June 13, 2025: The Columbo rewatch continues with…Identity Crisis!

This episode aired November 12, 1975.

Patrick McGoohan directed and guest-starred in this episode which, not coincidentally, contained a few nods to his series, The Prisoner, including the classic line: “Be seeing you.”. The chimes of his office clock are also the same as the chimes of the town clock in The Prisoner.

According to McGoohan: “Peter wanted a director he could rely on. I had been spoiled in England. I was given total control of the project I directed. So I was wary about directing an American television show, but I was given total control by Peter and Everett Chambers. They had a classy story. It needed some work, but Peter was a wonderful actor for a director. Peter is a meticulous man. He is a very careful actor. My association with Columbo continued because Peter liked me and I liked him. If he said, “I want you to do this,:” I would try to do it.”

This was one of Peter Falk’s favorite episodes.

My thoughts on this episode in chronological viewing order…

Leslie Nielsen! This episode if going to be hilarious!

Whoa. Those crushed green velvet chairs are something else.

The lady snapping photos of people at random like they’re all on some romantic night out together. Did she assume Brenner and A.J. Henderson were a couple? If so, how progressive of them for 1975.

Not sure what’s going with these conversations, but feels very Spy Games.

What’s that behind your back? Oh, this? It’s a tire iron. I’m going to change a flat as soon as I finish chatting with you.

Aha! Half a poker chip!

Aha! The other half of the poker chip!

Columbo is smitten with the dancer.
“What do you think?
“I think she’s remarkable.”
Uh, shouldn’t he be paying attention to what the bartender is telling him?

I don’t understand the “hilarious” revelation that the dancer is shy.

The chiming clock in the background of the recording is supposed to establish an alibi. How overwhelmingly weak.

Hey, it’s Vito Scotti in what will be his final Columbo appearance.

So far, I’m finding this episode a bit dry.

I like Columbo doing a little jump so he can get a peek over the hedge.

Columbo passes on the drink but grabs an hors d’oeuvre. What happened to our hard-drinking detective from earlier episodes?

The big mistake suspects make on this show is to offer up possible explanations for puzzling scenarios. Why was the victim hit head on? Does that suggest he knew his attacker? I would answer “I don’t know. You’re the detective.”

That old man make up is…not entirely convincing.

Ah, the good ole cost-saving O.S. explosion.

Whoa! He looks pretty good for a guy who survived an explosion.

Who is this weird raincoat-wearing stranger striking up a conversation with this little girl, telling her how pretty she is?

Columbo claims he doesn’t drink when he’s on duty (He used to!) but accepts a Beaujolais…which he doesn’t drink.

What language is McGoohan speaking with the servant?

“The guy who wrote Marriage of Figaro.”
“Mozart.”
“That fella.”

He had Columbo’s house bugged? I’m surprised this isn’t a bigger deal.

Columbo chatting in Italian. Great.

The reasoning behind the closing of the office blinds is a huge reach.

Tying his alibi to the chiming clock is clunky.

It couldn’t have been the night before because the Chinese only announced their pulling out of the Olympics that morning. But, come on, he’s CIA. He could well have been privy to this information beforehand.

And on the basis of that, he readily admits his guilt? Ooof. I guess he assumes it doesn’t matter because he’s CIA and won’t face any consequences, but still.

Great performances and direction but the script lost me. A rarity for me with this show – I was bored. With a bullfighter-themed episode up next and a finale considered by many fans to be one of the show’s worst, season 5 may rank as one of Columbo’s worst. So far.

Here is my revised episode rankings: 1. Forgotten Lady, 2. Negative Reaction, 3. Any Old Port in a Storm, 4. Double Exposure, 5. A Friend In Deed, 6. Double Shock, 7. A Stitch in Crime, 8. Death Lends a Hand, 9. Suitable for Framing, 10. Publish or Perish, 11. Dagger of the Mind, 12. Requiem for a Falling Star, 13. Prescription: Murder, 14. Murder by the Book/Ransom for a Dead Man (tie), 15. By Dawn’s Early Light, 16. Swan Song, 17. Troubled Waters, 18. Lady in Waiting, 19. An Exercise in Fatality, 20. Etude in Black, 21. Playback, 22. The Most Crucial Game, 23. Blueprint for Murder, 24. Lovely But Lethal, 25. A Deadly State of Mind, 26. The Most Dangerous Match, 27. The Greenhouse Jungle 28. Identity Crisis, 29. Dead Weight, 30. Short Fuse, 31. A Case of Immunity, 32. Candidate for Crime, 33. Mind Over Mayhem.

Assuming Brenner doesn’t get a free pass because he’s CIA, do we think Columbo has enough evidence for a GUILTY verdict, or would Brenner be looking at an ACQUITTAL? The chiming clock. The blinds. Foreknowledge of the Chinese decision? Oh, he’s walking. ACQUITTAL.

Finally, here’s a peek at our upcoming Columbo viewing schedule…
Monday, June 16th: A Matter of Honor
Friday, June 20th: Now You See Him
Monday, June 23rd: Last Salute to the Commodore
Friday, June 27th: Fade in to Murder
Monday, June 30th: Old Fashioned Murder
Friday, July 4th: The Bye Bye Sky-High IQ Murder Case
Monday, July 7th: Try and Catch Me
Friday, July 11th: Murder Under Glass
Monday, July 14th: Make Me a Murder
Friday, July 18th: How to Dial a Murder
Monday, July 21st: The Conspirators

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