# Columbo **URL:** \ **Category:** Movies/TV/Book/Music/Etc\ **Created:** [December 16, 2025, 9:43pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/columbo/12431 "2025-12-16T21:43:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![meep](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/meep/32/44_2.png) [@meep](https://community.goactuary.com/u/meep)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 9:43pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/columbo/12431/1 "2025-12-16T21:43:44Z")
Ok, one of my kids (they’re all adult-aged) is really into Columbo, so I’ve started watching the series alongside her. And man, for me, it’s not so much the howdunnit [or rather, how does Columbo figure it out] or even “hey! it’s That Guy!” casting, but the location shots. It’s the Hollywood Bowl! It’s Big Bear Lake! I’m just luxuriating in the exterior shots, if nothing else. Any other Columbo fans out there? ---
**Author:** ![dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/u/dr_t_non-fan)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 10:12pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/columbo/12431/2 "2025-12-16T22:12:02Z")
I’ve watched plenty. Helps to be set in L.A., so the exterior shots are expected. I’m currently watching Banacek, which was set in Boston, though plenty of the series’ exteriors were shot in SoCal. There was one I recently watched (I’m bingeing) recently shot outdoors at a warehouse, and there are clearly 4000-foot mountains in the background. On that same note, a funny one I saw was a Mission: Impossible set in some fictional country where the Griffith Observatory can be clearly seen (through the 1960’s smog) in the background. Oh, and all of M \* A \* S \* H exteriors were filmed between Malibu and The 101. (Not South Korea.) ---
**Author:** ![Triweasel](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/triweasel/32/159_2.png) [@Triweasel](https://community.goactuary.com/u/Triweasel)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 10:18pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/columbo/12431/3 "2025-12-16T22:18:45Z")
Columbo is great. Tell her to definitely check out Poker Face if she hasn’t already. That’s a fun show with a similar premise. ---
**Author:** ![dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/u/dr_t_non-fan)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 10:41pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/columbo/12431/4 "2025-12-16T22:41:12Z")
> [@Triweasel](#): > > That’s a fun show with a similar premise. More swearing, though. Columbo always had an idea who the culprit was, because he watched the credits for the “special guest star.” ---
**Author:** ![Ling](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/ling/32/70261_2.png) [@Ling](https://community.goactuary.com/u/Ling)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 10:46pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/columbo/12431/5 "2025-12-16T22:46:05Z")
Oh, and another thing… ---
**Author:** ![PatientZombie](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/patientzombie/32/391_2.png) [@PatientZombie](https://community.goactuary.com/u/PatientZombie)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 10:49pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/columbo/12431/6 "2025-12-16T22:49:53Z")
i was, but not in 40 years ---
**Author:** ![meep](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/meep/32/44_2.png) [@meep](https://community.goactuary.com/u/meep)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 11:38pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/columbo/12431/7 "2025-12-16T23:38:49Z")
so the Griffith Observatory is kinda… meh because it shows up in SO MANY MOVIES (and many bad ones, at that) and then there’s what MST3K calls Coleman Francis Mountain look, the point of Columbo wasn’t whodunnit… it was the thrill of the chase ---
**Author:** ![dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/u/dr_t_non-fan)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 11:47pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/columbo/12431/8 "2025-12-16T23:47:58Z")
> [@meep](#): > > look, the point of Columbo wasn’t whodunnit… it was the thrill of the chase OK, Boomer wannabe. > [@meep](#): > > so the Griffith Observatory is kinda… meh > > because it shows up in SO MANY MOVIES (and many bad ones, at that) I get that, but usually as itself, or at least portraying some other observatory. This one, though, is highly out-of-place. Downside is they couldn’t shoot a shot with a more western background, cuz Hollywood sign. Farther west would get the Capitol Records building. Etc. ---
**Author:** ![meep](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/meep/32/44_2.png) [@meep](https://community.goactuary.com/u/meep)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 12:02am UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/columbo/12431/9 "2025-12-17T00:02:39Z")
> [@dr\_t\_non-fan](#): > > OK, Boomer wannabe. Aren’t you -my- age, fellow old fart? Or maybe you’re younger. I forget. [yes, yes, Gen X ain’t Boomer, it’s my ma’s generation] But then I have a 20-yo child into Columbo between me & my ma, we got her into knitting. WOOT ---
**Author:** ![dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/u/dr_t_non-fan)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 12:30am UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/columbo/12431/10 "2025-12-17T00:30:55Z")
> [@meep](#): > > Aren’t you -my- age, fellow old fart? > > Or maybe you’re younger. I forget. I believe I’m an older fart. I watched these when they were first run. I’ve recently watched some on Prime. It holds up. ---
**Author:** ![Breadmaker](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/breadmaker/32/83065_2.png) [@Breadmaker](https://community.goactuary.com/u/Breadmaker)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 4:55am UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/columbo/12431/11 "2025-12-17T04:55:01Z")
Columbo, McMillan and Wife, McCloud (sp?), Banacek!!! Good times!!! 👴 :meep: Earth tones, big sideburns, cars with their own zip codes!!! ---
**Author:** ![meep](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/meep/32/44_2.png) [@meep](https://community.goactuary.com/u/meep)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 8:41am UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/columbo/12431/12 "2025-12-17T08:41:06Z")
Dog! ---
**Author:** ![dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/u/dr_t_non-fan)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 4:45pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/columbo/12431/13 "2025-12-17T16:45:28Z")
> [@Breadmaker](#): > > cars with their own zip codes!!! I am Carspotting the backgrounds of the Banacek episodes. He drives some convertible RR three-on-the-tree, or is driven around in a Caddy limo. Former gf/business rival drives a 'vette. Sun’s always out in “Boston.” ---
**Author:** ![Breadmaker](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/breadmaker/32/83065_2.png) [@Breadmaker](https://community.goactuary.com/u/Breadmaker)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 5:17pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/columbo/12431/14 "2025-12-17T17:17:33Z")
WIth the in-car phone!!! ---
**Author:** ![BG5150](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/bg5150/32/38521_2.png) [@BG5150](https://community.goactuary.com/u/BG5150)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 6:05pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/columbo/12431/15 "2026-01-06T18:05:52Z")
Start (re) watching Rockford Files. Best. Theme. Song. Ever. Ever. ---
**Author:** ![PatientZombie](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/patientzombie/32/391_2.png) [@PatientZombie](https://community.goactuary.com/u/PatientZombie)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 6:41pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/columbo/12431/16 "2026-01-06T18:41:57Z")
favorite of mine