Deborah Shapiro on obsessively watching Peter Falk's iconic ten-season series, being partronized by someone younger for the first time, and the lasting appeal of the actor's style.
Ohhh... SO many thoughts on this, as my mentor and my girls’ amazing godmother, Jacqueline Saint Ann, spent YEARS on set as Falk’s costume designer and dresser. They were inseparable. At home, we even got to skulk around the house in his original trench coat. It made us all want to be sleuths. 😂
I cannot WAIT to read Deborah's book! Like everyone else, I watched Columbo as a kid. I was also a dedicated Rockford Files girl. But my parents loved Peter Falk because he grew up in CT, near where we lived. When I moved to NYC after college, and when my parents came in for my birthday, which is Christmas Day, we always went to Shun Lee Palace. One year, as we were leaving, Falk and his wife were arriving and my parents stopped him to talk about their old stomping grounds. He was delightful. And, I swear, was wearing that old raincoat.
Falk is from my hometown, Ossining, NY. His parents ran a clothing store, from which I still have a sport coat bought as a junior in HS, 1965. Hence his thing about wardrobe - and a genuine caring person was he.
A lovely meditation on a soulful tv series to which the author returns for comfort in hard times.
The role of “costume designer” in this context comes as an amusing oxymoron.
To me the classic “Law and Order” is the closest thing to religious observance I have. But I loved to think Jerry Orbach as Lenny Briscoe chose his own tie and sport jacket combos and that they came from off the rack at the eponymous Orbach’s Department Store. Indulge me in my religious meditations.
Thank you for the photo
of Cassavetes, Falk and Gazzara. To me they epitomized the kind of loving bond among men I celebrate in my memoir “Men as Friends”. Falk’s choice of what to wear to Cassavete’s funeral brought tears.
And of course the glorious Gina Rowlands. Thank you for not forgetting her.
Love this piece and Columbo and Peter Falk❤️ I first watched Columbo as a kid- my dad was a big fan- and later on I have enjoyed watching the reruns. Part of the charm is that the criminals often think they are getting over on Columbo because of his head-scratching , unkempt persona but you know that he is figuring it out and will get the murderer in the end (though a couple times he does let them go). Also, There is a great episode Etude in Black where John Cassavetes appears as an arrogant murderer conductor. I have a fascination with the Cassavetes films too. Thank you for tris piece!
hahaha, as soon as I read the title of this piece, I shouted "yes". Then I indulged myself in remembering Peter Falk, and how hot he was. Smart, humble, slightly unkempt. The curls! And then straight away you acknowledge hus hotness!! i guess I am not a freak after all. <3
This feels like kismet. A month or so ago, I opined on my devotion to Columbo in my own newsletter. I was born in 1966, grew up watching Columbo and then, at age 59, purchased a few seasons of the show as a birthday present to myself. I'll certainly seek out, and read Deborah's book, Watching the Detective. I adore Peter Falk, and I have enjoyed the Cassavetes films also. This is just my subjective viewpoint but I like the first couple of seasons of Columbo best, and I think the writing and direction is strongest in those early episodes. And I loved the overlap with contemporary character actors and the appearances of studio luminaries such as Ida Lupino and Janet Leigh. Various character actors who pop up throughout are welcome and comforting onscreen presences. TV actors of the 70s appeared on different TV shows over and over again and it was lovely to see their faces, and a little sad to think they are gone now. Thanks again, so much, for sharing! I cannot believe you guys published this essay shortly after I rediscovered Columbo myself. What a wonderful coincidence!
Oh my gosh, I LOVE this. I too remember the series from the 70's and 80's. I stumbled upon a rerun a few months ago and am now hooked. Yes, I now find Peter Falk very attractive. I figured out why I love the show so much. Columbo is a breath of fresh air because he's a man with no ego (so unlike all the other male leads in the tv, movies and politics). He zeroes in on the murderer and lets that person demean him throughout the show, all the while setting his sights on bringing that person to justice. And finally, there is accountability, something I'm craving in this upside down administration. The good people are kicked out and the incompetent people rewarded.
I love this column, in no small part because I became a huge Columbo fan during the pandemic and I think a lot of other millennials like myself did too, since he became a Tumblr icon. In the great François Truffaut film Small Change, there's a scene where two pre-teen boys walk through the streets talking about the Columbo they saw that weekend, so I think the appeal for the show is fairly universal among age groups.
Thank you for this almost McLuhanesque examination of watching old reruns. And for the added, related comments on Deborah Shapiro's father's clothes that made me mist over. The mind and the heart in one essay....
Ohhh... SO many thoughts on this, as my mentor and my girls’ amazing godmother, Jacqueline Saint Ann, spent YEARS on set as Falk’s costume designer and dresser. They were inseparable. At home, we even got to skulk around the house in his original trench coat. It made us all want to be sleuths. 😂
Wow!
I cannot WAIT to read Deborah's book! Like everyone else, I watched Columbo as a kid. I was also a dedicated Rockford Files girl. But my parents loved Peter Falk because he grew up in CT, near where we lived. When I moved to NYC after college, and when my parents came in for my birthday, which is Christmas Day, we always went to Shun Lee Palace. One year, as we were leaving, Falk and his wife were arriving and my parents stopped him to talk about their old stomping grounds. He was delightful. And, I swear, was wearing that old raincoat.
Great story!
Thank you for this! FYI, did you know about the Columbo Cookbook? It's fun to cook a recipe and then watch the corresponding episode. https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/38652523-cooking-with-columbo
yes! I need to get it and start cooking along!
Oooh!
Falk is from my hometown, Ossining, NY. His parents ran a clothing store, from which I still have a sport coat bought as a junior in HS, 1965. Hence his thing about wardrobe - and a genuine caring person was he.
A lovely meditation on a soulful tv series to which the author returns for comfort in hard times.
The role of “costume designer” in this context comes as an amusing oxymoron.
To me the classic “Law and Order” is the closest thing to religious observance I have. But I loved to think Jerry Orbach as Lenny Briscoe chose his own tie and sport jacket combos and that they came from off the rack at the eponymous Orbach’s Department Store. Indulge me in my religious meditations.
Thank you for the photo
of Cassavetes, Falk and Gazzara. To me they epitomized the kind of loving bond among men I celebrate in my memoir “Men as Friends”. Falk’s choice of what to wear to Cassavete’s funeral brought tears.
And of course the glorious Gina Rowlands. Thank you for not forgetting her.
What a memory jog. I watched Columbo after school in the 80s. This was such a good read!
Love this piece and Columbo and Peter Falk❤️ I first watched Columbo as a kid- my dad was a big fan- and later on I have enjoyed watching the reruns. Part of the charm is that the criminals often think they are getting over on Columbo because of his head-scratching , unkempt persona but you know that he is figuring it out and will get the murderer in the end (though a couple times he does let them go). Also, There is a great episode Etude in Black where John Cassavetes appears as an arrogant murderer conductor. I have a fascination with the Cassavetes films too. Thank you for tris piece!
❤️ Etude in Black is a great episode
So great. I have seen it multiple times of course. Love seeing Peter Falk and Cassavetes playing off each other, so good.
Thanks for reading ❤️ There’s more about that specific episode in the book — I didn’t want to go too long in this excerpt :)
Excellent, will check out your book!
Where can I get your book?
It's available to order here: https://www.bsideeditions.com/shop/p/watching-the-detective or here: http://www.deborah-shapiro.com/watching-the-detective-1 and it's stocked at select bookshops listed here: https://www.bsideeditions.com/stockists Thanks so much for your interest!
Excellent, looking it up now.
hahaha, as soon as I read the title of this piece, I shouted "yes". Then I indulged myself in remembering Peter Falk, and how hot he was. Smart, humble, slightly unkempt. The curls! And then straight away you acknowledge hus hotness!! i guess I am not a freak after all. <3
😂 I mean, maybe we’re all freaks
my 22 year old son loves Columbo! I was so surprised when he started talking to me about it earlier this year! 😄
I love hearing that twentysomethings are into it
Me, too!
This feels like kismet. A month or so ago, I opined on my devotion to Columbo in my own newsletter. I was born in 1966, grew up watching Columbo and then, at age 59, purchased a few seasons of the show as a birthday present to myself. I'll certainly seek out, and read Deborah's book, Watching the Detective. I adore Peter Falk, and I have enjoyed the Cassavetes films also. This is just my subjective viewpoint but I like the first couple of seasons of Columbo best, and I think the writing and direction is strongest in those early episodes. And I loved the overlap with contemporary character actors and the appearances of studio luminaries such as Ida Lupino and Janet Leigh. Various character actors who pop up throughout are welcome and comforting onscreen presences. TV actors of the 70s appeared on different TV shows over and over again and it was lovely to see their faces, and a little sad to think they are gone now. Thanks again, so much, for sharing! I cannot believe you guys published this essay shortly after I rediscovered Columbo myself. What a wonderful coincidence!
Oh my gosh, I LOVE this. I too remember the series from the 70's and 80's. I stumbled upon a rerun a few months ago and am now hooked. Yes, I now find Peter Falk very attractive. I figured out why I love the show so much. Columbo is a breath of fresh air because he's a man with no ego (so unlike all the other male leads in the tv, movies and politics). He zeroes in on the murderer and lets that person demean him throughout the show, all the while setting his sights on bringing that person to justice. And finally, there is accountability, something I'm craving in this upside down administration. The good people are kicked out and the incompetent people rewarded.
I love this column, in no small part because I became a huge Columbo fan during the pandemic and I think a lot of other millennials like myself did too, since he became a Tumblr icon. In the great François Truffaut film Small Change, there's a scene where two pre-teen boys walk through the streets talking about the Columbo they saw that weekend, so I think the appeal for the show is fairly universal among age groups.
Peter Falk plays a version of himself in one of my absolute favorite films, Wim Wenders' "Wings of Desire" - if you haven't seen it, it's wonderful.
Oh, I love that movie. Time for a rewatch!
Thank you for this almost McLuhanesque examination of watching old reruns. And for the added, related comments on Deborah Shapiro's father's clothes that made me mist over. The mind and the heart in one essay....
Thank you ❤️
I love this so much.
<3
A lovely and nostalgic piece. There is a comfort in knowing Columbo was always there waiting for us. Thanks for this!
We watched a bit of it during the Pandemic. What a time capsule…
Same! I also was delighted by the mention of A Woman Under the Influence. Gena Rowlands and Falk are an incredible duo in that one.
Truly. I rewatched that after she passed away a while ago. So incredible…