Columbo, The Traitors, and Mandy Patinkin
Plus: some ~personal news~
Hi everyone!
So my news is that I’m writing a book! Bear in mind, that I have been “writing a book” every day of my life since I was maybe eight years old. But now I am being paid to do so, and the book will be published by Hanover Square Press! Here’s info about it:
The book will be avail to pre-order in mid-2025 so I’m sure you’ll hear more from me about it later. But for now, a champagne toast to meeeee
Thing 1: Columbo
So I had never watched Columbo until last year when I turned to it having finished the long project of watching every episode of Murder, She Wrote’s many, many seasons. And it’s not just like, oh let’s switch to Columbo now. I had to leave some room between so I wasn’t coming to Peter Falk as a replacement for Angela Lansbury, but where I can appreciate him as his own thing. And I’m there now, and friends, Columbo? Is SO GOOD.
If you’ve never seen it, the structure of every episode is that we’re shown the murder in the opening scene so we know whodunnit. Then the delight of the next 1.25 hours (for these are TV movies, not TV episodes) is watching Peter Falk, in a rumpled raincoat, slowly drive the murderer insane with his aw-shucks demeanour until the killer is like YES FINE IT WAS ME!!! I DUNNIT!!
It is wildly satisfying. Every episode is fantastic. The array of 1970s acting talent is truly breathtaking. We’ve had Leonard Nimoy as a murderous doctor, Vera Miles AND Janet Leigh (in separate episodes), a very young Katey Sagal, and in an episode coming up soon… Johnny Cash??? Truly iconic. And the 1970s fashions, unbeatable.
This show has a formula that is so winning that every time Peter Falk says “… oh and one more thing” I’m like YES PETER YES, 10/10 a perfect show.
In Canada, it airs every day on Vision TV (television for the elderly mystery fan, eg me), and a BluRay box set recently came out too if you need to own this (I do).
Thing 2: The Traitors
Since I last wrote one of these (one month ago), The Traitors (US) (season 2) has become a viral sensation so many of you may be watching it by now. I have also watched all of The Traitors (New Zealand) which is very fun and very very different vibes. Every iteration of this show is incredibly fun to watch (apart from The Traitors Australia Series 2, just skip that one).
Part of the magic of The Traitors (New Zealand) is a) everyone’s accents and b) that all contestants are at least one degree of separation of being friends with one another. This is because, I presume, New Zealand has a smaller population than Australia, the US, or the UK, and so inherently people are more likely to know one another. But also because most of the contestants come from the media world (radio hosts, comedians, etc.) so inherently they’ve run into one another. And this gives the show a more chill vibe of, a group of friends playing Clue together. When someone is banished by their friends, they’re like, “no worries” and it’s all less distressing than the most emotional banishments or murders in other series.
10/10, a delightful entry into this franchise. If you’ve never seen any The Traitors series, New Zealand is a lovely starting point.
Thing 3: Mandy Patinkin
I’ve been watching Mandy Patinkin’s new Hulu show (avail on Disney+ in Canada), Death and Other Details. And it’s a messy yet enjoyable show that’s like Wes Anderson meets Knives Out meets Agatha Christie, with Mandy Patinkin. Hearing that, of course, I’m watching it.
But the Mandy of it all is just like, I love this man. Have you seen his episode of Finding Your Roots, where he is moved to tears by Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s explanation of Mandy’s family history? Have you seen the social media videos he does with his wife? Did you know he’s currently on tour, singing Broadway songs??
Basically, he’s great. His British accent in Death and Other Details is like, OK you have fun Mandy. But he’s the reason to watch that show, and the reason to watch anything he ever does, and if you’re lucky enough to live somewhere he’s doing a concert please attend it for me thank you!!
xoxo Ann