March 28, 2025: Our Columbo rewatch continues with…The Most Crucial Game!

This episode aired November 5, 1972.

Members of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team make a cameo in this episode, among them a young Pat Riley.

The Wagner house was also featured in “Murder by the Book”.

Robert Culp makes his second of four Columbo appearances in this episode.

The writer of this episode, John T. Duggan, also wrote “Counter Weight”, another episode that suffered from some suspect logic.

The exchange where Columbo asks Walter Cunnell how much he paid for his shoes was not scripted. Peter Falk ad libbed the question which resulted in the improvised exchange with the quick-on-his-feet Dean Jagger.

My thoughts on this episode in chronological viewing order…

The episodes now starts with a preview – that appears to just be made up of a bunch of random clips. At one point, it hints at Columbo’s search for the murderer and quick cuts through the various suspects, but as soon as Robert Culp flashes up you already know.

“Hockey is for penguins.” Hard to argue with that.

Are those black satin sheets?

The announcer seems to say “Today all holds are barred.” which doesn’t make any sense. It’s “No holds barred.” “All holds are barred” suggests a pretty tame game.

Lol that kid missing out on his ice cream, his plaintive cries going unheeded as the truck drives away. Easily my favorite moment in this episode.

Ah, ye olde ice block. What 13-year-old kid hasn’t imagined using an icicle as the perfect murder weapon?

Okay, this sequence is as ridiculous as Alex Benedict’s broad daylight scamper and car heist from “Etude in Black”. No one sees him walk down and drive off in the ice cream truck, park it, then drive it back and park? Also, isn’t someone going to miss that truck?

I do love the moment where Hanlon casually helps himself to an ice cream bar as he drives back from the murder scene.

Columbo is afraid of heights, loves and rescues dogs, and is a football fan. It’s like watching a show about me!

Waaaaaaait a minute. He thinks to taste test the water on the deck and compare it to the pool water? Why? And there’s no way that water on the pool deck wouldn’t have dried by this time. Is this the best the writer could come up with?

Love the shot of the elevator opening on Columbo’s rolled up pant leg. Director Jeremy Kagen does a really nice job with this episode.

They were going to Montreal to buy a football team. Buyer beware!

Hanlon immediately antagonizes Columbo, inviting scrutiny right off the bat.

Love the moment where Columbo helps carry in the flowers and is mistaken for the delivery guy.

Another highlight of this episode is this exchange about the shoes.

Great bit with Columbo catching Hanlon at the airport, clearly rattling him.

The DingaLing ice cream truck? DingaLing?

Columbo mentions his wife is mad at everything, even the ice cream truck. She asks why it alway has to come right before lunch and dinner and “ruin the child’s appetite”. What child? Does Columbo have a kid?

“Everybody is a suspect,”says Hanlon. Isn’t that right?” Columbo: “Thank you very much. I’m very happy to hear you say that.” Brilliant.

Another Columbo classic moment – him lying in wait to catch the trespassing P.I.

I did find his tying the feedback to the potential bugs a nice bit of detective work. Wish there had been more of this.

Hanlon’s explanation that Eric’s “Thanks for putting me on to that chick” was a reference to Hanlon’s recommendation of a cleaning company is ludicrous – and the fact that Shirley buys it even more so.

Introducing… Valerie Harper as Eve Babcock and her collection of racist antiquities!

This is a terrific sequence where our escort Eve mistakes Columbo for a client – who casually scares off her actual client.

“You know…it just struck me.” The tiniest little accent came out.” Tiniest?! She sounds like a completely different character.

How about dusting the DingaLing ice cream truck for prints. I forget. Was Hanlon wearing gloves? Also, wouldn’t the actual driver of the DingaLing truck have missed it?

That print ad for the travel agency “Head hurt. Take a trip.” is astoundingly low effort.

“Home – to soak my feet. They’re killing me.” Great line.

The cuckoo clock is the Aha! moment.

Hmmmm. While I found this episode eminently watchable for the many great humorous touches, standout direction, and guest performances, the writing just wasn’t up to snuff. In this respect, it reminded me of “Etude in Black”. Also, at the end of the day, what was Hanlon’s motive for killing young Dean Stockwell anyway? We were never told.

So, given all that, where would I place this episode in my overall 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 The Most Crucial Game, #8 Blueprint for Murder, #9 The Greenhouse Jungle #10 Dead Weight, #11 Short Fuse

Finally, let us weigh Columbo’s case against our murderer, Paul Hanlon and consider whether there’s enough there for a GUILTY verdict, or is Hanlon looking at an acquittal? Well, while I have to give Columbo credit for noting the absence of the chiming clock, I’d be very surprised if any jury would convict. More likely, this case would never even get to trial on the basis of insufficient evidence. So it’s an ACQUITTAL FOR Hanlon.

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