Brevity by Dan Thompson for November 29, 2020

They’re at the capital of Sri Lanka.

That’s not Falkland Islands. That’s Falksland Island. Common mistake.

Are you sure this isn’t Ireland? I see many a wee Falk around here…

hope their enthusiasm doesn’t peter out…

Peter Falk went to my high school (before me; I’m not that old), and his family had a clothing store in town called (what else?), FALKS.

The only detective show that told you who the killer was up front then kept your attention while trying to figure out how Columbo was going to prove it.

Back in the early 80’s there was a Boston radio station, WBCN, that did lots of funny, fake ads for things. One of them was for a television special where Peter Falk visited a town in MA called Athol. The title for the special was “Falk in Athol”. :)

What’s the one more thing?

Nobody under 50 would get the reference

A friend of mine who worked in Hollywood a while back said Peter Falk used to go a sit on a bench on Rodeo Drive once in a while. He did it because he believed that tourists visiting the city expected to see actors all over the place, so he wanted them to see one. Apparently actors don’t generally wander about Hollywood.

Is that Fred Savage in bed in the far, far, far background waiting for a story to be read?

In addition to the Columbo TV series, Peter Falk was in dozens of great movies. One of my favorites — somewhat appropriate for this time of year, is Frank Capra’s “A Pocketful of Miracles,” 1961. Another, of course, is Princess Bride, 1987. He appears to have been a rare actor — one who was talented and enjoyable to watch in a variety of rolls, and well-respected and well-liked by actors and directors alike. A sad but important legacy is ‘Peter Falk’s Law’, originally passed in New York State in 2015 to protect children from being cut off from news of serious medical and end-of-life developments or from contact. It provides guidelines regarding visitation rights and notice of death with which an incapacitated person’s guardians or conservators must comply. To date, more than 15 other states have enacted similar laws.

Columbo sailed the ocean blue . . .

Christopher Columbo discovered the island.

I thought Da Falkin’ I’lands is just off Jersey.

Loved seeing the guest stars who were the murderers, and some came back again and again. Jack Cassidy was a favorite