Renegade (TV series)
A framed cop becomes a bounty hunter on the run.
Renegade is an American television series created by Stephen J. Cannell, airing from September 19, 1992, to April 4, 1997, for 110 episodes across five seasons. The show stars Lorenzo Lamas as Reno Raines, a police officer framed for murder who becomes a bounty hunter. It was notable as a syndicated series and featured Cannell in a recurring role as the main villain.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Action
- Adventure
- Drama
- Crime
- Runtime
- 43 minutes
- Network
- Syndication (seasons 1–4); USA Network (season 5)
- First aired
- 19 September 1992
- Last aired
- 4 April 1997
- Creator
- Stephen J. Cannell
- Starring
- Lorenzo Lamas
- Branscombe Richmond
- Kathleen Kinmont (seasons 1–4)
- Stephen J. Cannell
- Sandra Ferguson (season 5)
- Company
- Stu Segall Productions
- Cannell Entertainment
- Renegade IV Enterprises
- New World Entertainment (1996–1997; season 5)
Facts from the source article.
Plot
San Diego police officer Reno Raines, an ex–Army Ranger, is called to Bay City, California, by his friend District Attorney Harry Wells to work undercover exposing corrupt police. After gathering evidence against Lieutenant Donald "Dutch" Dixon's partner Buzzy Burrell, Burrell and Dixon free convicted murderer Hogg Adams to kill Raines. Hogg breaks into Reno's hotel room, shooting Reno's fiancée Valerie Prentiss instead. Burrell arrives, and Dixon kills Burrell with Reno's weapon, framing Reno for murder. On the run, Reno encounters bounty hunter Bobby Sixkiller, a former Marine sent by Dixon, but saves his life and gains his trust. Reno works as a bounty hunter alongside Sixkiller and his sister Cheyenne, using the alias "Vince Black," while searching for Hogg's brother Hound Adams, the only witness who can clear his name. Hound will only come forward if Reno kills Dixon, which Reno refuses. Reno travels the country capturing bounties, helping people, and proving the innocence of those he believes innocent. Dixon later becomes a US federal marshal, enabling him to pursue Reno with federal assistance.
Background and production
Renegade was a syndicated series, created by Stephen J. Cannell to capitalize on the growing market for syndicated shows. Lorenzo Lamas saw the role as a chance to use his real-life martial arts and motorcycle riding skills. To avoid marital strain, Lamas persuaded Cannell to cast his wife Kathleen Kinmont as Cheyenne Phillips. To sell the show, Cannell had Ralph Hemecker direct a montage set to "Wanted Dead or Alive" by Bon Jovi, shown at a television convention; this became the title sequence with a theme by Mike Post and voice-over by Don LaFontaine. Filming primarily took place in San Diego, California, and surrounding suburbs. Multiple stunt motorcycles were kept for Reno's Harley-Davidson, with one polished model reserved for glamour shots. Despite good ratings, the first season was panned by critics, and Cannell and Lamas were dissatisfied with the scripts. Lamas noted that writers sidelined the main plot and regular cast, and pointed out plot holes such as how Reno traveled without explanation. The character Hound Adams was introduced in season two to give direction, but the show never achieved critical success. Lamas and Kinmont divorced in 1993; after Lamas had his new girlfriend Shauna Sand cast in a recurring role, he reportedly petitioned to have Kinmont fired, and her character was dropped rather than recast.
Home media
Anchor Bay Entertainment put out the first three seasons on DVD for Region 1 between 2005 and 2006. After Mill Creek Entertainment secured the rights to several Stephen J. Cannell series, including this one, they issued the first two seasons again in separate box sets. A complete series set with all 110 episodes arrived from Mill Creek on October 12, 2010, as a 20-disc package. Visual Entertainment later released its own complete collection of all 110 episodes on May 27, 2022.
Attempted spin-off
The season-two finale, "Carrick O'Quinn," served as a backdoor pilot for a spin-off series starring Don Michael Paul as O'Quinn. In the episode, O'Quinn leads a police commando squad that accidentally blinds a judge named Sarah Jessup, a friend of Reno's, during a rescue. O'Quinn quits the force and helps the blind judge without revealing his identity. The spin-off series was never produced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who stars in Renegade (TV series)?
Renegade stars Lorenzo Lamas, Branscombe Richmond, Kathleen Kinmont (seasons 1–4), Stephen J. Cannell and Sandra Ferguson (season 5).
Which network aired Renegade (TV series)?
Renegade aired on Syndication (seasons 1–4) and USA Network (season 5).
More in Television Series by Stephen J. Cannell Productions
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