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Reno 911!

Officers Wiegel, Jones, Williams, Johnson, Dangle, Garcia, and Junior (crouching)

Perhaps I’m just easily amused, but if Dep. Junior putting a grenade in the station microwave wasn’t the funniest thing in television history, that distinction must certainly go to Garcia emptying his handgun into a Dora the Explorer piñata. Granted, it was kind of sad in context, but just the clips in the commercials were hilarious.

Very surely the best thing to come out of “Reality TV” in a long while (if not ever…), I think it must have been one of Williams’ comments in one of the promos – something about getting paid whether she catches the perp or not – that got me to very hesitantly tune in for the premier. The opening sequence made me chuckle, but it wasn’t until I saw Carlos Alazraqui’s name in the credits that I decided to continue watching. When I later realized where I knew Kerri Kenney and Thomas Lennon from, I appreciated it a skosh more.

Officers Junior, Dangle, and Jones attempt to do grievous harm to a microwave

The show is set up as a parody of Cops. We follow seven intrepid members of the Reno Police Department to everything from prostitution stings to wedding ceremonies. There is a certain amount of inappropriate material, but, as Marshall said so eloquently, "I neither condone nor disapprove of the content of this show."

All of the characters are marvelous, and I love hearing so many southern accents ^_^

Thomas Lennon is Lt. Jim Dangle, the squad’s commander (ish. Thing.) and the nicest of them all. He appears at first to be fairly mundane (despite the shorts), but he seems to want to be a woman.

Carlos Alazraqui (aka the voice of Rocko et al) is Dep. James Garcia. He’s a very angry, very sad man, and I can’t help but feel sorry for him. He’s one of my favourites, though my one big beef with him is that he’s rather racist, but only on very general terms. He seems to get along with Jones and Williams fairly well. Most of the time. Well, about as well as he gets along with anyone else...

Wendy McLendon-Covey is Dep. Clementine Johnson. More than a touch promiscuous, Clemmie has hinted at a past as a showgirl, among many other things.

Cedric Yarbrough is Dep. S. Jones, the squad’s playboy. He’s stolen the heart of Dep. Williams while also working his magic on Dep. Johnson. Meanwhile, he moonlights as a stripper. Also does an interesting rendition of “Ave Maria” that’s worth listening to.

Robert Ben Garant is Dep. Travis Junior, the strange kid who always seemed to know just a bit too much about anything firearm-related all grown up. He doesn’t say too much, fading into the background until someone needs a grenade, but he’s a good man. Reminds me a bit of one of my friends who graduated last year.

Kerri Kenney is Dep. Trudy Wiegel, “an unfortunate-looking woman” [wonders why none of the men are ever described in terms of appearance…], whose extremely sheltered life did nothing to assist her social skills. She is rather pathetically attached to her deceased mother, as well as her deceased cat. Another highly pitiable character.

Niecy Nash is Dep. Raineesha Williams. Loud, obnoxious, vain, and infatuated with “Jonesey” and her can of mace. While her attitude would be very off-putting in person, it makes me laugh.

Reno is produced by Ben Garant, Kerri Kenney, and Thomas Lennon, directed by Michael Patrick Jann, and almost all of the dialogue is improvised. It airs on Comedy Central at 10:30 PM on Wednesdays.

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Created September 18, 2003.