Whose Line Is It Anyway? 

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 »

Creators:

Mark Leveson, Dan Patterson

Stars:

Clive Anderson, Ryan Stiles, Colin Mochrie

5 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Clive Anderson	...	Himself - Host 136 episodes, 1988-1998
Richard Vranch	...	Himself / ... 104 episodes, 1988-1997
Ryan Stiles	...	Himself 92 episodes, 1989-1998
Colin Mochrie	...	Himself 71 episodes, 1991-1998
Greg Proops	...	Himself 67 episodes, 1989-1998

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.

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Plot Keywords:

comedian | singing | british | live comedy | live audience | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy | Game-Show

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 September 1988 (UK)

Also Known As:

Так чья сейчас реплика?

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Channel 4 Television Corporation, Hat Trick Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

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.

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Quotes

[hoe-down about sex]
Greg Proops: Oh, I'm a randy bugger; I really get around/I like to have a shag with everyone in town/I have lots of fun, I'm happy as can be/And that's cause my name is Tony Slattery!

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Crazy Credits

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

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Alternate Versions

The series made its Canadian TV debut on the youth-oriented cable network YTV. As a result, some episodes were extensively edited in order to removed offensive language and innuendo. Some of the final episodes, which were taped on the same set as the US version, were broadcast as part of the American series.

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Connections

Version of Quinta Categoria (2008)

User Reviews

Bring this show back, please!

I do not think I have watched any comedy series without laughing 90% of every single show. The guests have always been top notch (perhaps with the exception of Ardal O Hanlon) and they never fail to make me laugh. This is what I believe to be true comedy, the art of improvisation. You get something different every time and it must require great talent to adapt to these situations so quickly! Highlights of this programme include Party Quirks and Standing, sitting, bending. Clive Anderson makes a very droll host. I believe the British version to be superior due to less whooping from the audience (although the American audiences are better participators!). Although we have our fair share of great comedians on here including Tony Slattery, Jim Sweeney and Josie Lawrence to name but a few, the Americans and Canadians bring a fair share of laughter. My particular favourite is Ryan Stiles, who in my eyes is a modern comedy genius! Closely followed by the lovely Colin Mochrie.

I thoroughly recommend this program. Comedy has never been done so good.