The best episodes of Columbo
Ranked by viewer rating, highs first. Vote on a placement to back it or contest it.
- 01
A wealthy art collector is murdered, and all signs point to a robbery gone wrong. But the nephew's alibi is a little too convenient, and Columbo pulls a fast one to ferret out the killer.
- 02
A mousy heiress murders her brother, pretending she thought he was a burglar. Lt. Columbo unravels her alibi.
- 03
In London, a respected Shakespearean acting duo cover up the unintended killing of their producer.
- 04
When one member of a mystery writing team wants to break from his less talented partner, she becomes the victim in a real-life murder mystery.
- 05
The manager of a football team murders its callow owner, making it look as if the young man had had an accident in his swimming pool. Lt. Columbo is on the case.
- 06
A chess player murders his opponent before a big match. Lt. Columbo must out-maneuver this crafty, but craven, killer.
- 07
When Dian Hunter, the publisher of the men's magazine "Bachelor's World", wants to sell her stock to a media tycoon, her adulterous partner Sean Brantley objects. Soon afterwards, Miss Hunter apparently disappears on a London-bound flight.
- 08
Elliot Markham, a brilliant architect and con-man, murders a Texas millionaire and hides his body in order to keep his visionary construction project financed.
- 09
A faded movie actress commits murder. Lt. Columbo, one of her biggest fans, is on the case.
- 10
The director of a government institute that employs various scientific geniuses commits a clever murder. But another kind of genius is on the case: Lt. Columbo.
- 11
A gospel singer wants to be rid of his zealous wife. But a murder made to look like an airplane accident does not fool the wily Lt. Columbo.
- 12
A health club owner murders one of his franchisees. Lt. Columbo is on the case. Milo Janus owns a chain of health clubs, but one of his franchisees discovers the man is cheating him - and can prove it to the authorities. Janus responds by murdering his partner and making it look as if he had accidentally killed himself trying to lift a barbell that was too heavy for him. Janus creates a would-be perfect alibi for himself involving a tape recording of his victim's voice, a phone that doesn't light up, a sexy secretary, a party for friends at his house, and a pornographic horror movie. But no alibi is perfect when the rumpled Lt. Columbo is on the case.
- 13
The first secretary to the Suarian king may have immunity from the consequences of committing murder, but Lt. Columbo is wilier than any foreign diplomat.
- 14
A stage illusionist kills his employer and makes it look like a contract killing; it's up to Lt. Columbo to trick the master trickster.
- 15
An egotistical but successful star of a TV detective show murders his blackmailing producer and makes it look like a robbery.
- 16
Food critic Paul Gerard, who has been extorting money from restaurant owners in exchange for good reviews, murders one when threatened with exposure.
- 17
Columbo suspects that a network executive may have killed her lover-boss for not promoting her.
- 18
Columbo investigates the apparent drowning of a famous painter's first wife.
- 19
A woman who blames Columbo for the loss of her husband sets out to get back at him.
- 20
Columbo and the Murder of a Rock Star
Columbo is pitted against an equally brilliant, nationally recognized criminal defence lawyer who murders his rock star girlfriend when he discovers she is seeing another man.
- 21
A ruthless conductor murders the gifted pianist with whom he is having an affair. Lt. Columbo is on the case.
- 22
A surgeon has an ingenious plan for murdering his partner in a research project, but a nurse catches onto the scheme.
- 23
The formula for a miracle wrinkle cream leads the founder of a cosmetics company to murder and Columbo is on this case.
- 24
A police commissioner provides a false alibi for a wife killer, but then expects an alibi in return.
- 25
A photographer murders his wife and blames her death on a bungled kidnapping. But Lt. Columbo has an even sharper eye than the Pulitzer Prize winner.
Shows like Columbo
The closest matches on shared genres, ranked by match strength and popularity.
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- 02Drama·Crime·MysteryThe best episodes of Castle2009–2016Same network — ABC·
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