i disagree that in rip mrs columbo columbo didn't have any reason to lie about having kids, he was talking to someone who tried to murder his wife, i feel like that's a good enough reason
i agree. i always thought that episode wasn't great proof for childless columbo simply because it'd make quite a lot of sense for him to not tell the woman trying to murder his wife that he's got even more loved ones for her to murder lol
i believe no time to die more directly implies he has no kids. at his nephew's wedding, mrs. columbo has to miss it and people inquire about her absence. however, none of his purported children are present either, and nobody asks about them. perhaps they're estranged or dead, but i think it's intended that they simply never existed to begin with.
interestingly, because his nephew's parents are dead and he gives the speech, it's implied that columbo is essentially his nephew's father figure. as the bride hugs her father, the groom hugs columbo.
now obviously the reboot episodes are varying shades of canon, no time to die being one of the least canon, so really who cares. but the more you watch the show, the more you realize that it's beyond argument that columbo is particularly close to his nieces and nephews. despite all the fibs he tells murderers about this nephew or that niece, he's at the very least an active Cool Uncle, even a father figure to them. that in itself is very sweet.
proud owner of 6 different mugs that say #1 UNCLE on them
