What are you watching on TV right now? - Progressive Rock Music Forum

Author

Message

Topic Search

Topic Options

Snow Dog

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: March 23 2005
Location: Caerdydd
Status: Offline
Points: 32995

Posted: February 07 2012 at 09:15

James wrote:

I read about that yesterday. It failed badly and they had to change its name, as well as the name of the character as well and it still failed. LOL

I watched it.

VanderGraafKommandöh View Drop Down

Prog Reviewer

Joined: July 04 2005
Location: Malaria
Status: Offline
Points: 89372

Posted: February 07 2012 at 09:17

Most people didn't like the fact it was associated with Columbo, apparently. I don't think I was even born when it was released, so I've definitely not seen any of the episodes.

Snow Dog

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: March 23 2005
Location: Caerdydd
Status: Offline
Points: 32995

Posted: February 07 2012 at 09:20

Mrs Columbo

VanderGraafKommandöh View Drop Down

Prog Reviewer

Joined: July 04 2005
Location: Malaria
Status: Offline
Points: 89372

Posted: February 07 2012 at 09:30

Indeed, apparently they also didn't like the fact that Kate Mulgrew was only in her 20s at the time when Columbo's wife was supposed to be much older.

I think people just didn't like the show.

Snow Dog

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: March 23 2005
Location: Caerdydd
Status: Offline
Points: 32995

Posted: February 07 2012 at 09:32

James wrote:

Indeed, apparently they also didn't like the fact that Kate Mulgrew was only in her 20s at the time when Columbo's wife was supposed to be much older.

I think people just didn't like the show.

Will you stop quoting stuff you just read.

VanderGraafKommandöh View Drop Down

Prog Reviewer

Joined: July 04 2005
Location: Malaria
Status: Offline
Points: 89372

Posted: February 07 2012 at 09:36

I read it yesterday, so it's not just read. Tongue

TheProgtologist View Drop Down

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin

Joined: May 23 2005
Location: Baltimore,Md US
Status: Offline
Points: 27802

Posted: February 07 2012 at 16:45

Nothing on tv tonight so after dinner me and the wife are going to sit down and start watching the fourth and last season of The Tudors.

Atavachron View Drop Down

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: September 30 2006
Location: Pearland
Status: Offline
Points: 64353

Posted: February 07 2012 at 18:59

James wrote:

Well the first ever episode after the pilot, was directed by Steven Spielberg.

Yes I just saw that one a few weeks ago-- it's excellent, with Jack Cassidy (David Cassidy's father) as the antagonist. This must've been around the time Spielberg did Duel with Dennis Weaver.

Atavachron View Drop Down

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: September 30 2006
Location: Pearland
Status: Offline
Points: 64353

Posted: February 07 2012 at 19:31

James wrote:

Dean wrote:

Atavachron wrote:

James wrote:

I watched Columbo yesterday, David. It's so awesome. I plan to try and get them all on DVD eventually. The one on yesterday was from Series 8 from 1989.

Yes it's the best, Falk may be finest television actor ever. The shows from '89 are much later after the main series from the 1970s but still very good (no surprise the show attracted the best writers and scripts). The character is such a gifted detective it's as if he only needs one or two small clues, even suggestions, before he immediately knows who did it. It's as much psychological game as investigation, great stuff.

Columbo was clever (and at the time unique) for a detective programme because the viewer knew "whodunnit" from the beginning, and as you say, Columbo himself also knows who did it from the smallest of clues often early on too, so the premis of the programme is simply, "how will the villian get caught"

...oh Sir, there's just one more thing before I go... the quality of the villains (as actors) also helped the shows success.

It's also Columbo's character too. His dishevelled look, his constant talking of his wife who you rarely see (apparently she is in a few episodes but I've not seen those ones). His Bloodhound dog named Dog. He also never carried a gun. He made the true villains comfortable around him and act like their friend. Plus he was never averse to using sly tactics himself, like planting false evidence or using policemen and women as actors and the like.

I've always had a theory his wife doesn't exist, just a tool he uses to excuse or misdirect, but yes she is "in" a few episodes but I don't think we ever actually see her. He never used dirty tactics but he did use sly ones; he'd often lie to a suspect to get him to make a mistake or try to destroy what might be evidence. He wouldn't entrap but he would set them.

Atavachron View Drop Down

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: September 30 2006
Location: Pearland
Status: Offline
Points: 64353

Posted: February 07 2012 at 19:34

James wrote:

Most people didn't like the fact it was associated with Columbo, apparently. I don't think I was even born when it was released, so I've definitely not seen any of the episodes.

it was on a par with AfterMash

TheProgtologist View Drop Down

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin

Joined: May 23 2005
Location: Baltimore,Md US
Status: Offline
Points: 27802

Posted: February 12 2012 at 07:05

Nothing much on right now so I'm watching Top Gear on BBCA.

Snow Dog

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: March 23 2005
Location: Caerdydd
Status: Offline
Points: 32995

Posted: February 12 2012 at 11:30

TheProgtologist wrote:

Nothing much on right now so I'm watching Top Gear on BBCA.

VanderGraafKommandöh View Drop Down

Prog Reviewer

Joined: July 04 2005
Location: Malaria
Status: Offline
Points: 89372

Posted: February 12 2012 at 13:24

Atavachron wrote:

James wrote:

Dean wrote:

Atavachron wrote:

James wrote:

I watched Columbo yesterday, David. It's so awesome. I plan to try and get them all on DVD eventually. The one on yesterday was from Series 8 from 1989.

...oh Sir, there's just one more thing before I go... the quality of the villains (as actors) also helped the shows success.

I've also often thought she didn't exist but there was a specific episode about her trying to be murdered. I've not seen it, so I don't know how often she's in.

David, you've seen a lot more episodes than me... how often do you see his house or apartment? I sometimes get the impression he lives in his car rather than a house.

Atavachron View Drop Down

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: September 30 2006
Location: Pearland
Status: Offline
Points: 64353

Posted: February 13 2012 at 03:36

^ you never see his home, and I'm convinced despite the wife episode that she is fictitious; e.g. in tonight's one he joked about "his niece" who was his "wife's sister's daughter" in a very tongue-in-cheek way. I believe Columbo lives alone. BTW Eddie Albert was the guest killer tonight, he's always terrific as the cold-hearted older guy.

Watching Naked City now, a great old b&w noir series, Roddy McDowall the guest.

VanderGraafKommandöh View Drop Down

Prog Reviewer

Joined: July 04 2005
Location: Malaria
Status: Offline
Points: 89372

Posted: February 13 2012 at 04:33

I love Naked City. A wonderful old film.

AtomicCrimsonRush View Drop Down

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: July 02 2008
Location: Australia
Status: Offline
Points: 14256

Posted: February 13 2012 at 06:01

Episode 1 of Alcatraz........ h,mmmmmmmm okay

after this

Prisoner

rushfan4

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: May 22 2007
Location: Michigan, U.S.
Status: Offline
Points: 65938

Posted: February 13 2012 at 15:35

I finished Series Two of Doctor Who yesterday. I am going to miss Billie Piper/Rose Tyler. She is/was my favorite part of the show.

The Hemulen View Drop Down

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: July 31 2004
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Points: 5964

Posted: February 19 2012 at 05:45

rushfan4 wrote:

I finished Series Two of Doctor Who yesterday. I am going to miss Billie Piper/Rose Tyler. She is/was my favorite part of the show.

The next series might be a bit of a struggle in that regard 'cause her replacement was something of a personality vacuum (I blame the writers - they never figured out what to do with her, sadly), but the companion role gets a thorough shaking-up in series 4 and once Amy and Rory turn up in series 5 you'll be thinking "Rose who?".

I've just watched the first episode of Breaking Bad - easily the strongest drama pilot I've seen since Mad Men.

dude

Forum Senior Member

Joined: January 30 2004
Location: Australia
Status: Offline
Points: 1338

Posted: February 20 2012 at 07:51

Well the LAST thing i watched on tv was the cricket yesterday,the Commonwealth bank one day series(50 over) Australia v India,Australia won(YAYYYYY) and Sachin Tendulkar is still looking for his hundredth first class century!!! :)

TheProgtologist View Drop Down

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin

Joined: May 23 2005
Location: Baltimore,Md US
Status: Offline
Points: 27802

Posted: February 21 2012 at 01:23

rushfan4 wrote:

I finished Series Two of Doctor Who yesterday. I am going to miss Billie Piper/Rose Tyler. She is/was my favorite part of the show.

If you like Billie Piper check out her Showtime series Secret Diary of a Call Girl. Big smile