Columbo: Season 12, Episode 1

It's All in the Game (31 Oct. 1993)

TV Episode  -   -  Crime | Drama | Mystery
7.4
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Lauren Staton and Lisa Martin kill their two-timing lover Nick Franco. Lauren's the one who pulled the trigger and they've made it look like Franco was killed by a burglar in his apartment.... See full summary »

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Title: It's All in the Game (31 Oct 1993)

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Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
...
Lisa Martin
...
Nick Franco
...
Ruddick
...
Doug Sheehan ...
Riley
...
Nick's Maid
Tom Henschel ...
Fingerprint Man
...
Investigator #1
...
Investigator #2
...
Investigator #3
Bruce Ed Morrow ...
Medical Examiner (as Bruce E. Morrow)
Heath Kizzier ...
Photo Clerk
Daniel Trent ...
Detective #1 (as Daniel T. Trent)
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Storyline

Lauren Staton and Lisa Martin kill their two-timing lover Nick Franco. Lauren's the one who pulled the trigger and they've made it look like Franco was killed by a burglar in his apartment. They've prepared well with both having solid alibis. Lt. Colombo is in charge of the case and is very much attracted to the beautiful Lauren. She uses that to her advantage and is soon buying him gifts and giving him the odd kiss. Colombo is flattered but begins to see anomalies in some of the physical evidence. He becomes certain that Laura is involved in Franco's death but realizes he will only be able to make an arrest if he gets a confession. He manages to get that but even he is surprised when learns of her true relationship to Lisa. Written by garykmcd

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31 October 1993 (USA)  »

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1.33 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

With the exception of the two pilot episodes, this is the only episode where the phrase "Peter Falk as Columbo" appears in one frame at the beginning. Usually, "Peter Falk as" is shown first, followed by "Columbo" in a separate frame. See more »

Goofs

Most women wore long at the Lauren's party but one women entered the house in a short gold-spangled cocktail dress with matching hip-length open jacket. At the end of the party she left in just the dress -- with a fur coat/jacket over her arm. See more »

Quotes

Laura Staton: Do you have a first name I can call you by?
Lt. Columbo: Yeah. "Lieutenant."
See more »

Connections

Followed by Columbo: Undercover (1994) See more »

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User Reviews

 
It's All in the Game is a fine latter-day episode of Columbo
14 April 2007 | by (Baton Rouge, La.) – See all my reviews

It's All in the Game is one of the more fascinating of the latter-day Columbo movies for three reasons: 1. Peter Falk wrote this episode. 2. Faye Dunaway plays a character who flirts with the Leutenant in order to distract him from his suspicions. 3. Columbo almost seems to fall for her. As another poster mentioned, I did see some kind of lesbian subtext in an early scene between Dunaway's character and that of Claudia Christian's in the latter's apartment before the big reveal at the end. Also appearing were Bill Macy as the building super and Shelley Morrison, years before playing Karen's maid in Will and Grace, as the murdered victim's maid who is amusing showing Falk how she cleans the refrigerator. So the Leutenant likes peanut butter and raisins. O-k-a-y! Highly amusing and suspenseful and Ms. Dunaway deserved her Emmy. Definitely recommended for Columbo fans.


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