Columbo
An Exercise in Fatality
Season 1974, Episode 5 · Aired 1974-09-15
Synopsis
A health club owner murders one of his franchisees. Lt. Columbo is on the case. Milo Janus owns a chain of health clubs, but one of his franchisees discovers the man is cheating him - and can prove it to the authorities. Janus responds by murdering his partner and making it look as if he had accidentally killed himself trying to lift a barbell that was too heavy for him. Janus creates a would-be perfect alibi for himself involving a tape recording of his victim's voice, a phone that doesn't light up, a sexy secretary, a party for friends at his house, and a pornographic horror movie. But no alibi is perfect when the rumpled Lt. Columbo is on the case.
In the series
This episode is part of Columbo (1971–2003) on NBC.
The rumpled trap — howdunit inverted, guest killers as prestige toys.
Key cast
- Peter Falk as Lt. Columbo