Source: Columbo
Speaker: Lieutenant Columbo
Context
This line is spoken by Lieutenant Columbo, played by Peter Falk, in the TV show Columbo (1971-2003).
Would anyone want to watch a mystery that's already been solved?
That was the big question when Columbo first aired in the early 1970s. Every episode famously flipped the classic whodunit formula by showing the audience the entire murder before a detective ever showed up on the scene. By the time Columbo would bumble in, we already knew who the murderer was and how they did it. Case closed, right?
Not exactly. The joy of watching this show is seeing Lt. Columbo pretend to stumble and bumble his way through a case while covertly outsmarting the most arrogant murderers imaginable.
He usually starts out by talking. Columbo might prattle on about some unimportant details or ask meaningless questions. Anything to get the suspects gabbing. Then, once they let their guard down, he hits them with a final question as he gets ready to walk out of the room—"Oh, just one more thing…why would your wife have been out on the boat alone when she couldn't swim?"
Boom.
These false exits became a sort of trademark for Columbo. He'd ask them all the time, as almost an after thought, but the audience would know that this was the info he really wanted all along. Any villain who heard this phrase had to know his days were totally numbered.
Where you've heard it
It's always best to sneak in a nice, unassuming "just one more thing," when you've got some major news to share. Act casual and then drop the bombshell. "So, Chandler and I went to the winery today. Oh, just one more thing—we're getting married!" It's a fun way to bury the lead. The one time you don't want to hear this phrase is when you think you've gotten away with murder. It could be a hint that your investigator is smarter than you think.
Additional Notable References
- When Peter Falk finished writing his autobiography, titling it Just One More Thing was probably a huge no-brainer.
- Our favorite Columbo fan podcast happens to be called Just One More Thing.
- Steve Jobs would often sneak a Columbo-esque "one more thing" into his presentations when he was really looking to wow a crowd.
Pretentious Factor
If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.
No one could ever accuse Lt. Columbo of being pretentious, so you're in no danger if you drop his signature line.
FAQs
2020-02-12. When fans hear Lieutenant Columbo's trademark phrase “just one more thing…” we know he's about to crack the case wide open. The unconventional detective, played brilliantly by Peter Falk, first appeared on our screens in 1968.
Did Columbo ever say "Just one more thing"? ›
“Oh, just one more thing.” He didn't always say it exactly like that but, that is the trademark catch phrase of the one and only iconic investigator in the rumpled raincoat, Lt. Frank Columbo.
Who says one more thing? ›
At the end of each episode of “Columbo,” a well-known television show about a blundering detective played by Peter Falk that began in the late 1960s, Falk would deliver his famous line: “Just one more thing.” At this point, catching suspects off guard, the detective would perfectly deliver the incriminating information ...
Who is the detective who says one more thing? ›
Columbo is a shrewd and exceptionally observant homicide detective who often disguises his aptitude with his inelegant, shambling manner; trademarks of his blue-collar ethos include his rumpled beige raincoat, cigar and relentless investigative approach. "Just one more thing."
What is the saddest Columbo episode? ›
A faded dance star of film and stage murders her husband and makes it look like a suicide; Lt. Columbo doubts her seemingly perfect alibi. A faded dance star of film and stage murders her husband and makes it look like a suicide; Lt.
What was Peter Falk's favorite Columbo episode? ›
Falk's own favorite Columbo episodes were "Any Old Port in a Storm", "Forgotten Lady", "Now You See Him" and "Identity Crisis". Falk was rumored to be earning a record $300,000 per episode when he returned for Season 6 of Columbo in 1976.
How old was Peter Falk when Columbo ended? ›
While they cover it up, a paparazzo (Douglas Roberts) obtains photos of the incident and blackmails them, which compels them to take him out. COMMENTARY: This was the 69th and final episode of Columbo or, more accurately, TV movie. Falk was 75 during shooting yet still formidable in Columbo's rumpled manner.
What was Columbo's disability? ›
As a child, the actor's right eye had been surgically removed due to a malignant tumour and was replaced with a glass eye. That handicap became, perhaps, one of Falk's major assets in his “Columbo” role, as the physical trademark enhanced the detective's image as a dishevelled and eccentric crime sleuth.
Did they ever reveal Columbo's first name? ›
Columbo's first name is never explicitly revealed in the series. However, when Columbo flashes his badge in the episodes "Dead Weight" (Season 1 Episode 3), and "Death Hits The Jackpot" (Season 10, Episode 4, during the gotcha scene at the end), the name 'Frank Columbo' can clearly be seen on his ID card.
Did Steve Jobs say one more thing? ›
(In an homage to Jobs, the Lion operating system released by Apple this year had several of these "Steve-isms" hidden in an "easter egg.") His gift of showmanship came through when, in his Stevenotes, he would seem to be wrapping up his presentation, and then say "And one more thing..." before revealing something " ...
After poor ratings and reception from both audiences and the original producers of Columbo, both the series and the eponymous character herself were renamed in an attempt to change direction, but this did not help ratings and the series ended with a run of just 13 episodes.
What was the very first Columbo? ›
Development and character profile. Peter Falk as Lt. Columbo, 1973 The first Columbo pilot, "Prescription: Murder", guest starring Gene Barry, Nina Foch, and William Windom, was filmed at the Stahl House.
Who was the one eyed detective on TV? ›
Peter Falk (born September 16, 1927, New York, New York, U.S.—died June 23, 2011, Beverly Hills, California) was an American actor who was best known for his portrayal of the eccentric detective Lieutenant Columbo in the television series Columbo (1971–78) and made-for-TV movies.
What does it mean when you call someone Columbo? ›
Columbo m. Sherlock; used to refer to someone who expresses the obvious while not being aware of its obviousness synonym ▲ Synonym: Einstein.
Why is Columbo famous? ›
Colombo represents a mix of cultural history seeped in old-world mansions and modern edifices in the form of markets, malls, beachfront shacks and fine dining restaurants.
How old was Peter Falk in the last episode of Columbo? ›
While they cover it up, a paparazzo (Douglas Roberts) obtains photos of the incident and blackmails them, which compels them to take him out. COMMENTARY: This was the 69th and final episode of Columbo or, more accurately, TV movie. Falk was 75 during shooting yet still formidable in Columbo's rumpled manner.
