The essential episodes of Mrs. Columbo
Watch these 13 in order and you've got Mrs. Columbo — each pick states its reason.
- 01
Kate Mulgrew is Kate Columbo, wife of the rumpled police lieutenant and - in her own right - a mother, homemaker and reporter for a neighborhood throwaway. In this week's opener, she also demonstrates a knack for investigation after she overhears a neighbor plotting the murder of his wife.
- 02
An apparent suicide is actually the handiwork of a retired Scotland Yard investigator who is teaching a course that Mrs. Columbo is taking.
- 03
A puppet maker is murdered by a tormented ventriloquist who acted at the urging of his "evil" dummy.
- 04
Two women own a catering firm. Both love the same man. To one, the solution is obvious: murder.
- 05
A famous psychic engineers the murder of her business partner and appears to have an airtight alibi - she was demonstrating her "powers" to Mrs. Columbo at the time of death.
- 06
Kate has divorced her famous husband, changed her last name back to maiden Callahan, and moved to San Fernando with their girl to work for a new paper. Her first investigation involves a suspect who claims he didn't murder his wife.
- 07
After her colleague is murdered, Kate decides to continue the investigation of a shady local elite country club she was working on for the paper at the time of murder.
- 08
Kate is working on a murder case investigation with the help of a source she trusts. The police demands full disclosure from her and arrests her when she refuses to give them the source's name.
- 09
Kate is investigating a horrifying series of murders committed by strangulation.
- 10
Owner of a restaurant is found dead, possibly murdered. Then his body disappears. Kate investigates.
- 11
It's the election season and Kate wholeheartedly supports one of the candidates for Congress from her district. However, his shady past comes knocking when his associate is murdered and he's the only suspect. Kate is shocked! Can this be?
- 12
Kate is investigating a murder of a woman. The victim was a participant in a sensitivity-training group and her psychologist is a suspect.
- 13
Kate investigates a case of a murdered young woman. The only suspect is an immigrant who used to be a part of a radical underground movement. Sounds like an open and shut case, right? Kate doesn't think so.
Shows like Mrs. Columbo
The closest matches on shared genres, ranked by match strength and popularity.
- 01Comedy·Crime·MysteryThe essential episodes of Only Murders in the Building2021–present·Hulu
Only Murders in the Building follows three New Yorkers who find they have a mutual interest in solving true crime – but limit their amateur sleuthing to only murders in their building. - 02Comedy·Crime·MysteryThe essential episodes of Deadloch2023
The Tasmanian town of Deadloch, a once sleepy seaside hamlet, is left reeling when a local man turns up dead on the beach. - 03Comedy·Crime·MysteryThe essential episodes of The Residence2025–2025
The Residence is a screwball whodunnit set in the upstairs, downstairs, and backstairs of the White House, among the eclectic staff of the world's most famous mansion. - 04Comedy·Crime·MysteryThe essential episodes of The Mysteries of Laura2014–2016Same network — NBCLaura Diamond is a brilliant NYPD homicide detective who balances her "Columbo" day job with a crazy family life that includes two unruly twin boys and a soon-to-be ex-husband - also a cop - who just can't seem to sign…
- 05Comedy·Crime·MysteryThe essential episodes of The Afterparty2022–2023
The Afterparty is a murder-mystery comedy set at a high school reunion afterparty. - 06Comedy·Crime·MysteryThe essential episodes of Murderville2022–2022Eccentric detective Terry Seattle teams up with clueless celebrity guest stars to investigate a series of murders in this improvisational crime comedy.
