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 all of his cases and secures all evidence needed for indictment. His formidable eye for detail and meticulously dedicated approach often become clear to the killer only late in the storyline.
The best episode of "Columbo" season 1 is "Murder by the Book", rated 7.7/10 from 5454 user votes. It was directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Steven Bochco. "Murder by the Book" aired on 9/15/1971 and is rated 0.0 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Death Lends a Hand".
One member of a mystery-writing-team decides to kill his more talented partner when the better writer decides to go solo.
Director: Steven Spielberg
Writer: Steven Bochco
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.
Director: Bernard L. Kowalski
Writer: William Link, Richard Levinson
A famous general kills a business associate, then woos a neurotic female witness to thwart Columbo's investigation.
Director: Jack Smight
Writer: John T. Dugan
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?
Director: Hy Averback
Writer: Jackson Gillis
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: N/A
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.
Director: Edward M. Abroms
Writer: N/A
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: N/A