Trust me, it's not just you. Being a big fan of Whose Line myself, I was eagerly awaiting this show as well. From the first episode onward though, all it has been (to me) is a big, giant disappointment, one that rarely ever keeps me wanting to come back and see if the next episode will be better.
Here's my problems with the show...
- Basically what you listed as #1 and #2. The games really do go on for way too long. They go from "This could be funny" to "Alright, enough is enough, move on to the next game now".
- One of the reasons why I think Whose Line was such as great show was because of Ryan and Colin. When those two worked together, they made any game hilarious. Wayne Brady was almost as good, if not just as great at times, though he really had that specialty when it came to the games that involved songs. It was those three that, in my opinion, made Whose Line so great and memorable. Unfortunately, that's where Improv-A-Ganza went wrong. For me, there's a reason why Brad, Chip, Jeff, Greg, etc. weren't there as much as Ryan, Colin, and Wayne were in Whose Line; because they just weren't as funny. Granted, they had their moments, but they were never as good as those three. Taking them out of the show would have probably been disastrous for Whose Line, and that's what's going on here. Without Colin, Ryan, and Wayne Brady working together like they used to, the show just doesn't have what it used to... And having the not-so-funny people being in like every game and in every episode is really hurting the show. I do get that Ryan and Colin are getting older (therefore can't be as wild as they used to be), but they are what made the show for me back in Whose Line, and without them, most of these other guys just can't hold a candle to the Whose Line legacy that they left (again, in my opinion).
Basically put, they just don't have that golden comedy wit that those three had.
I've given the show multiple chances, but it's never made me laugh that hard. Perhaps they'll get better over time, but after 20-some episodes, my hopes aren't really high that it will. It's a show trying to be as great as Whose Line, but will never reach it without their star players.
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abandonthought10
13 years ago
I don't think any show is going to be as good as WHose Line is but if this is the closest were going to get, I'll take it. The reason it seems like some performers sit out for a whole episode is because its 20 live shows split up into 40 episodes. I personally think they should've just aired the hour long show so it felt like it had more continuity. Also its a little disappointing when you see someone's name in the opening and they don't do anything the whole show.
I think there's been a lot of good stuff on this show. I hope they get more episodes and have a chance to work on the format. If they're going to keep the same format, I think they would benefit from having less performers each episode, so everyone gets more to do. That or they need to do more group games and less two person games.
I also wish there was more Ryan and Colin but it looks like Colin couldn't make it for some of the shows.
And as for Wayne, we're lucky he was able to be there at all.
By Zeus, what sort of jackassery is this?
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razleen_wakojizang
13 years ago
I do agree with you with the most of your points, but not so much about the lack of the Colin-Ryan-Wayne banter. The rest of the guys weren't given much time to shine in the first place when they were on Whose Line - Colin and Ryan were in every episode, so of course you'd be able to recall more funny moments between them. Besides, Colin is funny on his own, and so is Ryan. They're also funny when they're performing with other people besides each other.
One thing that people really need to get into their heads is that this show is NOT Whose Line 2.0, and it's not trying to be. It's a different show with a rotating cast, and not everyone is going to be in every scene. So if the Colin-Ryan schtick is the only thing that's allowed to be funny, might as well get rid of everybody else! They're still trying to find their footing, and the cast members are still adjusting to the different chemistry between them I think. They're good enough performers to not need a 'perfect partner' to be funny.
Also, while Drew performing in every single episode is REALLY hurting the show IMO, guys like Jeff (really the breakout star here I think!), Chip, and Ryan are enough to still salvage the scenes.
Bottom line, I think you'd enjoy it much more if you stopped drawing comparisons between Whose Line and Improv-A-Ganza. For a new show, I think it's doing great. But Drew needs to take a step back. :B
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