"RENO 911!: THE COMPLETE SIXTH SEASON UNCENSORED"
DVD Review
by Kevin Carr
| MOVIE: **** (out of 5 stars)
DVD EXPERIENCE: *** (out of 5 stars) STARRING Cedric Yarbrough as DEPUTY S. JONES Niecy Nash as DEPUTY RAINEESHA WILLIAMS Robert Ben Garant as DEPUTY TRAVIS JUNIOR Thomas Lennon as LIEUTENANT JIM DANGLE Kerrie Kenney-Silver as DEPUTY TRUDY WIEGEL Joe Lo Truglio as DEPUTY FRANK RIZZO Ian Roberts as SERGEANT JACK DECLAN Not Rated Studio: Comedy Central Back to DVD Review Home |  |
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
More antics from the Reno Sheriff’s office continue with the sixth season of “Reno 911!” Two new officers join the force – Deputy Frank Rizzo (Joe Lo Truglio) and Sergeant Jack Declan (Ian Roberts) – and add to the already borderline criminal dysfunction. The complete sixth season is presented on DVD uncensored, complete with all the swearing and innuendo not allowed on Comedy Central.
WHAT I LIKED
Although I enjoyed watching “The State” when I was in college, I initially did not get into the splinter series “Reno 911!” When the feature film came out a few years ago, I enjoyed it, mainly because it had the semblance of a plot, and the cast had gelled enough that they worked off each other well. Plus, the theatrical release allowed them more latitude with their subject matter.
The sixth season of “Reno 911!” benefits for many of the same reasons. After doing this schtick for more than half a decade, the show has formed into a machine. A lot of the duller sketches and bits have been left in previous season, allowing the better gags to rise to the top.
Although I hadn’t avidly watched previous seasons of the show, I found this season to be very funny and outrageous. It helps a lot to watch it on DVD, considering how many things need to be cut out or bleeped for broadcast on cable. Unlike “South Park,” which often finds clever censor-busting ways to get around taboo topics, “Reno 911!” is more in-your-face.
Recently, I reviewed a season of “The Girls Next Door,” which also benefited greatly from a DVD release. These shows need to have a presence on the networks so they are justified in their existence. However, the best way to experience a raw show like “Reno 911!” is on uncensored DVD.
New to the series are Joe Lo Truglio and Ian Roberts, and they fit well into the cast. The real stand-out in season six, however, is Kerrie Kenney-Silver as the fantastically awkward Deputy Trudy Weigel. Thomas Lennon lurks in the background a bit, although he does has some very memorable scenes. However it’s Kenney-Silver who scores the biggest laughs with her bizarre mixture of innocence and depravity.
While the characters have a history and they have gone through some changes over the years, the show is presented in a such a way that new viewers don’t need much time to ramp up to speed. “Reno 911!” has really turned into a hilarious show.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
I’d expect that the faux “COPS” bit would get old over the years, and maybe it does to avid watchers. However, the mockumentary style works and has been refined by this show. There are some recurring bits – like the Spanish-language disc jockey – that get old after a while, but that’s all personal taste.
DVD FEATURES
The uncensored DVD would be excellent even if it didn’t have a single special feature. This is because the uncensored episodes are particularly hilarious when presented in their original format.
There are several features on the DVDs, including outtakes and bonus scenes. In particular, the new explanation of the department’s vacation benefits is long enough to almost be its own episode but hysterical as a whole.
The cast also provides audio commentaries, along with “Profiles In Valor” for the two new members of the Reno Sheriff’s Department.
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
People who liked “The State” or other raunchy, improv comedy.
