Rock Hudson's Idea Launched Columbo's Success

Susan Saint James, a beloved actress, passed away on October 26, 2026, at the age of 80. Her legacy extends beyond her iconic roles in shows like "The Name of the Game" and "Kate & Allie." Saint James was also instrumental in a television programming innovation that led to the enduring success of "Columbo."

In 1971, Saint James co-starred with Rock Hudson in "McMillan & Wife." Hudson, hesitant about the demands of a weekly series, proposed filming it as a series of TV movies. This led NBC to develop the "NBC Mystery Movie" concept, a rotating anthology showcasing multiple shows in the same time slot.

"Columbo," featuring Peter Falk, was one of the rotating series that debuted under the "NBC Mystery Movie" banner. The show, which had previously aired as TV movies in 1968 and 1971, became a significant hit. Its popularity far surpassed that of "McMillan & Wife" and fellow rotating series "McCloud."

The first "Columbo" episode to air as part of this anthology was "Murder by the Book," which notably had Steven Spielberg as its director. The success of this model allowed "Columbo" to air 43 episodes across seven seasons on NBC, with ABC later reviving the series for three additional seasons, concluding in 2003.