I gave this a 7 because of the great cast and some wonderful scenes, but it's a problematic script. And let's face it, the alibi is absolutely no good.
Dabney Coleman is an attorney with live-in girlfriend/rock star whom he kills. He then frames her boyfriend for the murder. One of the best things is that when Columbo hears her name, he knows what her hit song is! There's another hilarious scene in a restaurant where Coleman asks Columbo if he wants something to eat. Well, he starts ordering and just keeps on going, seemingly every new item being an afterthought - it's priceless.
Someone posted that Shera Danese (Falk's wife) who plays an associate in Coleman's law firm could not have provided the alibi, because she starts blackmailing him after the event. I believe she did what he asked her to do without realizing why - when she realizes why, she starts blackmailing him. I may be wrong - I don't have the episode in front of me.
My REAL problem with this episode is the fact that I've never understood how anybody could drive with that mask on. It did not look opaque to me. It looked like a photograph.
Some trivia: Falk's real-life wife, Shera Danese, wanted to play the girlfriend but was felt to be too old for the role. She MAY have sung the song, I can't remember now.
Dabney Coleman is an attorney with live-in girlfriend/rock star whom he kills. He then frames her boyfriend for the murder. One of the best things is that when Columbo hears her name, he knows what her hit song is! There's another hilarious scene in a restaurant where Coleman asks Columbo if he wants something to eat. Well, he starts ordering and just keeps on going, seemingly every new item being an afterthought - it's priceless.
Someone posted that Shera Danese (Falk's wife) who plays an associate in Coleman's law firm could not have provided the alibi, because she starts blackmailing him after the event. I believe she did what he asked her to do without realizing why - when she realizes why, she starts blackmailing him. I may be wrong - I don't have the episode in front of me.
My REAL problem with this episode is the fact that I've never understood how anybody could drive with that mask on. It did not look opaque to me. It looked like a photograph.
Some trivia: Falk's real-life wife, Shera Danese, wanted to play the girlfriend but was felt to be too old for the role. She MAY have sung the song, I can't remember now.