Good improv never goes out of style, as evidenced by the existence of Whose Line is it Anyway, a comedy series that originated in the U.K. in the late 80s and was later adapted for the U.S. a decade later. The CW is bringing the format back for another version, which will include some Whose Line veterans.
The CW made the official announcement today that they're adding a new version of improv comedy series Whose Line is it Anyway, which will be hosted by The Talk's Aisha Tyler, who fills the role held by Drew Carey in the original U.S. series, and Clive Anderson for the original-original series. Set to show off their talent at making stuff up and being funny and imaginative while they do it are Ryan Stiles, Colin Mochrie and Wayne Brady, all three of whom appeared in both Whose Line series. Bringing these improv veterans back to star in the new version certainly gives the series a bit more clout, while leaving the fourth spot open for newcomers to mix things up.
The CW says each episode will feature a special guest to serve as the fourth improv player. It sounds like the series will follow the original format, in having the performers attempt to fulfill various funny games and challenges presented to them, based on ideas supplied by the audience, as humorously as possible, after which the Tyler will assign points and declare a winner. If the series follows the original format, it'll downplay the competition side of it, the points will be random and there won't be much of an emphasis on who wins. In this show, it's most definitely how you play the game that matters. It'll be exciting to see how the new version plays out when the series airs on The CW this summer.
For those unfamiliar with these series, or if your memory's rusty, here's a video featuring some highlights from the U.S. version.
