TV Confidential Archives July 25, 2011

Show No. 98 July 25, 2011

First hour: TV Confidential remembers the life and career of Emmy Award-winning actor Peter Falk (Columbo, Murder by Death, The Cheap Detective, Pocketful of Miracles, Murder, Inc.) along with author Mark Dawidziak, whose books on film and television include The Columbo Phile, the definitive book on the classic TV mystery series. Topics include Falk's dedication to Columbo, both on camera and behind the scenes; his favorite episodes and favorite Columbo clues; and his collaborations with Neil Simon, Frank Capra, Ben Gazzara and John Cassavetes. Second hour: Emmy Award-winning writer/producer William Link (Columbo, Mannix, Ellery Queen, Murder, She Wrote, The Columbo Collection) joins Ed this hour as TV Confidential continues its tribute to Peter Falk. Topics include the origins of the Columbo character, which Bill created along with his longtime collaborator, Richard Levinson; Falk's friendship with Levinson and Link, which predated their work on the Columbo television series; how Falk came to be cast as Columbo; and the enduring appeal of the character.