Peter Falk and Columbo The Last Interview Heard on TV Time Machine Radio Show www.tvtimemachine.com

June 25, 2011 - PRLog -- In his last interview, Peter Falk, best known for playing the classic TV detective Lt. Columbo, talked about his famous character in a one-hour interview on the radio show TV Time Machine hosted by TV historian Jim Benson, heard online at http://www.tvtimemachine.com and every Saturday at 3PM PDT in Southern California on 1170 KCBQ-AM.

In 2007, Peter Falk gave one his most comprehensive interviews ever on TV Time Machine, discussing his nearly fifty-years in television and movies. Joined by author Mark Dawidziak (The Columbo Phile), Mr. Falk spoke extensively about his two Academy Award-nominated roles in Pocketful of Miracles and Murder Inc., and his most famous role of all--the seemingly dim-bulb LAPD homicide detective named Lt. Columbo.

"Columbo was never comfortable if somebody considered him unique or smart," said Falk. "So whenever Columbo came up with a brilliant insight, he would say to the murderer, 'You know, I ran into my brother-in-law the other day and he said blah blah blah.' So every time Columbo came up with anything brilliant, he would always attribute it to one of his in-laws!"

In addition to playing Columbo on the small screen, Mr. Falk had an equally impressive feature film career, appearing in such movies as It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, World, Robin and the 7 Hoods, The In-Laws, and The Princess Bride. However, it was a lesser-known film named Wind Across the Everglades that Peter Falk particularly remembered.

"In 1958, I was shooting a movie in Florida, and I decided to go to Havana Cuba to see what it was like," said Falk. "I was still wearing my costume from the picture when I got on a plane and flew to Havana. While I was taking in the sights, a car pulled up to me, three men got out and arrested me. I was then taken to a police station and interrogated. They thought I was with Fidel Castro's army because I was in my costume, I looked like a bum, and I had a big black beard!"

Host Jim Benson also explored with Peter Falk and author Mark Dawidziak, Columbo's first appearance in the 1967 TV-movie Prescription Murder (created and written by Richard Levinson and William Link), Columbo's multitude of relatives, and his classic, but catastrophic, car.

Columbo originally aired on NBC as part of The NBC Sunday Mystery Movie from 1971-78. In 1989, ABC revived the series and aired twenty-four TV-movies, the last in 2003. The series garnered four Emmy Awards for Mr. Falk, as well as a Golden Globe Award.

TV Time Machine, heard online http://www.tvtimemachine.com and every Saturday at 3PM PDT on 1170 KCBQ-AM in Southern California, is a unique radio show that explores classic TV and its influence over the past five decades. Beyond nostalgia, TV Time Machine spotlights TV's impact on our culture and society, and explores how present-day television and its movers and shakers have been -and are still - influenced by the stories, programs, and characters of television's past.

TV Time Machine host Jim Benson has interviewed a multitude of legendary TV celebrities, authors and experts of all stripes on his radio program, covering shows ranging from Mr. Ed to Meet the Press and topics such as Technology on TV and TV's Turning Points. A TV historian for over twenty-five years, Mr. Benson has contributed to dozens of TV productions-- including a recent appearance on Penn & Teller's Bullshit!, and is a Historical Consultant on Universal Studios' DVD release of Rod Serling's Night Gallery: Season Two.