On reflection, by the way, I’d have to say my absolute favorite bit is “Improbable Mission”, with Colin and Ryan playing spies doing some mundane task. Colin never fails to crack up Ryan, which makes the whole thing a lot funnier. It’s not only the quick wit that can make improv funny, but the active competition as the performers deliberately try to rattle and outshine each other. The less funny bits are the ones that feel scripted and/or overly cooperative.
As for “sound effects”, that’s determined entirely by the audience members Carey chooses. I’ve seen it range from couples that were too shy to make any noises (unless Colin and Ryan went to great and painful lengths to give them clues) to one hysterical pair that made so much noise during a “Jurassic Park” spoof that Colin and Ryan were trying to give them clues to be quiet.
I used to be in an improvisational comedy group in college. How many times did I have to say “NO, WE DON’T REHEARSE…IT’S IMPROV!”
One of my improv group mates and good friends has gone on to act in NYC and LA. She has met and worked with Wayne Brady. He truly is spontaneously inspired as I’m sure the remainder of his “Who’s Line…” castmates are.
Hollywood may be the epitome of media packaging, but give these performers some credit. The DO make it up on demand.
They need to get Tony Slattery and a few of the others who were on the British version. I always see the same people on there it seems, which diminishes the amusenment for me.
They need to get Tony Slattery and a few of the others who were on the British version. I always see the same people on there it seems, which diminishes the amusement for me.
The show is tolerably amusing, but I’ve never felt compelled to watch it. I wouldn’t say I hate it but there are plenty of things I would rather watch than this show.
Tony Slattery and John somebody, from the old British version (pre-Ryan Stiles/Colin Mockery) were so fantastic! I mean, I love Ryan and Colin, but Tony was just bizarre and John was witty and literary. The ideal show: Tony, John, Ryan and Colin, hosted by Clive! This I would pay money to see.
One of the funnist things I’ve ever seen on TV–Colin as the news reporter in front of the green screen when the scene he couldn’t see was him being a dinosaur!
I can only speak for the British version, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t fixed or rehearsed in any way. I was once involved in writing a comedy sketch show which had Josie Lawrence in it, one of the stars of the Brit version. She mentioned just how nerve-racking WLIIA could be precisely because they played fair and never gave any of the team any idea what was coming up. The only exception, if you want to call it that, was that they did make sure all the team knew how each game worked (what was expected of them, some basic parameters). But that’s just common sense.
If the resulting show seems ‘too good’, it’s because they shoot a mile of material and select the best inch for broadcast, so to speak.
I would like the American one better if Drew Carey didn’t join in. He’s always the worst at any of the games. And why can’t he learn to stop mumbling???
I enjoy the American version more than the English version. Somehow I find the American/Canadian performers more appealing. But I dislike the crude humor on the American version - not necessary. And Drew is pretty embarrassing. I know he’s well-liked, but he’s such a poor host: belaboring the point that “the points don’t matter,” and the way he teases the performers in general creates tension that I don’t find fun.
Having said that, I really enjoy some of the female performers: Denny Siegel, Karen Yokohama (?), and the blue-eyed blonde (anyone know her name?). All the performers are talented (although some are more talented at certain games than others, obviously), but Wayne Brady is astonishing. He’s always a pleasure to watch.
I don’t like it. Not because it isn’t funny, but because watching it gives me stage fright, and I can’t stand the thought that they might embarrass themselves by bombing out of the sketch. Like fingernails on a chalkboard.
I don’t watch it on a regular basis (simply because I don’t watch any television on a regular basis these days), but if I happen to be in a room while it’s on, I’ll watch for as long as I can. Damn funny stuff.
From my point of view, the host makes the show. Drew Carey is a decent comedian in his own element, but he sucks as host. Clive is masterful. A lot of the same players appear in both shows anyway, like Ryan Stiles and Colin Mochrie. Especially in the later seasons, the British version featured mostly American and Canadian comics. I do miss Tony Slattery and Josie Lawrence, though. They were the best.
As far as cheating – all improvers know that there are certain “routines” that become rehearsed and players who are used to working with each other can take advantage of that sometimes to go for a safe laugh. It would be hard to do it on the show, though, because the games are a bit more structured. Anyway, a regular television viewer, unlike a comedy club patron, would be more likely to notice if certain lines were repeated.
I’ve done quite a bit of improv in college, and so like Green Fool my first instinct is to critique what they’re doing wrong. I love the show, or at least, loved the UK version, but the US version is definately lacking. I still enjoy it, but wish they would stop playing it safe and make full use of their talents.
The major complaint I have is a) the same people b) doing the same games all the time, and c) even in the same “positions”.
Yes, Wayne’s a good singer, and yes Colin and Ryan have good chemistry, but please mix it up for once!!
You can do that newscaster game without having Ryan on weather, Wayne on sports, and Colin at the anchor desk with straight-man of the week Brad/Greg. Or the greatest hit game where Ryan and Colin do the same type of shtick over and and over again to set up Wayne’s songs. I know Ryan can improv with people other than Colin. But they never bother to try anymore.
I know from my Improv days that I could easily get in a creative rut always platying off the same people. Pulling up “stock characters” and such… You have to mix it up, or it just gets stale.
Speaking as a former assistant creative director of an improv group, I’ll chime in and just say WLIIA is just plain old bad improv. Yes it’s often funny and entertaining, but I’ve never liked improv with a “competition” format and the performers are always going for the laugh or joke. There is very little brick building to create scenes and characters of depth. If the improv was done correctly, the humor would be simultaneously more subtle, profound and rewarding. As it is it’s often just set-ups and punch lines with lots of goofy faces thrown in.
This routine will wind up the same way every episode. The audience members will either giggle hysterically, or just remain silent as they watch the proceedings. It then becomes the game of “How can Colin and Ryan explain the prolonged silence?” The original, in which Ryan would provide the sound effects while Colin was silent and mimed the actions, was great. Ryan knew what he was doing.
That really is the point, isn’t it? In all the improv-related programs I’ve been in, the main idea was just flowing forth unimpeded. This is not an issue in Whose Line, because all the scenes have lots of structure to deal with. The actors don’t even have to worry about ending it properly, for Clive/Drew can do that for them with the buzzer. The improv clubs I go to, on the other hand, and much more free form. Boston Improv, for example, will start with maybe one word taken from the audience, and a series of small scenes around that word, which then break into entire stories of their own.
I don’t like the show, but to each his/her own. What I absolutely hate are people who can’t understand that I don’t think it’s the funniest thing ever.