Columbo episode review — 13.1 — Strange Bedfellows

Original air date: May 8, 1995
Director: Vincent McEveety
Writer: Lawrence Vail

Rating: 5/10

I’m a fan of Cheers, so I’m definitely aware of the comedic chops of George Wendt, so I was a bit skeptical of him playing a serious role here. He didn’t really deliver, in my opinion, in what’s one of the least entertaining episodes of the entire series.

Wendt plays a thoroughbred ranch owner who murders his brother, and the mob is suspected, which leads to some really awkward comedy. There’s even a moment where the score imitates the score from The Godfather, and it’s just out of place. It reminds me of Columbo playing the trombone, but at least that used Columbo as its source of humour.