COLUMBO EPISODES IN ORDER PROFESSIONAL

Jim wrote everything down, every little story idea he and Ken ever cooked up, and stashed it somewhere for future reference. But hard evidence eludes him, until a conversation with Joanna about Jim’s writing habits presents him with his lightbulb moment. He knows Franklin stands to make $250,000 from the insurance policy on Jim’s life, and that he hasn’t done any of the writing on the books for years. He knows Ken withdrew $15,000 and replaced it all later. Columbo found a Champagne cork at Lily’s house and had seen Ken packing Champagne for his trip. Ken had given Lily a signed book, proving he knew her.

“Hard evidence eludes Columbo until a conversation with Joanna about Jim’s writing habits presents him with his lightbulb moment.”Ĭolumbo’s case is getting stronger: Ken wasn’t home on the night of the La Sanka murder. I rang last night to tell you I was coming and there was no one home…. That’s funny, muses the detective as he exits. Ken assures him there’s no nightlife, “Just sleep and crickets”.

Then comes the clincher: Columbo asks what folk do for fun round there at night. They’ve both heard about the death of Miss La Sanka that morning, although Ken claims not to really know her. In a classic unsettling move, Columbo is in the vicinity ostensibly to assess the area for a getaway with Mrs Columbo. But he hasn’t reckoned on a house call from the Lieutenant at his cabin the next day. Which is more frightening: Lily’s demise, or her dress?Īll in all, things are starting to look pretty good for Ken. He reclaims his money, then rows out into the middle of the lake in Lily’s boat and jetisons her body before swimming home. As Lily counts the cash, Ken sneaks up behind with an empty bottle and (presumably, as the tasteful editing shows no violence) bludgeons her to death. But she also wants a piece of Ken himself! So arming himself with Champagne and a bagful of cash, he agrees to a dinner date chez La Sanka on his next trip down south (NB – not a euphemism).Īt his most charming, the devilish Ken woos Lily with fine wine and the promise of romance at a cosy dinner for two. Now Lily wants $15,000 to buy her silence. She knows Ken is involved in Jim’s death because she saw him in Ken’s car when they stopped at her store en route to the cabin.

COLUMBO EPISODES IN ORDER PROFESSIONAL

While Ken tries to convince Columbo that Jim was the subject of a professional hit due to researching East Coast crimelords for a supposed new book, the suave writer’s plans take another nosedive when Lily La Sanka, the flirtatious widow who runs the grocery store near Ken’s cabin, makes an unwelcome appearance in LA. “Bills are distracting,” says a knowing Columbo as he exits for the night, rocking Ken’s bravado.Ĭolumbo is quickly on to Ken, and he’s not afraid to show it Ken calls Columbo to alert him, yet he still took the time to open his mail afterwards. At this time of crisis, why did Ken choose to take hours driving back to LA rather than taking a flight? The detective’s suspicions increase after Ken later plants Jim’s body on his own front lawn. The Lieutenant is suspicious straight away. And, naturally, Lieutenant Columbo is one of the cops called in.Īfter taking a shaken Joanna back home, Columbo encounters Ken, who has dashed to her aid after hearing the news. While the two are mid-conversation, Ken shoots Jim, triggering a terrified Joanna to contact the police to let them know her husband has been shot. Upon reaching the cabin (via a stop at La Sanka’s grocery store), Ken makes Jim ring loving wife, Joanna, to tell her he’s working late at the office. He gets Jim down to his car, and then returns upstairs and trashes the office to give the impression it has been ransacked by person or persons unknown. And because Jim really does all the writing, Ken has a problem on his hands if he wants to maintain his playboy lifestyle (which he most certainly does).Īfter ‘playfully’ intruding on Jim as he finishes the final Melville novel, Ken convinces his partner to accompany him on a trip south to his lakeside cabin. Unfortunately for Ken, Jim wants to try his hand at solo work.

Written by: Steven Bochco Episode synopsis – Columbo Murder by the BookĪlong with Jim Ferris, womaniser Ken Franklin is one half of one of the word’s hottest mystery writing duo, with a string of best selling ‘Mrs Melville’ mysteries to their name. Produced by: Richard Levinson and William Link So grab two bottles of Champers, $15,000 in cash, and let’s take a ride with Jack Cassidy to his lakeside cabin south of San Diego… Dramatis personae It was the night Murder by the Book first aired. It’s one of the pivotal events in televisual history. Today we have one of the brightest lights as we step back in time to 15 September, 1971. In my run through of all the Columbo episodes, there will be darknesses and there will be lights.

Columbo episodes in order