Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Take a big bunch of comedians, add a host with no discernable neck, and you have Whose Line is it Anyway? Find out more about the cult show that took the world by storm.
From Buddy Holly lookalike Greg Proops to the semi-unhinged Tony Slattery, a galaxy of comics have been drawn to Whose Line is it Anyway?, if only because it gave them a chance to mock Clive Anderson.
Whose Line (known as WLiiA to obsessive fans, who in turn are known as Whosers), is a kind of anti-gameshow. It has a host - but one with all the authority of a slightly befuddled supply teacher (with no discernable neck). Points are awarded - but with breezy indifference to what actually happens in each sublimely silly round.
Forget the political "special relationship" between Britain and the States. Of far greater diplomatic importance is the special comedic relationship between the two nations that Whose Line has forged. For, while the show began rather humbly on Radio 4, it began to attract US comedians like Ryan Stiles and Mike McShane soon after making the switch to telly.
In fact, the American connection became so strong that later episodes were actually filmed Stateside. Eventually an American network decided to make its own version of the show, which to everyone's surprise was not rubbish. In fact, the US version enjoyed a sparkling run and attracted guest stars including Robin Williams, Whoopi Goldberg and - most marvellously - David Hasselhoff.
While Whose Line is very definitely improvised (don't let the smug cynics tell you otherwise), many of the games are played a number of times so the contestants can offer variations, improve their gags and generally not look completely gormless. The best bits are then edited together for broadcast, so filming each episode actually takes several hours longer than the finished product.
Even more interestingly, the show has been adapted in a startlingly large number of countries. We've mentioned the US version already, but adaptations also exist in India (where it's called "Lo Kar Lo Baat"), Germanys ("Frau Schnauze"), Israel ("Shel Mi Hashura Hazot") and Belgium - which is the clear winner of the "unpronounceable alternative title" award with "Onvoorziene omstandigheden". Try saying that with a mouthful of jelly beans.
When is it on?
Whose Line Is It Anyway? is next on at 7:00 am
on Saturday, 28th November on Dave.
Go to TV Listings
Whose Line Is It Anyway, 11
Clive Anderson presides over more theatrical fun and games in the comedy improv show. Featuring Greg Proops, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles and impersonator extraordinaire Rory Bremner.
- On at 7:00 am on Saturday, 28th November on Dave
- On at 8:00 am on Saturday, 28th November on Dave Ja Vu
Whose Line Is It Anyway, 12
Another burst of improvised humour, hosted by Clive Anderson. Here, the fearless luvvies are Josie Lawrence, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles and 'Life Begins' star Caroline Quentin.
- On at 7:30 am on Saturday, 28th November on Dave
- On at 8:30 am on Saturday, 28th November on Dave Ja Vu
Whose Line Is It Anyway, 13
A hilarious compilation of `best bits' from the last series of the comedy improv show. Steve Frost, Caroline Quentin, Josie Lawrence and Greg Proops are among the fearless thesps.
- On at 7:00 am on Sunday, 29th November on Dave
- On at 8:00 am on Sunday, 29th November on Dave Ja Vu
Whose Line Is It Anyway
Armed only with quick wit, a comfortable chair and suggestions from the audience, four intrepid comedians endeavour to improvise where no performer has improvised before!
- On at 7:30 am on Sunday, 29th November on Dave
- On at 8:30 am on Sunday, 29th November on Dave Ja Vu
Comments
-
traceyB97628 | 6 Nov 09
i agree wish they stop mucking around with it and put it on regularly, getrid of some of the other shows. or eve knock their program times down.
-
carrieT75554 | 30 Oct 09
i love whos line is it anyway, it takes me back to being a child. the memorys!
-
DomingoBishop | 5 Oct 09
Theres is a documentary about Jim Sweeney. You can watch the trailer on YouTube
-
i love stephen fry | 6 Sep 09
my history teacher has an uncanny resembelance to ryan styles but thats a good thing right?
-
BGS104 | 1 Sep 09
The best show on earth!!! (Mock the week is second). Why Don't they have Whoose line is it anyway? in the cinema section on this site? And you need to show it more on Dave!
-
Ben E | 11 Aug 09
BEST SHOW ON DAVE... yet it hardly gets showed and when it does its at a daft time like 9 in the morning. Start showing in the Evening again or even at night? Ryan Styles, Colin Mochrie & Grep Proops are comedy genious'
-
MelanieG20999 | 14 Jul 09
I absolutely love Whose Line... and watched it avidly in the Eighties but why is it not subtitled? I think many deaf people would really enjoy this programme. I am deaf and am missing out so much. Please give it a consideration for us people.
-
N3CR0M4NC3R | 16 Jun 09
thankyou Dave for getting this back on your channel, I'll admit the 9am start is a tad early but atleast we get to see some PROPER improv and not the scripted poop that is the American version.. MUCH THANKS =)
-
JAYKAYLONDONDERRY | 15 Jun 09
Great! Its back on 20th June. Shame its at 9am but at least its back after an all too long break. I love the show. I think Ryan and Greg are fantatsic comedians. This show should be brought back. Maybe by Dave, or Channel 4 itself.
-
CraigA | 4 Jun 09
Bring back Whose line and replace it with the very wank yank show speeders
-
TashyTheDevil | 21 May 09
I love the American version too! I love Colin and Ryan! They rock!!!
-
Bongo17 | 11 May 09
used to be home of witty banter but without this show u definately arent. Bring it back and ditch speeders and airline which are just 2 examples of shows that arent witty just plain annoyin.
-
N3CR0M4NC3R | 7 May 09
A damn shame you guys have stopped showing this classic UK show.. Im stuck watching the half arsed American attempt on Five USA and to be honest it has NOTHING on the original British one, Now i ask you guys at Dave can we PLEASE have this inserted back into schedules.. Even once a week would be a good enough start. Come on Dave, We the fans are waiting..
-
Emico | 25 Apr 09
I'm in love with this show. I LOVE IT! And although Five US shows the American WLiiA versions... it's really just not the same! I miss Tony Slattery, Steve Frost and Clive Anderson! Dave needs to bring this show back to the nation, even if it's just once a week. I'd put off EVERYTHING else to come and watch it. I'm an obsessive WLiiA fan, after all! The best channel out there deserves to have the best show out there, too! Bring back Greg, Ryan and Colin! I miss them. :(
-
OcelotNat | 16 Apr 09
I've already commented on this extraordinarily funny show, but I was wondering: What's going on with it's schedule?! It's not on AT ALL in the next few weeks! Surely you lovely people at Dave could stop showing back to back Top Gear constantly and put on an hour of Whose Line, even if it's only once a week. I'd love to see the British episodes on here again. Thanks. :)
-
Debz77 | 14 Apr 09
One of the funniest tv shows ever!! I started watching this years ago when i was a teenager (i'm 31 now so we're talking at least 15 years!!) and the best episodes always involved Ryan Stiles & Colin Mochrie. The american version is shown on Five Us and its funny as hell, but u cant beat the good ol British original version! Tony Slattery was great! The only people i never liked when they were on it was mike mcshane, sandi toksvig, rory bremner and john sessions amongst a couple of others. None of them ever made me laugh. Best line ups were probably: Ryan Stiles, Colin Mochrie, Tony Slattery and then either Steve Frost, Greg Proops or Josie Lawrence.
-
MeGgIeMoO?! | 14 Apr 09
You enlighten our souls with the Hilarious antics of clive, colin, ryan, greg etc yet the minute we become crazed and obssessed fans you take it away again! You're lucky that five US shows Whose line but it's not the same!!!! Britain made it up therefore the BRITISH version NEEDS to be shown throughout the nation, i hope you think about this comment thoroughly and bring WLIIA BACK!!!! you call yourselves 'the home of witty banter' well i'll tell you something... without whose line... YOUR NOT!!!!
-
Kes34 | 23 Mar 09
Where is this sow gone it is the best thing since slcied bread i mis it bring back whose line
-
lost_lou | 14 Mar 09
where has WLiiA gone love the show
-
OcelotNat | 24 Jan 09
Pretty much THE funniest show on Earth! I love Whose Line and everyone on it makes me laugh! My favourites are Greg Proops (the bespectacled one!), Ryan Stiles (the tall one!) and Colin Mochrie (the Canadian one!) Pleeeeease show more of this show Dave. It's not on until February now. What happened to when it was shown everyday at 7??!!
-
Bongo17 | 24 Jan 09
Ive been watching this channel from the start when i was unemployed and this show is great bring back like the good old days its a lot better than speeders which im watching now :(
-
izzycurtis | 18 Jan 09
Dan Patterson, do all us Whose Line fans a favour and bring it back to our screens! If not, they really need to show more repeats of this show more on Dave. I'm 15 years old and i only just discovered this programme by accident a couple of months ago. Ryan Stiles and Colin Mochrie are comic gold! :)
-
Goochie,,=] | 7 Jan 09
I adore this show .. Captain Hair and Ryan Are my Absolute Favourites they have inspired me to become an improvisational actor when im older. me and my friends play Song titles at school we love this why cant they bring it back ?
-
Grindstonem | 6 Jan 09
Classic! But why is it usually on a sunday that its shown?
-
Sigy Ridz | 6 Jan 09
Ryan and Collin Rock soooooo FUNNY :p
-
Timmy1989 | 4 Jan 09
one of the classics in comedy. i love watching this ive senn alot of them keep showing more.......! :-)
-
Ocelot_Kitten | 2 Jan 09
Please Dave show more of Whose Line!!
-
BitchinWallabies | 27 Dec 08
I have loved this show for years, and Dave has brought back wonderful memories. I hope that we will see more of this fantastic show on our screens, but thank you Dave for showing Whose Line. It has brough a lot of younger people into the light of Whose Line
-
Space Alien | 20 Dec 08
God, I love this, I could watch it all day :)
-
Ocelot_Kitten | 18 Dec 08
Just one question WHY ON EARTH WOULD SOMEONE CANCEL SUCH AN AMAZING SHOW????
-
KatyF91510 | 13 Dec 08
I love WLiiA, it is the only decent show on TV, i never miss an episode, it never fails to make me laugh especially Ryan and Colin. I hope to see more episodes in 2009, please Dave show more WLiiA. Katy
-
black_thirteen | 13 Dec 08
Fantastic! It's just brilliant! Coling Mochrie and Ryan Stiles are the perfect double act, subtly puntuated with Clive Anderson's pure Britishness. Unfortunatley the US version is slowly being murdered by Drew Carey and, seeing as Dave seems to be abandoning the British version, there is no alternative other than cringing at his disgusting American cheesy, painfully obvious jokes - although the comedians still keep the US whose line as funny as is possible with such an annoying host.
-
JAYKAYLONDONDERRY | 26 Nov 08
I love Whose Line. Ryan Stiles and Colin Mochrie make me laugh every time. Shame that this fantastic series is not brought back for 2009?
-
Ocelot_Kitten | 30 Oct 08
IF YOU LOVE WHOSE LINE, HELP BRING IT BACK BY SIGNING THE ONLINE PETTITION..... http://www.petitiononline.com/m0chri3/petition.html .....PLEASE HELP SOS (SAVE OUR SHOW) PLEASE SIGN!!!!
-
Ocelot_Kitten | 28 Oct 08
I love WLiiA, if it wasnt for Dave i would never of discovered this amazing show =D And okay i admit it im an obsessive fan, a Whoser!! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE DAVE SHOW MORE OF THIS SHOW!!! I cant seem to find WLiiA UK anywhere else on TV, i know Comedy Central shows it but i havent got that channel.
Latest post
-
traceyB97628 | 6 Nov 09
View all commentsi agree wish they stop mucking around with it and put it on regularly, getrid of some of the other shows. or eve knock their program times down.