‘Columbo’ debuts as a regular series on NBC 40 years ago this hour

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CywUV-vG1fw&NR=1
Columbo - Murder by the Book (1971) (TV)

(Wednesday, September 15, 1971, 8:30 p.m.) — After two pilot episodes, the crime fiction TV series Columbo, starring Peter Falk in the title role, debuted tonight as one of the rotating programs of the “NBC Mystery Movie.”  Tonight’s episode, “Murder by the Book,” was directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Steven Bochco.