Whose Line Is It Anyway - Rehearsed or Improv?

For those of you who watch this show, everything is claimed to be improv. However, some of the stuff is so well thought out. Is this just quick wits and talented acting, or is it a scam that has been under noses for years?

 

i still believe it's improvised.

 

Some of it is prolly fake and some real improv. Most of the time when Drew Carey does it, I believe its real, because he sucks so bad at it. His show (used to be) funny, and he was fine when he had lines written for him and memorized.

 

I saw some uncut show, and they yell "cut" and mess up. That ain't improv.

 

They rehearse all the basic sketches all the time. I mean, they do a Hoedown every episode. So the basic structure of each little skit is rehearse, the actual subject of each skit is improvised. So there's a little of each element involved.

 

stupid brainwashing parents!

*fumes*

 

I've seen people doing things like Whose Line is it anyway - locally there is a group called the Improv Knights that do it. It's also a common activity in High School Drama class. And yes, it really is Improv, and it's a lot of fun.

 

I agree with B'omarr. You'd be insane to go into that show completely unprepared. Pretty humiliating...

 

I don't think that show is improv.

 

Don't forget the editor can do wonderful things to create a seamless performance.

 

I don't care. I watch that show religiously and it's funny, improv or not.

 

I think Greg Poops is.... sorry

 

Like B'omarr said, it's a little of both. The regulars are always in the same positions for the games, but that still doesn't take away that the majority of it is improvised. Still funny stuff, kids.

 

Ahh...it's so much clearer now! Although I do agree with NomiJade in that I mainly watch it because it's hilarious (IMHO).

 

It's 100% contrived. They rehearse everything beforehand. If you notice too, that when they have to sing, the lyrics they 'made up' fit the notes of the song perfectly. There is a such thing as improv, but this ain't it. And I also don't find it particularly funny, say, when compared to old Who's the Boss reruns.

 

or Growing Pains reruns.

 

Rehearsed.

 

Windexed: The songs match the notes perfectly... uh duh, they use a certain type of music for a different thing, so they've probably heard the tune that will be played before, as long as both know what they're doing, it's possible. It's also due to the fact that there's a little something called a beat that they both must follow, that usually keeps them on with the notes.

They've (The musicians and Wayne) have obviously both studied music, so that doesn't mean it's not improv just because the words match the notes.

On the whole issue, I agree with what a couple have said, that they rehearse the basic stuff but the subject matter is totally improv, if you notice, they DO mess up in the show sometimes, usually when they haven't thought of something to say/do.

 

For those with keen eyes and sharp hearing, you know a lot on that show doesn't go as smoothly as a lot of people think. Even the master of rhyme, Wayne Brady, has trouble with some stuff the audience (or Ryan and Colin) come up with. When you make Wayne Brady stumble, now that's funny!

But you're right in the sense that the comedians are well versed in most of the games. It's not new to them. They can handle pretty much anything. Colin, Ryan, Greg and Chip have been doing this routine at least for that past 10 years in the U.K. as well as the U.S. Wayne Brady is the pleasant surprise. Anyone else on the show isn't that good.

I really liked the British version of the show because you had Americans, Canadians as well as the British. It just made for very well-rounded comedy.

 

I'll have to look out for that.

 

It's all improvised. I've played those games that they do on the show. I know people that can do what they do just as good. I've taken classes that teach you how do be that good. It's all real, they've just been doing it for so long that it's easy to them.

 

sorry, not buying it

 

Also, when they do the taping, they end up playing each game like three or four times, and get a couple of hours worth of film, so when it's time for them to edit together a show, they pick out the best of what was done, which may help to explain why it looks so contrived.

 

I think that before the taping, they at least the singers know what kind of style they'll be singing, or hear the tune so they'll at least know how it goes. But otherwise I think it's improv.

 

i believe its improv. like someone said before, Colin, Ryan, and Greg have been doing this kind of thing the past 10 years or so. I mean come on, if you have been doing ANY CERTAIN THING for 10 years you get better at it. I also believe that what we see in that half hour is just the best of what they filmed. im sure they record at least a couple of hours worth of film. But we just see the good stuff. Anyway, i believe its all improv.