August 8, 2025: Our Columbo rewatch resumes with Columbo Goes to the Guillotine!

Columbo returned to television on February 6, 1989, eleven years after “The Conspirators” aired.

In the years following “The Conspirators”, Peter Falk made it clear that he would consider returning to the character at a manageable workload. Attempts to negotiate a new contract with Falk had fallen through back in 1978 and, again, five years later when CBS attempted to lure him back as part of a brand new mystery wheel alongside Kojak. But in 1988, series co-creator William Link convinced ABC to revive Columbo. Falk eventually accepted the 600k/episode offer along with an Executive Producer title. And so, Columbo, at the age of 61, returned as part of ABC’s new mystery wheel that included Burt Reynolds as B.L. Stryker and Louis Gossett Jr. as Gideon Oliver.

The first of these new era episodes, “Columbo Goes to the Guillotine”, was well-received by most critics and viewers alike who were happy to welcome back the beloved detective. But there were a few exceptions. L.A. Times critic Howard Rosenberg wrote: “Falk seems to be trying so hard to live up to the old Columbo that at times he is almost a caricature, laying it on too thick with the shuffling feet and phony politeness, even getting on your nerves. As he creeps along ever so slowly, you wish he’d just shut up, get on with it and make the arrest.”

Finally, eagle-eyed Stargate fans might recognize a young Tony Amendola playing the part of a clergyman.

My thoughts on this episode in chronological viewing order…

Small quibble, but if she is looking at a reflection of herself raising her right hand in the glass, shouldn’t she actually see “a woman raising her left hand”?

Telepathically intercepting the thoughts of your enemy? Hmmmm. CIA experiments on remote viewing were all the rage back in the day.

Ah, there’s a connection between these two as both spent time in an Ugandan prison. Not top on my list of vacation destinations but, again, another time.

So far so interesting, but it doesn’t feel like Columbo.

The whole testing of his psychic abilities feels ludicrously convoluted.

A pretty gruesome murder by Columbo standards.

While I like the visual introduction to Columbo, I really hate the music that accompanies this scene.

Ten years later and still smoking those damn cigars.

Columbo accepts a drink with the guy in the wizard dunce cap because he’s off-duty. Just like the old days.

“One more thing so…could you do me a favor?” Classic.

Would you trust that kid with a finger guillotine?

I get the whole white top hat and tail magician’s funeral is supposed to be funny, but it just comes off as awkward.

While the scene of Elliott Blake sussing out the crime scene goes on too long, it is a lot of fun when Columbo pulls the rug out from under him and lays out his case for murder.

Would buying a 3 lb corned beef really be enough to dissuade a suicidal person?

Aha! The wrong screwdriver was in the victim’s hand. Although, technically, I believe you can still use a flathead screwdriver on a Phillips screw. Handypeople, help me out here.

Oh, Mrs. Columbo loves magic tricks!

“Well you fooled me. You actually made me think you’d read my mind.” Great line.

Boy, this kid is annoying.

Another signature Columbo move – surprising the suspect at their destination, in this case the plane.

The whole Columbo psychic schtick goes on way too long and is a kinda cringey.

Columbo feigning exhaustion, mopping his brow, collapsing is just silly.

Really hate the music in this episode.

No one notices before, during, or after the fact that all of the books hold the exact same maps with the exact same marks?

Columbo connects the two of them to their Ugandan stay. Good detective work.

Why would Columbo literally put his neck on the line like this? It feels like the production is trying to recapture the magic of the final Gotcha! moments from “How to Dial a Murder” and “Murder Under Glass” but failing miserably.

What’s with the silly novelty gun gag at the end? Ugh.

Hmmmm. As much as I did think Anthony Anderson a brilliant villain and I did love seeing Falk back in the role, this episode was a bit of a stinker. I lean towards Howard Rosenberg’s take on “Columbo Goes to the Guillotine” feeling more caricature than authentic, but given that writer-producer Richard Alan Simmons also returned for these new era episodes, I’m willing to chalk this one up to “everyone getting their sea legs back” as I look forward to the next episode.

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