The Canadian Encyclopedia — neutral, cited, updated
July 26, 2026Sources cited
Canadianwire.
Canada’s encyclopedia & explainer
Home›Entertainment›TV Series›Columbo
Entertainment • TV Series

Columbo

Columbo is an American crime drama television series starring Peter Falk as Lieutenant Columbo, a homicide detective with the Los Angeles Police Department.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Columbo is an American crime drama television series starring Peter Falk as Lieutenant Columbo, a homicide detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. Created by Richard Levinson and William Link, it is known for its inverted detective-story format, in which the audience usually sees the crime before Columbo investigates it. The series first aired in pilot form in 1968 and ran in regular network form from 1971 to 2003.

Premise

The series follows Lieutenant Columbo of the Los Angeles Police Department as he solves murder cases. Its format typically shows the murderer and the crime first, then follows Columbo as he uncovers the evidence.

Production and broadcast history

Columbo began with the 1968 television film Prescription: Murder and a second pilot in 1971, then aired on NBC from 1971 to 1978. It later continued on ABC from 1989 to 2003 in occasional television-film instalments.

Characters and style

Peter Falk’s portrayal of Columbo became widely associated with the character’s rumpled coat, cigar, and deceptively humble manner. The series is frequently described as an inverted detective story rather than a conventional whodunit.

Awards and legacy

During its original run, the series received major industry recognition, including multiple Primetime Emmy wins for Falk. It is widely regarded as a distinctive and influential example of television mystery storytelling.

Key facts

  • Peter Falk played Lieutenant Columbo, the series’ central character.
  • The show is notable for its inverted mystery structure, revealing the crime before the detective’s investigation.
  • It began with two pilot films before becoming a regular NBC series in 1971.
  • The series later returned on ABC and continued with sporadic instalments until 2003.
  • Columbo won 22 awards from 68 nominations during its original run, including four Primetime Emmy Awards for Falk.
🍁
Canadian context

Columbo has long been familiar to Canadian television audiences through syndication and international broadcast, and it remains a well-known example of classic American mystery television.

Frequently asked questions

What is Columbo about?
It follows Lieutenant Columbo, a Los Angeles homicide detective, as he solves murder cases, usually after the audience has already seen the crime committed.
Who created Columbo?
The series was created by Richard Levinson and William Link.
Who starred as Columbo?
Peter Falk starred as Lieutenant Columbo throughout the series.
How many episodes are there?
The series is commonly listed as having 69 episodes, including pilot films and later instalments.
When did Columbo first air?
Its first pilot aired in 1968, and the series began regular network broadcasting in 1971.
What makes the series distinctive?
Its inverted mystery format shows the culprit first, then follows Columbo’s investigation, which differs from a standard whodunit.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbo
    Supports: Series premise, cast, broadcast history, awards, genre, and run dates.
  2. Simple English Wikipedia — https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbo
    Supports: Episode count, setting, and inverted detective-story format.
  3. Museum of Broadcast Communications — https://www.museum.tv/tv-encyclopedia-4/columbo
    Supports: Creators, early development, and first network television appearance.
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbo_(character)
    Supports: Character traits and portrayal by Peter Falk.