I would love to see what Robin Williams would do on that show. The guys on it now are brilliant, but I wonder how long they could keep up with Robin.
Howie Mandel in his prime, and on coke (Robin too), I think would also have a lot to say. IMHO
When I read the title the first person I thought of Robin Williams.
I’d would like to see if Jim Carrey could keep up with the veterans of the show.
I think a lot of the talent on that show is knowing when to be subtle, and Robin and Jim just can’t cut it. I just wish they’d take Drew off of it and stop doing hoedowns.
Have you ever seen the British version of the show? It’s a lot funnier. The host (Clive Anderson) is really hilarious.
Very true. It’s because of this show that I was a Ryan Stiles and Colin Mocherie fan long before Ryan was on Drew Carey Show.
If you want people for the show, add Tony Slattery and Josie Lawrence from the original show. And, again, get rid of Drew Carey. He’s out of his element.
Agreed. The original British one was funnier. And agreed, Drew Carey does nothing for the show.
The hoedowns can be a kind of fun way to end the show though. I think they’re more fun than funny.
Jim Carey would be interesting, didn’t even think of him.
I know what you mean about being subtle, which Robin Williams often isn’t, but I think he is such a genious he would have no problem adapting. Billy Crystal would be good too I would think.
I’m glad to see I’m not the only one who does not see the point in Drew Carrey. I have never found anything he does remotely funny. I love the British WLIIA, but the few times I’ve tried to watch the American version, I found myself feeling embarrassed for the performers.
I’d like to see a sort of “golden oldies” show with Tim Conway, Carol Burnett, Bob Newhart and ? just to see what they’d do with it.
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*Originally posted by JoeyHemlock *
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Josie Lawrence has been on the American version a few times this season.
If you were to ask me, I’d have on Jonathon Winters and Milton Berle on the show.
If you like the British version, they are playing newer episodes of it on Comedy Central, circa 1997 I believe.
My vote’s for Mike McShane. I’d like to see him and Wayne Brady do an improv of reggae.
Oh, jeez, now I’m gonna have to make a point of watching the American version. Such a crush on her… It’s the accent. Or is it the hair? Or the sense of humor… auugh…
anyway.
They had George Wendt from Cheers on the British version once. He tried hard, but I guess he wasn’t really experienced in improv because it looked like he was having a very hard time keeping up.
In college I knew most of a great 5-member improv group - they kept it up for a few years after graduating. One of them is now a writer for the Chris Rock show. Would be fun to see some of them on the show, but I guess they aren’t exactly famous enough…
I totally agree, the British version is much, much funnier. The reason is simple, too: Clive Anderson doesn’t give away the joke with the suggestion. He’ll give them characters and a scenario that have potential, but that isn’t inherently funny in and of itself. Drew Carey’s suggestions are always jokes themselves, leaving the performers less room to play.
I also agree, George Wendt was interesting, but an amateur compared to Ryan, Colin, etc.
Did anyone see the one and only time Eddie Izzard was on the show? He was very funny, slightly surreal, a little different than what we usually get. I would have loved to see more of him. (I’m a huge Izzard fan. Caught the live show in Seattle a couple of months back. Woo hoo!)
I don’t know if I’d feel comfortable suggesting someone to be on the show. Improv (and the attendant chemistry) is so ephemeral, I wouldn’t feel confident making an accurate prediction about who would be good or not. But I do think the observation that Robin Williams and Jim Carrey can’t be subtle enough in a sustained manner is probably true.
If you held my feet to the fire, and you disallowed prior contestants (e.g. Tony Slattery), I’d say Billy Crystal.
I saw the one with Eddie Izzard. It was great.
Personally, I think the old Steve Martin would be good. From back in his SNL days. Steven Wright would be, well, interesting. I don’t know if he’d be good or not, but definitely interesting.
george wendt was definitely a disappointment. i should think everyone was expecting more from norm. i like both the british and american versions m’self, but i do miss clive. i think amanda peet would be hilarious- she played the hitwoman in ‘the whole nine yards’ and is soon to be in something new. rare that you see women that can play with the boys like that- in the comic world, at least.
Dana Carvey would be interesting.
How about Janeane Garafalo? John Lithgow, I would think, would be pretty fleet of mind.
Mr. T
Imagine him in the singing sequences…
I think George Carlin might give a good one time performance. However, I think Dana Carvey would bomb. All he would try to do would be impressions. And Greg Proops did better on the British show than on the American version. And I think Ryan and Colin are getting tired, they keep reverting to gay jokes for every game.
I would like to see Dennis Miller – I think that his sense of humor would do very well on the show
Stand ups don’t do improv well at ALL. While a standup’s comedy is completely reliant on their own writing and delivery ability, it is NOT reliant on the spontanious, quick verbal humor that improv is. On top of that, about 90% of improv is being able to listen to your fellow actors and synthesize what THEY are doing while you are planning your next move. Stand-ups who are not used to working in ensambles get really lost really easily.
Robin Williams would be the only guy I can think of (MAYBE Chris Rock) who would have the reaction time fast enough to deal with improv, but he wouldn’t have the listening skills to play off other actors. He would dominate the stage, which is a big no-no.
I went to a taping of the British version when they did their American episodes in LA. Clive Anderson was amazing, warming up the audience whenever there was a minor lull, bantered with the improvers, took the brunt of everyone’s jokes like a pro. He TOTALLY made that show. As for previous guests, John Sessions was always my favorite, when he was on, he was on fire. And, of course, Ryan Stiles. You want to see an example of an improver who has mastered listening for laughts, look at him. He plays off of what the other actors say CONSTANTLY. Brilliant.
But on a strickly selfish level. I want me to be on there. I could take Stiles on the Questions game, I KNOW it.
Maybe. But once Colin Mochrie is up, he never goes off. That man is a machine.
Jonathan Winter could pull it off, of that I am sure.
I don’t think Steve Martin could do it, he has stated many times that he is not a spontanious humor person, he needs a script. What he can do with said script is often genius, but he does need it.