Columbo episode review — 13.5 — Columbo Likes the Nightlife

Original air date: January 30, 2003
Director: Jeffrey Reiner
Writer: Michael Alaimo

Rating: 6/10

This aesthetically doesn’t really resemble classic Columbo in any way, though I suppose that’s sort of the idea. It’s bright and colourful (or dark and colourful, when it’s in a nightclub), and the murderers, Justin Price (Matthew Rhys) and Vanessa (Jennifer Sky) seem way too young for Columbo villains.

But this is about pitting Columbo in a situation that he’s very much out of place, so it works on that level. It’s not as funny as a lot of other episodes that do similar things, but it’s relatively effective.

Falk himself is just too old for the role. I said this in my review for the last episode, but it hurts me a bit to see him like this.

But to be fair, he gives a solid performance, as always. I do kind of wish “Ashes to Ashes” was the last episode, though, because that was the strongest of the revival episodes, and a more fitting end, given McGoohan’s involvement.