For anyone that found the fourth season of “Reno 911” seriously lacking in the comedy department, prepare for more of the same from season five. The men and women of Reno Sheriff Department may be aware that their act has gone stale, but despite some much needed changes – including the addition of Wanru Tseng as Cindy the Sex Slave – the show just isn’t as good as it used to be. Wrapping up last year’s many cliffhangers within the first episode, series creators Thomas Lennon, Robert Ben Garant and Kerri Kenney remind us once again that they will never take their stories seriously. That strategy was fine when the show was still creating hilarious interactions between the officers and eccentric criminals, but with their pool of guest stars constantly being reused for new characters, it’s about time they take the show in a different direction.
Thankfully, those steps have already been put into motion thanks to guest spots by Diedrich Bader (as a Dog the Bounty Hunter-like TV personality), Seth Green (as a pushy fast food manager), Ron White (as a drunken pilot who’s pulled over on his way to the airport), and Ryan Stiles (as an undercover acting coach), but none of them are ever quite laugh-out-loud funny. The same is true for the storylines, which are incredibly hit-and-miss. Some are very clever (like when Reno’s 911 operator is outsourced to India), but most feel like rejected ideas for “South Park.” In fact, an ongoing joke about Mary Birdsong’s character constantly getting shot is probably the only truly original gag of the entire season. Here’s hoping that comment will be nothing more than an afterthought by the time season six premieres.
