unexpected performance by the great Myrna Loy as Lizzie Fielding, dynamic direction, some delightfully character-specific comical moments, and, of course, Dog. On the other hand, I thought Benedict’s murder plot (racing through the streets and stealing his car in broad daylight) really beggared belief. While I found the ending dramatically satisfying, I did have issues with this particular Gotcha moment. Having said all that, despite the extra 20 minutes or so tacked on, this episode flew by and never really dragged for me. I’m sure I won’t be able to say the same of future 2 hour episodes.

Finally, it’s time to consider the evidence Columbo has gathered and ask ourselves whether our murderer would be looking at a GUILTY verdict, or an ACQUITTAL. Alas, this brings me back to my issue with the Gotcha moment. While certainly dramatic, that flower is proof of nothing. Tough to say how wife Janice would respond if the case goes to trial. Would she testify against her husband? Without knowing for certain, I’d fall on the side of ACQUITTAL.

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March 20, 2025: Shakespeare updated! A Columbo reminder! And awaaaaay we go!

They’re renaming Shakespeare’s plays for modern audiences!

The tragedies…

The comedies…

Akemi and Sharky and I are off to Montreal for 10 days.  Wish us luck!

In the meantime, a reminder that our Columbo rewatch continues tomorrow with…

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“Étude in Black”

A ruthless conductor murders the gifted pianist with whom he is having an affair. Lt. Columbo is on the case.

Our updated viewing schedule:

Friday, March 21st: Etude in Black
Monday, March 24th: The Greenhouse Jungle
Friday, March 28th: The Most Crucial Game
Monday, March 31st: Dagger of the Mind
Friday, April 4th: Requiem for a Falling Star
Monday, April 7th: A Stitch in Crime
Friday, April 11th: The Most Dangerous Match
Monday, April 14th: Double Shock

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March 19, 2025: Amazing Covers!

A few that caught my eye this week…

Daredevil: Unleash Hell #3 – cover art by Ivan Talavera

Psylocke #5 – cover art by Ben Harvey

Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #37 – cover art by Yasmine Putri

Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #37 – cover art by Adrian Guttierez

Catwoman #74 – cover art by Dan Panosian

2000 AD Prog #2411 – cover art by Trevor Hairsine

So, which were YOUR favorites?

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March 18, 2025: 5 famous films original titles (round 4) – answers revealed! 100 Supervillain Stories continue with #2 (The Killing Joke) and #3 (Magneto: Testament)!

5 famous films and their original titles (Round 4) – Answers revealed!

The Coldest City = Atomic Blonde (Based on the comic book, The Coldest City, by
@AntonyJohnston
and Sam Hart).

Head Cheese = The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Head Cheese was the working title in early development but later changed to Leatherface during production, and finally The Texas Chainsaw Massacre prior to the movie’s release).

Nothing Lasts Forever = Die Hard (The movie is based on the 1979 novel Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp and was renamed Die Hard during production).

Scared Sheetless = Beetlejuice (The movie was originally pitched as Scared Sheetlets by writers Michael McDowell and Larry Wilson but, with Tim Burton coming on board to direct and the Beetlejuice character gaining prominence in subsequent rewrites, it was decided to change the title).

Star Beast – Alien (Writer Dan O’Bannon was unhappy with the original title he deemed too generic and, while considering alternate titles, purportedly reviewed the script and, noting how many times the word “alien” appeared, decided it would prove the perfect title).

How about we move on to t.v. with – 5 Famous Television Shows and their original titles?

Continuing our 100 Supervillain Stories….

#2. “The Killing Joke” (1988)

Escaping the confines of Arkham Asylum, the Joker sets out to blur the line between sanity and insanity, comedy and tragedy. And he’s going to use Gotham City’s top cop, Commissioner Jim Gordon, and his daughter Barbara to do it.

Writer: Alan Moore
Penciler: Brian Bolland
Inker: Brian Bolland
Colorist: John Higgins
Letterer: Richard Starkings

One of Batman’s most celebrated stories is also one of its most controversial, a tale lauded for its exploration of the fine line separating sanity and madness, and the complex relationship that binds Batman and the Joker, yet criticized for its depictions of cruelty. Writer Alan Moore would later express regret for some of the story’s nihilistic elements, particularly the violence perpetrated against Barbara Gordon, as well as its influence in ushering in a darker approach to storytelling.

I agree that the cruelty inflicted on Barbara feels gratuitous and ultimately ill-advised from a narrative standpoint, reflecting more an inelegance and lack of subtlety in the storytelling than a manifestation of the Joker’s depravity, but I would still argue these negative elements don’t eclipse the story’s strengths: the Joker’s tragic yet ambiguous backstory, the dual examination of Batman and the Joker’s respective psyches, and, of course, Brian Bolland’s beautiful artwork.

Speaking of Bolland, he had intended for “The Killing Joke” to be told in black and white, but DC balked. Years later, for the 2008 Deluxe Edition, Bolland would recolor it in more muted tones that he thought better reflected his original vision.

There’s some debate about the ending. Does Batman kill his arch enemy in the closing panels or is their shared laugh a rare moment of personal connection, like that flashlight beam offering a ray of hope that will inevitably lead to disaster and heartbreak. I lean towards the latter.

Some of these stories will no doubt survive the test of time better than others and “The Killing Joke” is an example of one that may not have fared as well in retrospect, but that still cannot undermine the importance of its contribution to the evolution of storytelling in comics.

#3. “Magneto: Testament” (2009)

The definitive origin story of one of Marvel’s greatest icons begins with a silver chain and a crush on a girl – and quickly turns into a harrowing struggle for survival against the inexorable machinery of Hitler’s Final Solution.

Writer: Greg Pak
Penciler: Carmine Di Giandomenico
Inker: Carmine Di Giandomenico
Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth
Letterer: Natalie Lanphear

A grounded origin story almost devoid of super power trappings, Magneto: Testament offers an account, at turns grim and harrowing, of one of history’s darkest moments as seen through the eyes of young Max Eisenhardt, a boy who would grow up to become Magneto, the Master of Magnetism. Carmine Di Giandomenico’s art and Matt Hollingsworth’s colors do a wonderful job of reflecting the tale’s bleak tone. Author Greg Park’s well-researched narrative works as an educational resource as well as a gripping exploration of the human will to survive against the darkest of odds, yet I would argue it doesn’t work quite as well as a supervillain origin story as, outside of a brief instant where it appears Max instinctively disrupts the trajectory of some bullets, saving his own life, we don’t really see the flowering of his mutant abilities. One could argue this makes the story more accessible to readers who may be turned off by the more fantastical elements typical of comic books but, in all fairness, this IS as presented a supervillain origin story and, given what we later learn about Magneto’s abilities – how anger and emotional trauma end up triggering them – it feels a bit of a letdown that we never really see these abilities manifest. Still, despite this, it’s a bold, historical retelling that humanizes one of Marvel’s most storied villains.

The post March 18, 2025: 5 famous films original titles (round 4) – answers revealed! 100 Supervillain Stories continue with #2 (The Killing Joke) and #3 (Magneto: Testament)! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

March 17, 2025: Our Columbo rewatch continues with…Blueprint for Murder!

This episode aired February 19, 1972

This is one of the rare Columbo episodes where the murder is committed off-screen.

The secretary’s desk is the same desk used by Investigator Brimmer in “Death Lends a Hand” and lawyer Frank Simpson in “Suitable for Framing”.

The blue convertible Elliot Markham uses to transport the body of his victim was the same blue convertible Ken Franklin used to transport the body of his victim in “Murder by the Book”.

The scene in which Markham blows a tire and is offered help by a passing patrol officer was originally written for “Murder by the Book” but moved to this episode. Steven Boccho wrote both.

Series creators William Link and Richard Levinson elected to finally honor their contractual obligation to Falk by allowing him to direct this episode – which happened to be the most challenging of the first season scripts, saddling Falk with scenes at a construction site that proved as tricky as they were frustrating. Levinson admitted: “From the standpoint of difficulties, we gave him the worst one to direct.”

According to Mark Dawidziak in his book The Columbo Phile: “Levinson and Link would drive over to Century City so they could smile down on the harried director. Falk would pause long enough to shake his fist at them.”

To prepare himself for his first directing gig, Falk consulted former Columbo director Steven Spielberg as well as his good friend John Cassavetes (with whom he would co-direct “Etude in Black”, the season 2 premiere).

During the sequence in which the construction crew dig up the site, Falk requested more extras to make the scene more dynamic, but the studio refused, so he ended up hiring 25 actors and paying for them out of his own pocket.

“Our feeling was that he did a good job directing, but not so good playing the character,”said Levinson, citing Falk’s more harried portrayal in contrast to past low key performances.

Falk, either turned off by the experience or displeased by the results would never take the director’s reins again.

My thoughts on this episode in chronological viewing order:

“You were in Europe. There was no way to get in touch with you.” Wut?!

Man, that was a lame smack. The sort of glancing blow you would give someone to humiliate and provoke them.

Great reveal of Markham sitting in the back seat of Bo’s car.

Interesting that we don’t see the murder. I suppose that, at that points, it’s just superfluous.

Columbo asking about how Jennifer and Elliot met – he’s suspicious of them!

Love the segue from the second wife’s “He’s very much alive” to the first wife’s: “He’s dead.”

Why is the masseuse dubbed by someone whose first language is clearly not Japanese?

I like shy Columbo echoing the nude model scene in “Suitable for Framing”.

Can I say how much I love Janis Paige’s performance as Goldie Williamson. The highlight of this episode.

The cassette deck in the car sequence goes on for a while.

Presumably witnesses can place Bo at the race track prior to his death. Why aren’t Columbo and the police pursuing that line of questioning? If they did, they could find the body and wrap this up at the 45 minute mark, saving themselves so much time and trouble.

“Do you want a half a candy bar?” – Probably my favorite line in the episode.

Love the fact he goes to interview Bo’s doctor who insists on giving him a check-up.

Man, Markham really DOES love his classical music, listening to it full blast as he broods in his office. Subtle, this aint.

Columbo’s sudden entrance here just comes off as weird and stagey.

He likens Columbo to a tick. Perfect.

Strange that Columbo needs to shout to be heard at the construction site but Markham speaks at normal levels.

Love this double sequence where Columbo is forced to deal with government bureaucracy and must waste time standing in line only to get nowhere. He really needs an assistant. Overall, the extended sequence is a bit of a stage weight, but it’s a lot of fun so I’ll excuse it.

Goldie is pretty touchy-affectionate with Columbo. Does she have a crush on our diminutive detective?

The beat where the patrol cop asks him to pop the trunk so he can help his change the tire is a brilliant bit of suspense.

Pretty clever set-up on Columbo’s part. In the end, Markham did not possess the genius of those early murderers.

“Carnegie Hall and Nashville. They don’t mix.” My second favorite line of the episode.

Love the final shot of Columbo thinking twice about the cigar and then stubbing it out. At this point, Levinson and Link had no idea whether or not the show would be back and felt the moment offered a nice little button on the character.

Overall, a pretty good episode. Solid script and direction with some wonderful moments of humor and a delightfully kooky performance by Janis Paige. I felt the only real drawbacks were the rather obvious failure to check the racetrack and Patrick O’Neal’s somewhat lackluster performance as our main baddie. In the previous episode, Roddy McDowall was pretty OTT but, in this episode, O’Neal plays it so sedate that his performance sucks a lot of the fun out of his scenes with Falk.

As a result, my current episode rankings would be: #1 Death Lends a Hand, #2 Suitable for Framing, #3 Prescription: Murder, #4 Murder by the Book/Ransom for a Dead Man (tie), #5 Lady in Waiting, #6 Blueprint for Murder, #7 Dead Weight, #8 Short Fuse

Finally, we come to the point in our review when we ask ourselves whether Columbo has enough for a GUILTY verdict, or is our murderer looking at an ACQUITTAL. Alas, having been caught red-headed with a body in the trunk of his car, it’s lights out for Markham. GUILTY!

The post March 17, 2025: Our Columbo rewatch continues with…Blueprint for Murder! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

March 16, 2025: Sharky Sunday!

Delicious venison…

Sharky demonstrates proper use of a lick mat…

Messy boy…

Special tuna treats from Japan!

Wrestling with dad…

Snoozing with dad…

 

 

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March 15, 2025: My Zoucheng’s Thirteen Confusion Tombs of International Crime Shows!

My friend, Trung Phan asked for some international crime show recommendations. He asked for my Mt. Rushmore but, to be fair, this list is more like my Zoucheng’s Thirteen Confucian Tombs. The recommendations are based on his parameters (relatively short runs and no drop off in the quality of the writing). I suggested the following…

Blinded by the Lights (Poland – 2018)
8 episodes
Charting seven days from the life of a cocaine dealer whose perfectly organized life begins to sink into chaos while he is forced to make the most important choices in his life.

Boy’s World/Blood on the Asphalt (Russia – 2023)
8 episodes
The late 1980s. While parents fight for survival in a changing world, children fight for the territory. Two 14-year-old boys, Andrey and Marat, are seeking protection and support amid violence and poverty – and find it on the streets.

Braquo (France – 2009-2016)
32 episodes
A dark realistic cop series follows a squad of Paris cops who exist in the blurred boundaries at the very edge of the law, often using violence and intimidation to get the job done.
[Like a French version of The Shield. It goes hard.]

De Dag (Belgium – 2018)
12 episodes
A team of negotiators and special forces respond to a hostage situation in a small bank, with the events unfolding through the eyes of the criminals and their victims.

Divisao Palermo (Argentina – 2023+) – Comedy
6 episodes but ongoing
A ragtag civilian patrol squad created to improve the image of the police inadvertently put their lives at risk when confronting some strange criminals.

Farzi (India – 2023)
9 episodes
An artist is pulled into a murky, high stakes con job while a fiery task force officer embarks on a mission to rid the country of his menaces in a fast-paced, edg-of-your-seat kind thriller.

Line of Duty (United Kingdom – 2012-2021)
Each season of the show’s six-year-run offers a self-contained story so you can hop on or off at any time. But the entire run is solid.
Drama series following the investigations of AC-12, a controversial police anti-corruption unit tasked with bringing corrupt police officers to justice.

The Mafia Only Kills in the Summer (Italy – 2016-2018)
24 episodes
The story of a young boy in the city of Palermo during the roaring seventies, when the mafia was not around, officially…. (The Wonder Years meets The Sopranos)

Mr. Inbetween (Australia – 2018-2021) Dark comedy
21 episodes
Ray Shoesmith is a father, ex-husband, boyfriend, brother and best friend; tough roles to juggle in the modern age. Especially, when you’re also a criminal for hire.

River (United Kingdom – 2015)
6 episodes
John River is a brilliant police inspector whose genius lies side-by-side with the fragility of his mind. He is a man haunted by the murder victims whose cases he must lay to rest.

Snabba Cash (Sweden – 2021)
12 episodes
The lives of an ambitious businesswoman, a charming gang enforcer and a troubled teenager collide amidst a desperate and sinister pursuit of wealth.

Tokyo Swindlers (Japan – 2024)
7 episodes
A team of swindlers gets wind of prime real estate worth 10 billion yen and will stop at nothing to pull off their most ambitious scam yet.

Umbre (Romania – 2014-2019)
21 episodes
Relu, an enforcer for a small-time mob boss, struggles to keep his family in the dark about his job. The secrets Relu keeps become increasingly oppressive and the lies begin to surface.

ZeroZeroZero (Italy – 2019-2020)
8 episodes
A cocaine shipment makes its way to Europe, starting from the moment a powerful cartel of Italian criminals decides to buy it, to its journeys through Mexico, to its shipment across the Atlantic Ocean.

In addition…

4 Blocks (Germany – 2017-2019)
19 episodes
Based in Neukölln, Berlin, Toni manages the daily business of dealing with the Arab gangs and ends up wanting to leave his old life behind for his family, but as expected, it’s never that simple.
[I placed it out of the first round only because the first time I checked it out, it didn’t really grab me but when I returned and gave it another chance, I ended up loving it].

El Marginal (Argentina – 2016-2022)
43 episodes
Pastor, an undercover cop sets on a mission to rescue the kidnapped daughter of a judge by infiltrating the prison where she’s suspected to be at. Once inside he will have to learn to live by the prison’s and the inmates’ rules.
[Absolutely love this show and the only reason I didn’t include it in the top tier is because of its lengthier episode count of 43].

Slow Horses (United Kingdom – 2022+)
37 episodes
Follows a team of British intelligence agents who serve as a dumping ground department of MI5 due to their career-ending mistakes.
[Didn’t include this one in the first round because I assume you’re already familiar with the series. Also, trying to keep the episode count at a manageable 32 or fewer].

Finally, there’s The Diplomat that has shown promise over its two-season run so far. The final moments of the show’s second season give me pause, but I loo forward to seeing if they can sustain the quality of the writing in season 3.

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