Customer Reviews

Whose Line Is It Anyway (British) - Seasons 1 & 2

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is the one I've been waiting for. The REAL, British, version of Whose Line is it Anyway? While the American version is OK, it's just not quite as good as the real thing. This set should include all 30 episodes from the first 2 seasons which includes 4 compilation episodes and the original Pilot.

The first season introduces regular host Clive Anderson with early regular Whose Liners' Josie Lawrence, Michael McShane, John Sessions, and Tony Slattery with Richard Vranch on music support. You'll also find 4 2nd season episodes with Greg Proops, who appeared in 50 episodes in total, and one with Ryan Stiles who began with this season and went on to be in 75 others across the series 136 total episodes. Colin Mochrie would not appear until season 3. And, thankfully, there is NO Hoedown with Drew Carey to be found in any of the British episodes!

A real treat for fans of British humor and off-the-wall improv type comedy.

As others have said, I didn't mind the American version but I was let down that it wasn't as funny as the British version that had shown on Comedy Central here in the U.S. The British version is much edgier and more cerebral...while being funnier. I lamented that I wasn't able to get this on DVD until now. While Drew Carey is funny on his show, he wasn't quite the host that Clive Anderson was. Clive Anderson's strength is that he did NOT get involved with the players other than to move the show along. And he certainly did not try to be funnier than his comedic guests.

This is the set to get!!

You wouldn't believe the vast hordes of people out there who have scurried away old off-air recordings of these first two seasons. They are impossible to see on Comedy Central or BBC America, and even then probably have significant cuts.

There are very dry patches in these first episodes. John Sessions isn't so much "funny ha ha" as he is "WTF!? Who let this guy in?" There are long passages of games that never quite get to the point, and celebrity guests that aren't really cut out for improv (but it's sometimes funny to watch the others mock them as they fail.) These may sound like bad things, but in my opinion it is essential to have a "warts and all" first season to let the show grow and improve.

Once it does find its footing, however, you will again be dazzled by the wit and talent of the guests, mostly taken from the "Comedy Store Players" -- a very diverse group of bizarrely gifted people.

Enjoy!

Almost all great shows take a few seasons to really get rolling, and Whose Line is no exception. The British Version of the show is by far superior to the American Version, but you really can't tell from the first two seasons. I'm not sure how the sales for this set have been, but I hope that A&E will release the later seasons of the British Version, which leave the first two seasons in the dust.

Some good moments, but the show clearly isn't in its prime with this set.

I am so glad to see these gems released, and on NTSC as well! So many people have never seen the British version which is far funnier IMO. The skits and such varied, I don't think Film and Theater Styles was on the US version. We see some very talented people on the Brit show, Josie Lawrence is funnier than any women on the US version, as is Sandy Toksvig. All the Brits are quick witted with songs and skits. Ryan and Colin are always funny, but I prefer the Brits' humor. Tony Slattery is my personal fave, and I am so glad more Americans like me will see him, and note how cheekily clever he is as well as being a good singer. The overly hammy John Sessions is here in all his in-your-face glory. How I missed Paul's 'What's going on?" looks, and they are here! ( I still like him teamed up with a Tub of Lard, but that's a different show, which hopefully will be released someday). Watch him sweat trying to make up a song. Clive as the host is good, with the constant bald, no-neck jokes the guys throw at him. Sometimes Clive has to cover his face when he's about to lose it when things get out of control. Clive, Sandy, Tony, Josie, Paul, Steven, etc, all about to be rediscovered by a new continent! If you have only seen the US version, please buy this! The humor can be more cerebral (and at times much more naughty) than the US shows, but it's funnier that way. You'll discover a bunch of new friends on this show.
Buy this if you have not seen the British version, you'll probably be join the majority who like it better. And I'm a Yank!

Some things you should know about the British (and original) version of this amazing show that brought improv into the mainstream: it is slower, takes more risks with the themes that are often engaging for their sheer impromptu acting talent than out-and-out humor, and is generally a bit more of a British style humor (witty, rather than ha-ha) with liberal references to tidbits from the esoteric fields such as historical writers and such.

The first DVD starts somewhat slow and sweaty; you can actually see the beads in the first pilot. My advice: flounder through these first 2-3 episodes. There are gems of genius strewn even in those episodes, especially with Jacie and Tony Slattery. Very soon it becomes evident that the actors are warming up to the innovative format. Season 2 is fabulous and you can see that unlike Drew Carry, Clive Anderson does not get involved with his participants, which actually lends more credibility to the whole affair.

Oh, and the starting credits for each episode are fun, a caper that was dropped in the US version. This is a prized possession. Stop ruminating and get it; you know you'll be watching it more than once.

Ever since the American version was released on DVD I've been hoping the release of the British version would not be far behind. I became a fan of the British version when it was first aired on Comedy Central. I'm looking forward to being able to replace the episodes I taped off of those airings with this and succeeding DVD releases. I so prefer Clive Anderson as a host! As someone else mentioned in a previous review, I don't think John Session's had the best skills for this show. However, I'm looking forward to seeing many of my favorite guests in these episodes. I can't wait to see Paul Merton struggle during a singing improv again.

The American version of this game show is pale in comparison. Watch this version and you will see how Ryan Stiles got his start on the show. Warning - you must be ready to perhaps know a bit about world literature, theater, etc.to enjoy some of the games. Having a modicum of intelligence will also help.

It's slow the first few episodes but it really begins to pick up when I see my favorite "whose liner" Tony Slattery. Just when the show is really getting good...the episodes are over. The really good and memorable episodes are down the line. I really hope they put out the other seasons because I'm really lookin forward to seeing the episodes I saw on Comedy Central but was too busy laughing to record. While the American Whose line is good..the British Whose line is better. The disc is the begining of this awesome show and worth watching and buying.

Thank you so much to the powers that be for finally releasing my favorite TV show ever on DVD in the US. Ever since I purchased this set a month ago it has been playing pretty much non-stop in my apartment.

If all you've ever seen is the American version, you don't know what you're missing. Believe me when I say you don't have to be British to appreciate the British Whose Line series - I was born and bred in New York City (although admittedly I am an Anglophile, so I may be a bit biased in my opinion.)

Overall though, the British series of WLiiA was just *better* than the US version. It was quirkier, rowdier, more risque. The cast was well-rounded, not the same people every week like the American version. And the castmembers habitually picking on each other and on Clive (the host) is always the funniest part of the show.

Great chemistry between the contestants in this series - it's not just Ryan & Colin anymore! - I especially love the banter between Josie & Paul, Josie & Tony, Josie & anyone, really - the #1 thing wrong with the US version is that it doesn't have nearly enough Josie Lawrence in it!

I can see how the earlier seasons of this show might put off some American viewers - it's positively bursting with obscure British actors no one on this side of the pond has ever heard of, couple that with about a million references to short-lived British '80s TV shows and it could potentially be a recipe for disaster to any hardcore US WLiiA fan - but trust me this DVD set is not lacking any talent, and it definitely brings the funny. Plus it's amusing to see some of the more prominent American contestants like Ryan Stiles & Greg Proops looking so young and spunky!

And yes, this set does come packed to the brim with John Sessions - he was a regular contestant then, appearing in all of the 1st and most of the 2nd season episodes - but don't let the "boring" stigma associated with his name put you off. The guy is actually witty as hell [once you get past his incessantly pretentious picks for "Authors", that is]. His chemistry with Gryff Rhys Jones is especially awesome, and the man really knows how to play a good round of "Opera".

Overall, this is just a great buy. Buy it if you were a fan of the US series, buy it if you like British comedy, I would even recommend it to fans of Frasier or Seinfeld or any of the wittier American sitcoms that have been floating around these past 15 years or so.

In closing, Paul Merton rules! :)