Columbo - "Now You See Him"

[Dustin Stinett]

The episode of the television program Columbo starring Peter Falk that pits the detective against a criminal magician, played wonderfully by Jack Cassidy, is airing tomorrow (Sunday) morning on the Hallmark Movie channel. Airtime here on the left coast is 7AM, but check your listings, and please to enjoy "Now You See Him."

[brianarudolph]

A true classic episode from the series, Dustin.

Jack Cassidy was the perfect casting choice for the guest villain's role (and of course Peter Falk always was for Columbo.) Jack's Great Santini conveyed just the right amount of veiled contempt for Falk's Columbo ... which of course attracts Columbo like a murder-solving magnet.

Peter Falk cites this as one of his own all-time top four favorite episodes:

http://www.columbo-site.freeuk.com/favoritecolumbos.htm

From the above link:

3) Now You See Him (Fifth Season - originally aired February 29, 1976)

Peter spoke highly of Jack Cassidy as an actor. And he again credited much of the show's success to the writing. He said, for example, that the writers had "come up with a terrific running gag" about Columbo's efforts to lose the new raincoat given to him by his wife -- like leaving the new coat in his car and instructing his dog to look the other way if anybody tried to steal it.

He also particularly liked the scene where Columbo goes onstage to assist The Great Santini in his act. Peter recounted of the origin of this episode. He said that the writers would sometimes seek inpiration by flipping through the yellow pages of the telephone book, looking for possible professions for a Columbo murderer. One day, the yellow pages opened up to the listings for "Magicians" -- and so began the creation of "Now You See Him".

And that was a fortunate day for all Columbo fans too.

[Bob Gerdes]

You can also catch this on Netflix anytime.

[Doug Thornton]

Thanks, Dustin.
By the way, it's a Columbo marathon on Hallmark through Monday morning.

"Now You See Him" is at 10AM right coast time.

There's another magic-related episode at 6PM eastern time (from the reboot that ABC did) called "Columbo Goes to the Guillotine" (1989)
In it, he exposes a few magician secrets that a "psychic" uses to do "remote viewing".

[AJM]

I turned on the TV last Saturday afternoon just as an episode of Columbo was finishing and noticed a certain Tony Giorgio listed in the credits.

I've no idea which episode it was.

Andrew

[Leonard Hevia]

I turned on the TV last Saturday afternoon just as an episode of Columbo was finishing and noticed a certain Tony Giorgio listed in the credits.

I've no idea which episode it was.

Andrew

"The Conspirators" episode aired May 13, 1978.

[Jonathan Pendragon]

Patrick Culliton also appears in the episode.

[jjsanvert]

It is a great episode.

[Leo Garet]

Peter Falk.....
He also particularly liked the scene where Columbo goes onstage to assist The Great Santini in his act. Peter recounted of the origin of this episode. He said that the writers would sometimes seek inpiration by flipping through the yellow pages of the telephone book, looking for possible professions for a Columbo murderer. One day, the yellow pages opened up to the listings for "Magicians" -- and so began the creation of "Now You See Him".

And that was a fortunate day for all Columbo fans too.

Good story, but isn't it more likely that the idea came from William Link?
I have no idea, just wondering. And I haven't seen this episode for years.

I always liked Jack Cassidy. He's particularly vile with a smile in "The Eiger Sanction."
And didn't he pop up in another Columbo episode as a villainous author?

[Doug Thornton]

Good story, but isn't it more likely that the idea came from William Link?

That would be a possibility since Richard Levinson and William Link both were magic fans. Mr. Link has been to some magic conventions in recent years.

I always liked Jack Cassidy. He's particularly vile with a smile in "The Eiger Sanction."
And didn't he pop up in another Columbo episode as a villainous author?

That was "Murder By The Book" and he was also in "Publish or Perish".

[I.M. Magician]

That was fun to watch! Rice's Cane Silk and Rainbow Streamer were used. Not the first time I have seen Rice's Silks used in a movie. A Rice's Rainbow Streamer was used in "How To Stuff A Wild Bikini".

I found that episode to be very well done. They even taught a mentalism effect. Fun to see apparatus displayed in one scene. Grant's Turkish Turmoil and some other pieces were there.

Good acting, lots of magic apparatus, and a great story line made for a terrific treat!

[Dustin Stinett]

The magic and all of the stuff is the result of Mark Wilson working as the episode's consultant.

[Bill Mullins]

I think a good Genii article would be on magic consultants for TV shows. (Particularly TV shows that aren't about magic.)

[houdinisghost]

In addition to Falk and Cassidy, that cast included Robert Loggia, Nehemiah Persoff, Bob Dishy, Cynthia Sikes, Redmund Gleason, Michael Lally and George Sperdakos. I played a night club singer, Danny Green, who is in love with Sikes -- Cassidy's daughter. It's not in the script but I'm Jewish and Jack doesn't like that. I sang the song "Charade," which became the episode's theme. It was written by Michael Sloan (magic enthusiast, later produced "the Hardy Boys" and "Kung Fu the Legend Continues") produced by Everett Chambers and directed by Harvey Hart.
"Now You See Him" is the favorite episode of some Columbo fans. I know. they tell me so -- before they know I was in it.

[Leonard Hevia]

Just saw Tony Giorgio in the second to the very last episode of I Dream of Jeannie. Titled "One Jeannie Beats Four of a Kind", it's about cheating at poker, and Giorgio plays, what else? A classic mobster in a fedora and suit.