Thanks, that's what I was looking for. But I find PBS and Airplane! more persuasive, in terms of making this short movie seem a reasonable exchange for my $11, than Duck Soup. Duck Soup was what, early 30s; I can't really hold this movie, which I can't even remember the name of after my martini, to whatever standards…

It's entirely readable. Fun's not the right word, but not entirely off either. The book's interesting and touching in just the right amounts. And it's almost aggressively moderate in tone and story. This stands really well in contrast to the wonderful plot device that is the mystery of what happened to all those…

The book didn't portray society as crumbling. In fact, the book seemed intent on portraying how people just have to get on with their lives despite this mind-bending, heart-wrenching mystery. It's about mundane life in the wake of the loss. The tv show sounds more tortured.

edit to add, mummyunderyourbed said it better above: I get that a comedy can benefit from keeping the story short and tight but 83 minutes from start to final credit seems almost miserly.

Yes! They vacuumed a couple of rugs on that show over the years, if memory serves.

Oh yea, amazing holds. And the more I thought about it the more I drifted toward, ya know, it was kind of seamless. Just fun to write with someone about the episode. Glad you posted on it to begin with.

So it was Crais? I've enjoyed some of the Cole books, but not so much the Joe Pike centered one. I like reading pretty much anything set in LA since I very much enjoyed living there.

The instant that Culp walks in to the office, to paraphrase another detective, the "game is afoot." You're right that at that moment the story is taking a sharp turn. But rather than seamlessly or smoothly, I find it more of a record-scratch like feel to the moment. Like Columbo has spotted his prey, and the hunt will…

Just watched this episode as well. Are you in England? I remember thinking that Culp will never get all those pieces of glass, from the shattered glass end-table on which she hits her head, out of that super deep shag carpet.

Oh yeah, keep an eye out for the introduction of a young Tom Selleck as a detective competitor, in a role that must have helped him land the Magnum PI gig.

Agreed, seems like as early as the second season he would self-consciously turn up the Columbo-ness of his performance, almost winking to the tv audience that, "hey, I'm going to do it now."

Yes! I think both shows groomed talents many would recognize today. Bochco (sp) was contributed to one of them. I remember seeing Cassavettes in one of the show's credits. And a contemporary detective fiction writer worked for one of them, a writer whose books you'd grab at the airport, kind of thing. Robert Crais…

I too like the political point but disagree with the advice. Maybe talk to the couple a bit, see how they feel about the issue more generally. No reason to think the partners share the same opinion, either.

I like Columbo and watch it regularly. It runs on tv where I live. But The Rockford Files is a superior show. Columbo veers close to winking self parody at times. It's been a while since I watched TRFs start to finish but I remember finding it a genuinely excellent show in terms of acting, characterization and…

This write up captures sports writing at its worst. The spurs win the championship, their 5th since 99. And this writer's subject is the heat and Lebron.

First draft: the groing siense is neet. knumbers agree. the cool knumbers, the 1s that mater.

Perfect!

"I'm ok, you're ok a douche." Remo Williams.

Everywhere's within walking distance if you have the time.

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