Some of you might recall that earlier this year, back in February, I made a very tantalizing announcement... that there was a possibility that "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" would be returning to television, but in the form of the live show "Improv Allstars". I had been fortunate enough to be a part of and witness the pilot for the new show, and since then, I have been keeping very close tabs on any and all news I could obtain concerning it.
It seemed like such a long shot. No one thought it would actually get picked up and become reality. We all had our doubts, and yet, we sat patiently with fingers crossed.
Well, the waiting is over, and it is time to celebrate and spread the cheer...
The pilot for the new improv show, featuring Drew Carey and the stars from Whose Line, has officially been picked up by The Game Show Network (GSN), and will air in the spring of 2011!
Yes, you heard me right! The new show is happening!! It is momentous indeed, for it is the closest thing to a Whose Line revival that we will ever get. The new series (which has yet to be named) will include forty episodes (yes, forty!), half hour in length, all of which will be filmed at the MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, beginning January 13th 2011.
Though it is unclear at this point in time who all will be involved and featured on the new show, we can assuredly assume that Greg Proops will be a part of it. The other individuals who were a part of the original pilot were Ryan Stiles, Kathy Kinney, Chip Esten, Jeff B. Davis, Jonathan Magnum, and new face Heather Anne Campbell. (But just because these performers were a part of the pilot, doesn't necessarily mean that they will be a part of the new show - though we think that it is fairly safe to say that they will be.) All we can tell you is this: articles are claiming that the new show will feature a rotating cast of 'Drew Carey's improv friends' and some special 'guest stars'.
The format of the pilot was Improv Allstars. A host of the games played included Freeze Tag, Sentences, Fairytale, Change, Film And Theatre Styles, Forward Reverse, Moving People, Sound Effects, and Greatest Hits (just to name a few). Improv Allstars - like the other touring live shows featuring the men from Whose Line - does not have a points system. There is no person behind a desk with a buzzer. The games are short form, but they aren't rapid fire (such as Hats or Props were). However, this being said, we still cannot determine if the actual show is going to be based off of how the pilot was, or if changes are going to be implemented. It has been said, however, that there will be no pre-determined suggestions - everything will come straight from the audience (as how it is with the live shows).
If you don't have GSN on your cable or satellite, and you would love to see the show, never fear - we will do our best to host the episodes on the site for you to be able to download and watch. However, because the show is brand new, ratings will likely be important, and we highly encourage each and every fan of Greg and Whose Line and comedy and improv in general to support the new show. It will need all of the love it can get so that it survives for more than just a single season (let's not see it go south the way Green Screen Show did). Please help us spread the word about the new show. Tell it to your family, friends, neighbors, strangers in a cafe, wherever, whenever. We went this news to spread like wildfire, both on the internet, and by word of mouth. This is an important and exciting opportunity for both the fans and the performers. Let's make certain it becomes something special and well-loved.
We will be sure to keep everyone posted with updates on the show as it develops! Until then!
