Whose Line Is It Anyway? occupies a unique space in television history. With very few improv shows being successful enough to earn regular network syndication, Whose Line Is It Anyway? has been wildly popular for decades, and continues to earn legions of fans to this day.
Viewers love the unpredictable nature of the TV show and the way that the cast members always seem to be having a great time. One question has lingered, however — the issue of whether the iconic show is truly spur of the moment or if it is rehearsed ahead of time.
When did ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’ debut on television?
In 1998, Whose Line Is It Anyway? premiered on American television. The show was an adaptation of the British show of the same name, but the American version has gone on to eclipse the popularity of the original.
The format was similar to the British version of the show, with three regular panelists and a fourth guest panelist acting out scenes, characters, and games on the spot.
Often times, the featured games come from audience suggestions, and others come directly from the host. The original host of Whose Line Is It Anyway? was Drew Carey, who served as the moderator until 2007.
As beloved as Carey was in the role, he chose not to come back for the 2007 revival of the show. These days, Aisha Tyler serves as the host, with longtime panelists Colin Mochrie, Wayne Brady, and Ryan Stiles as the comedic geniuses who act out the games and sketches.
‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’ has welcomed many celebrity guests
For many viewers, Whose Line Is It Anyway? has served as the introduction to improvisational comedy. All the regular panelists are experts at improv, and the celebrity guests that the show has featured over the years are considered to be the greatest comedians of their time.
A few of the guests that have visited Whose Line Is It Anyway? include Kathy Griffin, Whoopi Goldberg, Richard Simmons, Jerry Springer, and Sid Caesar.
Robin Williams also memorably guested on the show on several occasions. Out of all the guests on the show, Williams’ appearance was probably the most popular, his natural skills with improv and character development perfectly suited to the role. Ultimately, he returned to play on several occasions and was always welcomed warmly by both the studio audience and the regular performers.
Is ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’ rehearsed?
The whole premise of Whose Line Is It Anyway? is based around the idea of spur-of-the-moment comedy — therefore, it is only natural that viewers would wonder if the show is truly made up on the spot. As it turns out, the show is not scripted ahead of time, and the panelist’s responses to games and challenges are all made up as they go.
Still, cast members have revealed that on occasion, showrunners will intervene on topics that they don’t consider to be “appropriate” for daytime television, and that cast members will sometimes know ahead of time what games will be played during the taping.
As cast member Colin Mochrie once revealed, “we never shoot retakes or anything. So whatever happens, they keep in. They just cut a scene out, because it wasn’t as funny as the other ones, but during the actual scenes, they don’t edit anything. They pretty much keep everything in.”
Ultimately, fans can rest assured that their favorite improv comedy show isn’t faked at all and that the humor on the show comes from a very real place.
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