# What's the deal with "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" haters? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 7, 2002, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-whose-line-is-it-anyway-haters/117720 "2002-07-07T02:11:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![OddTunes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f475e1/32.png) [@OddTunes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OddTunes)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-whose-line-is-it-anyway-haters/117720/1 "2002-07-07T02:11:38Z")
Personally, I like the show. I think the American edition is dumbed down vs. the British edition, but what do you expect? Still, I find this show one of the better programmes on TV today. I have met people at parties however who absolutely despise the show. They say it’s not entirely improv, that a lot of the routines are discussed if not rehearsed in advance and there are certain formulas the actors rely on in many situations. My response is, ok, maybe that’s true, but it’s still entertaining. So am I missing the point? Why do some people hate it so much? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-whose-line-is-it-anyway-haters/117720/2 "2002-07-07T02:38:56Z")
I watch it over my computer while my kids(9-12-15) have it on. I think that the probability that there is _some_ rehearsal, advanced prep, editing casuses us old fuddy-duddies/cynics to say “it’s fake. They can’t be that clever.” Of course, they just about are that clever. It’s incredible how good they truly are. Dru Carey(from Cleveland-Yeah!) has such a blue collar humor reputation, I think that is where the look-down-your-nose attitude comes from. ---
**Author:** ![simple\_homer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@simple\_homer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simple_homer)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-whose-line-is-it-anyway-haters/117720/3 "2002-07-07T03:02:27Z")
For me, it is extremely boring. I don’t care if it is planned, rehearsed, or discussed beforehand, it is just boring. ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-whose-line-is-it-anyway-haters/117720/4 "2002-07-07T03:06:15Z")
Everyone here loves it. I have never heard anyone say anything bad about it EVER. And I am on several Improv teams. ---
**Author:** ![WenisPinkle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4da419/32.png) [@WenisPinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WenisPinkle)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-whose-line-is-it-anyway-haters/117720/5 "2002-07-07T03:19:56Z")
Wow, I’m so glad you brought this topic up. Actually, I just happend to post about this very same thing (almost) about a week ago. You can see a couple of other peoples [thoughts](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=123464) . > [@](#): > > I have met people at parties however who absolutely despise the show. They say it’s not entirely improv, that a lot of the routines are discussed if not rehearsed in advance and there are certain formulas the actors rely on in many situations. My response is, ok, maybe that’s true, but it’s still entertaining. I dont think that there is an rehearsal before the show. There are a couple things that lead me to believe this: 1.) They use the audience on more than half of the skits. 2.) When they get something difficult to act out, you can tell that they’re struggling to find some way funny to act. 3.) A lot of times they cant find words to rhyme with one another when making up a song. 4.) Sometimes the things they do aren’t even funny. Although sometimes I do say “What!? That was so funny! There’s no way they could have done that without practicing!”, I just always remind myself that these guys (and gals) are professionals, this is their job, if they weren’t good at it, they wouldn’t be on national television. Well, now that I’ve had my say in the matter, I would also like to know why people don’t like _Who’s Line Is It Anyways?_ ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-whose-line-is-it-anyway-haters/117720/6 "2002-07-07T03:31:36Z")
I’ve played several of their games at home with friends and we can be funny and we can crack our friends up and have them rolling on the floor without rehearsing. We can also bomb mind you, but we don’t have anyone to edit those bits out. Bear in mind that they don’t film just 30 minutes. There are several sketches that get cut out because things go wrong, they aren’t funny or … well mostly those two reasons. There are a few of those deleted scene shows for the British version, I imagine eventually they’ll make a couple for the American version. The one complaint that got me was there’s this one bit where they have two audience members come up and make sound effects for (ucually Colin and Ryan). This one always has me rolling in the aisles. “Look, here comes an elephant!” “Quack, quack, quack.” But there was this one doper who just hated the sketch. Different tastes I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-whose-line-is-it-anyway-haters/117720/7 "2002-07-07T03:34:39Z")
Humor, like music, is often a matter of taste. Why does someone hate rap, or opera, or country music, etc.? It’s not the kind of thing that lends itself to rational delineation to where others say “Oh, I see.” Either you like it or you don’t. While I don’t believe things are worked out in advance, Carey’s version of the show strikes me as very formulaic. Three of the players are essentially regulars, and in the general sense each of them does the same thing repeatedly, just as each of them is given the same assignment in the various sketches. These people have some amazing talent, but the show certainly has room for improvement. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-whose-line-is-it-anyway-haters/117720/8 "2002-07-07T03:41:48Z")
I tend to love British television, but HLIIA is a pile of nastiness. If want good slap-stick, I will watch The Three Stooges. The American version of HLIIA is even worse. Of course, this is all IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-whose-line-is-it-anyway-haters/117720/9 "2002-07-07T04:07:15Z")
They used to show the British version on Malaysian TV in the mid-90’s when I used to travel there. I thought that the show was unwatchable, not funny in the least. I’ve never bothered to watch the U.S. version. Why don’t I like it? I guess that over the top slapstick isn’t my thing. Haj ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-whose-line-is-it-anyway-haters/117720/10 "2002-07-07T04:12:02Z")
There are one or two extraordinarily-talented comics on that show. Utterly, shamefully, disgracefully, wasted. [sub]“Say, what’s up with all those people who don’t think that _The Carol Burnett Show_ is funny?”[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-whose-line-is-it-anyway-haters/117720/11 "2002-07-07T04:16:06Z")
58 this week and I guess I’m glad I never grew up.🙂 I also like opera, _true(old)_ county music, bluegrass, jazz, swing, and learning to appreciate _good_ rap music with the help of my kids. ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-whose-line-is-it-anyway-haters/117720/12 "2002-07-07T04:56:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Brutus \* > **I tend to love British television, but HLIIA is a pile of nastiness.** I don’t mean to condescend, but the abbreviation “HLIIA” strikes me as supremely hilarious. 🙂 “Mr. Speaker, this bill is a phony with a capital F!” ---
**Author:** ![shell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/46a35a/32.png) [@shell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shell)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-whose-line-is-it-anyway-haters/117720/13 "2002-07-07T05:45:57Z")
Whenever the entertainment merit of a show is in (my) question, I give it the kid test… so far I’ve seen my 15 year old son doubled over laughing at “Who’s Line”, daughter number 1 suck me into “Smallville”, and daughter number 2 involve me in the last “Survivor”, none of which I would have chosen to watch on my own. 'Course I subject them to the Aniques Road show every few months. I’ve found it 's worth giving any show a few views before deciding whether or not it has any value. ---
**Author:** ![Stupendous\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Stupendous\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stupendous_man)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-whose-line-is-it-anyway-haters/117720/14 "2002-07-07T11:41:15Z")
The only problem I have with it is that there is entirely too much singing involved… I prefer the spoken games of the british version, which had minimal singing. ---
**Author:** ![fatbutter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@fatbutter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fatbutter)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-whose-line-is-it-anyway-haters/117720/15 "2002-07-07T12:51:56Z")
A few years ago I saw an episode of “Whose Line” being filmed and it was not rehearsed. They collected over two hours of material of varying quality to edit later. By the end, the presenter was starting to get tetchy with the producer (I think), saying that surely they must have enough by now. By the end, I was starting to lose feeling in my rear end. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-whose-line-is-it-anyway-haters/117720/16 "2002-07-07T13:30:21Z")
I love the British version, which I watch on Comedy Central. I can’t stand the Drew Carey version, because he doesn’t take control of the show. The key skill that Clive has that Drew doesn’t have is that Clive cuts of a sketch **before** it stops being funny and quickly goes on to the next game. Clive is ruthless and doesn’t waste time. That’s what is required. Drew lets the sketches go on and on long after they’ve stopped being funny. Another thing that annoys me is Drew’s constant reference to the fact that the scoring system doesn’t make sense. The crazy scoring system was originally designed because the show would cut and paste games together to form a half hour show. It’s a very small joke, but it becomes completely not funny if the host keeps calling your attention to it. Just shut up about the scoring, Drew! ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-whose-line-is-it-anyway-haters/117720/17 "2002-07-07T14:28:28Z")
I think the “scoring system” comment by Drew is merely a vehicle to insert a comedy line. It always takes the form of “The points don’t matter, just like {insert a funny reference here}”. It always seems to get a laff. And it could be useful to first-timers; most game shows have a brief explanation of how things work each episode, even tho 99.999% of the viewers must know it already. WLIIA’s is just funnier than most. ---
**Author:** ![nineiron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e56c9b/32.png) [@nineiron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nineiron)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-whose-line-is-it-anyway-haters/117720/18 "2002-07-07T15:34:01Z")
A couple of things regarding “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” 1. I don’t think it’s rehearsed. If a person has a quick wit, he can think up funny things spur-of-the-moment without problem. I did a version of Whose Line with some students (with literature-themed games) in class. These were 16-year-old kids with no experience, and I was literally crying and hurting from laughing so hard. 2. I used to think that Wayne Brady was the funniest one on the show. Now I think he’s the least funny. I’ve grown more fond of Colin, Ryan, and the Chip/Brad alternating combo. Wayne seems less funny the more I watch the show. Maybe it was his GOD-AWFUL McDonald’s commercials that soured me on him; I don’t know for sure. 3. Osiris, I think I must have been the guy in a previous thread who HATES the sound effects game when done with audience members. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-whose-line-is-it-anyway-haters/117720/19 "2002-07-07T15:50:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Musicat \* > \*\*I think the “scoring system” comment by Drew is merely a vehicle to insert a comedy line. It always takes the form of “The points don’t matter, just like {insert a funny reference here}”. > > It always seems to get a laff. \*\* Not necessarily, or at least not a real laugh. I’ve tried watching the audience members sitting directly behind Carey and at times you might see a few pained smiles or just blank expressions after one of “just like” quips. More often, though, they insert a quick edit of one of the stage performers mugging a reaction while (probably) dubbing in a laugh-track moment. It’s not as bad as the original _America’s Funniest Videos_, though, when the audience members would sit with pasted-on grins while Bob Sagett ran through his incredibly unfunny material. In any event, I watch _Whose Line_ whenever possible because sometimes it’s just brilliant. I understand that what I’m watching is really just a highlight reel from a much longer taping session, but what the heck. Drew Carey himself is kind of a waste. The only really funny thing I can remember him saying (and it was more ironic than hysterical) was after he’d abrupty stopped a skit that was getting overly crude. “On most shows they say ‘Cut!’ but on _Whose Line_ we say ‘That’s enough.’” I’ve only seen the British version a few times; not enough to form a qualitative opinion, but it didn’t strike me as immensely funnier. ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-whose-line-is-it-anyway-haters/117720/20 "2002-07-07T15:51:01Z")
Moving this to Cafe Society. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-whose-line-is-it-anyway-haters/117720.md?page=2)