It’s a magnificent send-off for Jack Cassidy and quite simply one of the most entertaining 90-or-so minutes of television ever recorded.įrom not even being in the top 10 in 2017, Try & Catch Me has steadily crept up the rankings ever since, reaching its highest position in 2020. Just missing out on a rostrum finish here, Now You See Him’s sense of fun and its accessibility through the magical theme means it’s as popular with newcomers to the show as it is with aficionados.

The Bye-Bye Sky High IQ Murder Case (Last year = 3rd)įinally jostled out of the top-3 spot it has held for the past two years, Bye-Bye Sky High nevertheless remains a firm favourite with thousands of fans thanks to its near-perfect combination of fun, frolics and intrigue as Columbo attempts to crack a murder committed by a bona fide genius.īoosted by a magnificent turn by Theo Bikel as tortured genius Oliver Brandt, a brilliant example of a strength-in-depth cast, plus 10 or 12 of the entire series’ best or funniest scenes, and you have a gem of an episode that you don’t need a towering IQ to enjoy to the max. Dark and gritty, featuring a rare glimpse into the underbelly of LA’s 70s’ society as well as some outstanding action sequences, there’s nothing not to like about this superb addition to the canon.ĥ. One of the most gripping stories of them all pits Columbo against his superior officer in an encounter that will definitely see the vanquished lose their badge. A Friend in Deed (RE-ENTRY! Last year = 11th)Īfter sitting in 11th place for the past two years, A Friend in Deed bursts back into the top 10 with avengeance, proving that while form is temporary, class is permanent. If Troubled Waters doesn’t float your boat ship, then I recommend having your funny bone checked immediately, as this on-board caper has retained a place in the top 10 every year since the poll kicked off in 2016.Ī joyful romp on the high seas, featuring Robert Vaughn as one of the series’ sauvest killers, Troubled Waters is a hoot from go to whoa which even a relatively anticlimactic gotcha can’t subdue.Ħ.

Throw in one of the series’ best gotchas and a good time is guaranteed in a 90+ minute episode that never feels padded. Scintillating stuff.Īn absolute gem of an episode that effortlessly treads the line between darkness and light, playfulness and pathos, Negative Reaction remains one of the series’ most watchable outings.Ī darkly themed double murder is off-set by some of the series’ best humour as Columbo is first mistaken for a bum by a sister of mercy and later terrorises Larry Storch’s highly strung driving instructor with his haphazard skills behind the wheel. Rarely far from the top of most fans’ personal favourites, A Stitch in Crime’s potent mix of ice-cold villain, heartbreakingly innocent victims and a thrilling conclusion, in which Columbo snatches victory from the jaws of defeat, means it’s been ever-present in the top 10 for five straight years.īuoyed by superior performances from Leonard Nimoy, Will Geer, Anne Francis, Jarred Martin and Nita Talbot, Crime is also notable for an unforgettable flash of Columbo rage when the usually placid Lieutenant lets his opponent know what he really thinks of him. The Lieutenant is really hanging with the hotties in this one, with the late, great Robert Conrad and bikini-clad Gretchen Corbett undoubtedly the Prom King and Queen of the Columbo opus, while its gripping conclusion and the mutual dislike between detective and villain make for a thrilling ride. Seems like viewers can’t get enough of Milo Janus and his strapping physique as Exercise claims its third consecutive year in the top 10.

An Exercise in Fatality (Last year = 8th) “Who wears short shorts? He wears short shorts…”

Best columbo episodes of all time