I’m kind of a wimp when it comes to thrillers. My anxiety simply won’t allow me to enjoy the suspense of an unknown killer on the loose—the clock is ticking, people! You amateur sleuths better figure it out before you’re next! Why does my Fitbit think I just completed a sprint workout!?—and so I all too often find myself missing out on some of the best new TV shows. So when my dad offhandedly suggested we watch an episode of Columbo, a ‘70s detective show together, I wasn’t sure it was something I’d like. Well, I’m now seven seasons in, with three more to go, and fully obsessed with Peter Falk’s bumbling genius Detective Columbo, and I’m not the only one.
I’m a Millennial Who’s Newly Obsessed with This ‘70s Detective Show—and It Has an Incredible Rating on Rotten Tomatoes
Fans of ‘Poker Face,’ listen up
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Published Feb 17, 2025
Universal Television
Columbo is an iconic crime drama starring Peter Falk (the grandfather from The Princess Bride) as a homicide detective in Los Angeles in the ‘70s. But rather than structure each episode as a “whodunit?” they’re shown as a “howcatchem,” as my husband describes it. Every episode starts by showing the audience exactly how and when the murderer committed their crime, so rather than stress over who the next victim might be, I can instead revel in watching the murderer sweat as Columbo gets ever closer to catching them. Sometimes their fatal mistake is clear right from the get-go, but other times it’s a surprise exactly how Columbo will be able to make the charges stick.
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If you watched Poker Face on Peacock, you’ll almost definitely enjoy Columbo—the Natasha Lyonne series is actually inspired by the old-school classic, with a few notable new twists. Episodes range in tone from morbidly fascinating to truly creepy, with some that even feel more silly than dramatic. And I’ve been having a blast IDing many of the guest stars as they come up, including Martin Sheen, Kim Cattrall, William Shatner, Dick Van Dyke, Leonard Nimoy, Johnny Cash, Leslie Nielsen and even a brief-but-memorable appearance by a 19-year-old Jamie Lee Curtis. And as a fashion editor, I totally flipped when Edith Head made a cameo in season two.
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With his rumpled trench coat and half-chewed cigars, not to mention his constantly breaking, decrepit car, Detective Columbo certainly looks like an underdog. But after just a few episodes it becomes crystal clear just how clever he really is, with even the most random of comments or observations proving to be strategically deployed in order to catch the criminal. Peter Falk is wildly charming (he did win four Emmys for the role), something even the murderers he’s up against often can’t ignore—my favorite episodes are those that end with the murderer essentially congratulating Columbo on a job well done and complimenting him on his impressive skills of deduction.
Each episode is between 70 and 98 minutes long, and there are ten seasons available to watch commercial-free on Peacock or with ads on Amazon Prime. And while it’s become pretty common refrain to hear folks say, “You just have to get through the first episode and then it really gets good,” this is one TV show that hooks you right from the opening moments. The pilot was directed by Steven Spielberg, after all.
Universal Television
Despite premiering 54 years ago, Columbo is still incredibly fun to watch, whether you’re a crime drama junkie or a self-proclaimed wimp like me. It even boasts an 80 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes (although I’d rate it much higher, personally). And with so many seasons to binge, it’s at the very least an excellent way to fill the gaps between episodes of The White Lotus season 3.
Watch Columbo now on Peacock or Prime Video.
