Whose Line Is It Anyway?: The Funniest Show On TV!
Written: Jan 18 '01 (Updated Feb 22 '01)
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Pros: Fantastic improvisational comedy, gut-crunching laughter, Wayne Brady.
Cons: It's not on every night.
The Bottom Line: Whose Line Is It Anyway? is the funniest show on TV. You would be a fool to miss it!
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| Nathanael73's Full Review: ABC |
It has become a weekly ritual for my wife and I to watch Whose Line Is It Anyway? on Thursday nights on ABC. We are not big TV watchers, in fact, we would much rather read or rent a foreign film, yet the TV takes precedence over all else on Thursday at 8/7 central. Whose Line Is It Anyway? is an improvisational comedy show based on the English programme of the same name. Maintaining a long-standing American tradition, Drew Carey and his pals stole the idea from the Brits.
The result is sheer brilliance. Carey hosts the show, which features four comedians, who are occasionally backed by a couple of musicians. The comedians are Wayne Brady, Ryan Stiles (of The Drew Carey Show), Colin Mockery and a rotating fourth member. The four comedians each have to perform skits chosen by Drew and the audience, sometimes in pairs, sometimes solo, and sometimes all together. The skits involve props, spontaneous singalongs, role-playing, mime, word-play and more. Bogus points are awarded to the "winner" of each skit. As Drew says, this is "the show where the points don't count and everything is made up."
The show relies heavily on the comedians for it's success. The skits are really just a vehicle for their improvisational talents. Many of the lines and actions they come up with are so brilliant that I am convinced it is not all spontaneous - there must be some preparation. Nevertheless, the result is the most hilarious television around. Wayne Brady in particular has a rare gift for improvised lyrics, whether it be rap, gospel, rock or country. Colin Mockery is the best mime I've ever seen - and probably the only funny one.
Whose Line Is It Anyway? only lasts 30 minutes, but thankfully ABC is showing two episodes back to back each week. Nevertheless, an hour goes by pretty quickly when you are laughing until you cry, and I am always left begging for more. Let's hope ABC never takes the show off the air. If you haven't yet watched Whose Line Is It Anyway?, cancel all prior Thursday evening engagements and reserve your favourite perch in front of the TV.
Update (2/22/01): ABC is now showing Whose Line Is It Anyway? on Wednesday nights at 10/9 Central, in addition to it's regular Thursday night slot.
Recommended:
Yes
Average Program Rating: TV PG -- parental guidance suggested
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Epinions.com ID:
Nathanael73
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Location: Michigan
Reviews written: 85
Trusted by: 89 members
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Traveler Reader Writer
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