Columbo

[Zeftax]

There are ice buckets full of fresh ice everywhere, is this some forgotten 70s technology? The buckets themselves have to have some sort of refridgerating function, right? How are they always full of ice? I have never seen anything like this before.

Also, in Lady in Waiting,

Spoiler: spoiler

the court decided that it was an accidental manslaughter - how could Columbo arrest her for murder after that? Isn't it the law that you cannot get tried for the same crime twice?

 

[Super-Chevy454]

Columbo would have need the help of Ironside, Kojak, McCloud, Perry Mason, Matlock, Rockford, Mannix to resolve that one.

 

[MrTroll]

 

[William Murderface]

I like how the suspect will flat tell Columbo that he is harassing them, go away, and if he wants anything else to ask the suspect's attorney. Columbo will follow that up by continuing to ask questions and show up uninvited where the suspect is.

 

[Kiwi Andy]

Pics or didn't happen

 

[McMitch]

Also, in Lady in Waiting,

Spoiler: spoiler

the court decided that it was an accidental manslaughter - how could Columbo arrest her for murder after that? Isn't it the law that you cannot get tried for the same crime twice?

Did she actually get convicted? Prosecution can end a case before then to try for a more accurate accusation.

The only good thing to come out of Death Note:

 

[Anti Snigger]

I used to watch this show every sunday as a kid, it's a classic

 

[Zeftax]

Pics or didn't happen

From a quick scan through the films and the first series (I may have missed some, but I think this is enough to illustrate my point):

film 1: 2 buckets
film 2: 1 bucket
s1e1: 1 bucket
s1e2: 1 scene with ice but no bucket that I could see. 1 regular ice bucket (you can see that it is only there temporarily, and it is used to hold wine cold, not to store ice cubes for whiskey). This is the first episode with no unexplained buckets.
s1e3: 1 bucket that was there only in the evening, so I suppose this one was in the freezer during the day and only taken out in the evening, we even see this scene later on in the night and the bucket is gone again. 1 more bucket that was used during a party, that makes sense.
s1e4: 3 buckets, although with the second one I do not have 100% confirmation it is an ice bucket.
s1e5: 1 unconfirmed but high confidence. 1 scene with ice but no bucket that I could see.
s1e6: 1 bucket, 1 suspected - locked in a closet with definitely no refrigeration next to glasses.
s1e7: 1 bucket, but with an expected visitor. 1 scene with ice but no bucket that I could see.

Another thing I've noticed is that they often use some big lighters, but not as often, and it does not seem as bizarre to me as these buckets. A large decorative lighter in an era when people regularly smoke inside makes sense. But these buckets are always on some counter top or something, a decorative element - you never see them hidden in a freezer. They just seem strange but cool to me.

Dunno why, but I kinda crave a cigar now, may buy one next week.

 

[Kiwi Andy]

I mean yeah... My guess is that back in a time where day drinking and even drinking at the job was socially acceptable this was pretty common in the right circles. It is literally pretty cool if you ask me. The regular wine coolers are still a thing to this day.

Fuck it, I asked AI:
Ice buckets and tongs were a standard part of middle-class and upper-class home entertaining. If guests were being served whiskey, scotch, or cocktails, it was common to place a bucket of ice on a bar cart, sideboard, or coffee table. That way, people could help themselves or the host could serve drinks “on the rocks.”

• Cocktail culture: After World War II, American cocktail culture boomed, and stylish barware sets (decanters, shakers, ice buckets, tongs) became a common wedding gift or home accessory. This carried into the ’70s and ’80s.
• TV & film realism: Shows like Columbo often reflected contemporary “aspirational” lifestyles — wealthy suspects, executives, or professionals who entertained at home. The ice bucket was shorthand for affluence and good hosting.
• Practicality: Before refrigerators with built-in ice dispensers became widespread (they only became common in the late 1980s–1990s), a dedicated ice bucket was the way to keep ice handy for drinks away from the kitchen.

So yes — those recurring ice buckets weren’t just a TV prop. They matched the real drinking and entertaining practices of the time.

 

[Zeftax]

It is literally pretty cool if you ask me.

I agree, I want one, still don't understand how the ice does not melt. I have an ice bowl, and I keep it in the freezer unless I am using it directly. By the looks of it some of those buckets have to have been out for the average of an hour if not more. When I keep my ice out of the freezer for more than a few minutes it starts to melt and then sticks together on refreeze.

Fuck it, I asked AI

 

[Kiwi Andy]

I agree, I want one, still don't understand how the ice does not melt.

Obviously it will melt over time but it should hold over a few hours. Enough time for a dinner party or get together.

It must have been a slower, simpler, happier time. No social media, no smart phones. Just your land line telephone and a shitty TV. Also lots of cigarettes.

 

[OutInTheRain]

I agree, I want one, still don't understand how the ice does not melt. I have an ice bowl, and I keep it in the freezer unless I am using it directly. By the looks of it some of those buckets have to have been out for the average of an hour if not more. When I keep my ice out of the freezer for more than a few minutes it starts to melt and then sticks together on refreeze.

Some of them are double walled like a thermos so the ice stays cold longer as long as you keep the lid on. The metal ones conduct the temperature of the ice and typically you leave them in the freezer before you fill them so it lasts longer.

 

[Bassomatic]

Wow, never thought of this being a thread. But I love Columbo. It's so funny, so well done and the age is wild. Like one thing that always makes me laugh is he (socially acceptable at the time) just fire a cigar up in someone's house.

It was one of the if not the first show where you knew who was guilty. They had so many amazing guest stars, funny enough one of my fav episodes was Leslie Neilson who we all think of his comedy, he was a pretty much a lead sex symbol and that episode is so wild about maybe a real spy maybe not..

Great show and holds a close place to my heart for a while my mom and I would play cards and watch that.

 

[Kiwi Andy]

Considering the theme of boomer shows, how is Matlock? I think I've never watched it. Saul Goodman popularized the iconic suit again.

 

[urr13 account]

Considering the theme of boomer shows, how is Matlock? I think I've never watched it. Saul Goodman popularized the iconic suit again.

Unfortunately everyone who actually watched Matlock died of old age several years ago, but I did see an ad on youtube for a reboot of Matlock where Matlock is either a tranny or a woman, I don't recall which it was. Thankfully brave browser ad block is working again.

 

[d33CH]

Finally, a reason to post this song that always gets stuck in my head. This channel has a couple more Columbo themed songs.

 

[make_it_so]

This remains my personal favorite Columbo "gotcha" moment.

 

[Kiwi Andy]

This remains my personal favorite Columbo "gotcha" moment.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=qHhXZjUCB1c

Sound design is top class too. And the pre-filled fresh ice bucket is magically there as well @Zeftax even though they just arrived.

 

[make_it_so]

Sound design is top class too. And the pre-filled fresh ice bucket is magically there as well @Zeftax even though they just arrived.

What I really like is Falk's expression at the end, where he's basically going "No, no, just give it up, honey."

 

[linda james bugler 1899]

I only have 4 episodes remaining of this show. It's so good. I don't know why there's never been another mystery show where the main character is a different killer in every episode and the title character just kinda shows up. Always annoyed by episodic shows that force minor serialization with relationships and side characters. Columbo never needed that. Until that weird Faye Dunaway episode I guess.
Some real stinkers in the last run of episodes though. Don't feel like they got bad until the kidnapping one but I didn't hate anything until the Undercover episode. That one fucking sucks. Hopefully there's some more decent stuff in the last few.