Sondra and her husband, renowned producer/director Alan J. Levi, co-own Lumina Pictures and Entertainment LTD. together. Lumina Pictures has several projects in various stages of production, having just completed "Take My Hand." As part of a large, extended entertainment family, Sondra and Alan enjoy incorporating the talents of friends and family members alike in their creative endeavors... including Cherie Currie ("The Runaways"), Marie Currie ("The Narrow Road Of Light"), Robert Hays ("Airplane!") and Jake Hays ("Maudlin Strangers").

Despite the nucleus of a decent mystery, there’s nowhere near enough story here to fill the 90-minute running time.” This only makes sense if the two had collaborated and why would the money-hungry Leon collaborate with Nancy unless she was giving him some on the side? She doesn’t say “Where’s Freddy?” or “Who are you?”. She seems to know that Freddy is dead even though she never sees the body. By the early 90s the gritty police dramas were mostly gone and the show’s producers probably thought they needed to lighten it up. So 90s Columbo became more lighthearted, almost a caricature of the old Columbo with occasional dramatic moments thrown in. The characters featured were often eccentric themselves and plots were more far-fetched. I prefer the older Columbo episodes in general, but the new Columbo is ok if you view it for what it is and don’t expect a copy of the old series.The sudden gourmet tastes of “Murder under Glass” get under my skin because it actively changes the psychological dynamic between hero and villain. When Columbo has encountered killers who are expert/famous in their field, he has a genuine curiosity about their expertise – art, wines, advertising, horticulture, etc. No matter that some of this may well be exaggerated by Columbo. When he looks to the killer for advice, Columbo is in the deferential position, and the killer has the psychological advantage in that interplay – well, that’s what Columbo wants the killer to think. Columbo expertly uses this interplay to lull the murderer into a false sense of superiority, and before you know it, there’s “just one more thing” on the way to the Gotcha. I approve of at least one positive character change of the Classic years, when Columbo actively took charge of more cases rather than stumble sleepily into a crime scene with fellow officers eye-rolling. Respect from his peers serves the character well, and that seed was planted early in the show’s run during “The Greenhouse Jungle” by Sgt. Wilson. However, it is beautifully filmed and directed with some striking locations, and the music is both atmospheric and driven and not too twee. The acting from the leads is great, Peter Falk continues to embody the role, and Dabney Coleman while not among my favourite guest stars of the series is very enjoyable and interacts with Falk very well. Their scenes together are the best of the entire episode and both make the most of them. Shera Danese is solid in her role and Little Richard is a hoot even with his screen time, but the rest of the support cast while not bad at all also don't stand out in the same way.

Mr Creighton, your knowledge of forensic medicine is very Lieutenant, I want to see the autopsy report. Every Columbo teleplay writer understands this rule and uses it to dramatic or comic advantage, as the case may be. That is why every murderer or accomplice in every episode always underestimates Columbo’s brilliance and astonishing observational skills, from the first case to virtually the last. It matters not in the least how high profile the crime may be. Columbo is an unknown entity to them. And the fact that Columbo is an unknown entity to other nonrecurring characters is often used by the writers to wonderful comic effect. One of her most rewarding endeavors is being a member of SHARE Inc. (Est. 1953). SHARE inc. is a highly visible and successful Los Angeles charity devoted to helping at-risk youth, developmentally disabled and abused and children-in-need. "This is a place where I might really be able to make a difference," she says. "I see it first-hand. The children are so receptive, and it's such a positive experience. It helps me keep everything else in perspective." Hollywood film composer and conductor Findlay Crawford ( Billy Connolly) has been mentor to a talented young composer, Gabriel McEnery ( Chad Willett), who has been ghostwriting most of Crawford's work for the last few years. Gabe even penned Crawford's last movie score, which won an Oscar. Crawford realizes he will be ruined and ridiculed if it ever becomes known. Aware that Gabe practices on the roof of a studio building, Crawford plots his murder. He promises Gabe will get to conduct the orchestra during a concert based on Crawford's "own" movie scores. While giving a toast, Crawford drugs Gabe, then takes his body up to his rooftop rehearsal place, which happens to be atop a trapdoor to a freight elevator. He makes it look like Gabe was there rehearsing; With the concert about to begin, Crawford starts the freight elevator, then makes it into the concert hall in time to begin conducting before the elevator reaches the top. When the elevator doors open, Gabe's unconscious body is pushed over the side and falls to his death, landing in front of a late-arriving couple.As mentioned above, Creighton not knowing who Columbo is is absolute balderdash! Why have him cast as a homicide defence lawyer at all? Why not have his special skill be helping rich and famous folk get away with fraud and tax evasion, for example? That would give an excuse to not know who Columbo is. Oh, now we're getting ridiculous, aren't we? Where would I get a mask of myself? And even if I did, there would still be a shadow under the nose, right? I think I can explain that, sir. Out of all Columbo movie this one perhaps is the one with the most B-movie like feeling over it, at least in the movie its opening minutes in which the actual murder, like always, occurs. It makes the movie feel kind of lame and overdone with all of its usual Columbo movie ingredients. Everything, from its emotions to its humor feels completely overdone, making this one of the less great Columbo movies to watch. For some reason this movie reminded me more of a "The A-Team" episode, or anything other episode from a typical '80's series. Any car that exceeds the speed limit, that triggers the system, and smile - you're on Candid Camera. Imagine how much more satisfying it would have been to have Paul Gerard school blue-collar Columbo in food delicacies, with Columbo’s questions drawing out the care that’s needed to create some dishes. That might lead to a slip by Gerard, perhaps about Japanese blowfish, and Columbo can put the puzzle pieces together through his inquiries and psychological maneuvering. As it is, Columbo pushes himself into a dinner party where Gerard happens to be serving – how fortunate – poisonous fugu. Case solved, yay!

My REAL problem with this episode is the fact that I've never understood how anybody could drive with that mask on. It did not look opaque to me. It looked like a photograph. Was she a one hit wonder though? In the opening credits we see a grammy and several gold and platinum records, some of which have different legible titles.

Tropes:

Several years earlier a new word entered the English language courtesy of Michelle Triola Marvin and her attempts to collect alimony from Lee Marvin whom she lived with but never legally married. Her victory started a flood of those kind of suits and palimony became a word. They found traces of disulfiram in her bloodstream, but that's a pill that people with a drinking problem take when they don't want to drink. No deputies, the DA himself called and told me to get up to his office and bring that bleeping cop, meaning you. The Cameo: Columbo, on the trail of Neddy the drummer, finds Little Richard himself performing in a club. Well, I'm gonna say he used a syringe and he injected it through the cork into the champagne bottle.

Also, it’s unclear why the scene with the busty mermaid is such a moral outrage. Are busty mermaids a bad thing? Of course, I didn’t get why Columbo playing a tuba was a bad thing, either. Final clue/twist: The night of the murder, Brower was taking care of a friend's chimpanzee. Columbo learns that the chimp liked to handle shiny objects, and finds the chimp's fingerprints on a medallion that was part of Lamarr's Halloween costume, proving that Lamarr was at Brower's apartment that night. When confronting Lamarr, Columbo calls Nancy in to thank her for her "cooperation" and to let her know she will be the sole beneficiary of the winnings. Columbo knew Lamarr would think Nancy has implicated him, so Lamarr not only confesses to the murder, but reveals Nancy's involvement in the crime. Trish, I mean In deference to Marcy, don't you think we should wait till after the funeral - a couple of months? Not for the partnership. One thing about this episode that had a different twist. Usually Columbo has to insinuate himself with the object of his suspicions to get close to him. Here Coleman uses whatever pull he has to get close to Columbo, the better to keep the eye on the investigation.

I’m not sure if Columbo’s aquired culinary skills could be put down to sloppiness of the writers, but Columbo being cured of vertigo definitely is – that’s something that really bothers me too. In Murder, Smoke and Shadows there’s this aweful scene, you know the one, where he joins his suspect in a flying director’s chair without issue. Fair Cop: Columbo's unofficial partner for this episode, Sergeant Hubach, played by the very attractive Sondra Currie.