On September 23rd, 1973 season 3 kicked off with Lovely but Lethal. This one features Vera Miles as the head of Beauty Mark Cosmetics, desperate for a big breakthrough to save her company. Her chemists come up with a new beauty cream she calls "Miracle" but when greedy Karl Lessing (played by a young Martin Sheen) steals it she lashes out and kills him.
All for naught
Viveca is so desperate for a miracle that she goes down this murderous path for a product that we learn early in the episode doesn't even work. Not only does it not cure wrinkles, but it causes a serious skin condition that is basically the same as poison ivy.
A lot of Draper
This is one of Fred Draper's meatiest Columbo roles, as boozy, stressed out, Dr. Murcheson.He appeared in six episodes of Columbo, starting with Lady in Waiting. He was the murderer, as it turned out, in Last Salute to the Commdore.
The Price is right
Vincent Price, as competitor David Lang in this episode, has such a good presence on-screen. Would have been nice to see him make a few more Columbo appearances.
The Debut of Kirby
This is the first time we see Bruce Kirby in a Columbo episode, he plays the lab janitor who gives Columbo the key clue as to what might have been stolen from Lessing's apartment.
Kirby goes on to appear in several Columbo episodes, almost always as Sergeant Kramer.
Return of Richard Stahl
Richard Stahl appeared in three Columbos and, remarkably, played a travel agent twice. The other time was in The Most Crucial Game with Robert Culp.
His third Columbo appearance was as a ballistics expert in another Culp episode, Double Exposure.
"Hundreds" of young men?
In dismissing her relationship with Lessing, Viveca tells Columbo there have been "hundreds" of young men since him. Wow. The math says that's at least two or three dates a week with different guys. Possible? Yes, but well...impressive.
Hello Finnegan
Among the Columbo regulars making an appearance, we get a substantial role for John Finnegan. Finnegan appeared in thirteen Columbos, and this was his third one (and first as a Detective).
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