RENO 911! (TV SERIES): THE COMPLETE 2ND SEASON - DVD review

If ever there were a program that was rife with potential for comedy... it's the show "Cops." No matter where the show goes, the one truth that has shone clearer than any beacon in a moonless night: there are a lot of dumb people in this country. No matter what community the show features, from sea to shining sea, criminal perpetrators are remarkably similar. Loud, boisterous criminals populate the rural and urban beats of the police… leaving me wondering how police can do their jobs without laughing hysterically.

"Reno: 911" is structured like programs such as "Cops," "True Stories of the Highway Patrol," and "Rescue: 911" by intermixing footage of the Reno Sheriff's department in action against the worst scum and biggest freaks of northern Nevada along with behind-the-scenes interviews with the boys and girls in brown.

The cast, composed of a group of improvisational actors, manages to combine a madcap sense of incompetence with authority. The dialogue is improvised around a general scene structure, which allows some great, crazy moments that were effective because they went off in a completely unexpected direction. One of the benefits of working improvisationally is that the jokes that come out are exponentially funnier because they are so spontaneous. The only censoring on "Reno: 911" comes from nudity and a "bleep" over swears and ethnic slurs. It's that boundary-pushing, by including the takes with the dirty language, that makes the show simultaneously funny, outrageous and seemingly realistic.

To go through the cast individually would be a bit of a disservice because they each bring so much to the table and are part of a greater collective. Because they are invested in their characters, as writers and creators, the cast is able to seamlessly weave a dynamic that seems both familiar and novel.

The gags in "Reno" consist of a variation on three themes: Candid interviews, crazy arrests, and character moments where we peer into the complex interrelationships of the deputies. The first two bits of business can get redundant because it mirrors the exploits of the shows "Reno" parodies and involves swapping out characters and locations… but is the same routine you see on "Cops," only the perpetrators far more charismatic and amped-up… and the law enforcement portion of the equation extremely incompetent.

The second season does go far to vary the themes of the program so that it avoids the trap of the first season of unremarkability. During the first season, which I watched back-to-back on DVD, I was struck by how each episode seemed the same. The wheels were turning, but the bus wasn't going anywhere. That problem is remedied in this second set by mixing in "specialty" episodes that have a theme, like the local televangelist hosting his show from the jail, or Lt. Dangle's (Thomas Lennon) promotion and the ramifications it has on the others… and their social plans.

I would also be remiss if I failed to wonderfully funny Public Service Messages from the Reno Sheriff's Department that serve as bumpers between the show and occasional commercial break. If doing things badly were an art… the creator of these brief sketches would be a master. They are so cheesy and uncomfortable that you'd have to lack a sense of humor to avoid laughing.

As with any comedy program, "Reno: 911" is subjective. Personally I find the program hysterically funny. It's not hard to make me laugh, but to make me do it so hard that I'll have to pause the DVD… that is something to crow about. The show finds a good balance of random silliness and slow-burn dramatic tension (that releases into often uncomfortable and routinely funny situations). There are no laugh tracks or pregnant pauses so if you need someone to tell you what is humorous, you probably won't enjoy "Reno: 911." But for the rest of us… comic gold!

Video:
"Reno: 911" is originally a cable show, presented on Comedy Central. As a result it is broadcast in a 4:3 aspect ratio, fitting the dimensions of the traditional television. Most of the show is shot hand-held to preserve the live and spontaneous feeling that the show shoots for. Colors look fine and there was only a little video noise since, I assume, the show isn't shot on film. It never looked better on cable and this transfer is perfectly serviceable.

Audio:
Much like the video, the audio properly reflects the original broadcast 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo track. The few music cues don't sound overly dynamic, but they don't need to. The dialogue is the most important aspect of the show and it is perfect. No hiss, no buzz, and no clarity problems.

Extras:
Perhaps we've come to expect too much for commentary participants… but I was sorely disappointed by some of the tracks included on this DVD. Particularly Niecy Nash (Raineesha Williams) and Cedric Yarborough (Jonesy) who look at the screen and call out the names of the actors… and that's about it. I turned off their track after a couple of minutes, feeling like I was absolutely wasting my time. Kerry Kenney-Silver, who plays the racist (by ignorance) Deputy Trudy Wiegel and director Michael Jann do a commentary on the final episode of the season and they are packed with great information.

At the HBO Comedy Arts Festival the cast and crew of "Reno: 911" put on a "Drug Prevention Seminar" for the audience in attendance. It starts a little slow but by and large the two-part program is reflective of the quality of the television show. It's show by a video camera from a long distance out into the crowd so the view can occasionally get obscured by the backs of the audience's heads. Ben Garant, a writer and actor who plays Deputy Travis Junior, gets the chance to shine.

As you would expect with an improvised show, there are plenty of leftover scenes and over an hour and a half are contained within the third DVD on this set. The deleted scenes are mixed in with outtakes and giggles (mostly from Cedric Yarborough).

Film Value:
The cast and crew of "Viva Variety" strike gold once again, with a little help from their friends. "Reno: 911" is a stitch. The actors are brilliant, the situations uncomfortable and hysterical and the production pitch-perfect. I respect a lot about the show and look forward to seeing the next season on DVD!