Just One More Thing

Next time, we’ll be looking at “Negative Reaction,” from season four, with guest Kevin O’Mara (klophoto.com). It’s on Netflix Watch Instantly and DVD, so check it out before we post the next podcast.

Our holiday gift to you, dear listener, is this- a discussion of the Mrs. Columbo episode, “Caviar with Everything.” Gather family and friends around the mp3 player on the mantel with room-temperature egg nog and listen to New York Times bestselling author Daniel Lavery (then Mallory Ortberg) (Texts From Jane Eyre, the-toast.net) join Jon and RJ to talk about this slice of (not-very-good) television history. Kate Mulgrew stars as Mrs. Columbo, in a spinoff in which Lt. Columbo never, ever appears, but his car and dog do. She’s a reporter who becomes embroiled in a wicked tale of spurned lovers, catering and food allergies. Also, Jon and RJ are visited by The Ghost of Christmas Future (Leonard Pierce). Truly, holiday fun for all.

If, after all of this, you want to see the episode in question- it’s on YouTube.

So, next time? Well, it’s “Caviar with Everything,” which isn’t exactly a Columbo episode, so much as a Mrs. Columbo episode. It is our holiday “gift” to you, the listener. Returning guest Daniel Lavery (then Mallory Ortberg) (the-toast.net, Texts from Jane Eyre) will be joining us to discuss whatever this is. It’s not on Netflix Instant, just on the DVDs and whatever Betamax cassette you have from your grandmother’s basement that also has episodes of Quincy, M.E. and Happy Days.

Patrick McGoohan- actor, director, murderer. He’s a triple threat! Molly Eichel (AV Club, Philadelphia Daily News) joins Jon and RJ to talk about “Identity Crisis,” a season five episode directed by McGoohan and co-starring Leslie Nielsen (for the first 20 minutes, at least). Spies, lies, fancy houses, CIA agents, amusement parks, halter tops and class issues aplenty await.

For the next edition, we’ll be looking at season five’s “Identity Crisis,” with guest Molly Eichel (Philadelphia Daily News, AV Club). It’s on the Netflix Watch Instantly and DVD, so give a watch if you can and play along at home. It’s a Patrick McGoohan one and this guest might not hate Columbo, so here’s hoping!

Say, what happens when someone hates the very premise of a show, but then is booked on a podcast about that specific show? Let’s find out! Aaron Bleyaert (Conan, RJ and Bley Suck at Girls) joins Jon and RJ to talk about “Now You See Him…,” which features Columbo repeat offender Jack Cassidy as a murderous magician whose Nazi past is discovered. Will Lt. Columbo be able to match wits with someone to who whom illusion and subterfuge are as essential as water and air? Will we even get through 20 minutes of the show? What of issues of class? Thought experiments? Will we be able to change Aaron’s mind about Columbo? It’s kind of one of those you-have-to-listen-and-find-out-for-yourself deals.

Next time, it’ll be Season Five’s “Now You See Him…” Joining us will be special guest Aaron Bleyaert (Conan, RJ and Bley Suck At Girls). It’s available on Netflix Watch Instantly or DVD. Listen to the promo below.

Going back, back, back to season one, as Carolita Johnson (The New Yorker, carolita.org), Jon and RJ try to find something less blah about “Dead Weight.” War hero Eddie Albert’s cornered when congress threatens to investigate his defense contracts. Shooting his way out of the situation, he didn’t count on the one-two punch of Lieutenant Columbo and a depressed, constantly negged divorcee, played by Suzanne Pleshette, who witnessed the crime with her awful, awful mother. By the end, the podcast figures out a way this episode could have been a bit better, but it’s 40-odd years too late.

Want to be ready for the next show? Up next, it’s, “Dead Weight,” from season one. We’ll be joined by special guest Carolita Johnson (The New Yorker).

The podcast makes its first foray into 90’s Columbo with Nate Patrin (Pitchfork, City Pages, Wondering Sound) joining Jon and RJ for season ten’s “Columbo and the Murder of a Rock Star.” Dabney Coleman is a high-powered attorney/developer who murders his former-rock star girlfriend, once he finds out she’s been cheating on him with her old drummer. Also- early 90s portable stereo pricing; drugged Champagne; Little Richard (???); old drunk men; the lost 90s show, Creighton’s Law; and Viewer Mail!