Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Whose Line Is It Anyway? Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Description
Cast

Whose Line Is It Anyway?, the iconic improvised comedy show loved the world over, is now a hit show on America’s CW network. Actor and comedian Aisha Tyler is the host who sets resident improv’ geniuses Ryan Stiles, Wayne Brady and Colin Mochrie a series of hilarious games to play involving making up on the spot, sketches, gags and songs.

The fifth series, which aired in America, in 2018, was yet again a ratings winner and featured special guest appearances by, amongst others, Lance Bass (from boyband NSYNC), Carmen Electra, (Baywatch, Scary Movie), and Whose Line alumnus Charles Esten, (Nashville).

In each episode, the resident trio of Stiles, Brady and Mochrie are joined by a fourth improviser from an alternating cast including Keegan Michael Key, Gary Anthony Williams, Greg Proops, Jeff Davis, Brad Sherwood, Heather Ann Campbell and Jonathan Mangum.

The show was originally created in 1987 by Dan Patterson and Mark Leveson for BBC radio and, after a brief run of 6 episodes, it transferred to Channel 4 for a ten year run, hosted by Clive Anderson. It then ran for 219 episodes on ABC hosted by Drew Carey. By the end of 2018, the CW network had broadcast a further 108 new episodes with a further series commissioned for 2019.

Typical of shows created and produced by Dan Patterson and Mark Leveson, Whose Line Is It Anyway? nurtured many comedians in the early stages of their career and helped them develop into household names. In the UK this included, amongst others, Clive Anderson, Paul Merton, Josie Lawrence and Sandi Toksvig and in the US, Ryan Stiles, Wayne Brady, Colin Mochrie and Greg Proops.

Other famous comedians and actors who have guest starred include, on the ABC series, Robin Williams, Whoopi Goldberg and Steven Colbert, and on Channel 4, Stephen Fry, Griff Rhys Jones and Jonathan Pryce.

In 2015, Whose Line Is It Anyway? made a highly successful West End stage debut at the Adelphi Theatre garnering across the board 4 and 5 star reviews. 2016 saw a return to the West End with a limited run at the London Palladium, and 2018 will see three exciting, special 30th anniversary shows at The Royal Albert Hall.

Regulars
Guests

Aisha Tyler

Actor, comedian, writer and director, Aisha Tyler has hosted Whose Line Is It Anyway? since it started on the CW network in 2013. Aisha has worked extensively in TV, with recurring roles in The Ghost Whisperer, Friends, 24, CSI, the animated series Archer, and as a co-host of the talk show, The Talk. Aisha has also written and directed a number of short films, appeared on the stage, acted in movies, voiced video games, written two books and presents the award winning podcast Girl On Guy.

Ryan Stiles

American-Canadian, actor-comedian, Ryan Stiles is the longest standing and tallest of the Whose Line regulars. Ryan started out as a stand-up and progressed to improvised comedy, starring at the prestigious Second City group in Toronto and Los Angeles. Ryan was spotted by Dan Patterson and subsequently debuted on the original, UK version of Whose Line Is It Anyway? In 1990. After numerous appearances over nine series, Ryan was made a regular on the ABC version, hosted by Drew Carey, and has continued as a regular on the CW shows, hosted by Aisha Tyler. In 2002, Ryan was nominated for an Emmy for individual performance in a variety or music show for his work on Whose Line.

Following his work on Whose Line, Ryan landed guest spots on a number of TV comedies, most notably his recurring roles as Lewis Kiniski on The Drew Carey Show and Herb Melnick on Two And A Half Men. Ryan has also appeared in a number of films including Hot Shots! and Hot Shots! Part Deux.

Colin Mochrie

Canadian comedian Colin was actually born in Scotland and still manages to effect a unique Scottish accent. In 1980 Colin started performing as an improviser as part of the Vancouver Theatre Sports League and this was where he met Ryan Stiles. Later, Colin moved to the Second City company in Toronto and during his time there he successfully auditioned for the British version of Whose Line Is It Anyway? Colin became a Whose Line favourite and went on to become a regular on both the ABC and CW series.

Colin also starred in the improv’ based show Trust Us With Your Life for ABC, produced by Angst Productions.

Colin is one of the most in-demand actor comedian in Canada and he has performed, written and directed for radio, TV, theatre and film.

Wayne Brady

Multi-talented actor, singer, comedian Wayne Brady first appeared in the final series of the British Whose Line Is It Anyway? which was recorded in Hollywod in 1998. He soon became a regular on the ABC version of show, alongside Ryan Stiles and Colin Mochrie and has reprised that role on the CW series. As well as creating great characters and providing witty one-liners, Wayne excels at all the musical games and has pastiched almost every known musical genre from Big Band Jazz to Jay Z, and Doo Wop to Disco. In 1993, Wayne won an Emmy for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Musical or Comedy Series for his work on Whose Line.

Following his success on Whose Line, Wayne has appeared in numerous TV comedy shows and sitcoms, fronted his own TV variety show, then chat show, both named The Wayne Brady Show, and, since 2009, has hosted Let’s Make A Deal for CBS. Wayne has also released two music albums.

Wayne also starred in the improv’ based shows Fast and Loose (for BBC), and Trust Us With Your Life (for ABC), both produced by Angst Productions.

Laura Hall

Laura has provided the music for Whose Line since the last UK series for Channel 4, recorded in Hollywood in 1998. Since then she has been the pianist and band leader for all the ABC and CW shows. Laura has worked extensively in improvisational comedy and theatre supporting a number of different companies and often performs with her husband Rick Hall. Laura’s band Sweet Potatoes has produced two CDs, Sweet Potatoes and Faith, Good Neighbours & a Telephone.

Linda Taylor

Linda Taylor joined Laura Hall as a musician on the ABC version of Whose Line Is It Anyway? hosted by drew Carey. Linda is a highly respected guitarist who works with Laura in arranging music styles for the show and has played electric, acoustic and bass guitars, banjo, ukulele and mandolin, as well as keyboards. Away from Whose Line, Linda is a session musician who has accompanied many established stars and has toured with, amongst others, Bonnie Raitt and Tracy Chapman. Linda has released two CDs, Pulse and Sum Blues.