History's Best Selling TV Shows of 1968

Step back in time to explore the definitive collection of iconic tv releases from 1968. Discover the standout creations that defined pop culture, captured consumer imagination, and shaped history during this unforgettable era.

1. Columbo

   Released in 1968 by Richard Levinson & William Link, NBC, ABC

   On February 20, 1968, television audiences were introduced to a new kind of detective. The broadcast of 'Prescription: Murder' on NBC was not the series premiere, but a standalone television movie that served as the pilot for what would become 'Columbo.' Starring Peter Falk as the deceptively brilliant Lieutenant Columbo, the film established the show's signature 'inverted detective story' format, where the audience witnesses the murder and knows the killer's identity from the outset. Its success was a proof-of-concept, demonstrating the immense appeal of watching the disheveled but genius detective slowly and methodically ensnare his arrogant and sophisticated prey, setting the stage for a television classic.