Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

kinvore t1_j6lx2jh wrote

Reply to comment by GaryTheCabalGuy in ‘Poker Face’ is an absolute gem of a show. Would be blowing up if it was on a larger streaming service by mattyhegs826

Not sure about "fresh" as it's very similar to Columbo, a series from the 70's and 80's.

It has a similar formula, where we see the murder first. Then Columbo arrives on the scene and figures out not only the murder but the motive behind it.

Peter Falk was such a delight in it, too. No super powers, he just acted folksy and scatterbrained in order for people to underestimate him (which they always did). It was a LOT of fun.

107

knightlife t1_j6m1i41 wrote

This. It’s crazy to think it’s considered “fresh” now…not that I’m complaining, I quite love this genre. But I remember barely a decade ago when USA had its “characters welcome” phase that they then moved away from trying be super serious like everyone else. And don’t get me wrong; some fantastic programming came out of that new mandate. But it’s like we all pretended a certain segment of audiences no longer existed and now we’re shocked to discover “oh wait, yeah, people still want to watch this type of stuff”.

28

bros402 t1_j6n3z12 wrote

I miss the Blue Skies era, it was so good

12

Prax150 t1_j6n7qbw wrote

There hasn't really been a show like this in a long time and Columbo isn't on a major streaming service I don't think, so I don't blame anyone for thinking it's different.

5

knightlife t1_j6nc7c9 wrote

That’s…not really the point I was making. I’m critiquing Hollywood’s self-satisfied lauding of the show as groundbreakingly new when the audience demand was there all along and could be seen from precedent.

1

Prax150 t1_j6ne32b wrote

You said it's crazy that people are considering this show "fresh" and I explained to you why that my be the case for a lot of people who wouldn't be aware of Columbo or even the "characters welcome" stuff from 10-15 years ago.

6

knightlife t1_j6nei5j wrote

No, I said in general it’s crazy to consider it such, precisely for the reasons I then listed owing the blame to the industry. I never said people are crazy are feeling so.

−2

throwawaylogin2099 t1_j6p8zyt wrote

Columbo is literally available on the same streaming service as Poker Face: Peacock. I've watched the entire run of Columbo on there.

1

sbisson t1_j6mab72 wrote

It even uses Columbo-style titles.

19

ComoSeaYeah t1_j6mvmm5 wrote

I love the titles, especially the Roman numeral date at the start. Very 70s.

14

thetacticalpanda t1_j6monge wrote

Sometimes called a 'Howdunnit'

6

ProfessorZhirinovsky t1_j6p1sj3 wrote

IIRC this type, where the audience knows who the murderer is and the question is how the detective is going to figure it all out, is called a "Howcatchem."

5

Eswyft t1_j6m6nya wrote

Archer riffed on the format not all that long ago in a clear not to the genre, rich columbo was a part of

5

throwawaylogin2099 t1_j6p8q9t wrote

Poker Face is direct homage to Columbo not only in the structure of the show showing the murder, who did it, and how first so we can watch the protagonist figure it out. They also use the exact same font for the credits that Columbo used. Then there is the fact that the protagonist is somebody who is dishevelled, kind of a slob, very friendly and everybody underestimates her. For a few years now I have seen people online talking about how Natasha Lyonne would be perfect to play the lead in a Columbo reboot and I think this series may have been inspired by that talk or at least the idea to cast her was.

5

ArsenalinAlabama3428 t1_j6nsfye wrote

It kind of remind me of Monk. Though I like the way the kept the mystery of the actual killer throughout most episodes in Monk. Good show though.

3

The_Narz t1_j6n273k wrote

There’s also a show called The Sinner that’s been airing for a while and follows the same “howcatchem” format.

2

kinvore t1_j6nt3lk wrote

I liked the first season of that show (what a fucked up ending) but they lost me when one of the seasons was literally about a couple of guys that just discovered Nietzsche in college. My eyes couldn't roll back far enough haha.

3

spankenstein t1_j6nesr5 wrote

You know... now that you mentioned this, it does have a very Columbo feel to it. Loving the show so far.

2