As a long-time fan of “Columbo,” I...

As a long-time fan of “Columbo,” I have been enjoying the new episodes. But I was dismayed by some insensitive, old-fashioned stereotyping in the movie “Murder of a Rock Star” (ABC, April 19).

In one scene, an interior decorator (male) was depicted as an effete, dramatic fuss-budget, complete with limp wrist. Later, as Columbo questioned a Japanese gardener--a cliche in itself--a cornball, Oriental musical passage was heard in the background. It was like a throwback to an old Charlie Chan movie. These demeaning stereotypes would have been offensive during the first run of “Columbo,” and that was 20 years ago.

Christine Vasquez, Los Angeles