Talk:Reno 911!

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Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

(This was too long to fit in the "summary section".) I took out the Cast History item on Alazraqui. The other two are relevant because they are about the actors together in previous productions; the Alazraqui part was just about that actor's previous history unrelated to the show. -Branddobbe 20:14, Feb 29, 2004 (UTC)


What's the name of that prettiest recurring hooker?

Contents

[edit] Unique Production Technique

The bulk of the characters' screen time are in uniform and often appear in the same locations, allowing for several episodes worth of footage to be shot at one time with no costume changes or continuity problems. For example, there are numerous scenes featuring two of the characters discussing the show's current plots in the same location every episode for an enitre season (ie, Trudy and Clem at Trudy's desk). Not a rabid fan of the show, so I'm not sure if this is mentioned on the commentary or other citable sources.

[edit] Plot Spoiling

Can someone please add a plot spoiler warning to this page? I could have used one. I admit the page structure is good, content is great and shouldn't be clipped, and so the warning is hard to work in. I ask someone else to do this because my country is only halfway into series 2, and the way it is, I don't want to read the rest of the article let alone edit it before I've seen the end of s3... Would be much appreciated. --Bb3cxv 13:58, 19 July 2005 (UTC)

Done. CDA 23:59, 10 August 2005 (UTC)
i think he meant for the talk page...either way, the talk page could use it, so i added one 75.33.33.215 04:52, 17 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Dangle

Dangle seems more bisexual than gay. He does attempt to seduce Trudy in one episode.

  • Dangle's orientation is never made clear, for a reason: it's a running gag. To say outright that he is gay is simply wrong, unless there is an episode someone can point to where it's explicitly made clear he's gay. Also, the Thomas Lennon entry states:

"Thomas Lennon is best known for his television acting. He has starred in "Reno 911!" Viva Variety (1996), and The State (1993). In "Reno 911!" Lennon plays Lieutenant Jim Dangle, an effeminate (possibly homosexual) sheriff's deputy."

(And, no, I didn't write that.) 69.250.25.213 05:34, 22 August 2005 (UTC)

Dangle is gay. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1589/is_2004_July_6/ai_n6151196 There is nothing ambigious about it. Lennon says Dangle is "an incredibly macho high-desert gay cop." --DrBat 22:36, August 28, 2005 (UTC)
The ongoing joke in the show is that he never reveals if he is or is not gay, hence it is ambiguous. -- MicahMN | μ 22:53, 28 August 2005 (UTC)
Lennon says the character is gay. There is no "is he or isnt he" going on here. All the signs point to him being gay, not straight. --DrBat 23:21, August 28, 2005 (UTC)
  • Yeah, all the signs, except for him trying to sleep with Trudy and having an ex-wife. It certainly is ambigious. Lennon plays the part as gay, put the show itself leaves the the issue a text book example of 'ambigious'.
Did you even see the ex-wfe episode? She wanted a divorce because he was gay, and he started flirting with her new husband. --DrBat 14:37, August 30, 2005 (UTC)
  • It never says that shw wanted the divorce because he was gay, and certainly was not flirting with the new husband. The joke of the scene is that they got along, despite the odd circumstances.
They were flirting. The husband even wore the same outfit as Dangle, with the tight pants. Also, at the end of the episode where Dangle is rooming with Clementine, he pulls out some pink lingerie and says its hers, when it turns out its his. --DrBat 22:33, September 1, 2005 (UTC)


  • Crossdressing does not equal gay. He's effeminate, that's the joke. Every single one of your examples points exactly to 'ambigious'.
Everything I listed adds up to him being gay. Lennon himself, who is also the co-creator of the show, says he is gay. Its not ambigious at all.--DrBat 15:14, September 6, 2005 (UTC)
  • Didnt he kiss a guy in one of the early eps? Could someone verifiy this?
    • It was the first episode, I think. --DrBat 15:30, 16 October 2005 (UTC)

"Comedy Central earns a badge of honor for rescuing the hilarious Cops parody Reno 911! from Fox, where it languished in development for years. This mock docu-reality comedy series (Wednesdays at 10:30 pm/ET) is dead-on in its deadpan caught-on-video look at an inept Nevada precinct that bungles and bickers its way through each hapless tour of duty. With outrageous sight gags and droll wit, this show is a scream. Cocreator Thomas Lennon (Viva Variety) is especially funny as the sexually ambiguous Lieutenant Dangle, a ludicrous figure of questionable authority who parades around in hysterically inappropriate short-shorts."[1]

I suggest we fix the article. Dangle isn't outright homosexual, and that's the whole point.--Berserk798 02:26, 20 December 2005 (UTC)

  • Seems to me like Dangle is gay but he's reluctant to admit it, possibly fearing the inevitable retribution he'd get from the rest of the cops. He tries to seduce Trudy thinking he'd never see her again and that she was infatuated with him. --209.174.135.66 21:24, 16 January 2006 (UTC)

It doesn't matter if the character is actually gay or not, because for the show's purposes he remains sexually ambiguous. The ambiguity is what makes it funny. --Berserk798 13:00, 17 January 2006 (UTC)

For a while it seemed as if he was ambigiously gay, but it became more and more obvious as the show went on. Look at that Burning Man episode, or when he sexually harassed Jones. I can point to more, like him wanting to goto an Amy Grant concert with an obviously gay clerk, or him making out with a guy he pulled over, but it would be pointless. Dangle is queer. Sure he's had some bi-moments, but the overwhelming preponderance of evidence indicates that he is gay.--Jsonitsac 00:31, 23 January 2006 (UTC)

He is indeed obviously gay. The fact that it is so obvious and yet it isn't discussed openly is what makes it funny. Tuf-Kat 05:16, 23 January 2006 (UTC)

I disagree. The fact that he's had a history with women yet behaves in a homosexual manner makes the viewer unsure of his sexuality, and that's the entire point of it. He never openly has had a relationship or any sexual activity with a man, but he was married at one point. Even T.V. Guide's show description refers to him as being sexually ambiguous. My final point: If you can find sources as valid and reliable as mine to say that he is supposed to be gay rather than ambiguous, we'll change the article. --Berserk798 22:54, 24 January 2006 (UTC)

Uh, how about Thomas Lennon actually stating Dangle's gay?? --DrBat 23:57, 24 January 2006 (UTC)

Okay, DrBat, where and when did he say this? Source your information. It's also important to keep in mind that the actors aren't always as knowledgable of the characters they play as the creators are. Just because Thomas Lennon says Dangle is gay doesn't mean the creators intend for Dangle to be an outright homosexual. --Berserk798 03:33, 10 February 2006 (UTC)

I already posted it above, but [2]. And Lennon is one of the creators. --DrBat 02:39, 11 February 2006 (UTC)

Alright, you have us there. But I still hold that between all that has gone on in the show, the fact that TV Guide describes him as sexually ambiguous, and because there isn't overwhelming evidence for either position, we should describe him as "possibly gay, but still sexually ambiguous". Allow the reader to decide (even though I don't think the show intends for a decision to be made.) --Berserk798 16:20, 17 February 2006 (UTC)

Bull! Dangle is a homosexual man, period, end of sentence, strictly given the evidence on the show. You might as well say he has an "ambiguous sex" becuase we never see his actual penis. To suggest otherwise is to either a) not know the definition of homosexuality; b) not understand the comedy or the characters completely; or c) not understand comedy. I don't give a crap what TV Guide says; there IS overwhelming evidence, and none to the contrary unless you do some sort of mental gymnastics.

That's a horribly false analogy. You're making too hasty a conclusion without really thinking. Your "evidence" is based mainly on his outward behavior, which means that obviously you don't know the definition of homosexual. Anything that points to him being gay and attempting to cover it up could also point to him being straight and attempting to appear gay. Face it: there is not enough evidence either way to make a clear conclusion. Advantage is taken of this fact to create humorous situations. His ambiguity is what makes it funny. It's the entire point.

Also, it doesn't matter if you "don't give a crap" about what T.V. Guide says, but their official review of the show is a reputable source that supports Dangle being ambiguous. You can try to dismiss evidence all you want, but it still exists. Berserk798 22:10, 22 February 2006 (UTC)

Co-creator Lennon, who plays Dangle, says Dangle is gay. I would think what he says holds more weight than what TVG thinks, unless they started writing the show. Furthermore (and this is only one of the many signs he is gay), didn't he flirt with and kiss a guy in the pilot? And how about his crush on Jones (see the episode where he tries getting Jones to help him move, for starters)? --DrBat 00:18, 23 February 2006 (UTC)

I disagree. As already mention, Lennon may play the part as gay but the show certainly makes it ambiguous. I also think that T.V. Guide holds enough weight to balance Lennon's reference to him as being gay.

He may have done that in the pilot episode, but it doesn't sound characteristic of him to be that outwardly homosexual. And even if the pilot did include that, it was early in the show and before the characters really developed. Yes, he did have a crush on Jones, but he was also married at one point and has tried to seduce Trudy. Allow me to demonstrate that he truly is ambiguous: He occasionally has effeminate behavior and has shown attraction towards men. He also has behaved like most men do, has had a wife and has attempted to seduce Trudy. One could gather that he is gay and attempting to appear straight, that he is straight and attempting to appear gay, or that he is plainly bisexual. The fact that all of these conclusions can be reasonably made shows that he is ambiguous. I would also thank you to not revert edits until our dispute is settled. --Berserk798 22:12, 23 February 2006 (UTC)

Lennon, the guy who plays the character and who was a co-creator to the show, holds less weight than a tv review? Are you serious? And do you honestly believe there is a chance Dangle is actually straight? Almost every episode supports the fact that he is gay.
Yes he had a wife, who had him divorced (which was implied was due to his being gay).
And when did he attempt to seduce Trudy, anyway? --DrBat 22:49, 23 February 2006 (UTC)

Why don't you take a look at Wikiquote?

Deputy Trudy Wiegel: Lt. Dangle and I have a very special relationship. We're like a brother and sister... except a brother and sister who have sex.

Now where exactly did I say that T.V. Guide holds more weight than Lennon? Oh yeah, you just made a strawman. Well thank you, but I said that T.V. Guide "balances out" Lennon's statements. No where is it implied that his wife divorced him for being gay, and no not "almost every episode" supports the assumption that he's gay.

Here's a Reno 911 review that describes Dangle as "ostensibly gay". [3] --Berserk798 00:32, 24 February 2006 (UTC)
Again, Lennon holds more weight than tv reviews (not the same weight, so they don't balance eachother out either). He plays the character, and he is a co-creator of the show. And I don't know if you watch the same series that I do, but almost every episode does illustrate the fact that he's gay.
And it's been shown that Weigel has a crush on Dangle, but thats it; in one episode (I believe it was the one where everyone thought she had attempted to commit suicide), she was flirting with him and he appeared visibly uncomfortable.
And yes, it was implied that was why she divorced him. He was also flirting with her new husband at the end of the ep. Again, are you watching the same show?--DrBat 23:28, 24 February 2006 (UTC)

If you really absorbed what Lennon had said, you would understand that the show doesn't project his sexuality very blatantly. Lennon described Dangle as a homosexual that "isn't defined by being gay", which would be a note of how the show doesn't slather on the gay label.

I'd like you to explain how the show implies any reason for the divorce. Are you watching the same show? And he was not flirting with her new husband. The joke of that scene completely went over your head. --Berserk798 01:45, 25 February 2006 (UTC)

The article (which was in The Advocate for chrissake) said that Dangle is gay, and therefore its not a question of if he is or if if it's just 'ambiguous'. Furthermore, I don't see how mentioning he's gay when a lot Dangle's jokes play upon it is 'slathering' it. And if you're going to post reviews, how about [4]? "Dangle is surprised by a visit from his ex-wife and her soon-to-be husband. Ironically, Dangle and the new guy might have more in common than his wife is comfortable admitting."
And what about the episode where Dangle gets Jones to help him move in? --DrBat 14:51, 25 February 2006 (UTC)
The only reason this is a "debate" is become some people are horribly obtuse and stubborn. Let's look at the evidence: a) college kids called him "gay cop," to which he accepted and danced for them; b) told a gay guy meeting garcia that "you know he doesn't play for our team;" c) the shorts and his tendency to display homosexual characteristics; d) the fact that his "marriage" was a marriage of convenience; e) the fact that at his divorce he told his ex-wife's husband that he'd seen him at his ostensibley-gay store before and that he would be in touch; f) kissed a random, very fit man in the first episode; g) wore a dress and stood with a bunch of hookers "deep undercover" in another episode; h) was extremely frustrated at his attraction for the FBI cop...until he found out she was really a man; i) STRONGLY DESIRED AND HAD SEX WITH S. JONES; j) flirts with other men routinely and ignores women... Okay, now take the burden of proof and try to show that Dangle has the slightest yearning for women...I challenge you...

The fact that it came from The Advocate gives it less weight. Think for a moment: they're discussing a character who is "ostensibly" (I think that that word sums up what all the reviews and insightful viewers of the show have arrived to) gay for a gay magazine. By saying that he's a gay character that isn't defined as being gay, he's only confirming the part that doesn't matter to the show but matters to The Advocate--Dangle's sexuality. But because he isn't defined by being gay, there is no reason to assume he's a homosexual except for the confirmation by Lennon that he is indeed such. If you want the article to be accurate, "ostensibly gay" or something to that effect is the only choice--Lennon's words even support that.

As for the anonymous post, you're doing your argument a disservice. Let me run down the line: a) Just because the fraternity referred to him as gay cop doesn't support it at all. They were judging solely on his appearance since they had no other knowledge of him. b) You need to put that in context for it to give a clear idea of what meaning was intended. c) His shorts and "homosexual characteristics" in fact have nothing to do with being homosexual. Homosexuality is not defined by being flamboyant. e) I don't think you're understanding what ostensibly means. f) That doesn't necessarily support homosexuality and could indeed be a measure taken to make him seem more ambiguous. g) Cross-dressing is not homosexuality; the fact that his intentions aren't clear makes it even more ambiguous. h) The fact that he was attracted to someone that he thought was a woman works further to create ambiguity. i) Strongly desired? Those are your own words. He was undoubtedly making an advance, but that doesn't prove your case. j) Flirts with other men routinely? It sure is fun to make believe, isn't it? For it to be routine, it would have to occur in just about every episode. I can recall one. --Berserk798 20:52, 27 February 2006 (UTC)

Cross-dressing in itself doesn't neccessarily make one gay, but when you add it up to everything else Dangle does, it does.
Again, what about his crush on Jones? Did you see the episode where he got Jones to help him move? It's extremely obvious he has a crush on Jones.
Another example of him flirting; how about the one with the guy who sprayed pepper spray in his eyes? And flirting with and kissing at least one guy would support him being gay, anyway. I can't see any straight guy doing that.
There is little to no ambiguity that he is gay. The fact that you think it's possible that he's straight is ludicrous. --DrBat 21:02, 27 February 2006 (UTC)
You're wrong on several counts: a) Reno 911 is a show in the Reno 911 universe, meaning the frat may well have access to the same show we do, or a similar one. There are several scenes where the perps are aware the officers arresting them are Reno 911 characters; b) what context, have you seen the episode?!?!?!? Season 2, Garcia's military buddy, do you watch the show?; c) the fact that he has some queen characteristics has nothing to do with the writers trying to show him being gay? Are you joking? e) I know well what ostensibly means. The title of the store is an ostensibly homosexual one. WATCH THE EPISODE! f) Kissing another man isn't a homosexual act? g) The purpose of him being there was to have sex with men...Are you really that blind? h) No, he was FRUSTRATED that he had a mysterious attraction to a woman. There's no ambiguity, the only reason he had feelings for her was that she was really a man. A bi-man wouldn't care if he liked a woman, it wouldn't bother him; i) He had sex with him and had been advancing on him for years; j) Make believe? It's happened about 7 or 8 times on the show. With the pepper-spray guy. With Ben Garrant in the pull-over skit. With the hotel concierge. That's three off the top of my head from season one alone. It probably happens every episode that he does something to suggest his homosexuality.
Okay, let's put the burden of proof on you. Prove to us his ambiguity. Show us how he has attraction for women as well! I challenge you again.
This argument is really kind of silly. See WP:NPOV. What are the facts? He flirts with men, kissed at least one and had sex with one, right, but has never said (in the show) that he is gay? TV Guide said he was ambiguously gay and Thomas Lennon said he was homosexual? Fine, then we say that Dangle has never said he is gay, but he has flirted with, kissed and had sex with men, and that Lennon said he was gay and TV Guide said it was ambiguous. That's it. See WP:NPOV -- ascribe everything to the source, and there's no reason to debate anything. Tuf-Kat 23:57, 27 February 2006 (UTC)
Except when does a TV Guide review count as an official source? --DrBat 01:11, 28 February 2006 (UTC)
When did Wikipedia start requiring sources to be official? In any case, whether or not the TV Guide thing is included, the solution to this dispute is still to cite stuff to specific sources. Tuf-Kat 01:59, 28 February 2006 (UTC)
But if the co-creator of the show and the guy who plays the show says he's gay, what else is there to say? I can't believe the idea of if he's gay or not is actually being debated here. --DrBat 02:03, 28 February 2006 (UTC)
You are correct that his gayness should not be debated here. Tuf-Kat 02:20, 28 February 2006 (UTC)
Tuf-Kat, you're being ludicrous. You could find sources all over the place that say all kinds of crazy things which have no business in an encyclopedia. Whether or not TV Guide understands the show SHOULD BE irrelevant to what goes in the encyclopedia. Everyone who is involved with the show, watches the show, etc., knows very well that Dangle is a gay man trying to hide it. He maybe hasn't said "I am gay," but he's talked of "our team" with gay men and countless other things. Do you have any idea how silly the whole article would be if we invoked your standards????? Again, the best possible thing here is to put the burden of proof (you know, proper argumentation and all that) on showing he IS bisexual or that it IS ambiguous.
It is policy to cite sources on Wikipedia. Tuf-Kat 20:24, 28 February 2006 (UTC)

I'm going to state my argument for the last time: Dangle has shown homosexual tendencies and Lennon has described him as gay for The Advocate. Okay, so let's assume that the character is in fact a homosexual. Now we take a look at the T.V. reviews and the conclusions that other viewers have come to: Dangle's sexuality isn't made clear in the show, adding to the comedy of the situations he's found in. Now here are the facts: Whether or not the character is "in fact" gay doesn't even matter. The point is that for the show's purposes he is ambiguous (or, more accurately, "ostensibly gay"). Lennon even supports this by saying that Dangle isn't "defined by being gay". So, judging by the conclusions of some viewers, the descriptions of all the reviews I have happened across and even arguably supported by a statement by Lennon himself, Dangle remains ambiguous. That's my argument, those are the facts.

I applaude you, Tuf-Kat, for your reason. I agree: since I will never convince anyone that the character's ambiguity is a tool that adds depth to the comedy, let's just state the facts. Lennon has described him as gay, and he has shown attractions to men, but he has never been blatantly described as gay by the show and some situations rely on his ambiguity for the humor. --Berserk798 02:58, 1 March 2006 (UTC)

If its ambiguous, that means there's a good chance he's heterosexual. The only woman he was attracted to was really a man. Again, did you see the episode where he had Jones help him move in? How much clearer does it have to be?? --DrBat 20:45, 1 March 2006 (UTC)

ambiguous

adj 1: of uncertain nature or significance; or (often) intended to mislead. Enough of your strawmen. --Berserk798 22:00, 1 March 2006 (UTC)

And you're absolutely wrong. The comedy on the show stems from the fact that he IS a homosexual man trying to pull off being a "straight" cop. That's the comedic tension from which "the depth of the comedy" comes (and why TV Guide wrote what they did). Without Dangle actually being gay it's not funny; it's just a confused person running around. Name one situation where it's the "ambiguity" that makes it funny and not the fact that he's actually a gay man. If his sexuality IS ambiguous, as you claim (even though you still haven't shown where he's been actually attracted to or expressed attraction for a woman), then it just isn't as funny. Dangle KNOWS he's gay. The squad KNOWS he's gay. The Reno audience/universe KNOWS he's gay. The tension is that he doesn't really want to address it because of his position as a "straight cop." Does something really have to be said out loud for someone to "get it" or for it to be true? Are you really that dense?
The citations for this would be overwhelming if it was a question even worth looking up.
Season 1 DVD commentary between Niecy Nash and Thom Lennon
The in-show evidence
The fact that the only "citation" provided in opposition to the claim is a promotional tool for a television program, which usually is not a good source for facts (isn't that the focus of this thing?), but rather "ambiguous," tempting, leading statements.
Thom Lennon's numerous interviews.
http://www.planetout.com/entertainment/news/?sernum=527; http://www.bullz-eye.com/television_reviews/2004/reno_911_1.htm; http://www.classictvhits.com/cast.php?id=2417; and lord knows how many others.
The GLAAD awards and surrounding articles and speeches...
There's a lot more. Tuf-kat, have you ever seen the show?

Quit this Arguing, you silly geese. I hope you all can agree with what I posted on his description 71.197.202.102 23:49, 4 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Season 4

Does anyone know when and if a 4th season of Reno 911 will start?

The show was on hiatus for a few months but the series has been renewed and a fourth season is expected to start running in July with episodes being filmed currently.

[edit] Goat Water

Who is the recurring character that the Reno officers always bust? In one of the early episodes, he was trying to sell illegal fireworks claiming that it was part of the "show of lights parade". In a more recent episode, Dangle and Weigel aprehend him at the fair as he is trying to sell popcorn on a stick. After agreeing to come along, he requests that he be able to take a "goat water" bath at the station. He should be on the other characters list, but i can't remember his name.

[edit] Cast history

Is there a point to this section? Couldn't readers just look on the articles for the actors if they wanted to know what else they starred in? (Ibaranoff24 22:31, 21 March 2006 (UTC))

[edit] Washoe County

The article mentions that the show is about a 'fictional Washoe County sheriff's department.' Reno is in Washoe County but in the episode I watched yesterday Dangle refers to himself as being from the 'Reno Sheriff's Department.' I tried to see what is on the characters' shoulder patches, but it is too small to read. Shouldn't the article say it is about a 'fictional Reno County sheriff's department?' I can't recall ever hearing 'Washoe' being mentioned on the show but I haven't always been listening for it.

Season 3, Episode one. J. M. 03:20, 7 July 2006 (UTC)

Washoe County is mentioned endlessly on the show. In the episode about Liberace's cursed piano they mention the Washoe County mall. There are many other examples in season 3. I always had a problem with the fact that they don't say "Washoe County Sheriff's Department," but that may be due to the fact that the show is fiction. If they used the name of a real law-enforcement organization, there may have been trouble. Pygmypony 17:37, 2 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Premise

"The joke, of course, is that they are terrible cops who cheat, lie, drink, steal, plant evidence, brutalize citizens and display general incompetence at their jobs."

I don't know how to say this but I didnt like that line. Its part false and part overgeneralized.

[edit] Kevlar Nutcup

What episode is it in the third season where Garcia and Junior are trying out the new nutcup and Garcia hits Junior in the nuts with his baton, but Junior isnt wearing the cup?

[edit] Improvising?

Is the show really, as the article says, mostly improvised?

--Boadrummer 05:36, 26 July 2006 (UTC)

Yes. Listen to the commentaries on the season 3 DVD. Pygmypony 17:39, 2 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Filming Locations?

I didn't know where else to bring this up, but in the episode with Paul Reubens' character, Citizen Patrolman Rick, the busses he gets onto to leave don't seem to be Californian busses. They appear to be Houston, TX Metro busses, judging by the paint scheme, the model of the busses, and the Houston Metro 'METRO' emblem painted on the side. I was wondering if anyone knew if they had filmed in Houston, or what's up with the busses? If they've been filming in Texas, it might be something important to add to the article.

[edit] Resume

Is the fourth season over, or will it be resuming (if so, when?) Dlong 23:09, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Deputy. Travis Junior

OK, it mentions that Deputy Junior is "almost never seen without his [...] trademark bulletproof vest, which is always outside of his shirt, often seen as a tactical error by real police officers". OK so we know real police officers know this is a tactical error but no-one has said why it is a tactical error, is it because if a criminal was going to stab Dep. Junior, and the criminal can see his bullet-proof vest he will stab him somewhere else? if so, why has no-one bothered to mention this?

I think someone should mention this as soon as possible.

Regards,

Dep. Garcia (Talk to Me) 15:07, 4 November 2006 (UTC)

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