Columbo is a charming show, mostly because Peter Falk is so charming himself as the title character. You’ll find yourself smiling at all of Columbo’s little idiosyncrasies – how he receives calls at the oddest places, eats his chili, suffers from motion sickness… It’s entertaining to see L.A. forty years ago. People smoke everywhere. There are ashtrays everywhere and giant, decorative lighters for smokers to use. The first pilot movie on Disc One was filmed in 1968, and it’s interesting to see the changing notions of gender and race played out through the series. By the second pilot movie, filmed in 1971, women had ditched their pointy bras and started flying their own airplanes. Despite some leaps toward equality, Columbo still has a long way to go. It seems that Columbo only solves the crimes of affluent, white murderers. If you can take delight in gaudy wallpaper, wood-paneled dens, and old technology, then Columbo is an excellent television show.

cool LA scenery.