I first ran across Whose Line in re-runs on cable TV’s Comedy Central sometime in the mid-1990s.  At the time, I was heavily into acting on and directing for the stage—and had heard of “Theatre Sports,” but had never had the time to check it out.  (Theatre people are notorious for never getting to anyone else’s shows.  They all run at the same time!)  So it was a real boon to be able to see what was happening with improvisational comedy in a do-it-at-home format… U.K.-style, given that the show was first produced for Channel 4 from 1988 to 1998.

And it was a hoot.

The show’s format calls for a moderator to choose the “games” that four “contestants”—improv comedy professionals, sometimes mixed with special guests—will play.  The games, such as “Scenes from a Hat,” “Props,” “Change Letter,” or “Questions Only,” all require the performers to think quickly, and humorously.  Because it’s more or less improvised (the moderator always manages to pick games and “characters” ideally suited for the comedians), no one ever knows quite where the games will lead.  Hence much of the comedy.

And hence much raunchiness.

I wasn’t aware at the time, but the programs aired on Comedy Central had been edited to sanitize a bit of the raunch—and yet I was shocked to learn that the show was going to be moving to the U.S. (with half of the regulars intact) and aired on ABC Family!  Family programming?  Whose Line?  Whose brain made that decision, anyway?

As it turned out, the U.S. version was only marginally more risqué than the U.K. original—yet still aired in a “censored” version with the naughty bits excised or bleeped.  But neutered as it was, the show still consistently served up roll-over-on-your-side guffaws.  Mainstays Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles, and Wayne Brady were wisely carried over from the original, with veterans Brad Sherwood and Greg Proops also filling the fourth chair from time to time.  The show managed to survive only through 2003, falling victim to poor ratings, though “new” episodes continued to appear through 2006.

Complete sets of the programs as aired, both U.K. and U.S., are already available on DVD—but Warner Home Video has seen fit to issue a “Best of” collection of 10 “uncensored” shows from the U.S. run.  And it does indeed show off the best of the series—and the worst, the kind of stuff that made me stop watching after a couple of years.

The best stuff is, of course, when the professionals do what the professionals do best—make funny—in contexts that are truly surprising.  The format allows so many games to be played (see the list at Wikipedia, for instance) that ten episodes should consistently surprise both the performers and the audience.  A great moment, for instance, in show 308, has “party guest” Ryan Stiles playing a character whose head gets stuck to things—and when the typically hyper-active Stiles attacks Drew Carey’s desk, everybody gets a shock.  Or, when Mochrie throws in a non-sequitur sexual euphemism about “fluffing up Garfield,” it becomes a running, episode-long catchphrase.  So far, so good.

But the “customization” programmed by Carey to pander to his players’ strengths works against the spontaneity—and that’s on full display in this set, too.  Sure, Brady’s a whiz at musical improv; but improv isn’t supposed to look polished: it’s supposed to be funny.  And it’s frankly funnier watching Mochrie or Carey attempt to sing than it is listening to Brady shine.  I can also only stand so much of Mochrie in front of a green screen, or Carey’s attempt to wrangle a man-to-man smooch out of mock-homophobes Stiles and Brady.

When the show, however, regularly started turning to “personalities” like Richard Simmons, Jerry Springer, and Playboy bunnies as special guests, it all just started feeling trashy—and I was dismayed to find this DVD set concluding with Springer’s appearance.  I know the show was supposed to be a cash cow, so they couldn’t pay for more professional help; but it’s a shame that names like Robin Williams or Steve Martin don’t show up on a “best of” compilation of a comedy improv show.

Still, if you were ever a fan of either incarnation of Whose Line, and you don’t want to spring loose big bucks for the full sets, you’ll have a good time with this release.  And the great think about DVDs is that, when you don’t care for what you’re watching, you can just skip to the next bit!

So what should this material be rated?  Well, Norbit was rated PG-13 and there was a lot more sexual innuendo in that movie that there is all of these ten episodes combined.  Personally, I don’t think this material is a great choice for children of any age… maybe even for many adults, too, since it’s often so juvenile and crotch-centered… but I can sure bet your teens would disagree!

Here’s some of the studio’s description of what you can expect:

No one gets voted off the show. That would be too easy. Instead contestants face crueler fates: be a fish on a TV dating show, Adam and Eve when they first converse, a doo-wop group singing about a girl (and a tragic taxidermy accident). We’re not making this up. They are. Host Drew Carey, a clever crew of comedy regulars and special guests (David Hasselhoff, Florence Henderson, Jerry Springer, Richard Simmons, bodybuilder Jane Tricker and more) come up with funny-on-the-fly in the hit series that crosses a game show with mad improvisation. Discover 10 of the show’s best episodes with all of the censor bars and bleeps removed, so you can enjoy every bit of the delicious and daring funny business in all its glory. Uncensored means that the potential for laughter is unlimited!

“Whose Line is it Anyway? truly changed the landscape of comedy television,” said Rosemary Markson, WHV Vice President, TV & Special Interest Marketing. “This must-have “best of” collection brings together the most hilarious moments and the funniest special guests in the history of the show. Fans of the series and anyone who enjoys great comedy will be excited to add The Best of Whose Line is it Anyway? to their DVD collections.”

In addition to the 10 best episodes from Seasons 2-6, The Best of Whose Line is it Anyway? contains a bonus Whose Line Is It Anyway? hour-long special episode – this clip show aired only twice, and contains highlights from the 1999-2000 season, as well as previously censored sketches and bloopers.

Own it on DVD June 9, 2009.

Courtesy of a national publicist, Greg screened a promotional DVD of The Best of Whose Line Is It Anyway?