Drew Caricature

June 3, 2009 10:56 AM

Can't get enough Whose Line is it Anyway? 71 Scenes From a Hat, 16 Party Quirks, 52 Props, 5 Film Dubs, 84 Hoedowns, 37 Sound Effects, 45 Questions Only, 11 Hats/Dating Service Videos, 52 World's Worst, 13 News Flashes, 35 Let's Make a Date, 9 Press Conferences, 60 Superheroes, 6 Foreign Film Dubs, 29 Irish Drinking Songs, 4 Animals, 9 If You Know What I Mean, 2 Backwards Scene, 54 Greatest Hits, 58 Song Styles, 2 All in One Voice, 21 Scenes to Rap, 3 90-Second Alphabets, 11 Questionable Impressions, 4 Two-Line Vocabulary, 3 Number of Words, 17 Weird Newscasters and (probably the most telling of how much they had to hold back due to censorship standards) 6 Blooper Reels. Prefer the UK version? Every episode of Seasons 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
posted by Christ, what an asshole (70 comments total)

Man, that's a lot of links. Ten million points.
posted by box at 11:02 AM on June 3, 2009 [5 favorites]

If I fail my CFA Level I exam this Saturday, I'm blaming you, Christ, what an asshole.
But seriously, mad props.
posted by Lucubrator at 11:03 AM on June 3, 2009

Christ, what a wonderful post.
posted by cavalier at 11:05 AM on June 3, 2009 [1 favorite]

Drew Carey : Clive Anderson :: Drew Carey : Bob Barker

Which is to say, utterly absent of charm or charisma; capable of ruining any institution.
posted by Sys Rq at 11:05 AM on June 3, 2009 [7 favorites]

Nice post. :)

The Melissa Underwear Incident.
posted by zarq at 11:06 AM on June 3, 2009 [3 favorites]

That's a lot of links, you unemployed or somethin'?

J/K. Nice post, looking forward to watching these at home.

The Melissa Underwear Incident.

I remember this one -- hysterical.
posted by inigo2 at 11:08 AM on June 3, 2009

I'm Spartacus.
posted by DiscourseMarker at 11:09 AM on June 3, 2009

That's a lot of links, you unemployed or somethin'?

Ultimate procrastinator. :D

Other fun cameos: Richard Simmons, Robin Williams, Stephen Colbert
posted by Christ, what an asshole at 11:14 AM on June 3, 2009 [2 favorites]

Richard Simmons as living Scenery Probably my favorite Whose Line is it Anyway? clip.
posted by lilkeith07 at 11:15 AM on June 3, 2009 [2 favorites]

"Detergent, detergent... the cat!" (I rewatch this sketch whenever I need cheering up because it makes me laugh so hard.)
posted by marginaliana at 11:23 AM on June 3, 2009 [2 favorites]

Posts like this make me want something non-deadly and non-permanent to happen to me so I can have a ton of time to do nothing but watch all of it.

Thanks.
posted by SpiffyRob at 11:24 AM on June 3, 2009

Should have previewed. Still a great show, wish they were still recording episodes, I would love to see it live.
posted by lilkeith07 at 11:27 AM on June 3, 2009

Man, this was like, my favorite show when i didn't have cable.
And then the Food Network came along.

Also-Steven Colbert is in some of these! When was he ever on the show?
posted by The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew at 11:30 AM on June 3, 2009

I'm confused: is this post stating that Christ, what an asshole can't get enough of this show, or is he asking us? Damned program names that end in punctuation.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:35 AM on June 3, 2009

You know, I've really had enough of these 729 link youtube posts.
posted by brevator at 11:41 AM on June 3, 2009 [1 favorite]

I know I'll be burned as a heretic, but I've almost always preferred the US cast (not counting Carey) over the UK cast. Almost.
posted by anastasiav at 11:46 AM on June 3, 2009 [3 favorites]

Shortform improv (like this) can certainly be cute and fun, but if you want to watch something mindblowing you should see live longform improv. 30 minutes (often more) of entertainment based on a single audience suggestion. When done well, it's like magic.

Some of the more famous places to check it out include iO Theatre (in LA and Chicago), Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (in LA and NYC), and Second City (in LA, Chicago and Toronto). However, plenty of other cities have a longform presence.

Unfortunately for impatient websurfers, longform improv often loses a lot of its magic on video, and it isn't guaranteed to be hilarious from start to finish (the really incredible stuff usually starts to hit 1/3 to 1/2 of the way in, once things have been established and called back). However, if you want to see some great longform online you should check out Trophy Wife's greatest hits. Commit to watching a full one, and remember that this is live, in front of an audience, and is made up on the spot.

Also, this week is the 7th annual Los Angeles Improv Comedy Festival at iO West. Plenty of great longform shows and workshops to check out if you're in the area!
posted by adamk at 11:48 AM on June 3, 2009 [7 favorites]

Can't get enough Whose Line is it Anyway?

No, I've had plenty, thanks.
posted by jbickers at 11:49 AM on June 3, 2009 [1 favorite]

anastasiav: I agree, a hundred times. This is one show where the American version is better. But Drew Carey is like the unfunny kid that the others wish would leave them alone. He's so... awkward...
posted by Acey at 11:51 AM on June 3, 2009

My favorite was the episode where they were prevented from doing a scene with Bill Cosby and Hitler as unlikely roommates, so they found a way to make every joke after that a Hitler joke. Whose Line, Godwinned.
posted by steef at 11:52 AM on June 3, 2009 [2 favorites]

I regularly (re)watch both versions, alternating between them and I've observed that the UK version doesn't hit its stride till the 4th or 5th season, and once it does, is better than the US vehicle. The American version veers somewhat away from the production of comedy to become more of a variety show i.e. all the singing games. And, oh, Drew Carey brings it down a notch.
posted by Gyan at 11:59 AM on June 3, 2009

Lilkeith07: I would love to see it live

You sort of still can - http://www.whoseliveanyway.com/dates.html - we're going to one of the Ann Arbor shows this month - thrilled about Proops and Stiles, wish Mochrie could be there...

I recently read that Ryan Stiles hated the musical elements on the show, which in a weird way makes his tounge in cheek even funnier to me. I can't wait to go home and waste an evening on these links.
posted by librarianamy at 11:59 AM on June 3, 2009

This might be the greatest post I've ever seen. Two-Line Vocabulary always makes me laugh until I cry.
posted by specialagentwebb at 11:59 AM on June 3, 2009

I don't know why, but the Richard Simmons living props sketch still brings tears to my eyes.
posted by Ber at 12:35 PM on June 3, 2009

This has to be my favorite newflash, if nothing else than for the audience reaction.
posted by 445supermag at 12:40 PM on June 3, 2009

The moment at which I realized the gulf between the hosts of the British and American versions was when during a game where the playersv had to recount some story in the style of a particular author, Josie Lawrence (ha-cha-cha) announced she was going to do it in the style of Louisa May Alcott.

By was of explanation, she mentioned that Alcott was "notable for writing 'Little Women' and 'Little Men.'"

Clive Anderson added, "Yes, and little else."

Can anyone imagine Drew Carey pulling that one off?
posted by ricochet biscuit at 12:45 PM on June 3, 2009 [9 favorites]

adamk: I'll see your 30-minute sketches and raise you Die Nasty.

They do a 53 hour long-form improv marathon once per year in September. If you can be in Edmonton, it's worth it.
posted by vernondalhart at 12:49 PM on June 3, 2009 [1 favorite]

Carey has done more damage to Price Is Right than he did to Whose Line?, IMO. The Green Screen Show should've been more awesome than it was, but Improv and Animation are two great tastes that don't work so good together...

I cried when I missed the "Whose Live Anyway" show when it came to SLOtown last year, but am delighted to see Ryan and Company are coming back (in 10 more months, sigh).

Looks like Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood are doing their own live improv show on tour, but there are no new dates scheduled after last week. And Colin will be a guest star on the LAST episode of King of the Hill, playing, of course, a Canadian who has a culture clash with the Texans in a mutually understated way, June 14th on Fux (but it has already aired... in CANADA... and is available to see on imdb and Hulu if you're in the right country).

Best obscure and absurd Colin Mochrie reference ever, IMO.
posted by wendell at 12:56 PM on June 3, 2009

but it has already aired... in CANADA

Unless there's a second episode with Canadians clashing with Texans, it already aired in the US as well, a few weeks ago. Couldn't quite place the voice, but now it makes sense.
posted by inigo2 at 1:00 PM on June 3, 2009

I would watch this with my son before he was old enough to understand most of it. He called the show "Monkey Butter." I envy and admire people who can make improv look so effortless.
posted by not_on_display at 1:07 PM on June 3, 2009

Is it just me, or is Greg Proops a bizarro Ira Glass?

ConfessionalFilter: I had a crush on Josie around the age that I figured out what a crush was. So cute and funny, plus she could sing!
posted by antonymous at 1:47 PM on June 3, 2009

I can't watch the US ones at all. Drew Carey is just horrible.
posted by andraste at 1:52 PM on June 3, 2009

I like the US ones better than the UK shows because 90% of the US shows are Ryan Styles, Colin Mochrie, Wayne Brady, and a random guest, and those three together are absolutely hysterical. A lot of the British panelists just weren't funny in the slightest.
posted by Pope Guilty at 1:56 PM on June 3, 2009 [2 favorites]

Richard Simmons as living Scenery Probably my favorite Whose Line is it Anyway? clip.

The audience is up for grabs tghroughout that one! "I'm just so happy!"
posted by ericb at 2:04 PM on June 3, 2009

A lot of the British panelists just weren't funny in the slightest.

It's in a lower gear, to be sure,bot Tony Slattery and Stephen Frost were pretty solid,and Josie Lawrence, as anotnymous points out above, is the perfect woman for many of us: tall, smart, talented and very funny.

It is interesting to watch the early British ones and their relentless focus on John Sessions, whose appeal as a comic performer is elusive at best. If impish mugging = comedy, then he has got it down. Apart from that, though...
posted by ricochet biscuit at 2:28 PM on June 3, 2009

I'm at work so I can't really look at any of these, but if someone wanted to locate the episode wherein Drew Carey refers to Africa as a country, causing everyone on the show to mock him mercilessly for the rest of the episode, I would be very grateful.
posted by shakespeherian at 2:30 PM on June 3, 2009

Is it just me, or is Greg Proops a bizarro Ira Glass?

One of the reasons I can tolerate the constant stream of Bob the Builder currently being begged for and demanded by my two year old son is that Proops is the voice of Bob. If I close my eyes, I can imagine a very different show than what my son is watching on the screen.
posted by anastasiav at 2:40 PM on June 3, 2009 [1 favorite]

I don't know why, but the Richard Simmons living props sketch still brings tears to my eyes.

I'll say. I nearly had a stroke watching that, I was laughing so much-- mixed with powerful amounts of "I can't believe I just saw that on network TV."
posted by jokeefe at 2:40 PM on June 3, 2009

This thread has totally made my gloomy, cloudy, dreadfully boring week.

*frolics among the links*
posted by Bakuun at 2:53 PM on June 3, 2009

*furiously searches for Tony Slattery*

Also, Duet, my second favorite bit, and Tony reading the credits in the style of a drunken Australian soap star. (starts at 6:55). I wish they'd do that instead of that silly hoedown.
posted by lysdexic at 3:31 PM on June 3, 2009

I like the US ones better than the UK shows because 90% of the US shows are Ryan Styles, Colin Mochrie, Wayne Brady

None of whom I thought were funny in the slightest. Greg Proops and Mike McShane, on the other hand, were always hilarious.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 3:43 PM on June 3, 2009

I have to agree about Drew Carey, he tries hard but just can't match the effortless wit of Clive Anderson. Some of my favorite bits of WLiiA is Clive Anderson making fun of the suggestions shouted out by the audience.
posted by AndrewStephens at 3:54 PM on June 3, 2009

I thought Ryan and Colin were what made the show, personally.
posted by Bakuun at 3:55 PM on June 3, 2009

None of whom I thought were funny in the slightest. Greg Proops and Mike McShane, on the other hand, were always hilarious.

Their shows always made me think they'd have been very comfortable working on sitcoms from the 60's.
posted by Pope Guilty at 3:58 PM on June 3, 2009

shakespeherian: the "Africa" episode. (Also: "Meow.")
posted by steef at 4:41 PM on June 3, 2009 [1 favorite]

PROOPS!
posted by sadiehawkinstein at 4:46 PM on June 3, 2009

Clive Anderson added, "Yes, and little else."

"Love Boat? Is that your pet name for me? Yes. More of a tugboat of course."

Just so right.
posted by gac at 4:52 PM on June 3, 2009

I thought Ryan and Colin were what made the show, personally.

Without a doubt. Although Stephen Fry "rapping" is the absolute pinnacle.

The make-or-break was who else was in the sketches. John Sessions, for instance, was always a surefire turd on the cake.
posted by Sys Rq at 5:18 PM on June 3, 2009

Do we have the scenes from a hat where the suggestion was "things you shouldn't lick?"

My favorite greatest hits one ever, because of Wayne Brady did a song that was entirely comprised of sound effects.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:27 PM on June 3, 2009 [1 favorite]

I used to love Josie (probably still do, but she's never really made it to American TV besides WLIIA). BTW, Josie's birthday is coming up this Saturday.
posted by Invalid User at 8:32 PM on June 3, 2009

I clicked on a random couple of these and they didn't seem that funny to me. Seeing that jokeefe and Ber recommended the Simmons cameo I watched that and nearly choked laughing.
posted by tellurian at 9:20 PM on June 3, 2009

Things you shouldn't lick! Found it!
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:26 PM on June 3, 2009

Maybe I'm just weird, but I've never cared much for the singing bits from Who's Line. I mean, they're definitely great works of improvisation and very very creative, but I just never enjoyed them that much.

Bakuun: "I thought Ryan and Colin were what made the show, personally."

Oh, absolutely. Their inter-song banter is what made Greatest Hits bearable for me. Two of my favorites:

Hahrroar/Puns

A... tern?

Also, here's one playlist that Christ, what an asshole left out: Inside Jokes. It's not a gametype, but a collection of all the various inside jokes the show amassed over the years and how they originated.
posted by Rhaomi at 11:19 PM on June 3, 2009 [3 favorites]

It's Kissing Florence Henderson!
posted by vanar sena at 12:41 AM on June 4, 2009

EmpressCallipygos oh god, I remember that one! The sound effects song, or "Pfffft!" was inspired. Wayne Brady definitely was able to execute on the musical improv, delivering rhymes, rythms, and comedy very consistently.
posted by ooga_booga at 12:43 AM on June 4, 2009

I have an exam to sit this afternoon for which I still need to revise. I had every intention of using online resources to revise for a bit, before making my way into college; unfortunately I decided to check MeFi, saw this post and now shall being little to no revision in these last few hours prior to the exam in favour of trawling the links.

Congrats, Christ what an asshole! You've made my list of reasons why I'm going to fail Sociology. (None the less, excellent work gathering all the vids - I certainly wouldn't have had the patience/desire to avoid work to do something like this myself!)
posted by Inner Universe at 2:16 AM on June 4, 2009

LOL... ohhh man i needed this... i love you.
what a great post!
posted by quazichimp at 2:17 AM on June 4, 2009

Another one I loved, from Questions:

Ryan: Hey, have you ever heard of a town called Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan?

Colin: Is that anywhere near Left Noob?

Ryan: (hesitates, then wordlessly turns and leaves)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:44 AM on June 4, 2009 [2 favorites]

I swear to god on my eyes that Richard Simmons Living Scenery clip has the healing power of the ancients. My face is flushed, my heart rate is up, my cheeks are wet and I feel genuinely good about today.
posted by seanmpuckett at 5:18 AM on June 4, 2009 [1 favorite]

Contrarian opinion and yet more comedy snobbery time: The Drew Carey Show, which did things for a 1990s sitcom.
posted by shadytrees at 8:43 AM on June 4, 2009

If I close my eyes, I can imagine a very different show than what my son is watching on the screen.

I do this too. The other day Boots (the monkey) had crabs and gave them to Dora. My son had no idea why daddy couldn't stop laughing.
posted by The Bellman at 9:32 AM on June 4, 2009 [1 favorite]

My favorite was the episode where they were prevented from doing a scene with Bill Cosby and Hitler as unlikely roommates , so they found a way to make every joke after that a Hitler joke. Whose Line, Godwinned.

Absolutely. The whole show was derailed in rebellion against the censor. Loved it.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 9:48 AM on June 4, 2009

thrilled about Proops and Stiles, wish Mochrie could be there...

Thrilled about Proops? ...

Thrilled about Proops?!?
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 9:53 AM on June 4, 2009

Aww. This is great. Colin and Ryan are definitely the top dogs, but Wayne's physical humor and signing was pretty good too. The only one I never really liked was Kathy Greenwood, always appearing a bit subdued or I don't know.. shy?
posted by Harry at 10:29 AM on June 4, 2009

Interview with the Whose Line creators Dan Patterson and Mark Leveson. It's mostly about the British version but some mentions are made of the American version.

Clive Anderson certainly had some quick come backs to some of the audience member suggestions and his verbal sparring with Greg Proops was always amusing:

Audience Member: Masturbation!
Clive: There was a cry of masturbation but I think you're on your own with that one.

Audience Member: Premature ejaculation
Clive: Come again?

Drew Carey was mostly just insufferable as a host.
posted by Transparent Yak at 11:30 AM on June 4, 2009

Musical improv is hard. You not only have to get things to work comedically, you have to make it work as music, too. I think Wayne Brady's popularity strongly derived from his ability to completely outclass everyone else on the show in that respect.

As far as Drew Carey goes, I kind of give him a pass on Whose Line because the US version was only possible because of him.
posted by ooga_booga at 12:02 PM on June 4, 2009 [1 favorite]

The kids and I used to love Whose Line. Our favorites include the Colin and Ryan "greatest hits" piece where Colin says, "Tapioca!" and the same bit with the arctic tern, Backstreet Boys squawking bird impression (you had to be there).

We also liked the episode with the audience member named Nioshi and the song with contrived rhymes for her name like "suntan lotiee."

And of course Richard Simmons will make you fall down laughing.
posted by misha at 1:54 PM on June 4, 2009

God, I hate Drew Carey. He absolutely ruined the spirit of that show. Clive Anderson forever!
posted by agregoli at 1:43 PM on June 5, 2009

MetaFilter: The site where everything's made up, and the points don't matter.
posted by not_on_display at 5:33 AM on June 10, 2009

I claim this thread and all of its riches for myself and all my inheritants. (Great post!)
posted by onlyconnect at 1:05 PM on July 2, 2009