Anna Daniels
The only actors officially attached to Reno 911! season 7 as of this writing are its producers who first created the concept and appeared on the show: Robert Ben Garant, Kerri Kenney-Silver, and Thomas Lennon, who played Deputy Travis Junior, Deputy Trudy Weigel, and the flamboyant Lieutenant Jim Dangle, respectively. Sketch comedy often has the happy accident of its creators also starring on screen, so it’s encouraging to know the Reno‘s beating heart has been revived in good working order.
In the press release announcing the revival of Reno 911!, it’s hinted that Nick Swardson, who portrayed a recurring citizen in Reno named Terry Bernadino, will be back in action for the new season: “Hopefully [he] can still rollerskate,” the release reads. It’s safe to assume that the minds behind Reno 911! season 7 are at least talking to Swardson about reprising his role.
Wendi McLendon-Covey, who portrayed Deputy Clementine Johnson on Reno 911!, has wrapped on a few film projects that will release in 2020 but appears otherwise unoccupied. Perhaps she’ll soon join the cast as well.
Though the press release quotes Lennon saying it’s “a delight to get the original cast back together,” further official casting is yet to come — and the rest of the OG stars could have some barriers to overcome if they are to return. Cedric Yarbrough, who played Deputy S. Jones on Reno 911!, currently has a recurring (though not crucial) role on CBS’ medical comedy Carol’s Second Act. Though Niecy Nash‘s time on TNT’s Claws is done since the series’ finale, she’s currently working on the historical drama miniseries Mrs. America, which documents the organized religious pushback led by Phyllis Schlafly against The Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s. Carlos Alazraqui, who portrayed Deputy James Garcia on Reno 911!, has mostly been taking voice work in recent years (he’s the voice of Rocko from Rocko’s Modern Life), but he’s now attached to a pilot for a comedy series on which the last living descendant of Jesus Christ acquires publishing rights to the Bible. That pilot doesn’t appear to have been picked up for series yet, and the fickle nature of pitching television pilots may mean it all comes to nothing in the end.
Still, it’s worth noting that the unique video format Quibi presents — coupled with the bulk style in which Reno 911! has been filmed in the past (for example, a full season’s worth of morning briefing scenes was often filmed in a single day) — might help ease any scheduling conflicts.
There’s little doubt that producers want to reunite as much of the original cast as possible for more raunchy nonsense — nonsense that can now be both raunchier and uncensored thanks to Quibi’s paid format that couldn’t be done with Comedy Central being on cable — and we’re hoping for all that and more.
Check back with Looper for continued updates on Reno 911! season 7.
Written by: Looper
