RIP William O. Link

Co creator of Columbo and Murder She Wrote with Richard Levinson

William Link Dead: 'Columbo” and 'Murder, She Wrote' Creator Was 87 - Variety

 

As I have opined many times on this board, Columbo is the best-written and acted detective show in TV history.

What is it about a mystery that creates suspense? Who did it, how and why.

Columbo gave you those in the opening scene, and yet the show was still compelling and suspenseful because of the writing and Peter Falk's portrayal of the character.

 

RIP.

According to Wikipedia, he met Levinson on the first day of junior high, and they created radio scripts in high school before going to Penn.

Mannix and Ellery Queen, as well. And "The Execution of Private Slovik" was an amazing TV movie.

A master at screenwriting, which requires not only a talent for dialogue, but character development and direction.

 

I really liked the Ellery Queen show, when Ellery (Jim Hutton, right?) would break the fourth wall as he was about to reveal the culprit and ask the audience if we knew who did it.

 

As a kid I watched M,SW and always tried to find the "big clue." Me and my folks would always say who we thought "did it" in the last ad break before the reveal. Can't help but think that helped hone my observation skills. Also loved Encyclopedia Brown as a kid.