[lbo-talk] The American Prospect 8/30/07: "What's behindthesub-prime disaster?" by Robt. Kuttner

[Carl Remick]

>From: Dennis Claxton <ddclaxton at earthlink.net>
>
>Carl wrote:
>
> >It's remarkable indeed that Columbo can do his outsider-on-the-inside 
>shtick
> >since his character is affiliated with the LAPD, arguably the most rigid,
> >militaristic pack of police mofos in the US.
>
>I wonder how the show would have turned out if Bing Crosby, who was
>originally offered the role, hadn't turned it down?

DER BINGLE as Lt. Columbo?!!  I thought that was typo -- that maybe you'd 
meant, oh, Bill Cosby.  But there it is right in Wikipedia:  "["Columbo" was 
first] ... made into a television movie for NBC in 1968 ... the writers 
suggested Lee J. Cobb and Bing Crosby for the role, but Cobb was unavailable 
and Crosby turned it down."

Obviously, Lee J. Cobb would simply have brought his expression of chronic 
heartburn to the role.  As for Crosby, I suppose we might have been treated 
to an occasional chorus of "Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral  (That's an Irish 
Lullaby)."  Ghastly.

Carl

_________________________________________________________________
It’s the Windows Live™ Hotmail® you love — on your phone! 
http://www.windowsmobile.com/hotmailmobile?ocid=MobileHMTagline_2