Cast changes have hurt “Reno 911!”

Wendi McLendon-Covey (Clementine), Mary Birdsong (Dep. Kimball) and Carlos Alazraqui (Dep. Garcia) are out, Joe Lo Truglio and Ian Roberts are in. Nothing against the new guys, but I miss Clemmy, Kimball and Garcia.

It has been tough to find out why “Reno 911!” is seemingly ruining a good thing, but McLendon-Covey posted this on her MySpace blog:

Since you asked….

Hi everyone!

Recently I’ve been asked the same questions over and over, so I thought I’d better just address the subject here so I don’t have to keep writing individual messages about it.

No, I’m not on Reno 911 anymore. No, I didn’t leave on my own. No, I didn’t see it coming. No, I wasn’t the only one who was dismissed. No, it wasn’t because we weren’t doing a good job – in this business you don’t necessarily get hired because you’re good, and you don’t necessarily get let go because you’re bad.

Yes, I was on the set of THE OFFICE when I found out.

Yes, I was disappointed at first, but as Sophia Loren used to say, “Don’t cry over anything that won’t cry over you.” Five seasons and a movie was a good run, and I’m surprised that it lasted that long. I’m grateful to have been a part of the show but believe me, it was really time to move on and play other types of weird women – maybe someone who wears a turtleneck!

We wrapped season 5 in April of 2007, so I’ve been away from the show for 2 years. It’s a distant, bittersweet memory now.

So thanks to all of you for liking my character! Thanks for being so sweet to me.

xoxoxoxox, Wendi

As for the newcomers, here’s what the show’s wiki page has on them…

Season six newcomers Joe Lo Truglio and Ian Roberts are no strangers to Reno 911. Both appeared as guest stars in past seasons, and both also appeared in Reno 911: Miami. As a member of “The State”, Lo Truglio is an old friend of the 3 creators and has worked with them on numerous projects. Roberts is a founding member of the popular Upright Citizens Brigade improv comedy troupe, who had their own Comedy Central sketch show from 1998-2000.

I miss the dynamic between Garcia and Dep. Jones, the questions about Dep. Kimball’s true sexuality and pretty much everything about Clemmy. I’m not sure what prompted the changes; in the case of Lo Truglio, it might be nepotism given that he is old friends with the creators. The additions have made the cast less diverse and it’s affecting the overall vibe.