![Whose Line is it Anyway? Makes a Hilarious Return to TV [Kicking Back with Jersey Joe]](http://fierceandnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/image117-466x180.jpg)
It’s the comedy game where the questions are made up and the points don’t matter. The hit TV series Whose Line is it Anyway? has returned to American network television after a six year absence with a new host. I checked out if this new version lives up to the old and track down the show’s very different start. The concept of the show is simple. A panel of four comedians must create skits or songs on the spot using impro comedy. Some sketches may involve props or a band, but each is performed cold with the performers having no idea in advance of what the scene will be, often at the audience’s suggestion. It’s the unrehearsed nature of the show that’s led to some of the biggest laughs! It’s not television, but radio we have to thank for giving Whose Line? it’s start. And not American radio – but, British radio! Whose Line? debuted on BBC Radio 4 in 1988. The series was created by British producers Dan Patterson and Mark Leveson. The original radio series lasted six episodes with Clive Anderson as host. After the successful run, the producers wanted to move the show to TV, but the BBC was hesitant, and the show was picked up by rival network Channel 4. The show was a hit for Channel 4 lasting for 10 series and 136 episodes. Most episodes were taped in London, while some were taped in New York, and the entire last season was shot in Hollywood. Reruns of the show were aired in the US on Comedy Central, although some were edited to remove or rearrange scenes that would be confusing or offensive to American audiences. In the late 1990’s, comedian Drew Carey brought the show to the attention of the ABC television network. Carey’s hit show, The Drew Carey Show, gave him some pull at the network, and one of his show’s co-stars, Ryan Stiles had been a performer on the British version for years. Carey convinced ABC to air several test shows to see how it would perform. With the low-cost nature of the production, ABC gave the show a green light, and episodes began airing in the US on August 8, 1998. Carey would take over as host for the American version and would participate with the performers in a final sketch on the show. Ideas for the random skits the comedians would perform often came from the audience. Carey would reveal the name of the game and a brief description, then would ask the audience for topics or characters for the performers to play. Several games were played during each episode and more content was shot than could be aired in the 30 minute time limit. More risqué comments or scenes would be edited out or censored by the network. Some of the regular games included: • Song Styles – where Carey would take audience suggestions of musical themes the performers would have to sing such as doo-wop or rap, then would switch styles after a short period of time. • Irish Drinking Song – an Irish pub style drinking song about random subjects • Three Headed Broadway Star – where three performers would sing one word at a time to an audience member seated on stage in front of the performers • If You Know What I Mean – the performers would act out a scene ending each line with “If you know what I mean…” • Questions with Wigs – the characters would act out a scene wearing various wigs • Quick Change – the performers would act out a scene, when another off-stage would yell “change” and the performer who spoke the last line, would have to come up with another. • Props – the performers are forced to choose a random prop from...
Whose Line is it Anyway? Makes a Hilarious Return to TV [Kicking Back with Jersey Joe]
posted by Jersey Joe
![They Finally Brought Back The Pyramid [Kicking Back with Jersey Joe]](http://fierceandnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/the-pyramid-logo.jpg){kind=logo}
They Finally Brought Back The Pyramid [Kicking Back with Jersey Joe]
posted by Jersey Joe
It’s a classic American TV game show that we all love to play and now it’s back! This new version has been in development for years and sadly legendary host, Dick Clark passed away recently before he had to see the reboot. Here’s a look at how many times this show’s come back has failed and a preview so you know if the new version is worth your time. Here is your first subject… GO! People who are in show business… CELEBRITIES! You open up a magazine and the hot model in the middle… CENTERFOLD! Big Bird lives here… SESAME STREET! These are on the sidewalk in Hollywood… Um, uh, uh… Also in the sky… um, uh… Dallas Cowboys logo… STARS! Score the most points in the opening round and you’re off to conquer the big pyramid for a chance at the big money. Of course, you’re constantly up against the clock. Just one wrong word or phrase in 60 seconds could cost you $100,000. When the Pyramid debuted in 1973, the board only featured a $10,000 jackpot. The show was first performed as a rough pilot presentation called Cash on the Line. It was presented to CBS executives in the Ed Sullivan Theater, New York. (Now home to the Late Show with David Letterman.) The execs liked the second part of the game and had creator Bob Stewart rework his pitch. Bob came back with the $10,000 Pyramid we all came to know, except with one change. The original bonus game consisted of 10 subjects in 60 seconds. This was dropped to the 6 subject bonus round still in use today. The bottom row of 4 subjects was simply nailed over with boards and painted silver that could be seen in early episodes of the show. (Look very closely at the publicity...
![I Am A TV Addict [Newly Nested]](http://fierceandnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/TVAddiction.jpg)
I Am A TV Addict [Newly Nested]
posted by Debra Goykhman
While summer is my favorite season (perhaps because I’m a summer baby), I always welcome the fall because it is the return of TV season. Right now I am so happy because 80% of my DVR is loaded with shows that I probably won’t realistically have the time to catch up with. That is heaven to me. Ernessa and the rest of the folks at FAN have done a great job with reviewing all the new TV shows and I have to say I agree with most of them. My ultimate favorite new show is Revenge, which I blame on the old WB show Everwood where I first saw Emily VanCamp. You can make fun of me all you want, but that show was awesome in the cheesiest family way and I especially loved that there was a character with the name Ephram (a favorite of mine) on TV. While Revenge is nothing like Everwood, I am really enjoying an old favorite carrying her own show. The only problem I see is how ABC is going to be able to carry that show beyond one season without jumping the shark. [FRINGE SPOILER ALERT, SKIP TO NEXT PARAGRAPH TO AVOID] Speaking of jumping the shark, I think that one of my surprise favorites (mostly because I usually hate SyFy) Fringe has jumped the shark with J.J. Abrams favorite writing gimmick—what would happen in the alternate universe? He did this by getting rid of the main character Peter. Now there are four universes to think about—here with Peter, there with Peter, here without Peter, and there without Peter. What is Abram’s thinking? I hated Lost and I am just hoping Fringe isn’t going to turn into a Lost 2.0. Did anyone see Friday’s episode? It was...
![Free TV and Radio Channels You’re Missing Out On [Kicking Back with Jersey Joe]](http://fierceandnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/TV.jpg)
Free TV and Radio Channels You’re Missing Out On [Kicking Back with Jersey Joe]...
posted by Jersey Joe
There are tons of free television and radio stations on the air right now, beaming into your home and car, which most people don’t know exist. But fear not, I’m about to help you access these stations – FOR FREE! In a recent blogumn, I discussed how you can listen to distant radio stations from other cities. Some of the stations that I talked about were digital sub-channels only. Sub-channels are additional channels that both TV and radio stations are broadcasting along with their main signals, for free. These subchannels are often labeled .2 or HD-2 (and up), but these are completely different channels from their main station, so it’s like getting a second channel for free! As technology advanced, and the government stepped in, stations began broadcasting in digital. With an old analog signal, they were only able to send one channel of programming. Now that stations are broadcasting in digital, which is nothing more than sending 1’s and 0’s over the air, they are able to send several different channels at once. The sad part is most TV and radio stations have done a really bad job implementing and explaining what these channels are. But fear not – I’ll make it simple! So, let’s look at TV first. TELEVISION Television stations make most of their money by broadcasting one of the major networks on their main feed. This is usually the original analog channel number they were assigned when the station began broadcasting a long time ago. In 2010, when stations were forced to turn off their analog signals by our government and go strictly digital the original channel numbers became meaningless. Stations were reassigned new digital channel numbers, but most continued to use the old number on-air, so viewers would not get confused. Many...
![CHARLIE’S ANGELS, PERSON OF INTEREST, PRIME SUSPECT Reviews: Fall TV 2011 [Worth Watching?]](http://fierceandnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/prime_suspect-NBC.jpg)
CHARLIE’S ANGELS, PERSON OF INTEREST, PRIME SUSPECT Reviews: Fall TV 2011 [Worth Watching?]...
posted by Ernessa T. Carter
Can you say more drama for your mama? Due to a recording conflict at my BFF’s house (I spent the night there before heading to upstate New York for a wedding in a field), I wasn’t able to see NBC’s much-hyped sitcom, WHITNEY. But all the new fall dramas that popped off yesterday, including CHARLIE’S ANGELS, PERSON OF INTEREST, and PRIME SUSPECT? Oh yeah, those totally got watched. Overview CHARLIE’S ANGELS: After the third Angel gets knocked off, the remaining two Angels, Kate and Abby, team up with her best friend Eve (Minka Kelly from FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS) to find her killer. Shocker: Eve totally ends up becoming the third angel. PERSON OF INTEREST: A former CIA operative (Jim Caviezel) teams up with a mysterious billionaire (Michael Emerson) to prevent crimes before they happen. A police officer (Taraji P. Henson) tries to figure out what the h-e-double-hockey-sticks is going on. PRIME SUSPECT: A reimagining of the British series, which made Helen Mirren famous. This time it’s an NYPD homicide detective played by Maria Bello, who’s punching out the glass ceiling of a New York homicide squad. What I Liked CHARLIE’S ANGELS: The fashion was great. And I’m a big fan of women kicking ass, while working as a team. Also, it was nice that they aged down Bosley, and replaced him with bit of eye candy. It felt like equal opportunity ageism, and took away the weird “daddy” vibe of the original series and movie revamps. For once, it felt like these were professionals doing their job — as opposed to a cult of Charlie. Plus, I have a weird celebrity crush on Minka Kelly. PERSON OF INTEREST: This one pretty much grabs you from go. It’s a procedural in the end, but with...