Reno 911! - TV-14

Whip-smart cop comedy is too hot for kids.

TV Rating: TV-14 Network: Comedy Central Cast: Thomas Lennon, Cedric Yarbrough, Niecy Nash Genre: Comedy
Available on: DVDDownload

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that a majority of the dialogue in this guerilla-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.

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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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Kari Croop

There are good cops, there are bad cops -- and then there are these cops. That's one way to describe this gut-busting spoof of all that can go wrong when it comes to protecting and serving the people of Reno, Nevada, "the biggest little city in the world."

Filmed using a single-camera technique that mimics the on-the-job immediacy of COPS, RENO 911! follows the antics of the fictional Washoe County Sheriff's Department and the motley crew of officers therein, led by Lt. Jim Dangle (Thomas Lennon), who has a fondness for the shortest of khaki shorts. Rounding out the force are deputies James Garcia (Carlos Alazraqui), Clementine Johnson (Wendi McLendon-Covey), Cheresa Kimball (Mary Birdsong), S. Jones (Cedric Yarbrough), Travis Junior (Ben Garant), Trudy Wiegel (Kerri Kenney-Silver) and Raineesha Williams (Niecy Nash), each of whom have their own idiosyncratic quirks.

Most parents would like their kids to grow up with a healthy respect for both police officers and the law, and that's the problem with this show when it comes to family viewing. It's bad enough that the officers aren't very good at their jobs; even worse, they frequently go out of their way to goof off -- and sometimes even break the law. It's not uncommon for two officers to play a joke on another by slipping a little ether into his gas mask, for example, or for another member of the force to sample the drugs at a crime scene.

It's hilarious stuff for grown-up viewers who prefer their satire droll and dark, but it's not meant for kids. Fans will undoubtedly enjoy other improv-heavy single-camera sitcoms, including The Office and Dog Bites Man. And for a taste of Reno 911!'s roots, look no further than COPS and the comedy of The State.

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Content		CS	adults	kids
Content
Sexual Content 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.
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.
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.
Message
	Social Behavior 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.
	Commercialism In Reno, "the biggest little city in the world," gambling is a visible cash cow.
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco 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.