Columbo | Old Fashioned Murder | (28 Nov. 1976)

Before Peter Falk was cast as the character of Columbo, Bert Freed played the role in Enough Rope, a 1960 episode of The Chevy Mystery Show, a TV anthology series. In 1962, that episode was adapted as a stage play titled Prescription: Murder (starring Thomas Mitchell as Columbo), which then became a made-for-TV movie in 1968, with Peter Falk debuting in the role. In this pilot episode, Columbo appears more smartly dressed, with Falk appearing in suits, shorter hair and wearing more stage makeup, rather than the shabby appearance that would later become the characters trademark. He also appears somewhat more aggressive when confronting suspects.