As far as original programming goes, Comedy Central has tried virtually everything there is: game shows, sketch shows, variety shows. The odds are against any given show succeeding, but the 23-year-old basic cable channel seems to have had far more misses than hits. Examining the hits reveals there is no magic recipe for success. The channel's three longest-running shows are the animated satire "South Park" and the fake news programs "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report." Their other current big ratings draws are the crude sitcom "Workaholics", sketch show "Key & Peele", and Internet video round-up "Tosh.0." There is little in common between these popular ones beyond the fact that each is designed to make viewers laugh.

One of the more successful shows in Comedy Central history further illustrates the unpredictable nature of success. "Reno 911!" was a spoof of "COPS", a mostly improvised comedy from members of MTV's 1990s comedy troupe "The State." A mockumentary before that format caught on in American television, "Reno" could have easily joined the long list of short-lived Comedy Central casualties. Instead, it wound up running six seasons for a total of 88 half-hour episodes, with a theatrical film coming halfway into the run.

What did "Reno 911!" do right that so many other original Comedy Central series have not? The simple answer seems to be that the show simply remained funny on a regular basis and in a way different from its contemporaries. "COPS" has run so long (it's currently in its 27th season) and enjoyed frequent reruns because criminals are entertaining. At least the ones who aren't actually hurting anyone as they try unsuccessfully to dispute their obvious guilt and talk their way out of punishment, only to later agree to have their documented experience broadcast on network television uncensored. It's not a show you need to watch in order or tune in every week, but one that if you have time to kill and lots of cable options, it will likely fit the bill and not make you regret giving it a look.

"Reno 911!" takes the appeal of "COPS" and exaggerates it with even more ludicrous criminals (frequently, recurring guest actors), who are being pursued by the world's least professional police force. That it unfolds without a script renders everything natural, fresh, and unpredictable. The entire cast is up to the tall improvisational challenges and the results are frequently hilarious. Like "COPS", "Reno" isn't a show you need to follow religiously. Just find an airing during some down time, tune in, and something funny is bound to happen in mere minutes.

The show offered boosts to its cast members, Generation Xers born around 1970 who were not and still are not household names, but whose faces you'd surely recognize from countless supporting roles in comedic (and sometimes dramatic) films big and small. While the show was running, creators Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon saw their screenwriting careers take off, together penning such hit family films as The Pacifier and Night at the Museum. Lennon has been something of an on-camera fixture as well, popping up in huge blockbusters (Hancock, The Dark Knight Rises, the latest Transformers) as well as nice-sized comedy hits (I Love You, Man, We're the Millers, 17 Again, Hot Tub Time Machine).

The show had its fair share of guest stars. A number of them have risen in stature since ad libbing on the show, like Zach Galifianakis, Nick Swardson, Charlie Day, and Keegan-Michael Key. Others, from Paul Rudd to Kenny Rogers, were already famous fans happy to contribute in any way they could.

"Reno" ended abruptly, cancelled without closure following a final season that saw some major and questionable personnel changes. Reruns have disappeared from Comedy Central, but remain in syndication here and there. In 2011, talk of a revival on Netflix to bump the series up to the 100-episode mark that syndication packages desire led to nothing of material. Now, for no reason more apparent than the fact that they hadn't already done so, Comedy Central and Paramount Home Entertainment have treated this Noughties fixture to The Complete Series, a 32-hour DVD collection recycling the 14 discs of the show's six complete season sets at a very reasonable list price of just $45.98 (which discounts have dropped to a sale price of under $30).

Those who own Seasons 1 through 6 on their original DVDs will not find anything new here apart from condensed packaging that only takes as much shelf space as four standard DVD movie cases. But those who missed some seasons and those who aren't confident that Netflix will once again allow customers to stream the show in its entirety are sure to see the value in this big box set, which includes the many bonus features assembled over the years, including 32 episode audio commentaries, over an hour of alternate, extended and deleted scenes, "Profiles in Valor", and nearly two hours of outtakes.

To think that this complete series collection will only set you back as much as two of the season sets would illustrates the allure of this release. So too does the current Amazon sales price that assigns an ownership cost of just 34 cents per episode.

The set is packaged in one giant clear keepcase (the biggest I've ever seen), which uses eight loose swinging trays to hold all the discs. A disc-shaped piece of cardboard seems to be a placeholder for the movie, Reno 911! Miami, a Fox release not included here. That sturdy, thick brick of a keepcase is topped by a slipcover utilizing the same front and rear cover artwork. The discs are identical to the ones previously issued, only now they feature bland uniform gray labels, a step down from the full-color previous ones featuring the cast.

"Reno 911!" did not make the leap to widescreen until its final season. It is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic, while the first five remain in their original 1.33:1 aspect ratio. All six seasons treat the show to Dolby Stereo 2.0 soundtracks.

Just as in their previous DVD releases, Season 1 censors profanity as it was on air. The rest do not, but they all blur nudity, middle fingers and such.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

If the regularly entertaining "Reno 911!" is a show you'd like to own more than a taste of on DVD, then this new Complete Series set should fit the bill, with its low price, compact packaging, and complete recycling of previous releases' contents.

Buy Reno 911! The Complete Series on DVD now at Amazon.com