How Richard Levinson and William Link Created Columbo

here is an article about Richard Levinson and William Link on how they created Columbo and the conflicts they had with actor Peter Falk:

How Richard Levinson and William Link Created Columbo

Richard Levinson and William Link were two American television producers and writers who collaborated for 43 years, until Levinson's death. They are best known for creating the classic detective series Columbo, which starred Peter Falk as the titular character.

The idea for Columbo came to Levinson and Link in the early 1960s. They were inspired by the Crime and Punishment character Porfiry Petrovich, a detective who is able to outsmart and outwit his suspects by pretending to be bumbling and incompetent.

Levinson and Link wanted to create a detective character who was the opposite of the traditional stereotype. They wanted someone who was disheveled, unkempt, and seemingly out of his depth. But they also wanted someone who was incredibly intelligent and perceptive.

The character of Columbo was born. He is a homicide detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. He is short, overweight, and has a rumpled raincoat and a beat-up car. He is also known for his trademark "uh, just one more thing" catchphrase.

But despite his appearance, Columbo is a brilliant detective. He is able to solve even the most complex cases by using his keen observational skills and his ability to get inside the minds of his suspects.

Columbo was a huge success when it premiered on NBC in 1971. It ran for seven seasons and spawned 69 episodes. The show was praised for its clever writing, its suspenseful plots, and Falk's iconic performance.

However, not everyone was happy with Columbo. Actor Peter Falk had a number of conflicts with the show's creators, Richard Levinson and William Link.

One of the main sources of conflict was Falk's desire to have more input into the show's creative direction. He felt that the show was too focused on the killer and not enough on Columbo. He also wanted to be able to direct some of the episodes.

Levinson and Link were reluctant to give Falk more control over the show. They felt that he was not a good director and that he would not be able to maintain the show's high standards.

The conflict between Falk and Levinson and Link came to a head in the early 1970s. Falk threatened to quit the show if he did not get more control. Levinson and Link eventually relented and gave Falk more input into the show.

However, the conflict between Falk and Levinson and Link never really went away. It continued to simmer throughout the show's run.

Despite the conflicts, Columbo remained a popular show. It is still considered one of the greatest detective series of all time. And Peter Falk's performance as Columbo is still considered one of the most iconic in television history.

Conclusion

Richard Levinson and William Link created Columbo as a way to challenge the traditional detective stereotype. They wanteds to create a character who was intelligent and perceptive, but who also seemed bumbling and incompetent.

The character of Columbo was a huge success, and the show ran for seven seasons. However, not everyone was happy with the show. Actor Peter Falk had a number of conflicts with the show's creators, Richard Levinson and William Link.

Despite the conflicts, Columbo remains a popular show. It is still considered one of the greatest detective series of all time. And Peter Falk's performance as Columbo is still considered one of the most iconic in television history.