December 14, 2008.

Classic Improv ****1/2.

Rating: 4
If you've only seen and enjoyed the American version of this show hosted by Drew Carey, you're in for a treat. This is the original, which debuted on Britain's Channel Four in 1988 and ran for ten seasons, later becoming a staple here in the States on Comedy Central. It started off with an all-British cast and weekly regular John Sessions, as well as occasional guests you might recognize like Stephen Fry, Peter Cook and Jonathan Pryce. Soon regulars like Tony Slattery, Paul Merton, Sandy Toksvig, and the wonderful Josie Lawrence joined the cast, and occasionally a North American might be thrown into the mix - Mike McShane was probably the most frequently-appearing and funniest of the Americans in the first two seasons, but other future U.S.-version regulars like Ryan Stiles and Greg Proops appeared as well. The show started off rather dry and cerebral but often quite funny, and as some of the more animated cast members joined, it got more raucous and even a bit bawdy. U.S. viewers may not get some of the distinctly British references, but they'll recognize some of the "games" adopted for the U.S. version, like "Party Quirks", "Props", and "Song Stylings", the last of which really gave Lawrence and McShane a chance to shine. And though host Clive Anderson might seem like a "stiff" compared to Drew Carey, he has his own distinct brand of dry wit. This set is "uncensored" so it contains some lines and scenes that have never appeared on American TV. There aren't many "extras", but the interview with producers Dan Patterson and Mark Leveson is interesting. (Did you know that they turned down Mike Myers and Steve Carell in American auditions for the show?) The price is right, too, for a couple dozen episodes of one of the funniest shows on TV. Let's hope the other seasons appear eventually on DVD.

December 20, 2008.

Can't Wait for the Rest of the Series!.

Rating: 5
Thank you so much to the powers that be for finally releasing my favorite TV show ever on DVD in the US. Ever since I purchased this set a month ago it has been playing pretty much non-stop in my apartment.

If all you've ever seen is the American version, you don't know what you're missing. Believe me when I say you don't have to be British to appreciate the British Whose Line series - I was born and bred in New York City (although admittedly I am an Anglophile, so I may be a bit biased in my opinion.)

Overall though, the British series of WLiiA was just *better* than the US version. It was quirkier, rowdier, more risque. The cast was well-rounded, not the same people every week like the American version. And the castmembers habitually picking on each other and on Clive (the host) is always the funniest part of the show.

Great chemistry between the contestants in this series - it's not just Ryan & Colin anymore! - I especially love the banter between Josie & Paul, Josie & Tony, Josie & anyone, really - the #1 thing wrong with the US version is that it doesn't have nearly enough Josie Lawrence in it!

I can see how the earlier seasons of this show might put off some American viewers - it's positively bursting with obscure British actors no one on this side of the pond has ever heard of, couple that with about a million references to short-lived British '80s TV shows and it could potentially be a recipe for disaster to any hardcore US WLiiA fan - but trust me this DVD set is not lacking any talent, and it definitely brings the funny. Plus it's amusing to see some of the more prominent American contestants like Ryan Stiles & Greg Proops looking so young and spunky!

And yes, this set does come packed to the brim with John Sessions - he was a regular contestant then, appearing in all of the 1st and most of the 2nd season episodes - but don't let the "boring" stigma associated with his name put you off. The guy is actually witty as hell [once you get past his incessantly pretentious picks for "Authors", that is]. His chemistry with Gryff Rhys Jones is especially awesome, and the man really knows how to play a good round of "Opera".

Overall, this is just a great buy. Buy it if you were a fan of the US series, buy it if you like British comedy, I would even recommend it to fans of Frasier or Seinfeld or any of the wittier American sitcoms that have been floating around these past 15 years or so.

In closing, Paul Merton rules! :)

December 08, 2008.

Will The REAL "Whose Line" Please Stand Up!.

Rating: 5
The American version of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" is fine, but it just doesn't compare with the original British version. I used to watch this show religiously on Comedy Central, and there were times when I'd laugh so hard I'd cry. That's how funny the British version of "Whose Line" can be when all four players are operating on the same comic wavelength, with the marvelous ringmaster Clive Anderson overlooking the proceedings. Sure, there are gags that misfire, but so what? That's the risk of improv comedy! I have the deepest respect & admiration for the regulars on the UK "Whose Line," such as John Sessions, Josie Lawrence, Tony Slattery, Paul Merton, Sandi Toksvig, and regular American performers like Michael McShane, Greg Proops, Archie Hahn, and Ryan Stiles (though he's Canadian), to name a few. There are other performers who appeared less often (or only once!), like Peter Cook, Jonathan Pryce, Griff Rhys-Jones, Arthur Smith & Jimmy Mulville, but they all still left their mark on this hilarious show, too. I don't know how they manage to come up with this stuff right on the spot, but it really is amazing to watch. For me, watching the British "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" is like spending time with very good, very funny & talented friends who just want to entertain you and who don't mind looking the fool if it makes you laugh. While there's no question that some episodes are funnier than others, the genuinely funny episodes are glorious comic gems that you can enjoy again and again. You'll know which episodes they are when you see them (I'll give you a hint, though: the early episodes are funny enough, but things *really* kick into high gear when Michael McShane joins the contestants in episode 10). I'm thrilled that seasons 1 & 2 of the original "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" are now on DVD in this excellent, affordable box set package. However, keep in mind that these are only the first two seasons! There are many more improv comedy treats to enjoy in the seasons to come (there are ten in all), so don't let us down, A&E. Bring on seasons 3 & 4 of this classic improv comedy show!

December 07, 2007.

Whose Line Is It Anyway (British 1st season) .

Rating: 2
The performances in the first season and pilot were lame. I LOVE this series, and the subsequent seasons are fantastic. It just got off to a shaky start. It's a miracle the show lasted, as bad as the pilot was. When it's funny, though, it's hilarious!

December 27, 2007.

great! what about the other seasons?.

Rating: 5
I'd like to ask A&E Home Video to release the rest of the UK seasons! this DVD was great - we want the whole series please =)

thank you