Show Summary
THE PRESMISE
All in all, "Whose Line is it Anyway?" (referred to as Whose Line, WL, DL, DLIIA, WLIIA, and various capitalization combinations) is basically a show where four people in the world of comedy tape an entire show or three where there is absolutely no script. Everything that any of them say comes off the top of their heads. They are simply given a premise and are told to follow it. Oftentimes, they don't. The show is hilarious and is one of the best airing in television today. A little about the two versions of the show follows, along with a schedule.

UK SERIES
Host: Clive Anderson
Music: Richard Vranch (Series 2-9); Laura Hall (Series 10)

The UK series of Whose Line is it Anyway? ran for a total 10 years, from 1988 to 1998. The show began on the radio, with Clive Anderson as the host and the main regular being John Sessions. It moved to television in 1989, the year some of the best people started to perform on the show.

A lot of the greatest performers of the UK series have not been seen for years on Whose Line, namely Paul Merton, Tony Slattery, Stephen Fry, and Stephen Frost. They and others are missed. However, some of the biggest names in current Whose Line began with the show and have stuck with it ever since. In fact, one of them (Ryan Stiles) has been on the show so many times that it prompted Clive to make his introduction as such: "And for his 900th consecutive appearance on this show, the actor, comedian, and producer's brother, Ryan Stiles!". Currently, Ryan has made over 200 appearances on the show, UK and US editions combined.

Whose Line was taped in England for most of its run, but had a few US filmings, namely the 1998 Hollywood series. Another in New York was taped 1991-1992.

US SERIES
Host: Drew Carey
Music: Laura Hall, Linda Taylor, guest musicians

ABC picked up the show after the UK series stopped running. Whose Line is currently in its fourth season for the US, a total 14 years, longer than even another favorite show of mine,
M*A*S*H. Regulars like Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles, and Greg Proops have been with the show practically since the beginning. Others like Brad Sherwood and Chip Esten started a couple years into it. Still more like Wayne Brady first appeared in the Hollywood UK edition. And lastly, others like Jeff Davis and Kathy Greenwood are brand-new to the scene.

Host Drew Carey is used not only because he is in comedy himself, but also because the producers thought it would help boost the ratings if someone familiar was on the show. Drew has the time of his life when he's watching the others perform: you can hear him giggling like crazy and has come close to falling out of his seat a few times.

It's more prominent now how hilarious the cast finds each other. The best example you can find of this is watching a game of "Improbable Mission" with Greg, Ryan, and Colin. Greg, the voice on the tape, told the guys that the Emir of Groovefunkistan needed his burnoose cleaned and left it at that (the mission was doing the laundry). Colin often goes around the bend when playing this game, and this proved it. Wait until he won't stop using the cat as a cleaning agent. Drew laughs loudly, and you can catch Greg double over. Wayne is practically dancing in the background, and even Ryan himself has to turn his back on Colin's insanity to compose himself. Colin carries on as if this is how he does his own laundry.

SCHEDULE
All times Eastern. You can also check out TVGuide.com for your local listings. I agree with the TV-PG DL rating the show receives. Some episodes are also rated TV-14, so if you're concious of what your children watch, or you're not allowed to watch it, check the ratings.
Central: -1 hour; Mountain: -2 hours; Pacific: -3 hours.
US SERIES
ABC

Thursdays
8:00pm-8:30pm

ABC Family
Weeknights
10:00pm-11:00pm
UK SERIES
Comedy Central

Weekdays
11:00am-11:30am
6:00pm-6:30pm

Sundays
10:00am-12:00pm

Monday
8:00pm-9:00pm
AMANDA PUTS IN HER $1.50

Generally, webmasters supply their rants on the subject their sites are dedicated to. So I shall do the same.

First and foremost, my favorite player is definitely Greg Proops, followed closely by Colin Mochrie. I feel a connection with Greg through his sarcasm and cynicism, and he has the same sense of humor I have. Colin is just so outrageous and whacko that one can't tell what he's thinking, and unpredicticality shows a lot of talent to me. I'm not saying I don't like the others. Tony Slattery is my favorite of the British performers, for one thing, and I love listening to Wayne Brady and Brad Sherwood sing, as well as Chip Esten. But it's just an attatchment I can feel to Greg and Colin.

When it comes to least favorites, I'll stick to picking on the regulars of the show. Now, I absolutely love Ryan Stiles. I think he's brilliant and he comes up with some the weirdest stuff. But sometimes his jokes tend to get repetetive (I know a lot of people who will agree he has to stop picking on Drew in games). He also references the penis a little too much for my liking. Greg, in the least, when he picks on the host, varies how he does it and is just lightning-quick with his banter, especially the classic Clive vs. Greg banter. Colin sticks to making fun of his own hair (or lack thereof), getting back at the other players (his Drunk Mother hoedown is a perfect example), or making subtle references to Ryan's height or the size of his nose.

Of the two series, I prefer the UK version, but that's probably because the British were so much more obnoxious than the Americans can get away with. This is why I tend to prefer male comedians, as they're more obnoxious than women. Tony is Mr. Sexual Innuendo, and he can get very obnoxious about it. That's what I love. Plus I like hearing the British talk. A lot of people from the UK series are missed greatly by US viewers.

And of the two hosts, I love Clive a lot more than Drew, but I have nothing against Drew. Clive was, like Greg, lightning-quick and varied in his jokes. He picked on himself and also made subtle jokes. Drew has been improving as a host, but like Ryan, needs to lay off on saying certain things at certain times. And we already know that the points don't matter.

Now Amanda shall share some favorites.

FAVORITE SUPERHEROES
Ryan Stiles
Captain Hallucination
"Heading downriver! The Indians are coming!"
Hyperactive Man
"It's poultry in motion!"
Man Who Says Everything Twice Man
"Bye-bye...bye-bye!"
Mr. Smooth
Embarrassed About His Erection Boy
Leg-Humping Man
Bad John Wayne Impression Man


Colin Mochrie
Captain Buttocks Promiscuous Man
"Yes, I'll see you at eleven. Bring the poodle."
Nude and Proud of it Boy
Bimbo Woman
"My roots are showing!"
The Disco Kid
"Everyone's staying alive."
Captain Poultry
Mispronounciation Boy
"What's that on the Minitor?"
Captain Ballerina
The Rhyming Couplet Kid
Pants-Around-the-Ankles Boy

Greg Proops
Junk Man
"Look what they're watching in England!"
Captain Caterpillar
Mr. Muscle Zimmer Man
"I'll throw it at the prat with the bald head."
Obsessive-Compulsive Man
"I can't stop washing my hands."
Impotence Boy
Wonder Woman


Tony Slattery
Misconception Boy
Obscure Reference Boy

OTHERS
Mike McShane - Coquettish Slut Man
Stephen Frost - Over-Indulgence Man
Josie Lawrence - Carpet Appreciation Girl, Woman Who's Shocked By Everything