Season 3, Episode 7, Columbo - Swan Song (1974)

Season 3, Episode 7, Columbo - Swan Song (1974)

 

This episode was directed by Nicholas Colasanto (Coach from Cheers), and written by David Rayfiel, Stanley Ralph Ross, and Richard Levinson. 

This is the Johnny Cash episode! There are not many exceptional outfits in this episode, as most of the characters are dressed in choir robes, seamstress coats, or as is the Man in Black - head to toe black. But let's celebrate what we can.

1) Tommy Brown's Levi's 70671 split tail dark denim chore coat: 

 

He breaks his all-black rule only in the final scenes to don this long jean jacket with western styling, over his all-black western clothing and indigo bandana scarf. 

The unrepentant ladies' man gets a backhanded dig in at Columbo as he boards a round trip plane for San Francisco, but he looks good doing it. This is a rockstar's jacket.

 

Keep a lookout for this jacket repurposed in the next season by a murderous photographer. 

 

2) Tina's embroidered western shirt: 

 

 

It has red pearl snaps, and a bright green yoke front and back embroidered with blue and yellow flowers, surrounded by red piping. It wouldn't surprise us if it were Rockmount Ranchwear. 

That's pretty much it for remarkable clothing. Since we are going light on fashion this week, we will go heavy on humor. 

 

 

The funniest lines in this episode are when Tommy calls Edna a sanctimonious hypocrite of a bible-spouting blackmailer:

 

 

She will be dead in 6 hours. 

And when Columbo confesses a fear of flying and says his ears pop in elevators and he doesn't even like being that tall (5 foot 6 inches). 

 

 Also when Columbo eats squirrel chili at a potluck buffet: 

 

We have to mention when Tommy Brown lies about the maps and charts being sucked out of the plane's window and Columbo writes in his notes "Big suction." 

 

 

Another hilarious moment between Columbo and Tommy Brown occurs when Tommy guesses which branch of military service Columbo was in and says "M.P.? (Military Police)" and Columbo says "K.P. (kitchen patrol)": 

He really laughs his ass off. 

He also sincerely gets a kick out of finding Columbo hiding in the airport gift shop:

 

Big bonus points for decor go out to the kitchen countertops and circular indoor fire pit and hood at Tommy Brown's rental house: 

Definitely worth $2000 a month. 

 

And bonus points for props go out to Tommy's black Martin guitar:

 

 

 

From imdb:

 

  "The black guitar used in this episode is the first ever black Martin D-35 guitar. Johnny Cash had the luthiers of the Martin company make him this one-of-a-kind guitar without the permission or knowledge of Martin's president, C. F. Martin III. Mr. Martin never wanted his company to make a black guitar and was against making one. Martin didn't find out that the guitar had been built until he saw Cash playing the black Martin on this show. The first black Martin became Johnny's favorite guitar, and he used it on many recordings and on concerts for the next 20 years. The Martin company eventually came to accept the black Martin and has made two different tribute guitars to Cash - The Black Martin D-35 and the Black Martin DX."

 

 Praise the Lord, he saw the light.