# Whose Line fans: Drew Carey's Improv-a-Ganza premeires tonight on GSN. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 11, 2011, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-line-fans-drew-careys-improv-a-ganza-premeires-tonight-on-gsn/577967 "2011-04-11T16:13:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-line-fans-drew-careys-improv-a-ganza-premeires-tonight-on-gsn/577967/61 "2011-05-25T19:30:57Z")
Don’t forget the time too they were playing sentences and Chip(??) had to throw the paper down because he said it was “racist”. So they don’t prep those in the least ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-line-fans-drew-careys-improv-a-ganza-premeires-tonight-on-gsn/577967/62 "2011-05-25T21:07:36Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > Except that the filming schedule for this version is different.. > > Look, I tried to offer you a plausible explanation for why they’re not doing some of the games. You don’t think it’s plausible, that’s fine. The fact is, they’re not doing Scenes From a Hat for a reason. Maybe they just don’t like it. However, I can see potential problems in the turnaround time that would not have applied to Whose Line. Take it easy. You’re getting too worked up over this issue. I agree that there must be some reason why they’re not doing it. I just don’t think that it’s because of time constraints or the need to filter out some clunkers. As **gonzoron** said, improv-ers routinely deal with such things – and as I said, they could always filter the clunkers out off-stage and then use those suggestions at a later time. The fact that they’re on a different filming schedule (however one chooses to interpret that term) doesn’t really matter. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-line-fans-drew-careys-improv-a-ganza-premeires-tonight-on-gsn/577967/63 "2011-05-25T21:08:37Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Don’t forget the time too they were playing sentences and Chip(??) had to throw the paper down because he said it was “racist”. So they don’t prep those in the least That was Jonathan Mangum. I appreciated the way he handled that situation. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-line-fans-drew-careys-improv-a-ganza-premeires-tonight-on-gsn/577967/64 "2011-05-26T12:48:55Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > Take it easy. You’re getting too worked up over this issue. > > I agree that there must be some reason why they’re not doing it. I just don’t think that it’s because of time constraints or the need to filter out some clunkers. As **gonzoron** said, improv-ers routinely deal with such things – and as I said, they could always filter the clunkers out off-stage and then use those suggestions at a later time. The fact that they’re on a different filming schedule (however one chooses to interpret that term) doesn’t really matter. I am not getting worked up. I disagree on the filming schedule not mattering, and I disagree that gonzoron’s experiences are especially relevant here. I would hope that a professional improv production set to be aired on national television would hold itself to higher standards than a local improv troupe, no matter how talented the local troupe may be. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-line-fans-drew-careys-improv-a-ganza-premeires-tonight-on-gsn/577967/65 "2011-05-26T12:55:51Z")
I’m very much okay with us disagreeing on this matter, **CandidGamera** , and I recognize that none of us know the whole story. That is why I think that you’re getting overly worked up over this issue, based on the emotion that you put into your previous response. I do agree that they likely want to hold themselves up to a higher standard than **gonzoron** ’s troupe, but based on what I’ve seen of less talented improv troupes, I don’t doubt that they could pull those games off anyway. Heck, they played those games on “Whose Line…”, so obviously, it’s possible to pull these things off well on a national broadcast. The filming schedule doesn’t matter at all. Like I said, they could always gather suggestions and then use them in a later show, like they did in “Whose Line…” It doesn’t matter if these shows are filmed every week or every day, especially if they don’t play these games at every show. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-line-fans-drew-careys-improv-a-ganza-premeires-tonight-on-gsn/577967/66 "2011-05-26T13:07:16Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > I’m very much okay with us disagreeing on this matter, **CandidGamera** , and I recognize that none of us know the whole story. That is why I think that you’re getting overly worked up over this issue, based on the emotion that you put into your previous response. > > I do agree that they likely want to hold themselves up to a higher standard than **gonzoron** ’s troupe, but based on what I’ve seen of less talented improv troupes, I don’t doubt that they could pull those games off anyway. Heck, they played those games on “Whose Line…”, so obviously, it’s possible to pull these things off well on a national broadcast. > > The filming schedule doesn’t matter at all. Like I said, they could always gather suggestions and then use them in a later show, like they did in “Whose Line…” It doesn’t matter if these shows are filmed every week or every day, especially if they don’t play these games at every show. I think you’re reading emotion where there is none. And I disagree, still, on the filming schedule’s relevance. I would suspect, but cannot confirm, that they filmed these one-per-weeknight, over the course of two weeks. If I recall correctly, Whose Line filmed a block of episode material on a weekend, then did not film again until the next weekend. The greater interval of time (and greater numbers of staff available) would facilitate the use of more complex audience suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-line-fans-drew-careys-improv-a-ganza-premeires-tonight-on-gsn/577967/67 "2011-05-26T13:14:37Z")
Again, the filming schedule does not matter. One does not have to use the suggestions on the very next day, or even anytime soon. Heck, it only takes a couple of seconds or two to examine each suggestion, so even if they received 500 or so suggestions for “Scenes From a Hat,” screening them would only take a few minutes. Not to mention that “World’s Worst” can be READILY performed without first gathering a bunch of written suggestions. All you have to do is poll the audience. Would there be a few clunkers? Sure, but they don’t have to take every single suggestion that the audience makes, and they certainly don’t shy away from the occasional clunker in their other games. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-line-fans-drew-careys-improv-a-ganza-premeires-tonight-on-gsn/577967/68 "2011-05-26T14:01:02Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > Again, the filming schedule does not matter. And again, I disagree. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-line-fans-drew-careys-improv-a-ganza-premeires-tonight-on-gsn/577967/69 "2011-05-26T19:56:42Z")
I don’t claim to be any improv expert based on 2 years of membership in a college troupe. So, don’t take my experience as gospel, just as an anecdote. I can just tell you that the “improv mindset” as I’ve seen it in my troupe and in books (like the improv “bible” _Truth in Comedy_) is to take what you’re given (either by the audience or your fellow performers), accept it, be inspired by it, and add to it. (“Yes, and…” is the mantra) So aside from overtly inflammatory stuff (like whatever was on that “racist” one), I’d be hard-pressed to call anything written on one of those papers a dud. I would see it as a challenge to use what was given, and I’d like to think these pros would too. Is there a reason they don’t do “Scenes from a hat?” probably. Maybe they just don’t like it, or are tired of it. Or maybe they did it and it fell flat and they edited it out. Who knows? I just don’t think the logistical issues are that big of a problem. They had someone to set a few hundred mousetraps, I’m sure they can have that same person collect papers and give them a read-through. If anyone disagrees, hey no skin off my nose, think what you wish, I’m not Ryan Stiles. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-line-fans-drew-careys-improv-a-ganza-premeires-tonight-on-gsn/577967/70 "2011-05-27T02:53:57Z")
> [@gonzoron](#): > > If anyone disagrees, hey no skin off my nose, think what you wish, I’m not Ryan Stiles. Coincidentally I am. And I don’t appreciate the nose jab. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-line-fans-drew-careys-improv-a-ganza-premeires-tonight-on-gsn/577967/71 "2011-05-27T12:45:42Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Coincidentally I am. > > And I don’t appreciate the nose jab. 😃 nose pun not intended. but funny, in retrospect. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-line-fans-drew-careys-improv-a-ganza-premeires-tonight-on-gsn/577967/72 "2011-05-27T15:38:26Z")
I always loved _Whose Line?_, and would like to watch this, but can’t find it on cable. We have DirecTV, which says GSN is channel 309, but _Improv-A-Ganza_ isn’t showing at any time on channel 309 that I can see after checking the guide. I’d rather not watch it online. Anyone know what’s up? ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-line-fans-drew-careys-improv-a-ganza-premeires-tonight-on-gsn/577967/73 "2011-05-27T15:53:51Z")
To hell with Hoedown, but World’s Worst is a pretty easy one and was nearly always good. Is it possible some games were trademarked by Dan Patterson? Or otherwise held to be his IP? I know that _can_ happen; on MST3K, when Joel Hodgson left the show, they stopped doing the Invention Exchange because that was his personal shtick carried over from his stand-up act. Even if there’s no legalities preventing Drew from using those games, he may not out of respect for Dan. Of course, I’m more than certain Hoedown was only done so much because Patterson liked it, so without him they have absolutely no desire to perform it. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-line-fans-drew-careys-improv-a-ganza-premeires-tonight-on-gsn/577967/74 "2011-05-27T16:54:45Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I always loved _Whose Line?_, and would like to watch this, but can’t find it on cable. We have DirecTV, which says GSN is channel 309, but _Improv-A-Ganza_ isn’t showing at any time on channel 309 that I can see after checking the guide. I’d rather not watch it online. Anyone know what’s up? That’s weird. It’s weeknights at 8PM and 11PM. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-line-fans-drew-careys-improv-a-ganza-premeires-tonight-on-gsn/577967/75 "2011-05-27T16:58:19Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > To hell with Hoedown, but World’s Worst is a pretty easy one and was nearly always good. > > Is it possible some games were trademarked by Dan Patterson? Or otherwise held to be his IP? I know that _can_ happen; on MST3K, when Joel Hodgson left the show, they stopped doing the Invention Exchange because that was his personal shtick carried over from his stand-up act. Even if there’s no legalities preventing Drew from using those games, he may not out of respect for Dan. > > Of course, I’m more than certain Hoedown was only done so much because Patterson liked it, so without him they have absolutely no desire to perform it. I believe some of the games are trademarked, but that the trademark applies to the NAME of the games. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-line-fans-drew-careys-improv-a-ganza-premeires-tonight-on-gsn/577967/76 "2011-05-27T21:22:47Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > I believe some of the games are trademarked, but that the trademark applies to the NAME of the games. This is what I believe as well. On this website: > **["Whose Line is it Anyway?" on DVD Campaign Central](http://www.whose-line.com/index.html)** in the “Latest News” section at the bottom of the page Drew supposedly said this: “When asked why he is creating a new show instead of reviving “Whose Line?” Drew said too many people own a part of WLiiA for it to work out. They couldn’t come to terms with ownership and finances.” I am still watching and loving this show. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-line-fans-drew-careys-improv-a-ganza-premeires-tonight-on-gsn/577967/77 "2011-05-29T06:24:45Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > They’ve got Jonathan Mangum, Sean Masterson, and Heather Anne Campbell as “new” performers. (If your last point of reference is Whose Line) Found a wiki for the show, and I’m thinking of Johnathan. ---
**Author:** ![C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecd19e/32.png) [@C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C.Montgomery_Burns)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-line-fans-drew-careys-improv-a-ganza-premeires-tonight-on-gsn/577967/78 "2011-05-29T13:41:33Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > To hell with Hoedown, but World’s Worst is a pretty easy one and was nearly always good. > > Is it possible some games were trademarked by Dan Patterson? Or otherwise held to be his IP? I know that _can_ happen; on MST3K, when Joel Hodgson left the show, they stopped doing the Invention Exchange because that was his personal shtick carried over from his stand-up act. Even if there’s no legalities preventing Drew from using those games, he may not out of respect for Dan. > > Of course, I’m more than certain Hoedown was only done so much because Patterson liked it, so without him they have absolutely no desire to perform it. I think this is closer. Dan Patterson made Whose Line with an established format and formula for episodes to follow. It wasn’t a straight improv show like Improv-A-Ganza. It used running gags like the points, the credit readings, even recurring banter between the performers. Wayne, Chip, Jeff, and to a lesser extent, Brad were almost strictly used as “musical” performers, while Ryan, Colin, Greg, and Kathy Greenwood did “scene” games. Whose Line had more “gimmick” games that were a good show for the audience, but the performers weren’t crazy about. Improv-A-Ganza is run by the performers, doing games they enjoy playing. It’s a freewheeling, straight improv performance based on the group’s live shows. If you notice, games done this show that were done on Whose Line all have new names- Moving People is called Moving Bodies, Whose Line is called Sentences (for obvious reasons), Quick Change is called New Choice (with more flexibility for the caller), Film, TV, and Theater Styles is called Options, Song Styles is called Song to an Audience Member, Greatest Hits is called Hits Compilation, and so on. Its format is also much more flexible- Jeff and Chip might do a Moving Bodies scene, while Drew and Greg sell CDs in Hits compilation, for example. A scene with Colin and Ryan is a rare treat, rather than making up 3/4ths of the show. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-line-fans-drew-careys-improv-a-ganza-premeires-tonight-on-gsn/577967/79 "2011-06-22T13:26:28Z")
So the first season is over. The ratings were okay, but not great, and it’s not certain if there will be a second one. Here’s hoping that the show will come back. I can see why the show didn’t get stellar ratings, though. It was plenty good, but not as funny as “Whose Line…”. Say what you will about the games that require some scripted setup (e.g. “Hollywood Director,” “Weird Newscasters”), but they did help raise the level of hilarity. I also wish that they had given the new gal, Heather Anne Campbell, a lot more screen time. She only appeared in [eight of the 40 episodes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drew_Carey's_Improv-A-Ganza#Cast), but I thought she was hilarious – definitely the best of the female improvisers that Drew has featured over the years. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-line-fans-drew-careys-improv-a-ganza-premeires-tonight-on-gsn/577967/80 "2011-06-22T13:49:52Z")
It seems like they should be able to do it again. Anyone know how long it took to film? Like, did they all do shows for a couple weeks and that was it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-line-fans-drew-careys-improv-a-ganza-premeires-tonight-on-gsn/577967.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-line-fans-drew-careys-improv-a-ganza-premeires-tonight-on-gsn/577967.md?page=5)