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Tag: Season Eight

A Private Place, for Romantic Meetings

It’s like the old saying: Sometimes, it’s not enough to stab a guy; you also have to blow him up. At least, that seems to be the thought in “Grand Deceptions,” a confusing late Columbo set at a military think tank which also trains mercenaries on the side. Oh, and illegally runs arms. When he’s not busy shaking yarrow sticks, Frank Brailey, the think tank’s head, diverts millions of dollars from the foundation in the off hours he’s not busy cheating with the wife of his boss, an esteemed retired general. When one of Brailey’s subordinates catches wind of his many, many irons in the fire, that’s when the stab/blowup twofer happens. Call in Lt. Columbo who observes the chain of evidence one moment, while straight-up stealing documents the next. All in all, its a weird mix that never quite gets there and the panel is left wondering exactly who the heck this was for and what it was trying to say. Guests Jennifer Wright (Get Well Soon: History’s Worst Plagues and the Heroes Who Fought Them) and Daniel Kibblesmith (Late Show with Stephen Colbert) return for this, the 50th show.

Ask and Listen, Listen and Ask

Episode Card - Murder Smoke and Shadows

What happens when control freak director Alex Brady (Fisher Stevens) is confronted with a problem he can’t direct or FX away? Well, in season eight’s “Murder, Smoke and Shadows,” the answer is an old-fashioned movie backlot electrocution. And, as much as he’d like, no amount of 3-D holographic technology, rear projection or fancy soundstage lighting will deter Columbo from closing in on his current (and past) sins. Abed Gheith returns to the show to discuss the episode, along with possums, Megaforce and so much more.

A Rubber Band, a Compass and an Instant Camera

Guillotine_Ep13

And we’re back to the later episodes, for season eight’s “Columbo Goes to the Guillotine,” which does a fair job of debunking the whole psychic/ESP nonsense. Sadly, it cannot debunk the fact that sharp blades will chop off heads. That’s just real. Joining us to discuss the episode and its possible real-life background is Leigh Beadon (techdirt.com), who’s well-versed in the mentalism and magic game. If you guessed that this is a good episode of the podcast, what are you, The Amazing Kreskin or something?

Also please note- we will be taking a brief hiatus after this one.