The Columbo Drinking Game
Columbo is one of the best detective series of all time. Airing on NBC from 1968 to 1978, and revived on CBS from 1989 to 2003, each of the series’ 69 episodes is its own mystery movie, with the typical episode length being about an hour and a half. Each episode stars Peter Falk as the titular detective, a figure so beloved that he has been considered one of the greatest characters to appear on television. The series has been greatly acclaimed throughout its multi-decade run. However, like many episodic detective series, there are certain formulaic elements that are repeated throughout most, if not all, episodes. These elements can be quite fun to identify, especially if you make it into a game. Below, I have created rules for a ‘drinking game’ based on frequent occurrences throughout the series.
Before we get started, “Just one more thing…”
If you’re planning on drinking alcohol during this game, please drink responsibly. However, if you want to participate in the true Columbo spirit, you will, as Lt. Columbo does, forego alcohol ‘on the job’ in favor of coffee, root beer, or (one of his favorites) cream soda.
Without further ado, here are the rules.
Take a drink whenever:
1. You recognize a special guest star.
2. Robert Culp plays the murderer.
3. The murderer manipulates/breaks a timepiece to change the time of death.
4. Columbo is not seen until after the 20 minute mark.
5. Columbo’s dog, Dog, makes an appearance.
6. Columbo is not recognized as a police officer/confused for someone else.
7. Columbo says “Just one more thing” or something to that effect.
8. Columbo asks how much something costs.
9. Columbo talks about his car.
10. The murderer first starts to ‘play detective’ by speculating about the hypothetical perpetrator’s psyche to Columbo.
11. Columbo asks for a light for his cigar.
12. The murderer asks Columbo, “Did it ever occur to you…”
13. Columbo whistles/sings “This Old Man”
14. Fred Draper plays a character.
15. Columbo mentions his wife.
16. The murderer goes back to commit another crime in order to implicate someone else.
17. The director tries to get artsy, but ends up just unsettling you.
18. You remember Peter Falk has a glass eye.
19. The murderer tells Columbo he has no proof.
20. Columbo solves a crime using information about a certain profession or technology that he gathered throughout the course of the episode.
What are your favorite Columbo tropes? What’s your favorite episode? Who’s your favorite murderer? Would you like to see a game like this based on another TV show or movie? Comment below with any of your thoughts!
Copyright © 2019 Bailey Lizotte
