Reno 911! The Complete Second Season

(Paramount Home Entertainment, 6.14.2005)

The men and women of Reno, Nevada's sheriff's department are back for more inept, crime-stoppin' action. The second season contains more laughs, as well as further character development and more plot/sketch continuity. We get traffic school, love interests, Craig on death-row, sock puppets, D&D guys, crazy and mad as all hell T.T., pleasure-boy Andy, the fierce beating and subsequent death of a man in a giant milkshake costume, and let's not forget The Reno Sheriff's Department Presents...Layin' Down the Law!

Still, like the show's inspiration (Cops), Reno 911! relies heavily on episodic sketches that serve no real narrative purpose, just good ol' law upholding. Some sketches even playfully try to make as little narrative sense as possible, such as one in which a deputy gets his leg blown off at a gun range. But it always seems to work thanks to the overall comedic adventurousness and delightful improv energy of the cast.

This cast is fantastic. They definitely challenge Arrested Development, in terms of ensemble chemistry. Reno 911! also contains the rapid fire comedic rhythms of said show and, to some degree, even takes them to the next level (probably due to Comedy Central's relaxed censoring standards). I'd have to say that the best character of all is Officer Trudy Wiegel, brilliantly played by Kerri Kenney-Silver. Lieutenant Jim Dangle (Thomas Lennon) is another scene stealer with his love of incessantly breaking into song, hitting on his male co-worker, and wearing the shortest shorts I've ever seen.

Of course, the real prizewinners are all the perps that get busted throughout the season. Some are recurrent (Andy!!!), others are not (beer drinking monkey) but they all nail their parts and are always flat-out hilarious and completely absurd. Nods also go to special guest Kenny Rogers and producer/guest introducer -- he claims he hasn't even seen the show -- Danny DeVito.

Paramount and Comedy Central are probably the best TV-on-DVD team out there. The price (season one is even cheaper), presentation, and content is always right, and the extras are truly worthy. The DVDs look and sound great. The full frame image certainly looks sharper than it does on broadcast television and there isn't a speck of dirt to be found. 2-channel audio sounds great too.

We also get over 90 minutes of alternate/deleted scenes that make for very funny post-season viewing. Most of the sequences are simply extensions but, hey, they're funny. We also get a Drug Arrest Prevention Seminar, which features a 2-part live performance from the cast at HBO's 2004 Comedy Arts Festival. This feature lasts 42 minutes and is quite funny/out there. There's rapping (Officer Trudy does a kick-ass freestyle), a faux audience member gets patted down by Lt. Dangle for some free cash, and the cast does a Q&A with the audience, except the cast is asking the audience the questions: "Are you that bald guy from Stop That Enthusiasm?"

If you're a fan of sketch comedy and/or laughter in general, I'd enthusiastically recommend Reno 911! on DVD. Pick up season one and I trust you'll want to to check out season two. Not to put on any pressure but season three just premiered last week. What the hell are you waiting for? Let's move, move, MOVE! -- Neil Karassik