Whose Line Is It Anyway? (1988–1998)

A British show in which actors and comedians improvise sketches in various "theatre-sports"-type games, based on audience suggestions. The games might include singing a Hoedown about Tory ... See full summary »

Stars:

Clive Anderson, Richard Vranch, Ryan Stiles

5 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Clive Anderson	...	Himself - Host (136 episodes, 1988-1998)
Richard Vranch	...	Himself (87 episodes, 1988-1997)
Ryan Stiles	...	Himself (76 episodes, 1989-1998)
Colin Mochrie	...	Himself (57 episodes, 1991-1998)

Storyline

A British show in which actors and comedians improvise sketches in various "theatre-sports"-type games, based on audience suggestions. The games might include singing a Hoedown about Tory Politicians, acting out a soap opera as hamsters, becoming bizarre super-heroes, or making up a musical about the life of an audience member.

---

Plot Keywords:

singing | british | comedian | live audience | green screen | 

---

Taglines:

Make it up. Make it quick. Make it funny!

---

Genres:

Comedy | Game-Show

---

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 September 1988 (UK)

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Channel 4 Television Corporation, Hat Trick Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

36 min 36 min (1 episode) 24 min (135 episodes)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The animation of the opening titles the show eventually settled on is based on an Italian cartoon shorts series called La Linea (direct translation 'The Line'), which was very popular in Europe from the mid-seventies well into the nineties. It featured almost the exact same type of chalkboard 'single-line' drawn character, only with a round nose rather than pointy.

---

Quotes

Chip Esten: I have a little boy, you know his name is Tom. I was his daddy, but now I am his mom. I was a tough one, as tough as old Charles Bronson, Until I went to the hospital and they cut off my Johnson.

---

Crazy Credits

Every edition of the show would end with the winner(s) reading out the credits in a style suggested by the host.

---

Connections

Referenced in TV Hell (1992)

User Reviews

A comedy show you have to pay attention to

I once had a conversation with some people about "Whose Line Is It Anyway". One intelligent, educated young man said he didn't like to watch it because "you have to pay attention." In other words, for him (and a few tens of millions of others) television entertainment is meant only to pass the time, not to keep you interested. On the other hand, for anyone who wants to be totally glued to the set, listening carefully for every line, this is a wonderful show.

The original, British MC, Clive Anderson, is far superior to the American version's Drew Carey, who seems to kill some of the humor (or humour, if you are British). But the cast of four improv comics are astonishing, and are funny more of the time than sitcom performers working with a carefully written script.

If you want your comedy really laugh-out-loud funny rather than just amusing enough to spend a half hour with, this show is for you.