# Which is better: American or British Who's Line is it Anyway? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 29, 2000, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-american-or-british-whos-line-is-it-anyway/20774 "2000-05-29T03:08:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![randomlyblanks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@randomlyblanks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randomlyblanks)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2000, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-american-or-british-whos-line-is-it-anyway/20774/1 "2000-05-29T03:08:07Z")
I would have to say that I enjoy the British version more. Clive Anderson is a better host than Drew. Also, they do more games and don’t let them drag on as they do in the American version. So what do you think? ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2000, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-american-or-british-whos-line-is-it-anyway/20774/2 "2000-05-29T08:02:49Z")
It’s the same show since Ryan Stiles and Colin Mockerwhateverhisnameis are always on it. ---
**Author:** ![billehunt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c37758/32.png) [@billehunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billehunt)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2000, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-american-or-british-whos-line-is-it-anyway/20774/3 "2000-05-29T08:07:00Z")
British. ---
**Author:** ![Kallessa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7993a0/32.png) [@Kallessa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kallessa)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2000, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-american-or-british-whos-line-is-it-anyway/20774/4 "2000-05-29T08:24:04Z")
I gotta go British as well. I always liked Tony Slattery, and I don’t really like Drew Carey, plus he’s not good at improv. But the 'Three-headed Braodway Song" is great, and I never saw that on the British version. ---
**Author:** ![SterlingNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@SterlingNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SterlingNorth)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2000, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-american-or-british-whos-line-is-it-anyway/20774/5 "2000-05-29T08:44:53Z")
I dunno. Drew has gotten better since he started. And my favorite performer is Wayne Brady. However I miss Mike McShane and Josie Lawerence. Though I like when Clive and Greg Proops get into verbal warfare. The closest to that happening on the US version was when Drew screw up and declared Africa a country. ---
**Author:** ![billehunt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c37758/32.png) [@billehunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billehunt)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2000, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-american-or-british-whos-line-is-it-anyway/20774/6 "2000-05-29T08:56:09Z")
**Kallessa** wrote > [@](#): > > The 'Three-headed Braodway Song" is great. ditto. **SterlingNorth** wrote > [@](#): > > my favorite performer is Wayne Brady. ditto. I still like the British version better, though. ---
**Author:** ![Globe-trotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cab0a1/32.png) [@Globe-trotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Globe-trotter)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2000, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-american-or-british-whos-line-is-it-anyway/20774/7 "2000-05-29T11:52:11Z")
I prefer the British version and tape it every day (although I watch the American version as well). Clive is funnier and more subtle. There’s no bigger ham than Tony Slattery (especially when he split his pants!), and it’s always a hoot to listen to Greg and Clive mouth off. Yeah, it’s safe to say that I like the show. ---
**Author:** ![ThisYearsGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@ThisYearsGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisYearsGirl)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2000, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-american-or-british-whos-line-is-it-anyway/20774/8 "2000-05-29T15:46:11Z")
I like the British version; the skits are just more clever. Plus, I have a huge crush on Tony Slattery. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2000, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-american-or-british-whos-line-is-it-anyway/20774/9 "2000-05-29T19:08:33Z")
British. Mostly because Clive never harped on the fact that the points were…well…pointless. If you’re going to retain the points gag, milk it! ---
**Author:** ![Jo3sh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a587f6/32.png) [@Jo3sh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jo3sh)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2000, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-american-or-british-whos-line-is-it-anyway/20774/10 "2000-05-29T19:35:37Z")
Whose. ---
**Author:** ![Sue\_Duhnym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Sue\_Duhnym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sue_Duhnym)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2000, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-american-or-british-whos-line-is-it-anyway/20774/11 "2000-05-29T20:33:20Z")
It seems like they can get away with more risque humor on British television, though it is comical to watch Ryan Stiles struggle with keeping his dirty mind in check. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![drollman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f04885/32.png) [@drollman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drollman)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2000, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-american-or-british-whos-line-is-it-anyway/20774/12 "2000-05-29T20:36:15Z")
British, definitely. If nothing else, Drew Carey proves that improv takes training. It’s not something you can do just because the other funny guys make it look easy. What are the chances that there will be a WLIIA home game before the end of the year? ---
**Author:** ![SterlingNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@SterlingNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SterlingNorth)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2000, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-american-or-british-whos-line-is-it-anyway/20774/13 "2000-05-29T22:46:35Z")
I like Archie Hahn (I think that’s how you spell it). But for some reason, the pacing is all wierd on the American version (which is the version I started watching.) I still say it’s a draw. ---
**Author:** ![billehunt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c37758/32.png) [@billehunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billehunt)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2000, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-american-or-british-whos-line-is-it-anyway/20774/14 "2000-05-29T23:00:18Z")
[hijack] Has anyone been to a taping of either of the versions? Every episode I’m astounded at how quick they come up with stuff. I’ve met some funny people in life but I’ve never met anyone who can so quickly find a new joke out of thin air with the consistancy these guys do. Especially some of the songs Wayne Brady does. Is the show heavily edited? [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2000, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-american-or-british-whos-line-is-it-anyway/20774/15 "2000-05-30T14:24:32Z")
British I gotta go with British. I don’t know what it is exactly but I like it better. (I really oughtta start to tape it or at least watch the show more but I keep forgetting :() Colin Mockry (I think thats it.) I think is really cool. But then I’m Canadian so I’m biased 🙂 Whenever I watch the show I laugh so hard tears come to my eyes. The American version isn’t bad. (Remember when that guy who was pretending to be King Kong went into the audience and grabbed a woman and her skirt rode up so everyone in TV land got to see her underwear? They played it up the rest of the show. She must have been so embarassed.:o) Also your right improv takes a lot of work. And actually I don’t think they edit too much because it’s the bloopers that make it better. Some of the best times we’ve had at camp was when we put on our own show. We had some funny times doing props (with a bag of salt) and other games like it. ---
**Author:** ![JimmyNipples](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb9ed0/32.png) [@JimmyNipples](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimmyNipples)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2000, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-american-or-british-whos-line-is-it-anyway/20774/16 "2000-05-30T14:49:47Z")
[QUOTE] \*\* I would have to say that I enjoy the British version more. Clive Anderson is a better host than Drew. I disagree. The American version is much better. That’s a tough thing for a Canadian to say!! However, Colin Mockery is Canadian…is Gregg Proops? Ryan Styles? Probably…they’re just too funny to be Yanks!!! I kid because I love. Regards, Graeme ---
**Author:** ![Lucretia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@Lucretia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucretia)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2000, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-american-or-british-whos-line-is-it-anyway/20774/17 "2000-05-30T17:22:58Z")
Definitely, the Brit version. Drew Carey is just not that funny without a script. ---
**Author:** ![Sweet\_Basil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4bbf92/32.png) [@Sweet\_Basil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sweet_Basil)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2000, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-american-or-british-whos-line-is-it-anyway/20774/18 "2000-05-30T17:33:24Z")
British. The guest diversity was greater. Colin Mochary is my favorite, but I’d love to see Mike McShane, Tony Slattery, or that tall Steve fella on the US version. Speaking of Steve- notice some time that he **always** wears cowboy shirts. I think that alone is pretty funny. The British version’s musician (I forget his name) usually has a very odd expression on his face… hmm… Sweet Basil ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2000, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-american-or-british-whos-line-is-it-anyway/20774/19 "2000-05-30T17:59:35Z")
All right, let’s get a few things straight: Basil: I think you’re thinking of Steve Frost. His name is spelled Colin Mochrie, dammit! The musician on the British version was Richard Vranch. * * * Anyway, on to comparisons. I think the two different versions are very different shows, despite sharing similar formats and even cast members. Clive was a better host than Drew, simply because Clive could really toss out a one-liner when he wanted to. In fact, just today, I saw an episode where they played the “Superheroes” game. An audience member shouted out, “Ejaculator Man!” to which Clive responded, “Come again?” Kills me…I was also a big fan of Greg Proops’s insult contests with Clive, although Ryan Stiles can really stick it to Drew now and again. Y’all see the “Bloodhound trained to sniff out idiots” episode of “Party Quirks”? heheheh… I agree that the “Three-Headed Opera/Broadway Star” is the best new game. Fall-to-the-floor funny, and it’s amazing how they all can follow one another. “Props” is just as funny as ever, as is “World’s Worst”. The old “Scenes From A Hat” was great also, as the contestants had to cook up a killer joke in one or two lines. I notice that some games never get played in America, even when Clive hosted the show in America. The “Authors” game, traditionally the opener in Britain, was played rarely if ever in the states. Guess the audience just didn’t get subtle humor about Thomas Hardy’s writing style. Anyway, I’ll go with Clive and the British version as my favorite, but I have to add that I’ve severely hurt myself laughing at the new version. ---
**Author:** ![Geenius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f475e1/32.png) [@Geenius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geenius)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2000, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-american-or-british-whos-line-is-it-anyway/20774/20 "2000-05-30T18:55:16Z")
One more voice chiming in for the British. And it’s not because of the personnel, either: I think Drew Carey is very good. Ryan Stiles, Colin Mochrie, Wayne Brady and Greg Proops are all fantastic. So’s the dark-haired “fourth slot” guy, whose name I can’t remember. But there’s just no _variety_ on the American show. It’s always the same people doing the same games. Brady always sings the song, Stiles is always the weatherman, etc. I loved the three-headed Broadway game too, partly because it was funny but mainly because it was _different._ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-american-or-british-whos-line-is-it-anyway/20774.md?page=2)