# 44 - Lovely But Lethal

There are some murderers whose vocation fits perfectly with the cat and mouse game of a Columbo episode . Most of these are either in the psychiatric or medical-type profession , others are in some way involved in law and justice themselves ; contemporaries of the Lieutenant , whether they be attorneys or The Rain Coated One's own superior . Other murderer professions are a little less suited , but with good writing , actors , and/or direction are raised to lofty heights in the pantheon of adversaries : wine makers ; political candidates ; musicians ; art critics . Then there are those that just don't seem to fit at all . A cosmetics queen is one of these . It's not even that the murderer - or the victim ; or Vincent Price , for that matter - are really all that bad filling the roles they play ( irony here : every character in this episode , except our beloved hero , is seriously morally deficient ) , but trying to equate the acquisition of an anti-wrinkle cream formula to a tangled web of Defense Department-type intrigue lowers the brow of the typical viewer , who excpects dark secrets and conspiratorial attitudes certainly , but also expects these elements to frame much more serious motivations for the parties involved . Of course , after the actual murder is committed , the stakes become a little higher ; but the whole rest of the plot is weighed down by an initial premise more appropriate for typical " Late , late movie " fare than for a Columbo . Viveca Scott , the murderer ( character name , not actress ) , can act mighty annoyed at being hounded throughout the show ; a trait essential to the interplay , the " game " , as it were . However , she lacks the mental prowess of her mental health profession , etc peers . I have no doubt that a cosmetics company executive can plan good strategies against competitors , or shrewdly decieve consumers ; I just don't buy one being adept with the same self-preserving schemes , but applied to a different threat : a murder investigation . Finally , I'd like to say that the Shirley Blaine character is one of the most annoying in the entire series . That's relatively fine , though ; she's supposed to irritate . And she's the perfect poster lass for anti-smoking campaigns ; not only is she doomed by her habit , but she's the perfect example of a person you just wouldn't want to be like . Anyway , please post your opinions , as well . Nobody's done that yet , but mabye that's because they don't quite fathom the great rewards they'd reap ... Mainly making an ignored man happy .