During the first season the show was mostly called Mrs. Columbo. The title was changed to "Kate Loves Mystery" for the second season due to constant complaints from Falk fans. In the second season all Columbo references were removed. Kate is now divorced and has her maiden name Callahan again (I wonder if the chosen new name was an oblivious but awesome coincidence or an intentional reference), lives in San Fernando and works for a new local paper.
A 1979 station ID for Detroit's WDIV leads into the opening moments of "Kate Loves A Mystery", starring Kate Mulgrew as Kate Columbo. The show was in fact also known at different times as "Mrs. Columbo" and "Kate Columbo". In this particular episode she is joined by another future member of the "Star Trek" universe, Rene Auberjonois.
Peter Falk explains, in great detail, what it took for him to make it to the 1974 ceremony to collect his award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.