The Best Episodes of Columbo Season 1

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   7.7/10(6000 votes)

   #1 - Murder by the Book

   S1:E19/15/1971

   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

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   Director:Steven Spielberg

   Writer:Steven Bochco
2. 

   7.8/10(4390 votes)

   #2 - Death Lends a Hand

   S1:E210/6/1971

   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

   Writers:Richard Levinson, William Link

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   Director:Bernard L. Kowalski

   Writers:Richard Levinson, William Link
3. 

   6.9/10(3907 votes)

   #3 - Dead Weight

   S1:E310/27/1971

   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

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   Director:Jack Smight

   Writer:John T. Dugan
4. 

   7.7/10(4163 votes)

   #4 - Suitable for Framing

   S1:E411/17/1971

   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

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   Director:Hy Averback

   Writer:Jackson Gillis
5. 

   7.2/10(3766 votes)

   #5 - Lady in Waiting

   S1:E512/15/1971

   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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   Director:Norman Lloyd

   Writer:Unknown
6. 

   7.1/10(3642 votes)

   #6 - Short Fuse

   S1:E61/19/1972

   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:Unknown

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   Director:Edward M. Abroms

   Writer:Unknown
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7. 

   7.6/10(3594 votes)

   #7 - Blueprint for Murder

   S1:E72/9/1972

   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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   Director:Peter Falk

   Writer:Unknown