The Best Of Whose Line Is It Anyway? Uncensored! – DVD Review

If you’re like me, you’ve been watching Whose Line Is It Anyway since the original British version. The improv show which features the comedy stylings of main stars (in either version) Ryan Stiles and Colin Mochrie, is good for at least a few moments of hilarity in every episode. Now there’s a new DVD release on the horizon, and it is an absolute must own for any fan of the show. On June 9th a new compilation of the best episodes hits shelves, and it’s a 2-disc treatment that is surprisingly good, especially considering it’s a revisit of a show that’s been off the air for a few years.

Let me start off the introduction to this release by acknowledging one of my fears. I’m a huge fan of the show, but I’m very nervous when a release has “Uncensored” boldly displayed on the cover. It makes me even more hesitant when said release is a collection of full episodes. Are we picking episodes just because they have some bit that was censored, or is this really the “Best of…” collection?

Have no fear on that score. These are ten of the best episodes that ever came out of the series. Not only do you get the best guest episodes, but the best “games” get a lot of play throughout, and there are a lot of the best moments of audience participation. From “Party Quirks” to “If You Know What I Mean” to “Weird Newscasters,” this set really does focus on showcasing the best that the series has to offer.

Of course, Wayne Brady rounds out the main crew of talent for the American version, and the set also features some of the best “fourth” members to the show. Semi-regulars Greg Proops and Brad Sherwood are around a good bit, but you also get some of the less seen additions, like Kathy Griffin.

What really sells the set (and you’ve got to have the uncensored versions of these) are the guest star episodes. The Richard Simmons episode is hilarious, David Hasselhoff manages to hold his own (if you know what I mean), and Florence Henderson sends Wayne Brady into shock despite the fact that he’s not even involved in the game they’re playing.

If ten of the best episodes of the show (and they really are) isn’t enough, also included is the hour-long Best Of episode that compiled bloopers and favorite moments from the first two seasons. It’s a curious bit of TV in itself, because it is something of an uncensored episode even without the uncensored nature of the DVD. Many of the clips they show were censored to some degree or another on initial airing, but were oddly given a pass for a compilation episode. There are some truly classic moments from the show (Melissa’s underwear anyone?), and the outtakes are fun as well.

I’ve always been a big fan of the show, and improv in general, and this is simply a great collection. For fans, or as a great vehicle for first exposure, this is a DVD release that really understands the purpose of revisiting a show. Personally, I just love that there’s more opportunity to see Ryan Stiles, because let’s face it, he’s just letting these other people play in his yard on this show.

Visit the official site at www.warnervideo.com.

Own it on DVD – June 9th

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Here’s a clip from the DVD release.