Columbo episode "No Time To Die" broke formula in many ways, which produced one of the most divisive episodes of the long-running series.

"Columbo Cries Wolf" plays with the show's formula and finds the titular detective having to investigate the same murder twice.

Columbo episode "A Trace Of Murder" has the detective on the trail of a killer crime scene investigator, who is a couple of steps ahead.

Columbo season 10 episode "A Bird In The Hand" has a unique structure where the real killer is hidden until the very end of the story.

Columbo "It's All In The Game" is unique in that it features the titular detective let a killer go free by the end of the episode.