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The Best Episodes of Columbo Season 1

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Every episode of Columbo Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Columbo Season 1!

The Best Episodes of Columbo Season 1

Columbo is a friendly, verbose, disheveled-looking police detective who is consistently underestimated by his suspects. Despite his unprepossessing appearance and apparent absentmindedness, he shrewdly solves...
  1. Background image for Murder by the Book
    7.7/10(5.9k votes)

    #1 - Murder by the Book

    S1:E1

    One member of a mystery-writing-team decides to kill his more talented partner when the better writer decides to go solo.

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  2. Background image for Death Lends a Hand
    7.8/10(4.3k votes)

    #2 - Death Lends a Hand

    S1:E2

    A private investigator kills his client's wife after she threatens to expose his blackmail scheme. The client then hires the detective to assist Columbo in the search for the killer.

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  3. Background image for Dead Weight
    6.9/10(3.8k votes)

    #3 - Dead Weight

    S1:E3

    A famous general kills a business associate, then woos a neurotic female witness to thwart Columbo's investigation.

    Director:Jack Smight
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  4. Background image for Suitable for Framing
    7.7/10(4.1k votes)

    #4 - Suitable for Framing

    S1:E4

    An art critic, Dale Kingston, kills his uncle for his valuable collection of paintings. All the clues lead to the dead man's first wife. Can Columbo correct the Lieutenant's error before it is too late?

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  5. Background image for Lady in Waiting
    7.2/10(3.7k votes)

    #5 - Lady in Waiting

    S1:E5

    A woman shoots her overbearing brother, claiming she thought he was a burglar. Columbo doesn't buy the self-defense claim - he know's it's murder.

    Director:Norman Lloyd
    Writer:Unknown
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  6. Background image for Short Fuse
    7.1/10(3.6k votes)

    #6 - Short Fuse

    S1:E6

    A chemist rigs a bomb in his uncle's car to gain control of his uncle's company, then plants clues to make Columbo suspicious of the company's Vice-President.

    Writer:Unknown
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    The 20 BEST Episodes of Columbo

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  8. Background image for Blueprint for Murder
    7.6/10(3.5k votes)

    #7 - Blueprint for Murder

    S1:E7

    An architect kills his business partner and deliberately lets Columbo suspect him, leading Columbo to think that he's hidden the body in the foundation of a building under construction. He plans to let Columbo dig up the site and find nothing, knowing that its the perfect place to hide the body since Columbo would never look in the same place twice.

    Director:Peter Falk
    Writer:Unknown
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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Murder by the Book" is the best rated episode of "Columbo" season 1. It scored 7.7/10 based on 5884 votes. Directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Steven Bochco, it aired on 9/15/1971. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Death Lends a Hand".