Columbo: The Peter Falk Detective Series Began 45 Years Ago

Just one more thing. Forty-five years ago today, Columbo made its debut on NBC.

Created by Richard Levinson and William Link, the famous detective series starred Peter Falk as Columbo, a bumbling and disheveled police detective who also possesses extreme intelligence when it comes to solving crimes. The show premiered on September 15th, 1971 and initially ran for seven seasons on NBC before being rebooted on ABC in 1989.

Because of its popularity, Columbo inspired several spin-offs, including a book series, films, and a stage production. Also of note, the premiere episode was written by future NYPD Blue creator Steven Bochco and directed by none other than Steven Spielberg.

Watch a few clips from Columbo below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkYcLwih62E