Uploaded February 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
If it wasn't a bad enough idea to build a series around the wife of Lt Columbo, it was only made worse by the casting of lovely Kate Mulgrew as the scruffy detective's spouse. The producers of Columbo didn't like the idea at all (neither did Peter Falk) and after a five-episode first season (1979) the changes began. They gave Kate an off-screen divorce and a new last name (Callahan), eliminating any references to the Mystery Movie character. The title, already changed to 'Kate Columbo', then morphed into 'Kate Loves a Mystery' for the second season, although 'Kate the Detective' was also used, at least in print. That's four titles for one 13-episode show! (After the network run all episodes were given the 'Mrs Columbo' title.) Years later Peter Fischer prepared a script for ABC's revived Columbo. He told Falk the title of the episode and the actor broke into a wide grin. The title was 'Rest in Peace, Mrs Columbo'.
John Cacavas ('Lady Blue') wrote the first-season theme, as well as season two: livelier, with a touch of disco flair. Some episodes are now available for streaming in the USA; apparently they used audio from the French DVDs but didn't compensate for the PAL speed-up which raises the pitch. All music in this video is in the right key.
00:00 Opening titles: Mrs Columbo (aka Kate Columbo).
01:01 Pre-credits, end credits: Mrs Columbo.
01:50 Opening titles: Kate Loves a Mystery (aka Kate the Detective).
02:50 End credits: Kate Loves a Mystery.
03:18 BONUS: Opening titles, end credits from the two-hour pilot, using an extended arrangement of theme #1.
Upgraded: Improved audio and video; all on-screen titles in English; added Mrs Columbo pre-credits, pilot film bonus.
If it wasn't a bad enough idea to build a series around the wife of Lt Columbo, it was only made worse by the casting of lovely Kate Mulgrew as the scruffy detective's spouse. The producers of Columbo didn't like the idea at all (neither did Peter Falk) and after a five-episode first season (1979) the changes began. They gave Kate an off-screen divorce and a new last name (Callahan), eliminating any references to the Mystery Movie character. The title, already changed to 'Kate Columbo', then morphed into 'Kate Loves a Mystery' for the second season, although 'Kate the Detective' was also used, at least in print. That's four titles for one 13-episode show! (After the network run all episodes were given the 'Mrs Columbo' title.) Years later Peter Fischer prepared a script for ABC's revived Columbo. He told Falk the title of the episode and the actor broke into a wide grin. The title was 'Rest in Peace, Mrs Columbo'.
John Cacavas ('Lady Blue') wrote the first-season theme, as well as season two: livelier, with a touch of disco flair. Some episodes are now available for streaming in the USA; apparently they used audio from the French DVDs but didn't compensate for the PAL speed-up which raises the pitch. All music in this video is in the right key.
00:00 Opening titles: Mrs Columbo (aka Kate Columbo).
01:01 Pre-credits, end credits: Mrs Columbo.
01:50 Opening titles: Kate Loves a Mystery (aka Kate the Detective).
02:50 End credits: Kate Loves a Mystery.
03:18 BONUS: Opening titles, end credits from the two-hour pilot, using an extended arrangement of theme #1.
Upgraded: Improved audio and video; all on-screen titles in English; added Mrs Columbo pre-credits, pilot film bonus.
