The Shabby Detective: A Columbo Podcast

23/06/2025

It’s here. The one we’ve all been bracing for: Last Salute to the Commodore. As the final episode of Columbo’s fifth season and a proposed ending place for the entire NBC run, it manages to sink the ship with an almost gleeful disregard for coherence, tone, and character.

Mike and Chris try to make sense of the chaos—was it Jackson Gillis’s bewildering script? Patrick McGoohan’s direction? Peter Falk’s performance? Or all of the above? Whatever happened, the result is a baffling, self-sabotaging parody of the show itself. Come for the messy nautical metaphors, stay for the analysis of Columbo’s most infamous misfire.

https://bit.ly/3Gb0gu3

20/06/2025

In this special bonus episode of The Shabby Detective, Mike White sits down with author Glenn Stewart to discuss his insightful and wildly entertaining book Columbo Explains the ’70s: A TV Cop’s Pop Culture Journey. Stewart’s book explores the cultural and historical shifts of the 1970s—from Watergate to disco, second-wave feminism to fast food—with the trench-coated sleuth as our shrewd, inquisitive guide.

Mike and Glenn dive into the origins of the project, the writing process behind channeling Columbo’s voice, and how Stewart cultural criticism and TV history into a distinctive, illuminating take on the decade. Whether you're a fan of the show or just obsessed with ’70s Americana, this episode is for you.

In this special bonus episode of The Shabby Detective, Mike White sits down with author Glenn Stewart to discuss his insightful and wildly entertaining book Col

29/05/2025

The Great Santini takes center stage—but Lieutenant Columbo isn’t impressed by smoke and mirrors. In this episode of The Shabby Detective, Mike and Chris shine a spotlight on Now You See Him, the 1976 Columbo classic starring Jack Cassidy in his final turn as a Columbo killer.

The great Santini takes center stage—but Lieutenant Columbo isn’t impressed by smoke and mirrors. In this episode of The Shabby Detective, Mike and Chris sh

22/04/2025

Mike and Chris head south of the border for A Matter of Honor, the rare Columbo episode set in Mexico, where the Lieutenant faces bulls, bravado, and a different kind of justice. Ricardo Montalbán plays a retired matador with a secret—and a motive—and Columbo has to navigate a new culture and language barrier while staying one step ahead. The guys dig into the episode’s unique setting, the ethics of honor killings, and how the show handles cultural sensitivity (or doesn’t). Is this an underrated gem or a misstep in a sombrero?

Mike and Chris head south of the border for A Matter of Honor, the rare Columbo episode set in Mexico, where the Lieutenant faces bulls, bravado, and a differen

21/03/2025

In this episode of The Shabby Detective, Mike and Chris take a diplomatic detour into A Case of Immunity, where political protocol, palace intrigue, and murder collide. Columbo finds himself navigating foreign immunity laws and velvet robes as he tries to outwit a slippery embassy official (Héctor Elizondo) with a taste for treason. The guys break down the episode's unique tone, the curious case of Sal Mineo, and the appearance of Jeff Goldblum.

In this episode of The Shabby Detective, Mike and Chris take a diplomatic detour into A Case of Immunity, where political protocol, palace intrigue, and murder

02/02/2025

New jam just dropped:

Winemaker Adrian Carsini does not enjoy subpar wine. Lieutenant Columbo however thinks it's fine.Featured on the "Any Old Port on a Storm" episode on the bri...

30/01/2025

The Alias / Columbo crossover:

Alias Promo aired in 2003 during ABC's 50th Anniversary Special.

20/01/2025

In this episode of The Shabby Detective, we examine the riveting 1974 TV movie The Gun, a gripping exploration of fate and consequence. Crafted by the legendary writing duo Richard Levinson and William Link and directed by John Badham, the film follows the journey of a single handgun as it passes through various lives, leaving a trail of drama and intrigue. Join us as we unpack the film’s unique episodic structure and the creative forces behind this powerful cautionary tale. https://bit.ly/4h2xYzo

23/12/2024

Between Columbo's Seasons 4 and 5, we're shifting our detective lens to explore another powerful creation by Richard Levinson and William Link: The Ex*****on of Private Slovik (1974). Directed by Lamont Johnson and featuring an unforgettable performance by Martin Sheen, this adaptation of William Bradford Huie's work tells the harrowing true story of Eddie Slovik—a small-time Michigan criminal who made history as the only U.S. soldier executed for desertion during World War II.

https://bit.ly/4gKzwgI

15/12/2024

Happy 99th Birthday to one of Columbo's better foes. https://bit.ly/3Wd6Hku

15/11/2024

We conclude the 4th season of Columbo with the episode "A Deadly State of Mind" wherein George Hamilton is a suave hypnotist of ladies -- one in particular played by Leslie Ann Warren. He has designs on her while also conducting "research" for his work. Her husband as other ideas. https://bit.ly/3YIzOx6

19/10/2024

Season 4 continues with "Playback," an episode starring another Cassavetes alum, Gina Rowlands. Unfortunately, she's sidelined as a innocent bystander and wife to the episode's murderer, played by Oskar Werner. He's a fan of gizmos which aid his plan to murder his mother-in-law but, of course, they're ultimately his undoing. https://bit.ly/4dWO8rs

Season 4 continues with "Playback," an episode starring another Cassavetes alum, Gina Rowlands. Unfortunately, she's sidelined as a innocent bystander and wif