Columbo

[Bazile]

Just watching an episode of columbo - ' Etude in Black '

A music conductor kills his lover , a pianoist

As he was awaiting to go on stage a black guy comes into the room and tell him she hasn't turned up .

The black actor played the lead role in a American detective series years ago

I'm trying to remember what the name of the detective series was

Any ideas , if you're watching it , the episode I'm referring to ?

[barry1010]

Shaft?

[barry1010]

Matlock?

[barry1010]

Hill St Blues?

[Fitzer]

James McEachin in Tenafly? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenafly_(TV_series)?wprov=sfti1

[grumpy01]

And who was the part of Columbo originally written for?

[aelmpvw]

bing crosby apparently . . .

[grumpy01]

Correct

[teacake44]

Always liked watching columbo but have really had my fill of it now. You would think with the amount of people having to stay at home now, TV would put a little more effort in finding some thing a bit different. Constant repeats day after day.

[mushroom25]

// bing crosby apparently . . . //

depends how far back in the Columbo creation story you want to go. it's true that in casting the 1968 pilot episode "Prescription Murder" Levinson and Link wanted Bing Crosby (turned it down) or Lee J Cobb 9not available), but Columbo as a character existed before then - in the stage play "Prescription Murder", Columbo played by Thomas Mitchell, and in the Chevy Mystery Show "Enough Rope" episode, Columbo plated by Bert Freed. In the latter the character had few of the mannerisms from the Falk era but was still recognisably Columbo and used the same misdirection and distraction techniques.

[Bazile]

Yes Tenafly - thanks

I didn't realise it was only on for one season and four episodes

[ToraToraTora]

not read it but great title: Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[andy-hughes]

Columbo is one character I absolutely cannot abide.

His constant conversational and physical ticks, his scruffy appearence - he's the same grade as Kojak who wears really expensive suits - his gravelly voice, everything about him anoys me.

He is the Michael McIntyre of detectives!