Le rebelle

Doing the rounds currently on British television in an off-peak late night slot is Renegade, the tacky action series that is showing its age just six years after its creation. This is an immensley cheesy programme with "they got the woman he loved" voice-over to kick it off. Much of the action is actually quite tame. Programmes like Renegade have no future on the screen because they fail to grip the viewer and especially in Renegade's case leave those watching reaching for the off button.

i've watched this programme far too often for my own good and must agree with that brit that it's atrocious. I hate lorenzo lamas and the guy that plays bobby sixkiller. the plot is paper thin and steve cannell should stick to typing on and trowing paper in end credits.

the most irritating thing about this irritating programme is the bit at the start, you know the bit, where the voice says "he was a cop and good at his job, but he committed the ultimate sin and testified against other cops......GONE BaaaaaD".

this must be the most hair-tearing, screen punching, vomit inducing, horror filled intro in the history of television itself. i hate this show, please hate it too.

This is one of the best series to ever come out of America. Up there with the likes of 'Law and Order', 'Quantum Leap' and 'The X-Files', this show is extremely entertaining. It has often been criticised because of its over-the-top plots however you must realise that Renegade was never meant to be taken that seriously. The show doesn't take itself seriously, all it does is give you a fast, entertaining 50 minutes of viewing pleasure. Refreshing.

I remember when Renegade first came out back in 1992, the opening narration went something like this, "He was cop and pretty good at his job. But then he committed the ultimate sin and testified against other cops gone bad. Framed for murder, they got the woman he loved. Now he's on the run, a bounty hunter, a RENEGADE". F*ck man, back in 1992 I had a hard time keeping a straight face listening to something as stupid as that. This show was created by Stephen J. Cannell, who usually creates the best action/comedy/police shows around. Cannell is an Emmy award winning writer that has written many spectacular cop shows like The Rockford Files, Wiseguy, and The Commish. Cannell has also created some wildly imaginative TV shows like The Greatest American Hero and The A-Team.

But Renegade was a Cannell miss in my opinion. The plot was basically just a retread of The A-Team. But instead of 4 Vietnam vets on the run from the law for a crime they didn't commit, we get one guy this time in Reno Raines. Reno is framed for a murder he didn't commit and is also on the run from the law and a corrupt cop named Dutch Dixon, played very badly by Stephen J. Cannell. Dixon is a total ham. Reno Raines is constantly on the run, but somehow he still has time to help out every single small town goober he runs into. The problem I had with Renegade is that I couldn't figure out if Steve Cannell was serious or not with this show and it's over the top plots and campy action sequences. With the A-Team, at least we always knew not to take any of that stuff seriously. That show had it's tongue firmly in it's cheek. But Renegade is written and acted in the most DEAD SERIOUS way and it just comes across as totally retarded.

Let's say you're a wanted man with a bounty on your head. Are you going to ride around on a big ass Harley Davidson bike, complete with long hair and a black trenchcoat? AND hang around a big long haired Native American with a name like Bobby Sixkiller? Oh yes, I'm sure no one will ever be able to ID you. Yes I know there is a Lone Ranger motif going on here, as there is with all Stephen J. Cannell shows, but this was just way too much. It wasn't subtle, but instead pounded you over the head with a sledgehammer. Reno also used the alias Vince Black ALL THE FREAKING TIME!! This was just totally crazy sh*t. Only a moron that was wanted from the law would act like Reno Raines. Another thing about Dutch Dixon....Mr. Cannell, Col. Decker was a far better antagonist for the A-Team. Hey Cannell, stick to writing better scripts and novels then Renegade. And please for the love of God Steve, don't ever try to act again.

This formed part of my college years throughout the mid to late 90s. I remember it well, it formed part of my epic Thursday nights after college. I would go footy training and then either see the GF or go down the pub with my mates. I would come home and put this on, I think it started at 11.30pm or even midnight. Ensleigh league footy showed followed about 1am ish.

Let's get one thing straight, this came at a time of my life when everything was great. I had no worries or stress. The biggest problem was how I would afford to go out at the weekend!

This show was fun to watch, it has some cool people in some martial arts and a cheesy storyline. What more could you want at 16/17 late on a Thursday night back in the 90's?!

The good old days.