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...