ShareThisAfter five seasons, "Reno 911!" is still working the beat to perfection.
The arresting comedy (10:30 p.m. EDT Wednesday, April 1, Comedy Central) is evidence that, sometimes, just being funny is good enough. It doesn't have to be groundbreaking or earnest or important. "Reno" is simply hilarious, and this sixth-season opener is the best premiere the show has ever had.
That's quite an accomplishment, especially considering that "Reno" has dropped three audience favorites from the cast and is bringing in two newcomers for us to love. This is a precarious time for the comedy, but it weathers the risky changes well.
Even with the departures of Carlos Alazraqui, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Mary Birdsong, "Reno" plays to its strengths -- mainly, showcasing some hilarity from its best assets: Tom Lennon (as Dangle), Kerri Kenney (Wiegel) and Ben Garant (Junior). Newcomers Ian Roberts and Joe Lo Truglio are on board, but don't make any kind of overbearing impression (which is a good thing).
Jonah Hill ("Superbad") has wonderful moments in Wednesday night's episode as an employee being ejected from his office. His cameo alone has enough to make the episode worth tuning to.
When Dangle and Raineesha (Niecy Nash) show up to arrest him, Dangle turns impatient and starts tapping on his own wrist. "You know the pantomime watch I'm pointing to? That means I don't have all day," Dangle tells Hill's blustering office worker.
Of course, as is the case of all classic "Reno" arrest scenarios, the employee is able to escape the police and run back into his office. Feeling triumphant, the employee smugly declares to the cops: "I'm back in my office. All your progress has been thwarted!"
A faux commercial for the Reno Sherriff Department's suicide-prevention Web page is so silly and wonderfully insane that Kenney can't help but shine. (Among the suggestions to keep your mind off thoughts of suicide: working word scrambles.)
(E-mail Terry Morrow of The Knoxville News-Sentinel in Tennessee at morrow2(at)knews.com.)
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)
With RENO911-TV
