This episode is not the typical formula for a couple of reasons. First- Columbo is actually working on 3 different murders and solving them at the same time. Second - the audience is slightly led off course early on in this one by an important small clue. Third - there is no real explanation on how the last victim could have been murdered without a trail of evidence larger than Columbo finds.
It is good fun though Tyne Daly is the only notable guest in the cast,must be NBC was low on guest cast money. Spoiler - the small clue the viewer must catch is why Big Fred's car is moved?. The bomb being planted in the car kind of makes you miss this why question.
Nephew Harold McCain is a big loser whose is being bailed out by Uncle Big Fred who owns a football team. Actually it is Delores, his wife, who bails him out for some amorous activities. Harold wants to run things so he thinks he can maneuver Delores based on past history to give him everything he wants if Big Fred dies. So he makes a pipe bomb and plants it in his Rolls.
Big Fred dies but he is hit by a gardeners truck jogging. Meanwhile, Columbo is found digging into the car with the bomb in the driveway. Then the Gardener gets blown up in the car. Delores pulls out her fangs and tells Harold he is getting squat. Harold has put together what really happened with Big Fred and decides to blackmail Delores. Harold is death number 3.
Tyne Daly does a nice acting job playing the roll with just the right amount of acting. Columbo does get to use his "Just one more thing" trademark line a few times and gets it all right in the end.
It is good fun though Tyne Daly is the only notable guest in the cast,must be NBC was low on guest cast money. Spoiler - the small clue the viewer must catch is why Big Fred's car is moved?. The bomb being planted in the car kind of makes you miss this why question.
Nephew Harold McCain is a big loser whose is being bailed out by Uncle Big Fred who owns a football team. Actually it is Delores, his wife, who bails him out for some amorous activities. Harold wants to run things so he thinks he can maneuver Delores based on past history to give him everything he wants if Big Fred dies. So he makes a pipe bomb and plants it in his Rolls.
Big Fred dies but he is hit by a gardeners truck jogging. Meanwhile, Columbo is found digging into the car with the bomb in the driveway. Then the Gardener gets blown up in the car. Delores pulls out her fangs and tells Harold he is getting squat. Harold has put together what really happened with Big Fred and decides to blackmail Delores. Harold is death number 3.
Tyne Daly does a nice acting job playing the roll with just the right amount of acting. Columbo does get to use his "Just one more thing" trademark line a few times and gets it all right in the end.