What's the deal with "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" haters?

[Skott]

*Originally posted by Osiris *
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.

They’ve already had an “unused clip show” of the U.S. version, most notably featuring Ryan Stiles singing three or four different hoedowns that always seemed to end up being about the girl whose underwear got shown on national television during that episode.

That might give some evidence that it is actual improv. Some other clues are Questions Only (if it was rehearsed, nobody would get it wrong), the little things that go wrong (Ryan bumping his head into Drew’s desk), the audience participation (which I saw at a Wayne Brady show, so it’s not faked), and Drew’s giggling.

Why are they so good at it that some people think they’re faking? One word: Practice. For example, Colin was absolutely horrible at hoedowns, doing everything he could to not have to sing too much (“he really, really, really, really, really, really did” to falling down “dead” before the last line), but after several years, he’s gotten pretty good. Also, Drew is improving, at least in the hoedown area. He had the same Colin Mochery syndrome and when he actually completed a hoedown that not only made sense but was funny, the audience was stunned.

Why do some people hate it? Well, some people hate Drew Carey or some of the performers just because they rub them the wrong way or whatever. Some people just find the humor too unsophisticated and, being the snobs they are, despise everything unsophisticated (although the first few seasons of the British version were pretty high up there). Also, there are minor flaws in the show, stagnation shows up from time to time, and people just don’t always find it entertaining. However, these last few reasons usually simply lead to not liking/enjoying the show, rather than hating it.

The only major thing that bugs me about the show is when major celebs show up and try and move outside of the confines of the show (e.g. Robin Williams), in order to try and steal it. You can almost see the frustration on the other players’ faces as their thinking to themselves, “Come on, just play along! Don’t do it ‘your way’!”

[king_of_spain]

It might help to know that Drew Carey’s said in interviews that he’s perfectly aware of how much he sucks at improv, and never wanted to perform on the show. The network made him do it because they thought it was the only way people would watch.

Similarly, the actors often talk about how they’re constantly asking the producers to shake up the routine, and getting shot down. The producers don’t like taking risks.

Personally, though, I’ve gotten to where I almost enjoy Drew. It’s kinda fun to see just how much he’s improved since the first episodes.

[Gatopescado]

I do not like it, Sam I Am!

Strained, contrived and very un-funny. I would rather watch “A Wedding Story” that sit through that crap. ( but I would sooner take my own life with a Swiss Army Knife toothpick than do either!)

[Cervaise]

*Originally posted by king of spain *
Similarly, the actors often talk about how they’re constantly asking the producers to shake up the routine, and getting shot down. The producers don’t like taking risks.

Weird, 'cause Ryan Stiles is listed as an executive producer in the credits.

[KidCharlemagne]

I tend to think the show is clever. That means while I’ll say it’s funny, I won’t laugh.

[nineiron]

OddTunes, I think your original question has certainly been answered, no? The reason lots of people don’t like the show is because they feel it isn’t “real” improv. I say, bull. If by “real improv” they mean the swill that I’ve seen in some theaters that made no one laugh [but which I was told by some improv snobs was brilliant], then I’ll take Whose Line every time.

I can’t quite put my finger on what was so unamusing about some of the improv I’ve seen (I have seen some good improv too, to be fair). I think it’s the fact that some of the performers had an air of “I am an actor [pronounced ac-tore here], not a comedian, and aren’t I just so clever and brilliant?” rather than just trying to make the audience laugh.

[Linus_Van_Pelt]

*Originally posted by acsenray *
**
<snip>
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! **

My personal belief is that these comments are part of the “dumbing down” of the show. He makes this comment, because the producers fear that if he doesn’t, they’ll receive 100 letters from idiots who don’t get the joke, keep score, then wonder why the person who “won” wasn’t declared the winner. The “just like” joke is thrown in to make the exposition more palatable. And it annoys me, too.

[Monstre]

*Originally posted by Kallessa *
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.

That would be John Sessions, and you’re right – he was excellent. Unfortunately, he was only on the show for a season or two. But he could rapidly spout Shakespearean B.S. better than anyone, and was hilarious when he did it.

Other comments:

• I definitely agree that Clive Anderson was the better host. He had a dry and quick wit, himself. Drew Carey’s humor is more of the “Hey look at me! Pay attention to me! Look at me, dammit!” variety. I also notice that they got more sketches into those shows. It does tend to drag more with Drew at the helm, and I strongly agree that he needs to shut up with the “points don’t matter” crap. Yeah, duh. We get it.

• Somebody mentioned something about Carey saying the producers made him be in the sketches – which surprises me (if it’s true), because I always got the impression that the last sketch was Drew wanting to get into the spotlight, too. He’s gotten a little better at it since the start of the American version, but not that much. The one that he was in that had me howling, though, was the “Three Headed Broadway Star” one (topic was something about shoes) where he sang a whole phrase on his turn, forgetting the “one word at a time” rule, and then lost it…

• I’d love to see Tony Slattery, Josie Lawrence, and some of the cast from the British version come back and do some shows (Josie Lawrence did one a while back).

• “Sound Effects” was definitely better when it was just Ryan doing the sounds and Colin miming the actions.

• Regarding the “too many songs” comment made by Stupendous Man, I have to add… If we have to have “Song Styles” on every show, can’t they come up with some new styles? Yes, Wayne’s impersonations of Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, and the Village People are funny, but we’ve SEEN them already… IMHO, the best song game now is “Three-Headed Broadway Star”, but not when Drew is in it. (And I could do without Hoedown entirely…)

Disclaimer: In this post, the points are made up, but the comments don’t matter…