I’ve just caught this show on a couple of occassions, but I find it amazing.
If you haven’t seen it the idea is that they put several comedians in a situation and they have to totally improvise the funny situation.
For example. Two men. You work in a toll both. Make up some funny dialog. When you hear the buzzer whoever spoke last will have to brake into a classic show tune based on the last line of dialog spoken.
They are amazingly good at it. They always seem to have a rhyme and a witicism.
Is this done by a trick? Do they actually get the ‘scenes’ ahead of time and have a chance to think about it? Is it hugely edited and they do this for 2 hours and only show the funnier half of it?
The consensus around here seems to be that it’s coupled with character familiarity and heavy editing. If you’ve seen the Drew Carey version, you should have noticed that they rarely deviate the format of their sketches. Colin as the Reporter on Location, Colin and Ryan as the CD pitchmen with Wayne as the CD, Colin as the newsanchor with Wayne doing sports and Ryan the weather.
There have been some shows that indicate they aren’t aware of what they’ll be doing beforehand. Like the Hoedown where Ryan couldn’t think of anything and Drew had to back him up.
That’s very true. I first watched the British version in the mid-90s and was usually ROTFLMAO at every episode. Greg Proops was by far my favorite. And WLIIA is the only reason I knew enough to go see him perform live when I was in SF.
The American version sux most of the time. Wayne Brady is about the only reason I’ll watch and I hope he goes on to much bigger and better things (like his Wayne Brady Show). Drew Carey apparently sucks at stand-up but curiously delivers his lines on The Drew Carey Show with great effect and accuracy. The host of the British version is/was by far funnier than Drew is in the same role.
I don’t think that the players are aware of the materials ahead of time. It’s all improv. I’m sure there’s heavy editing, but I do enjoy the show when I can catch it (usually a couple of times a month). Some of the stuff they show on the American version amazes me (in terms of how risque it is), given that it appears on Fox Family!
List me with the folks who preferred the British version, one of the reasons being that they often mixed up roles, not always the same folks doing the same things like on Drew’s version.
It’s actually improv, but they film more than they show and select the good bits to air. The british version also aired additional semi-outtake shows, shows with bits which were trimmed form the aired shows but were nonetheless often quite funny.
They varied the casts a lot more in the british version, though there were regulars… guests were more frequent and they didn’t have the 3 locked in people. Colin and Ryan were often on but certainly not every show.
Why didn’t Mike McShane ever show up on the US version? he was hilarious on the UK version and he’s an American. Josie Lawrence did one episode, but I’d like to see more of the british cast members- Tony Slattery, Stephen Frost, John Sessions…
Yea, it’s really not Who’s Line without Tony Slattery, who frequently slayed me. Though the best one was a “Party Quirks” where one of them got “Acts like Tony Slattery.” I thought I was gonna die.
I like the British version better, too. Mostly because I don’t think Drew Carey is funny. I think Wanye Brady is incredible, and that Ryan and Colin have great chemistry. I love when they’re really on, and you can see Wayne sitting in his chair just rolling with laughter.
I started posting the same thing earlier, but I accidentally deleted my post. Without a doubt the funniest man ever on Who’s Line. He managed to be bawdy and silly while retaining a perfect charm. I didn’t even bother watching seasons 6 and on because he had been kicked off by then. I haven’t watched Who’s Line in forever (the American version kind of ruined it for me), but now I’m checking the Comedy Central listings…
I’ve done improvisational humor on stage off and on for the last nine years or so.
Improv is not scripted. Most improv goes upon a few basic rules. First and foremost is following the follower. Essentially, each person follows what the others are doing. If you have an idea for something, and the other improvisor veers away from what you had planned, let it go. Follow what they do, and they’ll follow you. There’s also the concept Yes, and…, which means that, mentally, when an element is added or a line spoken, agreement should also include a new element (example: “That horse is green!” “Yes, and we can ride it to the castle.” “Yes, and…” You get the idea).
There typically IS a structure to the pieces performed, which allows for familiarity, which can help breed humor.
As far as the show is concerned, I’d venture to say it’s not scripted. But anyone who has ever performed improv would be able to essentially step right in to the pieces performed on stage.
In fact, most of the games you’ve seen on that show I have done at one point or another.
I love improv. It’s so…intimate with the audience.
I did some improv in my acting class and it’s like nothing else. Your mind is just FLYING trying to keep up with what everyone else is doing. I thought it was fun, except once when everyone in my group abandoned me out on stage. Though the audience cracked up at my “Holy s**t! Guys?!” running out exit…
I’ve done improv on and off stage, too, though mostly on. One of the scariest and greatest feelings is standing there with the lights on you and waiting to hear what absurdity the audience is going to suggest. It’s funny - I really don’t like getting up to speak in front of groups (and I have to do an oral report this semester, ack) but I LOVE doing improv.
My troupe does/did a lot of games from Whose Line, in the same format with a host. And I really don’t like the Carey version either, the old British ones are the best.
My friend’s favorite moment from the British shows was during a game of “Props.” The item looked like a big red glove, almost like a rooster’s wattle (sp?), and Mike McShane put it on his head and said “I’m the cow from Chernobyl!”
One advantage that the British version had (over the American) was Clive Anderson, who is soooooo much funnier than Drew Carey. Drew is not too great at improv, but he insists on getting in at least the “special something with me” act in the last segment. Clive Anderson has a very quick and dry wit.
I also wish more of the regulars from earlier seasons in the British version would come back on the show now. Josie Lawrence has guested on the American version a few times, but I’d definitely like to see Mike McShane, Tony Slattery, Paul Merton, among others.
Oh, yea, Clive Anderson was funny. Especially all the jokes that revolved around his neck and his hair. The problem with Drew Carey is that he never really seems to get into it, it’s always “Drew Carey”, not whatever character he’s supposed to be.
Me and my friend from acting class did an improvisational opera about a Greek goddess and a soldier. We did so well several other students came up to us asking if we prepared before hand.
I’ve watched back-to-back shows on Fox Family and have seen both shows having the exact same games featuring the exact same players in the exact same order. That was when it was really driven home for me how much they rely on familiarity.
The British version is the best. Although I’m hoping the BBC puts the radio series on the net for us to listen to. I have very high hopes. By far my favorite moment is was Josie bit Tony. I’m still chuckling more then 5 years after I first saw it.