carsini_wines_fan

Robert Conrad is Milo Janus, a fitness club franchise owner who's shafting his franchisees. One of them is less than pleased with how his investment is turning out, and Janus silences him. Columbo is a bit dubious about the combination of a big takeout meal and the weightlifting "accident", begins dissecting Janus' alibi. Conrad is great as the fitness celeb, even forcing Columbo to give up his precious cigars for a moment.

This episode has everything! Blackmail, a small plane as the murder weapon, not one but two Johnny Cash numbers, and an unusual chili. Falk and Cash play off each other marvelously as the lieutenant makes his inquiries. Some great character work to round out the cast.

Great supporting cast in this one, including José Ferrer, Jessica Walter, Robert Walker, Lou Wagner, and Robbie the Robot (or at least the robot's upper torso). The Cybernetics Research Institute has a little bit of The Prisoner going for it — everyone has a badge on, though it's not clear who is Number One. The War Room in the basement sets up a melancholy tracking shot at the end. Dog is essential in this one, as Columbo keeps having to ask various people to watch him after Dog is kicked out of obedience school.

There's a bit of stunt casting with Mickey Spillane as the author who's about to switch publishers. Jack Cassidy —in fine form — sets up a near-perfect alibi that the detective must unravel. A bowl of chili is acquired at great cost. Mariette Hartley gets to wear a great hat and provide the crucial final clue.

Chess matches between East and West were a big deal in the 70s, as yet another area of competition besides the Olympics and the space race. Laurence Harvey stars as the American champion Emmett Clayton, who has an eidetic memory and nightmares about his upcoming match with his opponent. Jack Kruschen is outstanding as his jovial counterpart, Tomlin Dudek, who sneaks out before the Big Match for a meal of snails and an impromptu chess match played with makeshift pieces. One of Harvey's last roles before his death.

This episode feels like it was written in a hurry compared to other, more-polished, season one stories. Roddy McDowall seems to be having fun as the impulsive young chemist who doesn't want the family business being sold, but he appears to be acting in a slightly different episode than the rest of the cast. The end sequence on the tram makes for a strong finish, at least.

Jackie Cooper is a Senate candidate who does not appreciate his campaign manager's suggestion that he get rid of his mistress. Joanne Lineville plays his long-suffering wife, Star Trek fans may remember her more from the episode "The Enterprise Incident." And another memorable role for Vito Scotti — this time he's a high-end tailor who suggests that Columbo might have better luck picking a sportcoat off the rack.

A great moment for Columbo's car in this episode when a security guard at the movie studio thinks the Peugeot is for a demolition derby. Also look for a rare speaking role for famed costume designer Edith Head, who was a friend of star Anne Baxter.

Once again Robert Culp stars as the murderer. This time he's a marketing expert, author, and director of what seems to be a truly awful film about increasing your salesmanship. The detective puts his newfound knowledge of advertising techniques to work in order to crack the case. Written by prolific TV writer and executive producer Stephen J Cannell, who later used Culp in his series "The Greatest American Hero."

I could watch an entire spinoff series about Martin Landau and Peter Falk making stuff in the kitchen.

Pleasance has an outstanding range in this episode. Adrian Carsini seems at first to be a harmless eccentric, content only to pursue the highest levels of his craft. But when his half-brother announces that not only is he getting married, but he's also selling to the Marino Brothers, we see Adrian become truly unhinged. "The Marino Brothers?! The $0.69/gallon Marino Brothers?" Pleasance's chemistry with Falk is outstanding in this episode, one of Falk's personal favorites. (And mine too!)

Robert Culp is fantastic in this episode, and he's never worn a better mustache than he does here. Also he drives a mean ice cream van on his way to visit the young owner of the football team he manages.

Leonard Nimoy stars as an ambitious surgeon who disagrees with his partner's reluctance to patent a new drug. One of the few times the detective becomes angry at a suspect. I'm a big fan of the opening scene where Columbo is trying to open his hard-boiled egg, and uses the murder weapon to crack the shell. Contains more use of the word "suture" than any episode before or since.