How a rejected pilot became a five-season syndicated success
In short: In the early 1990s, creator Stephen J. Cannell pitched a montage set to Bon Jovi to sell a new concept. That vision evolved into Renegade, a high-octane series about a framed officer turned bounty hunter, navigating a landscape of corruption and identity.
Created by Stephen J. Cannell to capitalize on the growing syndicated television market, Renegade follows Reno Raines, an ex-Army Ranger and San Diego police officer. After being framed for the murder of officer Buzzy Burrell—a crime actually committed by corrupt officers Donald "Dutch" Dixon and Burrell—Raines is forced to live as a fugitive. To survive, he adopts the alias "Vince Black" and works as a bounty hunter, often accompanied by his partner, Bobby Sixkiller.
The series was notable for its production choices and cast dynamics. Lorenzo Lamas, the star, utilized his real-life motorcycle and martial arts skills for the role. Interestingly, the character of the primary antagonist, Dixon, was played by Cannell himself after ten to fifteen other actors auditioned. The show's structure was intentionally episodic to aid syndication; while a series finale was filmed where Raines is fully exonerated, it was never aired because the standalone nature of the episodes allowed buyers to air them in any order.
Despite its longevity, the show faced internal and critical challenges. While it achieved good ratings, the first season was panned by critics, and Lamas expressed dissatisfaction with scripts that prioritized guest stars over the central plot. The series ran for five seasons and 110 episodes, concluding its original broadcast run on April 4, 1997. Though a spin-off featuring the character Carrick O'Quinn was planned, it never materialized.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Renegade (TV series)
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