Le rebelle

I don't want to spend much time on this: back the time I still owned a TV set 'Renegade' was the worst I've seen ever (probably because of such productions I gave up on watching TV and stick to cinema), I laughed the whole 40 minutes an episode lasted... unfortunately after having seen more than two episodes it gets boring and I started to wonder why such a series lasts so many seasons.

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.

From Stephan J Cannell, creator of shows like The A Team and Greatest American Hero, comes Renegade. Cannell is widely experienced in TV, with countless production credits and many creative credits too. Renegade is a good standard action series, with decent production values and has a simple premise, and is easy to get into. It's not too fantastical for those who never got into shows like Buffy or Xena, it's just good repetitious fun like A-Team, Incredible Hulk and Knight Rider. You have a scenario that is always repeated. In Renegade, Lorenzo Lamas is a bounty hunter and ex-cop on the run from the law. He was set up by his old boss, his wife shot and left for dead, and Lorenzo was framed for the murder of a cop. Now he must get try to prove his innocence but for the time being he collects bounty's to pay for the hospital bills for is vegetative girl, who is only alive through life support, she will never regain consciousness. So each episode follows the pattern of Lorenzo collecting bounties, coming into contact with people who aren't what the seem. It is not a cohesive show running on an interconnected story like say 24, there is no real continuity, except mentions back to the hospitalised bird, so if you watch episode 6 before 3 for example it's not going to cause problems. It's a new story for each episode entirely separate from the last, like David Banner or the A -Team who roam place to place, Reno Raines is also a drifter moving through the USA helping people.

This show was very successful, in fact one of Cannell's most successful, and although not as iconic or worldwide famous as A- Team, it actually ran longer. The show had a 5 year run which isn't bad going in this day and age, where a second season is almost a godsend for some network shows. Renegade is a well made action series. Each episode will treat you to some action, while the acting is quite good. Lorenzo makes a good lead. He has a movie star quality and it is a surprise that he has never made it bigger in the movie world, particularly as an action star. He has more acting ability than many fellow action men, yet of course starring in low budget Z-movies doesn't have the same inspiration as he got from his hit shows like Renegade, Falcon Crest and currently with The Bold and The Beautiful. Lamas after all is a Golden Globe nominee. Lamas is of course a capable action man with his martial arts background, and most who have seen his shows or movies will know, he loves to pose for the camera, and clearly loves himself, he has a cocky, showy air of the Hoff (Dave Hasselhoff!) about him. Branscombe Richmond offers excellent support as Lama's helper Bobby Sixkiller, while Kathleen Kinmont is stunning to behold. She really is fine, and the show takes delight in milking that fact with her wearing an array of revealing outfits.

Overall a good show that from the episodes I have seen is blessed with some capable guest stars and proudly allows Lamas and is perfect pantene hair to get into many a good scrape.

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.

OK, it seems everybody here is blasting this show for it's cheesy tissue-thin plots, mediocre acting and repetitive stunts.

So what? You have to recognize this for what it is: A clear modern-day retelling of that most famous of all western TV series...the 'Lone Ranger'!

That's right, in case you are one of the few to have watched this show and not figured that out right away, its the 'Lone Ranger' all over again.

Star Lorenzo Lamas as the title-character 'Reno Raines' is even an ex Army Ranger!

Instead of being ambushed by Butch Cavendish and being the 'lone' survivor of his Texas Ranger team, forever hunted by Cavendish as he goes about his business looking to bring the nasty Cavendish to justice, good-guy cop Reno Raines' wife (girlfriend?) is murdered by Dutch Dixon, and evil cop who was not successful in trying to kill Reno and everyone he loved.

And just as the 'Lone Ranger' had his trusty Indian side-kick 'Tonto', Reno also pals around with his trusty Indian side-kick 'Bobby Sixkiller'.

Whereas John Ried (The Lone Ranger) had as his faithful steed 'Silver', his powerful huge white horse, Reno too travels through the 'Badlands' on his trusted 'Steel Horse', an '89 Harley Davidson 'Soft Tail', mildly customized with a classic and typical flamed paint job on the tank, and a weathered,well used look about it. No shiny, pristine 'boulevard cruiser' this bike!

In fact, not only was the Bon Jovi mega-hit 'Wanted: Dead or Alive' the inspiration for this show, the original 3-minute film used to sell the series to prospective syndication customers across the nation was accompanied by the complete song as it's soundtrack. Clearly, it worked well, and captured the spirit of the intended series perfectly, for the resultant series is remarkably unchanged from the 'short' that sold it.

Lamas' wife (at the time) Kathleen Kinmont was added to the cast as Sixkillers Caucasian half-sister, not a bad eye-candy diversion for those who appreciate such things.

As corny and simplistic as the show was, it is clear everyone involved had a true affection for the project and turned in serious performances of clearly light-weight and silly material. This only tends to add to its already somewhat charming appeal.

Lamas so closely fit the role of 'Reno', that if he truly was not exactly that character in his real life, he obviously had some real fantasies of being that character. He fit the role like a glove.

Remember, its not a documentary. Just enjoy it for what it is: An hour-long diversion with a cool bike, a couple other cool cars, some good-looking heroic people doing heroic things, and a clear 'good vs evil' plot line.

Enjoy!