Just One More Thing: Columbo Cries Wolf

Notes and screenshots for Columbo Cries Wolf: Originally broadcast on January 20 1990, starring Ian Buchanan as a wily Hugh Hefner, Dierdre Hall, David Huddleston as "The Mayor," Rebecca Staab who I think is playing a genie in one scene and, of course, Peter Falk as Columbo.

"When Dian Hunter, the co-owner of a men's magazine, wants to sell her majority share to a media tycoon, her womanizing partner and photographer objects. Soon afterwards, Miss Hunter seemingly disappears. Lt. Columbo investigates."

-IMDB Summary

"In “Columbo Cries Wolf,” Ian Buchanan is one half of the inexplicably popular skin mag, Bachelor’s World. When the other half, Diedre Hall, decides she’s had enough of his philandering with the magazine’s models and wants to sell out, he kills her. Or does he? Well, yes, eventually. But before that, the two of them spend almost the whole running time of this episode making Columbo look like a chump, as he chases after dead ends and clues that lead nowhere. Jon and guest Tim Turner (Bitter Bastard Nerdcast) disliked this one waaaaay less than RJ. Variety is the spice of life, after all."

-RJ's episode summary

Listen to the original podcast episode here:

Episode 62: These Girls Have Their Health with our guest Tim Turner.

Columbo Cries Wolf

Season 9, Episode #2

Director: Daryl Duke

Writer: William Read Woodfield

The Nineties’ fascination with experimenting on the Columbo formula yields controversial dividends in this episode, one which we were split. Personally, it became a trainwreck so gradually that I barely noticed that it was slowly progressing from trite to awesome.

Of course, the experiment done here was inevitable, if you look with an eye towards exploiting the show’s tropes. After all, many episodes involve Columbo searching for missing bodies while the likeliest suspect pleads innocence. It’s only natural that – if even just once – he was wrong about there even being a body. At first, anyway.

I can’t recall if we discussed how weird it is that Deirdre Hall’s and Ian Buchanan’s characters specifically call out Columbo for special mockery in their assorted press conferences. What that had to do with their plan is uncertain, although there were a lot of extraneous parts of the plan that didn’t seem particularly relevant. I mean, not all the elements of the trainwreck seemed to have a purpose, they were just there. Sometimes a trainwreck is just a trainwreck.

Below: I don’t like to throw shade at hardworking prop departments, but this is just lazy.

The incredibly poorly laid out Bachelor’s World covers: Notice how they wisely put the logo down at the bottom so that it all you see of it when it’s on the magazine racks is “What cologne does to women” and a UPC code.

This magazine really wants us to know what’s in a name, too.

Lastly, I thought it might be interesting to share some excerpts from my notes for this episode, Columbo Cries Wolf, along with screenshots of the moments which inspired them. I really do wonder about that wardrobe.

Next episode: Agenda For Murder