Unshot Columbo
Cracking the Cases That Never Got Filmed, By David Koenig
Can’t get your fill of Columbo? Then sink your teeth into 19 adventures that the show almost filmed.
From the author of the best-selling Shooting Columbo comes this unique, behind-the-scenes peek at the un-making of episodes that were shot down—and why.
Discover the early 1970s tales by “murder consultant” Larry Cohen and by a young, pre-Carrie Brian De Palma… the aborted pilot for Mrs. Columbo that was reimagined for Columbo… as well as the unmade masterpiece that Peter Falk desperately wanted to close out the series with as his final case. Find out why he never got the chance.
198 Pages * ISBN 978-1-937878-23-8
198 Pages * ISBN 978-1-937878-24-5
Kindle Ebook * ASIN B0CW18F6ZD
ISBN 978-1-937878-25-2
Audiobook • 8 hours and 37 minutes
Narrated by Jason Culp
Reviews for Unshot Columbo
“Koenig follows his outstanding SHOOTING COLUMBO with another behind-the-scenes book on the numerous scripts pitched, ultimately rejected, and never shot… These highly detailed stories are followed by explanations of why the scripts were rejected. The reasons range from plot holes and inconsistencies to using elements from previous episodes… VERDICT: A treat for COLUMBO fans, this well-written, well-researched book will also appeal to lovers of murder mystery short stories.”
- Kevin Howell, Library Journal
“Really enjoyed listening on Audible to UNSHOT COLUMBO, the latest book by David Koenig who was responsible for the earlier title SHOOTING COLUMBO, a brilliant rundown of the classic series. Now he’s back with a look at undeveloped ideas for episodes that were never made. For the most part, they sound relatively promising. There are some that probably deserved to be binned. Movie director Brian De Palma (pre-fame) came up with a pitch – the best of the lot – but Peter Falk, who played Columbo, didn’t like it, and it consequently bit the dust. (He feared he’d be upstaged by the killer, who was based on Truman Capote). Ditto a planned last-ever episode, partly driven by Patrick McGoohan, a Columbo villain on more than one occasion, and a Falk pal. Falk pushed for his own wife Shera (another series regular) to get the part as the villain. The studio bosses objected – and the project sank. The episode never saw the light of day. Koenig summarizes each pitch, and the narration by Jason Culp – son of Columbo legend Robert Culp, my favorite villain – is spot-on. Fans will lap this up. Listen now!”
- Speckled Band, www.speckled.band
Author
David Koenig
Raised in the shadow of the Matterhorn, David Koenig has become the theme park industry’s best-known outsider, writing six unauthorized books about the inner workings of the Mouse House. From his first book, the best-selling MOUSE TALES (1994) to his latest, THE 55ers, he has spent more than 25 years scraping off the pixie dust to give fans an unvarnished, but always appreciative, peek inside the magic.
David also is editorial director of 526 Media Group and a sporadic contributor to MiceChat.com.
