Reno 911! is a semi-improvised mockumentary-style show following the inept police officers of the sheriff’s department in Reno, Nevada. Its style is based on the long-running Fox reality series Cops, with handheld cameras following the deputies as they respond to calls and investigate crimes.
Aired:
July 23, 2003-July 8, 2009 (six seasons, 88 episodes) on Comedy Central.
See It:
Seasons 1-6 and the movie Reno 911!: Miami are available on DVD.
History:
Reno 911! is one of the many projects created by members of the influential sketch-comedy troupe The State, who had a short-lived show on MTV in the early 1990s. In 2007, the feature film Reno 911!: Miami was released in theaters; it featured all of the original members of The State. Following Reno’s fifth season, cast members Wendi McLendon-Covey, Carlos Alazraqui and Mary Birdsong left the show, and new cast members Joe Lo Truglio and Ian Roberts joined for the sixth season. On August 13, 2009, star and co-creator Thomas Lennon announced that the show had been canceled following its sixth season.
Cast:
Thomas Lennon as Lt. Jim Dangle
Kerri Kenney-Silver as Dep. Trudy Wiegel
Cedric Yarbrough as Dep. S. Jones
Niecy Nash as Dep. Raineesha Williams
Robert Ben Garant as Dep. Travis Junior
Ian Roberts as Sgt. Jack Declan
Joe Lo Truglio as Dep. Frank Rizzo
Creators:
Reno 911! was created by co-stars Thomas Lennon, Robert Ben Garant and Kerri Kenney-Silver (all members of sketch-comedy troupe The State), who also serve as executive producers. Episodes are outlined loosely by the creators, with dialogue improvised by the actors in each scene.
