fern-spotting

[fern-spotting]

Columbo S10E14 “Columbo Likes the Nightlife” (2003)

Boston fern spotted at 3:33. A bittersweet fern spotting, for this is the last episode of Columbo. It's very 2000s, clearly from a post-CSI era, with a lot of camera movement and now charmingly dated attempt to portray LA's rave scene.

Here's Columbo having a party moment.

And, I'm happy to say, here is the final ultimate combo! Columbo himself, with a Boston fern.

And that's it from me, folks! I'll stop by occasionally with screenshots if I catch a Boston fern in a movie or tv show I'm watching, but I've fulfilled my original mandate to spot ferns in Columbo. Thanks for coming on this adventure with me. I hope you had fun. I sure did. 🌱

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Columbo S10E13 “Murder with Too Many Notes” (2001)

Maidenhair fern spotted at 1:04:22! With, I think, some kind of rex begonia in the foreground? (Also, yes, this episode is another Patrick McGoohan joint, though he does not star in it.)

Bonus plant #1: this snake plant.

Bonus plant #2: these fake weeping figs. Not sure why these trees had such a grip on interior designers from the late 80s to the early aughts, but they sure did!

This is the penultimate Columbo episode I have to review. Start getting ready to say goodbye.

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Columbo S10E12 “Ashes to Ashes” (1998)

(Fake) fern spotted very early, at 0:12! This Patrick McGoohan joint (yes, he directed and starred in another one) is off to a decent start, and it's uphill from here.

For one, we get Columbo mother-henning this wrinkly puppy.

We get some nice bonus plants: a maidenhair fern and a majestic palm.

Finally, the ultimate combo, around 54:30.

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Columbo S10E11 “A Trace of Murder” (1997)

Boston fern spotted at 1:15! Kinda out of focus, though.

Bonus plants: Columbo with a majesty palm and a maidenhair fern. Almost the ultimate combo.

Finally: this look would be iconic if not for the awful hair extensions.

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we all love columbo

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Columbo S10E10 “Strange Bedfellows” (1995)

Boston fern spotted very late, at 1:20:11.

Bonus plant: these majesty palms.

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Columbo S10E9 “Undercover” (1994)

No ferns spotted this episode. Here are some other observations.

This parlor palm:

Columbo drinking coffee from a Pyrex measuring cup. I guess they didn't have enough mugs at the station?

Finally, this. Sorry.

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Columbo S10E8 “Butterfly in Shades of Grey” (1994)

Boston fern spotted at 1:00!

This episode is notable for featuring a gay character (as the murder victim, unfortunately) and also for having William Shatner back on, this time to play a conservative radio host. He's basically the Alex Jones of his time.

Bonus plant: this sago palm.

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Columbo S10E7 “It's All in the Game” (1993)

(Plastic) fern spotted at 1:19, in this episode written by Peter Falk himself.

Bonus plant: Columbo with this big ivy, etc.

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Columbo S10E6 “A Bird in the Hand…” (1992)

Feather leaf fern spotted at 50:54.

Bonus plant: this dracaena marginata.

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Columbo S10E5 “No Time to Die” (1992)

Feather leaf fern spotted at 2:19!

This episode is notable for being the only Columbo episode not to feature a murder, as it is about a kidnapping. It also features my favorite non-recurring character, Tubby Comfort. He's absolutely written to be fatphobic comic relief, but as a person of similar appearance and stature, I would love if my job was to be a criminal informant with a weirdly cuddly nickname who lounged in the sauna eating fruit all day. That sounds awesome.

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Columbo S10E4 “Death Hits the Jackpot” (1991)

Fern...spotted at 3:25? Do we think a print of a drawing counts?

Not happy with that? Well, how's a painting of a fern?

Finally, at a funeral, we get a real, albeit cut, fern.

Finally, because I'm stubborn, here's a real, live, uncut Boston fern in the ultimate combo, at 1:22:46.

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i love your blog, i am in love with its concept and i am so happy that youre running it. that youre sharing this piece of your mind with us, i think thats awesome. it also makes me feel a weird sort of kinship with you and i hope that doesnt sound overly familiar -- i just talk about columbo a lot to my friends irl, and its somewhat like fernspotting, except its just that i mention it whenever i get the opportunity to. so its more like potential-columbo-reference-spotting. i hope you know that just the knowledge that a blog like yours exists has brought me a lot of joy, and i thank you for running it. please have a good day and never stop fernspotting. i hope this makes sense and it comes across how i intend it to, and i hope it doesnt make you uncomfortable in any way... have a wonderous day my friend...!

Hi there -- I'm glad you're enjoying the blog. I'm having fun running it! Hope you have a great day yourself :)

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Columbo S10E3 “Columbo and the Murder of a Rock Star” (1991)

Ferntastic! Boston fern spotted at 3:12.

A few moments later, this fashionable fern close-up:

And a bit later, this asparagus fern.

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Columbo S10E2 “Caution: Murder Can Be Hazardous to Your Health” (1991)

Fern spotted at 1:00:22 -- and it's the ultimate combo of Columbo and a Boston fern!

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Columbo S10E1 “Columbo Goes to College” (1990)

We're on to the last "season" of Columbo, which was a series of specials rather than a proper season.

Sadly, I did not spot any ferns in this episode. Here is yet another (fake) weeping fig, though.

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Columbo S9E6 “Murder in Malibu” (1990)

Feather fern spotted at 10:58 in this flower arrangement!

A full Boston fern appears a few seconds later. That fern would be so sad in this windowless, basement-y office.