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| Whose Line Is It Anyway - Series 1 And 2 [1988] | ![Whose Line Is It Anyway - Series 1 And 2 [1988]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51cy08BxfHL._SL160_.jpg)
 enlarge | Directors: Geraldine Dowd, John F.d. Northover, Chris Bould
Studio: Channel 4 DVD
Category: DVD
List Price: £29.99
Buy New: £17.98
You Save: £12.01 (40%)
New (9) from £17.98
Avg. Customer Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 2400
Format: Pal
Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 6867441019497
ASIN: B000V6AEYK
Theatrical Release Date: September 23, 1988
Release Date: February 25, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
The Classic Early Days, Before The On Going Americans April 18, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
"Whose Line Is It Anyway" has always been a programme with a promise to entertain, as many of you may not know this programme was adapted from a BBC Radio 4 series. When the radio series became a matter of a hit in six weeks, producer Dan Patterson decided to adapt the programme to television, but plans changed when the BBC turned it down, 2 months later the BBC were kicking themselves. As Patterson took an offer for a contract of 2 series from Channel 4, the BBC decided to never make this mistake again and they later gave "The Mary Whitehouse Experience" a series adaption.
When the programme kicked off in September 1988, it seemed to be unclear of it's purpose but it had it's promise. In the first series it's clearly seen in the titles that John Sessions is believed to be the usual guest, most guests were a bit unsure exactly how to improvise (Paul Merton in the first two or three episodes clearly shows this reaction). Josie Lawerence was another usual guest on the programme (many may have seen her embarrassing act on "Saturday Live"), a guest I would have loved to have seen a lot more often is the legendary Peter Cook (personally my favourite comedian) & Griff Rhys Jones who appeared on about 2 episodes giving a fantastic appearence.
Peter Cook was to later spoof the programme on his adult cartoon "Roger Mellie - The Man On The Telly", anyway in my opinion "Whose Line Is It Anyway" was already at it's peak half way through the second series and with viewing figures at 13 million, it was guaranteed another contract for 4 series.
Some people may turn against me at the following comment, as I feel the programme was still funny during the 90's, I had this urge that the Americans started to take the programme over and get all the credit. When it comes to television comedy in America, that's a talent they've never had and most of their comedy is unwatchable because it's so badly written and overrated (ie "Friends", "Two And A Half Men"). Comedy is a talent that the UK has always had, sadly today we are loving the American television and ignoring our creation of sketches.
The first 2 series of "Whose Line Is It Anyway" are the best in value, and if you want to see Americans repeat their jokes then watch the final episodes or the putrid American version.
Great April 5, 2008
One of the best series, in one of the best times.
At the beginning, especially in the Pilot, it is a bit shakey, but even then the comedy is still there.
John Sessions, Jose Lawrence, Paul Merton and Tony Slattery are the core of these series, and they are there at their best.
Clive Anderson, after a shakey start, moves the show along slickly but not without humour himself.
Excellent. March 27, 2008
So, one of the great comedy treats of the early/mid 90's finally gets a DVD release for the first two series. I was a huge fan of this show on Thursday nights on C4 as i recall, and I still have around a dozen tapes worth of episdoes i recorded off the TV.
WLIIA was a ground breaking show with its improvised style and array of not so well known comics (at that time - who are now of course !). The first two series featured John Sessions as a resident artist (except for a few episodes of S2) and three others made up the quartet; amongst the regulars were Josie Lawrence and her singing, Tony Slattery being naughty and Paul Merton being acerbic. Other more famous guests included Stepen Fry, Joanthan Pryce and a one off by none other than Peter Cook. All held together by the king of comeback Clive Anderson himself.
Watching these early shows, it becomes apparant how much the show changed towards a more physical humour in the later series (probably due to the likes of Ryan Stiles and Colin Mochorie, of whom only Ryan makes one or two appearances in S2). There were much more intellectual games here, such as Storytime, where each contestant continued a story in his or her chosen author, and others where the physical side of the humour was not so apparant. Some of the rounds were more geared to the skills of a particular contestant - Josie Lawrence and John Sessions often had solo singing rounds. And there are plenty of old favourites here, like Film & Theater styles, American Musical and the legendary Party Quirks. Although i think the series was at its peak in the mid 90's, these shows are still wonderful to see; John Sessions doing Lady Chatterly's lover in the story round was great, as was Stephen Fry's attempt at a sheep shearing rap of Mary Had A Little Lamb in the Rap round. Plus I always enjoy Tony Slattery, always trying to be rude.
The DVD picture quality is OK, a bit grainy, no remastering evident. Not only does this set feature the Full series 1 & 2, it also includes the "Best of" compilation episodes, which used to be shown at the end of a series featuring unused scenes and outtakes. We also have the Christmas Special which featured six players, and the Pilot episode. A great purchase, nice to have them on DVD, and so much better than the US series. Cant wait for more, lets hope we get the UK shows that were filmed in the US in later series as well.
Oh So Brilliant January 17, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
What can I say about Whose Line? It's brilliant, ever so much, that's about it really. I'd advise everyone in the world to buy the DVD, just for the hilarity of it. I'm only a teenager, but I just love the silly humour- plus the sophisticated stuff.
It's also wonderful to see how the programme first started off, the begins of such a great and wonderful show, and to see the very first, pilot episode where the contestants are almost quaking in their boots! Also, to know what they're like in later series is very funny aswell, just to see how sweet and slightly innocent they are on their first episode.
Long live Whose Line!
The Charm is in the Choking January 17, 2008
17 out of 18 found this review helpful
I rarely trust 5-star reviews. They tend to be children in their early teens who fancy the lead singer or actor or have studied the book at school and got an A. The enthusiasm of their endorsements is outdone only by their frequency... and amplitude. They claim that their chosen product is flawless, or to use the rather more accurate vernacular, AMAZING!
This is so untrue of "Whose Line..?" and anyone thinking of suggesting that the improvisation in the early series is in any way flawless should stop writing Amazon reviews and get back to revising for their SATs. The comedians corpse, lose inspiration, scrabble desperately for ideas and generally proceed to fail spectacularly. Unlike in the conveniently polished and amiably predictable US series, mistakes are commonplace. Instead of slick routines and joke-a-minute confidence which can prompt an audience to say "I could do that", "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" shows how difficult it really is to craft a really superb and witty improvisation. What you're given at times is in fact the original and ultimate reality television - people doing what they do well, badly. The failure is funny... and yet, unlike real "reality television", the programme is not a finger-pointing glee in others' failure; rather, it's a celebration of when it DOES work - funny when it doesn't, but utterly glorious when it does. The wonder of a winning sketch isn't simply that the audience thinks, "That was funny; I laughed," but also "What an achievement!"
How thoroughly marvellous - and yes, I admit: AMAZING!
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