Columbo is an American crime fiction television film series starring Peter Falk as a homicide detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. 

Lt. Columbo is a shambling, disheveled-looking, seemingly naive Italian American police detective who is consistently underestimated by his fellow officers, and especially by the murderer. 

The subjects of his investigations are initially reassured and distracted by his circumstantial speech and increasingly irritating asides.

Despite his shabby appearance and apparent absentmindedness, he shrewdly solves all of his cases and secures all evidence needed for indictment. His formidable eye for detail and meticulous, dedicated approach become apparent late in the storyline, and even later to the murderer.

The show popularized the inverted detective story format where, with the exception of a couple of special episodes with added twists, almost every episode began by showing the crime being committed by the murderer, who usually goes to great lengths to establish an airtight alibi.

The plot mainly revolves around how the murderer is finally exposed and arrested. Therefore, there is no “whodunit” element, but as the the show’s creator once said, it’s more of a “howdhecatchem“.

Just one more thing… there will never be another Peter Falk. He was indeed one of a kind.