Columbo (character) he is visiting them. "Étude in Black" (1972) marked the first appearance of the lieutenant's basset hound, named "Dog". "Dog" came to be an occasional regular character in the films. Columbo considered names like "Fido", "Munch" and "Beethoven" but ultimately settled on "Dog". In "Sex and the Married Detective", Columbo is put on the spot when he is asked to play the tuba. Reluctantly he agrees, only to demonstrate great proficiency. He subsequently claimed that at school, the tuba was the only instrument left. In several episodes, Columbo is seen eating a breakfast of a boiled egg, usually while investigating
Columbo episodes up to Murder, a Self-Portrait were released on DVD in Japan. The Columbo character first appeared on stage in 1962 in "Prescription: Murder" with Thomas Mitchell in the role of Columbo. In 2010, "Prescription: Murder", was revived for a tour of the United Kingdom with Dirk Benedict and later John Guerrasio as Columbo. Falk appeared as Columbo in an "Alias" sketch produced for a 2003 TV special celebrating the 50th anniversary of ABC. Falk appeared in character as Columbo in 1977 at "The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast" of Frank Sinatra. The insurance investigator, John Frazier (played by James Corden)