I agree with all the points you made. They all add up to some lackluster Columbos.
As you said, the lack of "big names" was definitely a big factor. And if you think about it, it is really strange. Back in the 70's it was very rare for a "movie" star to lower themselves and appear on a TV show....but many appeared on Columbo. In the 90's and today, it is quite a common thing for "movie" actors to appear on TV. It is no longer a taboo. And yet, there were few that appeared on the 90's Columbos. I wonder why?

I have no doubt it has something to do with the quality, perception and popularity of the Columbo series today, i.e. when it came out in the early 70s it was a landmark show, and actors/actresses wanted to capitalise on it. As I said to boost their ailing images. Nowadays, the Columbo series doesn't have the same status, because it isn't as good.

I remember the same kind of thing happening on the Batman series in the 1960s -just have a look at the names on that show who guested as the villains, even Liberace was in there somewhere!

I think the problem is not only with the so-called
"Columbos" of the new series, but the nature of
television has changed. Frankly, in our house, we
don't watch anything that was made after about
1980, either TV or movies (although a few movies
have passed muster). One big problem, that I have mentioned in the past, is the big increase in sex
and foul language. I realize that I am a prude by
modern standards (Cassa-I remember that you disagreed, but I don't know how the others feel), but I feel soiled by these things and I don't want my kids exposed to it. By going for "shock value", the writers take the easy way out and then don't have to come up with as good a script.
Also, in a more technical sense, the style of lighting
and the set designs have become more "way-out" and sterile. The 1970's shows (not only Columbo) were more realistic looking, and I prefer that, but, of course, that is basically a matter of taste.
Incidentally, one of the pioneers in introducing sex and foul language was Steve Bochco. This can be seen already in "Etude in Black". Although I agree that it is a very good episode, there is far more discussion of sex in it than in all the other episodes of the original series. I am glad he left the show because I don't know what he would have done with it.
Anyhow, this is my $0.02

EEK! YM did I really disagree with that? Really??? It doesn't sound like me, because I am a prude too. I don't like all that stuff...it makes me uncomfortable. I like the older movies...the real old ones....that didn't show anything. If the couple were going to get "romantic" all you would see was them closing the door and the rest of it was left to the viewer's imagination. I don't watch the new stuff either...I can't tell you the last time I went to the movies or even rented a tape or dvd.......I watch TCM. That station is fantastic. All the classics are shown on there. It is not like AMC (American Movie Classics!?) that considers movies like Jaws3 and Tommy Boy and Dudley Dooright to be "classics"....
And I will agree there are quite a number of references to sex in Etude....Alex even uses the word. For me, that line always stands out like a sore thumb...it really wasn't necessary.

Sorry, Cassa, I didn't make myself clear. I meant
that you didn't agree when I said that I thought that I was unusual in being
a "prude" and that there others beside us who don't
like this stuff, in this "modern" and "liberated" age.

OH!!!! OK!!!! I am such an idiot!!! I just re-read what you wrote and now I understand. To tell you the truth, I was sitting there pondering.....saying to myself..."Why would YM say that? Did I make a buffoon of myself in some past post and say that I liked raunchy movies!?!?!??"
ok.......well I'm glad that is all cleared up! we prudes have to stick together!!

My least favorite Columbo is probably Forgotten Lady. I can still watch it, but it doesn't hold my interest quite as much as most of the other episodes. At least the ending has a slight twist compared to most other episodes.
For the nineties era Columbo's, personally I would have to chose No Time To Die as my least favorite.

Firstly i agree with YM and Cassa about the sex, violence and swearing, much prefer the films/comedies where these are non-existant, seems the asy way out to have somewhere swear instead of something original.

As for the new columbo's v old, couldnt care less about picture quality or whether a big star is in the episode or not, comes down to whether or not i sit in front of the tv and feel disappointed after watching them and this happens more often with the newer ones. As said previously by others, the newer ones tend to drag in the middle (for some reason Columbo likes the nightlife does pretty much nothing the whole way thru until suddenly its the end and you sit there thinking was that cut). Also the acting (by whoever) isnt as good and the same goes for the script, i sat thru Columbo goes to college and was asking often "who says that?".

Old bands can reform with exactly the same line-up and the magic just isnt there and no matter how many times you try to convince yourself it just doesnt feel the same. This is true for 90's columbo in my own humble opinion.

God bless,

Matthew