This episode first aired October 31, 1993.

This episode was written by Peter Falk who wrote a first draft back in the 70’s, shelved it, submitted it for consideration in the 80’s only to have it deemed not good enough, shelved it, then rewrote it and finally had it accepted in the 90’s. Of course, it probably helped that he was the show’s sole Executive Producer.

Faye Dunaway won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal of Lauren Staton in this episode.

Dawn Wells, who played Mary-Anne on Gilligan’s Island, can be glimpsed as a guest in the opening party sequence.

Joe Finnegan, who played Barney the restaurant owner in this episode, made 13 appearances on Columbo, portraying 11 different characters including Lieutenant Duffy and the Chief of Police.

My thoughts on this episode in chronological viewing order…

Love both Faye Dunaway and Claudia Christian.

The women he is two-timing are plotting against him.

Using an electric blanket to keep the body warm – I’ve seen this episode! “Suitable for Framing”.

The lights are out. In retrospect, is there any real reason they had to cut the power? Lauren could have just stepped in from the other room and just shot him all the same, no? What does the “lights out” get us – besides providing some clues for Columbo to follow later?

“No, it’s the other woman.” And bang. Sorry, more like thwp. She uses a suppressor. The ladies came prepared!

Are these two women lovers? Kind of risqué for the 90’s, no?

Mighty weird for the hostess to call it quits while her party is in full swing.

The accomplice firing the shot to establish a false timeline – I’ve seen this episode! Again, “Suitable for Framing”.

Columbo at the crime scene with his hardboiled eggs.

Water in the freezer tray. Hmmm.

Clocking the thermostat. Hmmm.

“She’s a knockout,”the cop tells Columbo, referring to the grieving woman in the next room.

Columbo primping before the questioning. Wants to looks his best…in his pajamas.

Love the fact he asks for his coffee back at the end of the interview.

Love this bit of Columbo pouring Dog some water in a giant mixing bowl.

“Some people they can take the sun. Not me. I start sweating. It comes right out through my shirt. But mostly my feet. I guess that’s why I have such soft feet. Perspiration softens them up.” Columbo, you old smooth talker you. What lady can resist sweat-softened feet?

Not sure about feet, but Lauren likes the smell of cigars. A woman after Columbo’s heart!

He is unusually spry questioning THIS witness.

“There’s something about him. I can’t put my finger on it,”she tells her accomplice. “I think he likes me.” Reveal Columbo stalking her.

There was no poker game being played the night Nick was killed despite him telling her there was. She redirects the questioning by taking off his tie and getting him a new one – I’ve seen this episode before! “Requiem for a Falling Star”.

“I love you.” “I love you.” They ARE lovers.

Columbo helping himself to the dead man’s peanut butter and raisins. Why let them go to waste?

Columbo tells Barney “She’s making a play for me.” He is clearly flattered.

She adjusts his tie as he goes on about electricity – then blows in his ear. Another distraction. A weird one. Then she kisses him. Twice! He seems receptive. Refresh my memory, did Mrs. Columbo actually die in “Rest in Peace, Mrs. Columbo”?

“Do you drink in the afternoon.”
“No but I do in the evening.”
Liar. He was always day-drinking through those early episodes. Clearly, he’s playing her. And I don’t know how I feel about that.

“What’s your first name?”
“Lieutenant.”
Great.

She has potential answers to all of his burning questions. Always a mistake on the part of the killer.

“He’s fun to be with,”she confides. “I really like him.” Uh, he IS married.

Aha! He has traced the call to Lisa Fiore!

Does he have a warrant to search her place?

“You’ve come to tell me there’s one more thing.”
Great.

The quirky romantic music that plays at the end of every scene they share is a little on-the-nose.

He gets her flowers. What a hopeless romantic. Or a surprisingly devious detective.

She explains their problems. His problem is his report Her problem is that she’s attracted to him. Uh, isn’t his wife both of their problems?

The background music is mixed too loudly in some of these scenes. I can barely hear the dialogue.

Awkward/goofy Columbo is a little cringe.

He seems disappointed with himself as he checks out his reflection in the mirror and removes his tie. Having second thoughts about the game he is playing.

Hooboy. The giggly cleaner. ON OFF ON OFF ON OFF!
Actress Shelley Morrison, who plays the maid here, would go on to find fame playing maid Rosario Salazar on Will & Grace.

He makes her his world famous peanut butter and raisin sandwich. Didn’t Nick have anything else in the pantry?

She got him a dog bed. What a great gift!

His line of questioning about her relationship with Nick has set her off. Their first fight.

Lauren enters to discover the police questioning her accomplice. And going at her pretty hard. Where is her lawyer? Also, I feel like I’ve seen this episode – “Mind Over Mayhem”.

Columbo recognizes the hand-carved one-of-a-kind chair in both photos. Hmmm.

He releases Lisa and tells her to leave the country. “Lauren wants it this way.”

In exchange for her signed confession.

Lisa is her daughter! What a twist!

I do feel sorry for her. That creep deserved to die.

“I’m ready. Thanks for the flowers.”
Kind of heart-breaking.

And gives his tie away.

Back at the diner, Barney asks him how he could do that to a woman he had feelings for. Columbon implies it was all a ruse and says he’s going bowling with his wife. Cold.

There was a lot to like about this episode. Falk is great, as always, and the guest stars are outstanding, especially Dunaway. I really did like Lauren as a character and thought her a worthy adversary for Columbo. I also loved the final twist that reveals Lisa is her daughter. On the other hand, while I really like the idea of this episode, I just had a hard time buying into her clunky attempts to seduce him and his goofball “lovestruck” antics – made even worse by the fact that he is playing her throughout. We do hint at the fact that Columbo second-guesses his strategy (that glance in the mirror), but it still feels pretty conniving for this character, especially when we find out that Lauren committed the murder out of a desperate attempt to save her daughter.

Overall, though, a pretty enjoyable episode, especially within the context of the New Columbo Era.

Next episode, William Shatner returns in “Butterfly in Shades of Grey”!

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