Two things pertinent to Comey if he was Lieutenant Columbo investigating a murder

[Doodley]

Suppose Lieutenant Columbo is investigating a murder. What would he do and how does that relate to Comey's behavior?

First he tells the number one suspect: "You are not under investigation," at least in the early stages of the investigation.

Second, suppose the suspect complains about Columbo or tries to unduly influence him or bribe him. Nothing changes - Columbo doesn't book him for bribery or trying to obstruct justice - that would be ridiculous. He has bigger fish to fry.

[LisaM]

1. Exactly!

You've just re-defined this whole investigation for me. Columbo always bring the high-profile guy down....


On a side note, we were recently discussing who would be good to play an updated Columbo, and we settled on Charlie Sheen. He's got the acting chops, he looks a little bit seedy, and I can totally see him saying, "oh, just one more thing".

[Doodley]

2. I can see Charlie Sheen, but how about Mark Ruffalo?

[LisaM]

3. Maybe, but I can't picture him smoking a cigar.

Sheen, not an issue. Of course, I always think of Mark Ruffalo as Matt in "Thirteen Going on Thirty", permanently typecast for me now....

[csziggy]

4. An updated Columbo wouldn't carry a cigar

I'm not sure if Columbo ever actually smoked his cigar on the show. He carried it around, started to light it a number of times, but I don't remember him ever actually getting it lit. Usually he was stopped, by the crime scene guys or the owner/manager of the location where he was.

A modern Columbo would have some other prop to mess with. I could see him poking at a malfunctioning smart phone that was out of range or low on battery power.

Having just watched part of "Zodiac" with Ruffalo as Inspector David Toschi, I could see him playing Columbo.

[LisaM]

5. Columbo did smoke.

I agree about the updated prop but I still think Charlie Sheen would be better. I don't picture Mark Ruffalo at all......I can't see him acting bumbling.