It seems like improvised comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway? is still with us, years after the demise of the British original (1988-98) and the US version (1998-06), because of its constant repeats. The superior British original now airs weekdays on Dave at 7pm and the hit-and-miss American version floats around the schedule on Five US.
But isn't it time for a resurrection of the UK game-show? I never understood why our version ended in 1998, anyway! It was always popular show, wasn't it? But, for whatever reason, immediately after a season set in Hollywood (to accommodate the US-based contestants, after years of them commuting over to the UK), Whose Line was axed by Channel 4 and a US version began just a few months later!
Actor/comedian/game-show host Drew Carey replaced Anderson -- who was actually offered the job, but declined because he didn't want to travel to L.A for recordings....Despite Anderson's loss, the US version at least retained the services of Colin Mochrie and Ryan Stiles, who had become the main reason to watch the UK original. Stiles in particular reached genius levels of creativity and off-the-cuff humour during his time on the show.
For me, and other Whose Line purists, the US version was always a pale imitator. There were less games, little variety/rotation of games, irritating interaction by host Carey, distracting celebrity guests, an emphasis on the singing (the worst aspect of Whose Line), the US audience suggestions were less inventive, and semi-regulars Wayne Brady and Brad Sherwood always left me cold.
The US version was cancelled by ABC in 2003, amidst poor ratings, but resurrected by sister station ABC Family in 2004, before they ran out of new material in 2006.
In its TV infancy (having transferred to Channel 4 from Radio Four), the UK show was even worse than the eventual US version. Who remembers John Sessions trying pathetically to get laughs with pompous historical and literary "jokes"... or Tony Slattery flailing around and resorting to schoolboy humour whenever he messed up? Which was pretty much all the time.
Even funnyman Mike McShane was mostly memorable for the amount of sweat he produced, or the endearingly goofy way he'd bow to the audience after every game in the early years! Mind you, he was easily the most impressive singer the show ever produced, with his rhyming always enjoyably unpredictable.
The pace, consistency and belly-laughs were missing on Whose Line for some time, really -- until the mid-90s, when the producers hit a winning combination by just rotating a five-person line-up of Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Stephen Frost, Colin Mochrie and Josie Lawrence...
Memories Of Whose Line1. The mysterious and mute "Richard Vranch on the piano".
2. Josie Lawrence's man-style suits.
3. Futilely trying to lip-read what the contestants say to each other as they go back to their seats after a game.
4. Seeing the look of disdain in performers' eyes whenever they're forced to work with Tony Slattery.
5. Tony Slattery's tasteless camel-colour jacket with tassels.
6. Tony Slattery taking great delight in forcing Ryan Stiles to eat and drink outrageously in the "Helping Hands" game.
7. The morose bunch always seated directly behind Clive Anderson in the audience!
8. The genuine hatred of the "Hoedown" by most contestants -- but particularly Colin Mochrie and Ryan Stiles, who regularly messed it up on purpose, found a way to not sing, or once declined to take part!
9. The banter between Greg Proops and Clive Anderson over British and American idioms – like pavement/sidewalk, lift/elevator, etc.
10. The classic games: Helping Hands, Superheroes, Scenes From A Hat, World's Worst, Hoedown, Party Quirks and Props.
11. Colin Mochrie's chicken/velociraptor impersonation.
12. The size of Ryan Stiles' feet.
13. The US versions' hilarious game where audience members do sound effects for a scene acted by Colin and Ryan – resulting in quacking elephants! Classic.
14. The contestants always mentioning producer "Dan Patterson" in the "reading the credits" denouement. Or mispronouncing editor "Mykola Pawluk".
15. The inventive ways Clive Anderson would score the show, unlike Drew Carey's dismal efforts (his "the points don't matter" catchphrase being particularly irritating...)
16. Father Ted's Ardal O'Hanlon; scared shitless as a guest performer one week, and failing dismally at every single game. Painful to watch.
17. Rory Bremner's occasional appearances, where the games were mysteriously tailored to fit with his impressions...
Trivia
1. The original BBC Radio Four series was presented by Clive Anderson, with Stephen Fry and John Sessions as regular performers. All three transferred to the television version, with Sessions even sharing equal-billing with Anderson in the credits.
2. Laura Hall (resident musician on the US version), made her Whose Line debut in the UK show's Hollywood-based run.
3. UK regular Josie Lawrence actually made 2 appearances on the US version.
4. Colin Mochrie's face is often used in "animutations", as a programming in-joke.
5. Greg Proops counts Colin Mochrie as one of his closest friends, as does Ryan Stiles.
6. Ryan Stiles appeared in both Hot Shots! movies.
7. Greg Proops, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles and Brad Sherwood often tour the US in various improv groups these days – either together, or in split groups.
So can we have it back, please? Ryan Stiles and Colin Mochrie appearances would be great, but surely there's a new breed of eager improvisers out there, who grew up watching the show in the 90s? Clive Anderson's still around, too...
