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Reno 911!

(Rated TV-14, Comedy, Starring Thomas Lennon, Cedric Yarbrough, Niecy Nash, Where to watch: Comedy Central, DVD, Online)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 99; suggested age 15.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Whip-smart cop comedy is too hot for kids.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 15–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    From tampering with evidence to goofing around at crimes scene, these petty, incompetent small-time cops won't inspire anyone to pursue a career in law enforcement. Still, the officers' moral blunders rarely produce positive results.
  • Violence:

    Since this is a show about law enforcement, guns are a regular part of the action. But all violent acts are committed in the name of comedy.
  • Sex:

    Officers regularly encounter prostitutes, strippers, and cross-dressers as part of their daily beats. Nudity (of the breasts and buttocks variety) is sometimes implied but always blurred out.
  • Language:

    Minor swearing ("pissed," "damn," "whore," "bitch," etc.) is frequent, but usually used for comic effect. More serious infractions ("s--t," "f--k," "motherf----r") are also frequent but are bleeped out.
  • Consumerism:

    In Reno, "the biggest little city in the world," gambling is a visible cash cow.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Drug busts involving cocaine, crack, and marijuana pop up on the police scanner from time to time. Cops are also occassionally called in to break up drunken brawls -- and sometimes take part in them, too.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Reno 911!

Parents need to know that a majority of the dialogue in this guerrilla-style, tongue-and-cheek parody is improvised by the actors, so, for the most part, anything goes. The motley crew of "cops" who make up the Reno police force also frequently swear and violate the law, and they generally make terrible role models. But there's good news, in a way: Their slip-ups aren't intentional; they're usually just the result of simple stupidity. No role models to be found here, but plenty of comedy.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the ways in which police officers and other law enforcement officials are portrayed in the media. Do reality shows like COPS (which served as the model for this shrewd spoof) make you and your family feel safer or more vulnerable to violent crime? Why do those whose mission is to "serve and protect" us often become the butt of derogatory jokes? And has the popularity of shows like CSI enhanced the image of all cops, or just those who wear smart suits and investigate crime scenes?

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    OMG this is such a funny show

    I love this show. It is really funny. The cops are soo stupid. I recommed this show to 9 year olds because its comic.

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Totally Hilarious

    This show is SO FUNNY!!! I can't think of another cop show as humerous as this. Fun for kids 11+,that is.

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