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Columbo

Watching 60 Minutes was a Sunday night family ritual growing up- after dinner, we would settle in the living room to watch Mike Wallace rip some corrupt official a new one,  and I would dream up excuses for Monday morning for why my homework wasn't done.  Another family TV ritual is one I continue alone now, as I don't know a soul who is remotely interested in joining me to watch my not-so-secret shame,  40 year old Columbo reruns.

Come on, Peter Falk was adorable, right?
All Columbo episodes end with exasperated killers confessing as the only way to make Peter Falk shut the hell up and stop pestering them.  Peter Falk was a fine actor, and adorable, in his way. His rumpled look actually holds up much better than than you'd think.  The 70s were a particularly cruel decade to men- hello, leisure suits and polyester!- and my GOD, the haircuts! Columbo had great guest stars. One of my favourite episodes starred the crazy handsome and talented John Cassavetes as a murderous orchestra conductor, who was married to Blythe Danner.  Myrna Loy - Myrna Loy!- played Blythe's mother. Amazing.


So, yeah, my TV taste is not what you'd call current. If there was an all Law & Order channel, I'd put it on and throw out my remote.  I do watch some new stuff- I am up to date on Mad Men, The Americans, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.  I'm halfway through Breaking Bad, and about to start Homeland.  It could be worse. I draw the line at Murder She Wrote reruns. I feel like if I start down that road, they'll take away my Sephora Beauty Insider card and delete me from the J Crew mailing list. Then it's just a short slide into stretchy pants and NCIS...
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