Murder With Too Many Notes

The next "Columbo" episode, "Murder With Too Many Notes," is now being
filmed.  Few details are available,  but we have this much:

The killer is named Findlay Crawford, a Hollywood film composer and conductor. 
He murders a talented composer/musician who has been ghostwriting most of
Crawford's work in recent years, including the entire score for the last film, which won an Oscar.  Crawford is jealous of the young musician whose talent outshines his own, perhaps a bit like Salieri and Mozart.

Crawford is played by Scottish actor Billy Connolly.  This is a change of pace for Billy, who is best known for comedy -- he's one of the top comics in the UK, and a first rate raconteur.  American TV viewers will remember Billy Connolly from later episodes of "Head Of The Class" (he replaced Howard Hesseman as the teacher).  He also performed in the "Secret Policeman's Ball" movies with a couple of the Monty Python lads and some other British loonies.  Billy was in "Indecent Proposal",  and his more recent movies include "Mrs Brown" and "Still Crazy".

Patrick McGoohan returns as director, his second "Columbo" in a row.  Peter Falk said of Patrick McGoohan in a recent interview, "He's one of the planet's greatest actors. In the history of 'Columbo,' he's our only triple threat. He directs, acts and writes. So he's a rare bird."

Patrick's daughter, Anne McGoohan, plays a witness, going to a Crawford
concert with her husband, who is near the murder scene at a crucial moment.
Fans will note that another of Patrick's talented daughters, Catherine McGoohan, 
turned in a wry and memorable performance as his associate at the funeral
parlor in "Ashes To Ashes".

Peter Falk says of this episode, "In my judgment, it is one of the most ingenious murders in the history of  'Columbo'."

Story by Jeffrey Cava, Teleplay by Jeffrey Cava and Patrick McGoohan.