Backwards Liability
| Podfic | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Columbo in... "Backwards Liability" |
| Podfic Artist(s): | Gianni Matragrano |
| Cover Artist: | |
| Date(s): | Feb 7, 2022 |
| Length: | 2:56 |
| File: | |
| Based On: | Tumblr Post, Archived version |
| Author: | drememoto and andthebeanstalk |
| Fandom: | Columbo |
| External Links: | YouTube |
Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Backwards Liability is a Columbo vidfic with voice imitations by Gianni Matragrano and Brendan Blaber. It was adapted from a Tumblr reblog chain by drememoto and andthebeanstalk. It has over a million views and 107,000 likes on YouTube.
The vidfic was part of a series of skits Matragrano did in Columbo's voice; often based on tumblr posts. This might be one of the most popular and broadly watched fics from that series.
Content
The fic is a dialogue between Lieutenant Columbo and Ken Franklin (the murderer in the pilot episode of the Columbo TV series). Columbo questions Flemming about his alibi, which was playing Kingdom Hearts, and catches him in a lie based on the backwards compatibility (or lack thereof) of this game for the PS2.
The original fic was posted in a common format for RP on Tumblr, in which each RP contributor reblogs with a new line of dialogue and a screencap of their character. The vidfic used these screencaps to accompany spoken lines. Columbo was voiced by Gianni and Franklin was voiced by Blaber.
Reactions and Reviews
To the Tumblr post
This is the beginning of a new variety of memes. The premise is set.fidelio316Jan [1]
This better than the actual show. I can’t wait for the next segment. Thank goodness for the commercial break I need a snack.poodlemonkeyishere [1]
god cant wait for the gianni cut of this oneitsjop [1]
On the edge of my god damned seatmeaninglez [1]
HOW IS THIS SO ACCURATE3psi1on [1]
gianni matriano did an amazing dub of this lmaomungosaur, Feb 14, 2022 [1]
To the vidfic
The voice acting is brilliant, but the writing is just uncanny in how well it fits the show@Jack Rackam [2]
I have watched a LOT of Columbo recently and, well... this is spot on. Every episode contains about an hour of this exact pattern of dialogue. Beautifully done, chaps@Michael Freitag [2]
I love this video. It's such a bizarre cross-section of late 00s console war memes and Columbo. This is one of those things the algorithm will drag up for somebody in like 10 years time and be completely incomprehensible.
Heck, will people even remember the "PS3 has no games" thing in 10 years? That's not its legacy over time and was very much a critique concentrated around the first couple of years of its life.@AlphaFoxtrot7790 [2]
"Mr. Elbertson was hit with a small blunt object. No bigger than about 157mm longways."
He crushed Jerma whole, the monster.@DrunkenCoward1 [2]
The sad part is that he could have easily altered his alibi by doing the old forehead-tap-and-shake and say "What was I thinking? Lieutenant, I wasn't playing the PS2 release of Kingdom Hearts, it was the PS3 remaster collection, Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix. I really must apologize, but I've been so busy lately, what with the murder, and I must've forgotten which version it was."
Course... That'd be when Columbo notes that they added trophies with HD 1.5 Remix and his player profile doesn't show anything...@TheUnsightlyRF [2]
This genuinely feels like it coudl be an official episode of some weird modern Columbo radio show where almost everything is normal, but all the cases involve this oddly modern subject matter.
And I gotta say, I'd absolutely listen to it. In fact, I want it, damn it.toasterstrooder8628 [2]
Even though it’s a meme there has never been a more accurate portrayal of Columbo. Most episodes are just as goofy as this and I used to watch it every night of the week. An absolute classic.@toska459 [2]
The "directed by Tetsuya Nomura" part was the cherry on top of this whole thing. Nothing short of marvelous work, Gianni and Jack.@atomicbeachball [2]
[u/hopscotch_mafia [3]]
Oh man - the voices, the plot beats, the cadence - this is such a genuine love letter to Columbo.
[u/BadgerSituation[3]]
It really is.It's also hilarious to see the "PS3 HAZ NO GAEMZ" meme crop up again.
It did fine. 6th best-selling home console (not portable) of all time, with over 2,500 games.
Then PS4 came out and had no games.
Second-highest selling home console (not portable) of all time, with over 3,000 games.
Then PS5 came out and had no games.
And this time.....this time it's definitely all over.
References
- ^ a b c d e f Tumblr post by drememento and andthebeanstalk, Archived version. Posted 10 January 2022. Comments and reblogs are from 10 Jan 2022 through 14 February 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Columbo in... "Backwards Liability", Archived version. Video posted by Gianni Matragrano on 7 February 2022. Comments posted mostly in 2022.
- ^ a b Discussion on r/videos on Reddit. Posted 2 May 2022.