Wade Anders is the host of a popular television show. Budd Clarke was the one who was originally supposed to be the host of the show, but Anders did a hatchet job on him and got it. Clarke discovers that Anders once did a porno movie with an underage actress. He is threatening to expose this, unless Anders resigns, thus paving the way for him to take over the show that he believes is rightfully his. Anders then doctors some cigarettes and replaces chain smoker Clarke's, and Clarke smokes them and dies. Anders steals the evidence that Clarke had on him. Columbo comes in to investigate and discover a few inconsistencies.