Eugene Stafford has bought one of Milo Janus' health club franchises. However, in going over the bills, he realizes that Janus (Robert Conrad) was taking advantage of him...cheating him out of all the promised profits. But, instead of going to the police or District Attorney's office, Stafford confronts Janus. And, we know from detective shows like "Columbo" that Stafford will soon assume room temperature! And, that's exactly what happens and which brings Columbo into the case. And, as usual, the brilliant rumpled detective is able to spot tiny details and inconsistencies which convince him Stafford's death was NOT the accident it was staged to be.
So is this a good episode? In some ways yes. But Columbo NEVER proves his case...and there is no way the man would ever be found guilty of murder based on the inconsistencies Columbo finds. In other words, Janus COULD have killed the man but so could someone else...and, interestingly, the man simply could have died the way it was staged. As a result, it's a very weak episode...one that is enjoyable to watch but one in which Columbo simply didn't prove there was murder. See it...and see what I mean.
"An Exercise in Fatality" is interesting because generally movie and TV stars play folks younger than themselves. However, here Conrad plays a man much older than his chronological age. It did make sense, as his character was supposed to be an exercise guru--much like Jack LaLanne or Richard Simmons.
So is this a good episode? In some ways yes. But Columbo NEVER proves his case...and there is no way the man would ever be found guilty of murder based on the inconsistencies Columbo finds. In other words, Janus COULD have killed the man but so could someone else...and, interestingly, the man simply could have died the way it was staged. As a result, it's a very weak episode...one that is enjoyable to watch but one in which Columbo simply didn't prove there was murder. See it...and see what I mean.
"An Exercise in Fatality" is interesting because generally movie and TV stars play folks younger than themselves. However, here Conrad plays a man much older than his chronological age. It did make sense, as his character was supposed to be an exercise guru--much like Jack LaLanne or Richard Simmons.