I've read some of the comments on this episode and despite any criticisms, I have to say I really enjoyed this Columbo. Trish van Devere is a cold, ambitious, and probably not great producer who murders her lover, played by Laurence Luckinbill, when he doesn't come through with her promotion (which may have been the only reason she was with him in the first place). It has a subplot where a Judy Garland type, portrayed by Lainie Kazan, is supposed to appear on live TV and causes huge problems.
I agree that the subplot is problematic, as it brings up questions about van Devere's relationship with Kazan. In my opinion, the van Devere character is a sexual opportunistic, doing whatever she has to do with whom to get what she wants. When Kazan backs away from her as she tries to hug her, Kazan cries, "No. I don't want to." The Kazan character is probably too out of it most of the time to know what she's doing with whom.
I guess I liked this so well not for the story, but for the van Devere character who came from nothing, fights for survival, and in the end, doesn't really have the goods. And I love when she says to Columbo at the end, "I'll probably win." Yeah, she probably will.
I agree that the subplot is problematic, as it brings up questions about van Devere's relationship with Kazan. In my opinion, the van Devere character is a sexual opportunistic, doing whatever she has to do with whom to get what she wants. When Kazan backs away from her as she tries to hug her, Kazan cries, "No. I don't want to." The Kazan character is probably too out of it most of the time to know what she's doing with whom.
I guess I liked this so well not for the story, but for the van Devere character who came from nothing, fights for survival, and in the end, doesn't really have the goods. And I love when she says to Columbo at the end, "I'll probably win." Yeah, she probably will.