"Whose Line Is It Anyway?" Season One (Vol. 1)

First volume featuring one of the best improv comedy showsin TV history.

Without a doubt: Whose Line is a comedy show that really grows on you, and certainly, grows with you continuously. I've been a huge fan since I was in sixth grade, and a release on DVD made it that much better.

It is an improvisation, comedy show where every scene and performance acted out are completely made up on the spot direct from the performers' creative minds. The host awards points for the performer(s) on their bit/piece/performance(s), and the performer(s) with the most points wins at the end of the show. Originally a hit show in Britain, hosted by Clive Anderson, the show eventually revived here in the states with nearly all American improv cast and a new host Drew Carey.

Though I understand that many never figured out the show's premise, it's one of those programs where you need to watch from the beginning; an open mind and intellectual visualization, where your mind requires to draw up the scenes being acted out, are also needed. That makes this show extremely nerdy, and for its large fan base and generating the popularity of improvisation among aspiring actors, there's clearly nothing wrong with that. However, once you understand the goings-on, as well as the inside jokes played among the cast members, the actors' style of delivery, with a touch of general knowledge on pop culture, celebrities, good listening skills, various classic films and TV, you may want to keep a new pair of pants handy because you are going to moisten the pair you're wearing right now from nonstop laughter. It's that damn good.

The first DVD features the first five episodes of Season One. Because the show was originally recorded in 1.33:1 (4:3), the menu is presented in widescreen. I suppose it's to showcase the photos of the cast presented in the background. Other than that, the episodes are of high, broadcast quality. The DVD cover states it's 110 minutes long, but because it includes two DVDs plus bonus clips, it spans more than two hours. As for the episodes, I've presented to you the games played for each one. They are as follows:

Ep.001 (Show No.103): Let's Make A Date, Sound Effects, Hats (later titled "Dating Service Videos"), Greatest Hits, Party Quirks, Foreign Film Dub

Ep.002 (Show No.104): Let's Make A Date, Film Theater & Television Styles, Duet, Weird Newscasters, Moving People, Scene To Rap, 90-Second Alphabet

Ep.003 (Show No.106): Let's Make A Date, Scene To Rap, Hats, Weird Newscasters, Greatest Hits, News Flash

Ep.004 (Show No.101): Weird Newscasters, Duet, Animals, Props, Moving People, Party Quirks, Scene To Rap, Foreign Film Dub

Ep.005 (Show No.105): Let's Make A Date, Song Styles, Daytime Talk Show, Props, Film Dub, Sportscasters, Hoedown, Stand Sit Bend

As for the second DVD, here are the list of games played:

Ep.006 (Show No.102): Let's Make A Date, Sound Effects, Daytime Talk Show, Props, Helping Hands, Hoedown, 90-Second Alphabet

Ep.007 (Show No.107): Daytime Talk Show, Song Styles, Moving People, Props, Party Quirks, Hoedown, Foreign Film Dub

Ep.008 (Show No.111): Let's Make A Date, Song Styles, Props, Party Quirks, Greatest Hits, Helping Hands

Ep.009 (Show No.108): Super Heroes, Song Styles, Weird Newscasters, Greatest Hits, Party Quirks, Questions Only

Ep.010 (Show No.117): Questions Only, Song Styles, News Flash, Sound Effects, Weird Newscasters, Scene To Rap, Hoedown

Right by Episode 8, the lighting of the show underwent change. It looks more soft and nice to watch, as well as a vibrant, colorful background behind the actors' seats.

What's odd is the arrangement of the episodes. Immediately after Clive's version ended—his last season was the "Hollywood Edition" taken place here in the US—the show started with nearly the same set design. In this case, Episode Four—Show No.101—was supposed to officially be the first episode but was slated as the fourth. I mention this because of Drew's desk. On the fourth episode, the desk was of similar size Clive used on his show, then was used once on Drew's version, as shown on that very episode. Producers immediately expanded the size of the desk to fill the whole shot, horizontally (or Drew was too big for the desk). Although this has no concern on whether the purchase of this DVD is worth your pockets, I'd thought I'd state this oddity despite the arrangement of the episodes being jumbled up.

On the second DVD includes a "Special Features" option. This is it, folks: outtakes from segments, and gag reels—completely uncensored. They feature the playing of games that were excluded out: Questions Only, Scenes From A Hat, Animals, Duet, Bar Scene and Greatest Hits. I had a great laugh from the "Scenes From A Hat" outtake. Oh, and how about that Duet game singing to Christy (or is it spelled Kristy?) working in pharmaceutical? Gerbils—something to think about during the start of the game "Bar Scene." As for the Gag Reels, well, explaining here would spoil the whole thing, but believe me, everything is uncensored...everything. Both gag reels are totaled at over 20 minutes, nearly a full episode. If you have what I call "editor's eyes," you will finally get the full scoop as to why episodes have some mediocre cuts; it features all the mishaps that would be too much work for the censors. Yup.

All in all, it's an excellent volume for fellow fans. Even though you're familiar with these episodes to the point where you memorized nearly every line (am I the only one?), the bonus features would still make up the worth of your purchase. If you've been watching the later seasons of Whose Line, this volume shows you how it all took off, the quality of the acting back then and the games that were played a few times, as some were never played again. It's all there commercial-free and available to provide you with uninterrupted laughter at any time, no matter how bad your day is going.

Kris Caballero

Founder and operator of KCU Network, Kris has been writing since managing his personal blog launched back in late 2005. Despite producing videos from time to time for the network's website, Kris enjoys playing old video/DOS games, video technologies, reading and keeping up with quantum computing.

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