by Shuhei TAKADA Received October 31, 2011

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1 TV Drama Series Columbo as Considered through the Competitive Society of America by Shuhei TAKADA Received October 31, 2011 ABSTRACT American TV drama series Columbo was produced by NBC and broadcasted worldwide in 1970s. It generally had a good reputation among both domestic and foreign viewers. But was it similarly interpreted here in Japan as in the United States? Such a feeling of doubt occurred to me when I bought the recently published DVD edition of Columbo and watched it again after three decades interval without dubbing or Japanese subtitles. Columbo's 'English' talk with the murderers seemed to me surprisingly more straightforward than the one dubbed in by a Japanese actor. I don't deny that Columbo's behavior is really bizarre in many cases. His pretended forgetfulness and frequent references to his wife and many real or fictional relatives are useful tools for his pursuit of the wealthy and/or prestigious murderers. But our exclusive concern about his way of investigation, as clearly seen among many Japanese fans of Columbo, makes us blind to its other theme: a relationship show between Columbo and the murderers. Columbo 's thematic duality is suggested by its "inverted mystery form," a method of storytelling which makes viewers witness the murder scene at the outset. We are introduced to the murderers' motive for their crimes and follow the plot of investigation from the alternate viewpoints of Columbo and the murderers. The confrontation between Columbo and the murderers is not harsh. While Columbo despises some of the forty-five murderers in total, he feels sorry for those who are pushed into such cruel acts under highly competitive and stressful circumstances. We thus watch from both sides an extended and sometimes intimate relationship between the lieutenant and the murderers which cannot be summed up merely as an investigation of crimes. I would like to make clear in this paper that this unique feature of Columbo derives from its location in the competitive society of America Stay Tuned (1981) 1970

Such a feeling of doubt occurred to me when I bought the recently published DVD edition of Columbo and watched it again after three decades interval without dubbing or Japanese subtitles.

2 1) 2) The Columbo Phile: A Casebook (1988) 3) At a time when the networks wanted the safe entertainment of Gomer Pyle, Lucy Show and The Beverly Hillbillies, Levinson and Link decided that television could and should have a special conscience. They became known for breaking new ground for the medium. (17) The World Is Watching (1969) The Certain Summer (1972) The Execution of Private Slovik (1974) The Gun (1974) The Storyteller (1977) 1-2. Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine Playboy May I Come In NBC The Chevy Mystery Show Enough Rope 60 Prescription: Murder Prescription: Murder 45 Prescription: Murder (1967) NBC Prescription: Murder NBC Ransom for a Dead Man Ransom for a Dead Man (1971) NBC

(17) The World Is Watching (1969) The Certain Summer (1972) The Execution of Private Slovik (1974) The Gun (1974) The Storyteller (1977) 1-2.

3 Stay Tuned The "track record" syndrome results in many shows vying for the talents of very few writers. As soon as the new network schedule is announced there is an instant mating dance as television producers hurriedly attempt to "lock up" one of the favored writers. But the writer doesn't dare take only one assignment at a time. If he did---if he worked on his teleplay for a month or so---he would discover when he turned it in that all of his markets are closed. Knowing this, and recognizing that he cannot earn his yearly nut with just one script, the free-lance writer often takes as many assignments as he can get. (75) 1-3. Prescription: Murder 70 "passable" Just One More Thing (2006) 4) McCloud McMillan and Wife The NBC Mystery Movie. In life I dress like a slob, so I knew I was going to enjoy the ordinary side of Columbo since being ordinary comes easy for me. On the other hand, I'm also odd like the lieutenant. My mind is off someplace. (135) Stay Tuned "familiar with" 5)

But the writer doesn't dare take only one assignment at a time. If he did---if he worked on his teleplay for a month or so---he would discover when he turned it in that all of his markets are closed.

4 Blueprint for Murder (1972) Lady in Waiting (1971) "Lady in Waiting War" 10 In our absence he gradually took over full control. Producers came and went--six more followed us over the years--but Falk was the constant, and in many ways this was beneficial. He thought for better scripts, publicized the series, and enriched and deepened his performance. (106) By Dawn's Early Light 10 The NBC Mystery Movie The Columbo Phile 6) "English drawing room murder mystery" 20 "inverted' mystery form"

Producers came and went--six more followed us over the years--but Falk was the constant, and in many ways this was

5 "delightfully unexpected, brilliant, and believable" 7) Stay Tuned 8) We knew that no police officer on earth would be permitted to dress as shabby as Columbo, or drive a car as desperately in need of burial, but in the interest of flavorful characterization we deliberately chose not to be realistic. Our show would be a fantasy, and as such it would avoid the harsher aspects of a true policeman's life.(94-5) "fantasy" "the harsher aspects of a true policeman's life" We even decided never to show him at police headquarters or at home; it seemed to us much more effective if he drifted into our stories from limbo. (95) 3

Our show would be a fantasy, and as such it would avoid the harsher aspects of a true policeman's life.

6 Many critics found it an ever-so-slightly subversive attack on the American class system in which a proletarian hero triumphed over the effete and monied members of the Establishment. But the reason for this was dramatic rather than political. Given the persona of Falk as an actor, it would have been foolish to play him against a similar type. (95) 9) (149) (96)

Establishment. But the reason for this was dramatic rather than political.

7 Make Me a Perfect Murder (1978) Kay: You know I always knew this place was small, but I never realized it was quite this tiny. The four of us cramped in here, never a chance to be alone. Columbo: I took a trip a few years ago. Took Mrs. Columbo back to the house where I grew up. It looked all shrunken. I had five brothers and one sister, Miss Freestone, and all that was really terrific. There was always someone around for company. We were never lonely. Kay: You're a very special man, Lieutenant. You accept things as they are. I try to change them. Columbo: That's to your credit, ma'am. Your success and ambition and all. 4 The Columbo Phile 45 10) Any Old Port in a Storm (1973)

It looked all shrunken. I had five brothers and one sister, Miss Freestone, and all that was really terrific. There was always someone around for company.

8 Mind Over Mayhem (1974) By Dawn's Early Light (1974) Forgotten Lady (1975) The Conspirators (1978) NHK 12) "straightforward"

9 1) Richard Levinson & William Link, Stay Tuned: An Inside Look at the Making of Prime-time Television (New York: Ace Books, 1981).. 2) Stay Tuned p.78 p.90 3) Mark Dawidziak, The Columbo Phile: A Casebook A Complete and Illustrated History of Television's Finest Series (New York: The Mysterious Press, 1988). 4) Peter Folk, Just One More Thing : Stories from My Life (New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers, 2006). 5) Richard Levinson & William Link, Stay Tuned, 98. 6) Mark Dawidziak, The Columbo Phile, 8. 7) Peter Folk, Just One More Time, ) Richard Levinson & William Link, Stay Tuned, 95. 9) ) Mark Dawidziak, The Columbo Phile, ) URL

4) Peter Folk, Just One More Thing : Stories from My Life (New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers, 2006). 5) Richard Levinson & William Link, Stay Tuned, 98.

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