The BEST episodes of Columbo season 1

Every episode of Columbo season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Columbo season 1!

A Los Angeles homicide detective, Lieutenant Columbo, uses his humble ways and shrewd demeanor to ferret out even the most careful criminals.

Last Updated: 9/18/2024Network: ABC (US)Status: Ended
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Death Lends a Hand
star
7.67
628 votes

#1 - Death Lends a Hand

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/6/1971

A private investigator kills his client's wife after she threatens to expose his blackmail scheme. The client then hires the detective to assist Columbo in the search for the killer.

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Suitable for Framing
star
7.65
438 votes

#2 - Suitable for Framing

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/17/1971

An art critic, Dale Kingston, kills his uncle for his valuable collection of paintings. All the clues lead to the dead man's first wife. Can Columbo correct the Lieutenant's error before it is too late?

Directors: Hy Averback
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Ransom for a Dead Man
star
7.61
709 votes

#3 - Ransom for a Dead Man

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/1/1971

A high-flying lady lawyer kills her husband for the insurance money, and tries to makes It look like a kidnapping gone wrong.

Directors: Richard Irving
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Prescription: Murder
star
7.58
882 votes

#4 - Prescription: Murder

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 2/20/1968

Columbo's first mystery pits him against a cheating doctor out to get rid of his wife in favor of his young, pretty actress girlfriend.

Directors: Richard Irving
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Blueprint for Murder
star
7.56
269 votes

#5 - Blueprint for Murder

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 2/9/1972

An architect kills his business partner and deliberately lets Columbo suspect him, leading Columbo to think that he's hidden the body in the foundation of a building under construction. He plans to let Columbo dig up the site and find nothing, knowing that its the perfect place to hide the body since Columbo would never look in the same place twice.

Directors: Peter Falk
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Lady in Waiting
star
7.42
429 votes

#6 - Lady in Waiting

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 12/15/1971

A woman shoots her overbearing brother, claiming she thought he was a burglar. Columbo doesn't buy the self-defense claim - he know's it's murder

Directors: Norman Lloyd
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Dead Weight
star
7.38
581 votes

#7 - Dead Weight

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/27/1971

A famous general kills a business associate, then woos a neurotic female witness to thwart Columbo's investigation.

Directors: Jack Smight
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Murder by the Book
star
7.35
609 votes

#8 - Murder by the Book

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/15/1971

One member of a mystery-writing-team decides to kill his more talented partner when the better writer decides to go solo.

Directors: Steven Spielberg
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Short Fuse
star
7.29
237 votes

#9 - Short Fuse

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 1/19/1972

A chemist rigs a bomb in his uncle's car to gain control of his uncle's company, then plants clues to make Columbo suspicious of the company's Vice-President.

Directors: Edward M. Abroms
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