PLOT: An undertaker who specializes in taking care of dead Hollywood celebs (Patrick McGoohan) murders an annoying gossip reporter whose new story would ruin him (Rue McClanahan). Since he gets rid of her body through cremation, how is Columbo going to nail him?
COMMENTARY: McGoohan was friends with Falk and appeared in four installments as the antagonist; the three previous episodes were "By Dawn's Early Light" (1974), "Identity Crisis" (1975) and "Agenda for Murder" (1990). He also directed six segments, including this one. There's just something about his chemistry with Peter Falk that almost guarantees a quality installment, and so it is here. It's not quite as good as "Agenda for Murder" IMHO, but it's certainly worthy.
GRADE: B
COMMENTARY: McGoohan was friends with Falk and appeared in four installments as the antagonist; the three previous episodes were "By Dawn's Early Light" (1974), "Identity Crisis" (1975) and "Agenda for Murder" (1990). He also directed six segments, including this one. There's just something about his chemistry with Peter Falk that almost guarantees a quality installment, and so it is here. It's not quite as good as "Agenda for Murder" IMHO, but it's certainly worthy.
GRADE: B