Episode #: 238/102/4.2
Original Airdate: September 6, 2001
Production Code (last 3#): 405
Players: Wayne Brady, Kathy Greenwood, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles
Games: Living Scenery - Kathy, Wayne: props; Colin, Ryan: 2 businessmen; scene: Two businessmen arrive at a gym & health spa. Song Styles - Wayne (with the others behind him), singing in the style: "Riverdance", to audience member Samantha, an aerobics instructor. 2-Line Vocabulary - Colin: whatever he wants; Wayne: "That’s not what you said earlier." & "What does that do?"; Ryan: "Oops, I did it again." & "Are you enjoying this?"; scene: Colin is a senior engineer called in to help at the nuclear plant when 2 other engineers, Ryan & Wayne, report a leak. Infomercial - Colin, Ryan: pitchmen; miracle product: cures bad breath. Scenes From A Hat - Kathy, Wayne, Colin, Ryan; scenes: things your mom says or does that make you think she used to be a stripper; conversation topics that will derail a dinner party; things bald men are sick of hearing; if "Rainman" had different jobs; hillbilly dating service videos. Hoedown - Wayne, Drew, Colin, Ryan; subject: first kiss.
Winner: Kathy
Credit Reading: Wayne, Kathy, Colin, Ryan (& audience member Samantha); reading: as though they were taking an aerobics class with Samantha
My Opinion: Drew started the show off with a shot at Ryan’s shoes. (The baby blue ones.) When Ryan feigned heartbreak, the audience was on his side. Then when Drew said that he actually liked Ryan’s shoes, Ryan reacted as being confused. First, we were treated to a brand new game - Living Scenery. Kathy’s playing was a little uneven, not picking up cues at times; but I do have to say it was one of the rare times I enjoyed her performance. As for the game, I got a kick out of it. I guess one could call it a hybrid of Moving People, with a twist all it’s own. I want to see it again. Song Styles, well, the best part of it was when Samantha (the audience member) showed Wayne that she could indeed do "Riverdance" - as good, if not better, as he. In 2-Line Vocabulary, OK, maybe I am just nit-picking, but Wayne altered both his lines. Instead of "That’s not what you said earlier.", he would say "That’s not what you said yesterday." And, instead of "What does that do?", he would say, "What does this do?" As I said, it’s just a nit-picking on my part. As for Infomercial, seemed as though Ryan was having a whole lot of fun. I wish I did. I’m still not that much of a fan of this game. Sorry, guys! In Scenes From A Hat, Kathy didn’t supply anything. She was pulled over a couple times - and that was it. Then there was the one "things bald men are sick of hearing". Poor Colin! Wayne took 2 shots & Ryan took one (reprising the "Castaway" bit from last season). With "if ‘Rainman’ had different jobs", Colin got in a shot at Drew. Wonderful! Hoedown wasn’t up to it’s usual quality. The best 2 came from Drew (surprise!) & Colin - with Drew’s being the better of the pair. Even if this playing had been up to par, Drew’s verse still would have been a hard one to beat. The episode was good, not great, but good.

Episode #: 240/104/4.4
Original Airdate: September 20, 2001
Production Code (last 3#): 420
Players: Wayne Brady, Kathy Greenwood, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles
Games: Questions Only - Wayne, Kathy, Colin, Ryan; scene: romance breaks out at a luxurious European health spa. Sound Effects - Colin (audience member Ruth), Ryan (audience member Lisa); scene: 2 American GIs attempting the great escape from a World War II German prisoner of war camp. Scenes from a Hat - Wayne, Kathy, Colin, Ryan; scenes: compliments you give your prom date that will definitely get your face slapped; inappropriate comments from the priest at your wedding; people who shouldn’t work naked; original rejected poses for the Mona Lisa. Greatest Hits - Ryan, Colin: pitchmen; Wayne: singing "Songs of James Bond, International Spy" - styles: traditional Hawaiian: "How Does An Old Guy Like Me Get Such Young Chicks?"; blues: "My Shoes is a Gun"; Ethel Merman: "Blofeld on My Mind". Irish Drinking Song - Wayne, Drew, Colin Ryan; subject: "Got Arrested".
Winner: Kathy
Credit Reading: Kathy as a drunk with no inhibitions
My Opinion: I was quite surprised as to how well Kathy did this time in Questions Only. With the way she was going, it didn’t look as though Ryan would have his chance. I have said it before, so I won’t go into again as to how much I dislike the audience participated version of Sound Effects. The only time I laughed wasn’t even during the game. When Drew was telling the audience members, Ruth & Lisa, which player they would be making the noises for, Lisa’s reaction was one of joy - which definitely surprised Ryan, who then acted as though he was trying to get his wedding ring off. As for Scenes From A Hat, there were a couple good moments in it, along with one of deja vu. When Drew read, "people who shouldn’t work naked", he reacted as though he thought that someone was going to do him. No one did, but Ryan used himself for one of his suggestions. The deja vu one was "original rejected poses for the Mona Lisa". While it was not worded the same way on the UK episode, it still was done before. Well, at least it wasn’t one that went, "things you can say about your (blank) but not your girlfriend". We were actually treated to a new musical style in Greatest Hits - traditional Hawaiian. I don’t believe we’ve had that one before. Wayne got tripped up with the last song because he didn’t know who or what "Blofeld" was. I’m not a "007" fan, so that one slid right past me, too. (Note: With thanks to another Whoser, I now know who "Blofeld" is - a villian from one of the movies. Learn something new everyday.) We got our first performance of Irish Drinking Song for the season. It was funny, but not great...which is what I have to say about the episode as a whole. One last thing, this episode definitely came from the taping that also gave us episode #235/US #99/#3.40, airing originally on June 14, 2001 - why else would Drew have Kathy read the credits as a drunk with no inhibitions? In that other episode, that was her quirk in Weird Newscasters.

Episode #: 242/106/4.6
Original Airdate: October 3, 2001
Production Code (last 3#): 413 ("Too Hot for Whose Line")
Players: Wayne Brady, Kathy Greenwood, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles
Games: Weird Newscasters - Colin: anchor (Pierre ‘cause my bladder’s empty); Kathy: co-anchor - trailer trash woman telling her ex-husband at home what a great lover her new boyfriend Colin is (Loubelle); Wayne: sports - nerdy nearsighted teenager playing his first game of spin the bottle (Winky) (Urkel - afterwards); Ryan: weather - John Wayne who thinks the studio is coming under attack. Newsflash - Ryan, Kathy: in studio; Colin: in the field reporter; scene: freaks (or Stupid Human Tricks contestants from "The Late Show with David Letterman"). Party Quirks - Kathy: host; Wayne: various celebrities getting slowly steamrolled; Colin: suspects that people are not the sex they claim to be and is trying to find out for sure; Ryan: hunky model in a photo shoot for covers of romance novels. Show-Stopping Number - Colin, Ryan, Wayne; scene: working in a post office; songs: Colin: "Let’s Take a Coffee Break and Think About That"; Ryan: "My Friend, You’re Fired"; Wayne: "I’m an Expert Marksman". World’s Worst... - Wayne, Drew, Colin, Ryan; scene: ...person to share a lifeboat with.
Winner: Kathy
Credit Reading: Ryan as John Wayne rounding up his posse because they’re under attack
My Opinion: This episode was called, "Too Hot for Whose Line". After seeing it, I have to agree! The first one (with Brad last season) was mild compared to this one! OK, let’s begin. This was truly one of Colin’s best episodes, so please excuse me if I don’t mention much about the others. Colin was sharp from the start with - "Pierre ‘cause my bladder’s empty" - the name he gave himself in Weird Newscasters. It took most people a moment, myself included, to catch it. Way out from left field! I was surprised at Kathy’s performance in this game. It was one of the rare times she handled herself quite well. She can play trailer trash! As expected, Wayne tried to kiss Drew. I haven’t tired yet of Ryan’s impressions - but I like his Elvis the best. In Newsflash, which is something we hadn’t seen in a bit, I know I have seen those, for the lack of a better word, freaks before. The first person shown in the clip was wearing a "Late Show..." T-shirt, so I’m almost certain that show is where I seen them. If this round of Party Quirks didn’t grab you,... Sorry, just couldn’t resist! Colin’s grabbing was another one from left field, most not really having any idea that he was going to do that. After a couple grabs, Ryan started protecting himself. Wayne, on the other hand, when it was just Colin left for Kathy to guess, offered himself to be grabbed again. Afterwards, first Drew offered Colin a can of disinfectant spray and then mentioned that he had been waiting for Colin to come over to him. Colin then said something along the line that he had no question about Drew’s gender. We finally got a second playing of Show-Stopping Number. I have to admit that I liked it better this time around. I need to see it again, to see if this playing was the rule or the exception. For the second time this season, I had moment of deja vu, this time with World’s Worst... person to share a lifeboat with. A few of the responses I swear were given when this same one was done on the UK version. Maybe I’ve just been watching too long? This may have been only the sixth episode of the season, but I think that this one will be the one to beat. If it’s not the best, it will be up there.

Episode #: 243/107/4.7
Original Airdate: October 4, 2001
Production Code (last 3#): 315
Players: Brad Sherwood, Wayne Brady, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles
Games: Let’s Make A Date - Wayne: contestant; Brad: bad-tempered short order cook; Colin: turning into a cock-fighting rooster; Ryan: desperate soldier in a foxhole during battle. Title Sequence - Brad, Wayne: singers; Ryan, Colin: acting; show: "Tyson and Lincoln". Scenes From A Hat - Brad, Wayne, Colin, Ryan; scenes: strange titles for celebrity autobiographies; strange items on sale at the prison gift shop; word that sound dirty but aren’t; shows that didn’t even make it to UPN; America’s funniest lethal home videos; odd choices for a presidential running mate; pick up lines of game show hosts; bad things to say to your future in-laws. Party Quirks - Brad: host; Wayne: television that keeps changing channels; Colin: insatiable mosquito that gets drunk on blood; Ryan: talking roadkill coming back to haunt the host. Three-Headed Broadway Star - Wayne, Ryan, Colin; musical: "Quicksand"; song: "That Sinking Feeling". Hoedown - Brad, Drew, Colin, Ryan; subject: family reunion.
Winner: Brad, Colin Ryan
Credit Reading: Brad, Wayne, Colin, Ryan like a Whose Line reunion 30 years later
My Opinion: The first game, Let’s Make A Date, was funny but I didn’t think that anyone really stood out. The same thing is true about Title Sequence. But you have to admit that boxer Mike Tyson & President Lincoln, is a strange combination. In Scenes From A Hat, Gary Coleman gets mentioned, directly and indirectly, 3 times - twice by Ryan (directly - celebrity autobiographies and at the prison gift shop) and once by Wayne (indirectly - presidential running mates - afterwards, Drew mentioned that they, Wayne and Colin, looked like them; he then pointed to Colin, calling him "Mr. Drummond"). With "pick-up lines of game show hosts", Drew, once again, prepared himself to be insulted. Again, it didn’t happen. Maybe he’s the only one who hasn’t gotten the message that a lot of the fans are growing a little tired of it? In Party Quirks, Brad only had a little trouble with Wayne’s quirk. Because of a continuation in the game, Brad’s party prepping was kept in. (He acted as though he was cleaning up before the party. While putting his cleaning supplies in the closet, he asks Drew as to why he was in his closet. In the game, Brad asks Drew to "come out of the closet".) I still would like to see Drew play this game at least once. It was nice to see the sparkle in Ryan again while playing! He had seemed to just go through the motions recently. While I am yet not a fan of Three-Headed Broadway Star, I do like this way of playing it - without an audience member also on the stage. The audience were on their toes with their suggestions of the titles for the musical ("Quicksand") and the love song ("That Sinking Feeling")! Hoedown was fun. It had been a while since Brad has done one. It’s nice to know that he can still do it. The best thing I can say about this episode is that it was even.

Episode #: 244/108/4.8
Original Airdate: October 4, 2001
Production Code (last 3#): 414
Players: Wayne Brady, Kathy Greenwood, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles
Games: Hollywood Director - Colin: director; Kathy, Ryan, Wayne: actors; scene: Kathy is an impatient customer who pulls into Ryan’s gas station where he is pumping gas; Wayne is a thief who has come to rob them; styles: insult comics; Tarzan (Ryan), Jane (Kathy) and Cheetah (Wayne); Jerry Springer guests while still as Tarzan, Jane and Cheetah. Living Scenery - Wayne, Kathy: props; Colin, Ryan; scene: getting up and going through their morning routines. Three-Headed Broadway Star - Wayne, Ryan, Colin (audience member Katie); song: "You’ve Got a Beautiful Earlobe". Helping Hands - Kathy, Ryan/Colin; scene: Ryan and Kathy are 2 young Italian lovers. Ryan has invited Kathy over for a romantic meal so he can propose to her. Props - Drew, Ryan vs. Colin, Wayne.
Winner: Kathy
Credit Reading: Kathy while everyone takes a shower
My Opinion: I have to admit that Kathy again surprised me with her performance in the episode. Granted, there were times in that she still seemed to hold back, but they were not as frequent as usual. What I liked best about Hollywood Director was the style of "insult comics". A lot of wonderful lines! I am fast becoming a fan of Living Scenery! What Ryan and Colin put Wayne and Kathy through! I really would like to see someone other than Kathy taking part, though. Once again, the audience participated version of Three-Headed Broadway Star, for me, is a yawn. At least the trio is paying more attention to the person on stage with them. It was great to see Helping Hands again! I believe that it was the first time in the history of the US version that Drew didn’t take part in the game. (I am wrong, it’s the second time; but it is the first time since the first US season.) He wasn’t missed because I think Kathy did pretty good. I don’t know who I felt the most sorry for - Ryan eating the raw oyster and cold pasta or Colin having to mix the pasta and sauce with his hands. Even though I believe that it’s time to give the game of Props a needed rest, I have to admit that I did get quite a few giggles in this playing. Overall, the episode was all right.

Episode #: 245/109/4.9
Original Airdate: October 10, 2001
Production Code (last 3#): 318
Players: Wayne Brady, Chip Esten, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles
Games: Hollywood Director - Colin: director; Wayne, Chip, Ryan: actors; scene: Ryan is an incompetent waiter who spilled something on temperamental supermodel, Wayne. Chip is her angry husband who comes in to confront Ryan. styles: "The Exorcist", - Wayne is possessed, Ryan is the mother, Chip is the priest; out of control moving walkway; rodeo riders; porn movie filled with exercise instructors. Duet - Chip, Wayne; audience member: Shauna (exotic animal handler); style: speed metal (like Metalica). Song Titles - Wayne, Chip, Colin, Ryan; scene: at a police station on a busy Saturday night. Scenes From A Hat - Wayne, Chip, Colin, Ryan; scenes: times when you like to say, "Let’s see that again in slow-motion."; bad times to ask her for sex; bad names for perfume; what your dogs think and do when you leave them alone in the house; unusual cases for the FBI; world’s worst catch phrases; if people broke in to song in real life; difficult questions for mommy to answer. Hoedown - Chip, Drew, Colin, Ryan; subject: drunk mother.
Winner: Wayne
Credit Reading: Chip, Ryan as 2 competing ventriloquists, and Colin and Wayne as their dummies.
My Opinion: If my count is correct, this was Ryan’s 200th episode. Has he really been doing it THAT long? This playing of Hollywood Director will be more remembered not for the performances, instead it will be remembered for what happened instead. During the style of rodeo riders, Chip jumps on Ryan’s back. Ouch! The words that came out of Ryan’s mouth, even though ABC included a censor tag over his mouth, had to be part of the reason why this episode became one of the "Too Hot" episodes. The best part of Duet had to be the ending, when Wayne, bent down as a chimp, escorted Shauna (the audience participant), back to her seat. What I thought was the best part of Song Titles was Colin’s line, "Nice pants!" The line became a running gag in Scenes From A Hat...along with a slow-motion replay of Chip attempting to ride Ryan. The best line in the game came in response to the scene "difficult questions for mommy to answer". It was said first by Wayne, then by Colin, "Mommy, how come no one on Friends look like me?" The Hoedown was a free-for-all...all started by Chip, taking a wonderful shot at Colin. Drew, then Colin, each took a shot at Chip, with Colin’s shot being an after thought to his verse. Ryan, his verse wasn’t even about the subject! His was a shot at Wayne. While this episode was wonderful, it still had uneven moments.

Episode #: 246/110/4.10
Original Airdate: October 17, 2001
Production Code (last 3#): 419
Players: Brad Sherwood, Wayne Brady, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles
Games: Press Conference - Brad, Wayne, Ryan: reporters; Colin: Santa Claus announcing his retirement. If You Know What I Mean - Brad, Colin, Ryan; scene: Colin & Brad are 2 guys who work in an office. Ryan is their colleague who comes to join them. Show-Stopping Number - Colin, Ryan, Wayne; scene: in a veterinarian’s office; songs: Colin: "I’m Going to Work on the Poodle"; Ryan: "I’m Always Going to be with You, Phil"; Wayne: "Little Reggie the Cockateel". Dubbing with An Audience Member - Colin, Ryan, Brad - dubbing for audience member, Betty (a clerk); scene: High school quarterback, Colin, makes on move on star athlete, Betty, who is stretching by the track. Ryan, her jock boyfriend, arrives to train with her. Scenes From A Hat - Brad, Wayne, Colin, Ryan; scenes: what Olympic medallists are really thinking while they are listening to the National Anthem; times when "eeny meany miney mo" is not an appropriate selection method; what Alexander Graham Bell really said the first time he used the phone; first lines of the worst poems ever written; things that shouldn’t have an ejector seat; things found in Drew Carey’s appointment book. Hoedown - Wayne, Drew, Colin, Ryan; subject: doctor.
Winner: Brad
Credit Reading: Colin while he fluffs his Garfield (Brad)
My Opinion: We were reintroduced to an old favorite - Press Conference. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first playing of it on the US show. Even though some of the "questions" were a groan, it was still fun to see it again. Tell me, am I the only one who thinks that If You Know What I Mean is getting to be a Brad game? From this game came a line, by Colin, that would be used again in Scenes From A Hat, Hoedown & in the Credit Reading. The line - "fluffing the Garfield". Leave it to Colin to come up with something like that! Show-Stopping Number wasn’t as funny as last time, but it was still way better than the first playing. We were treated to a new game in this episode - Dubbing With An Audience Member. OK, you know that I’m not excited by audience participated games, but this one has potential since the audience member is being used by one of the players (Brad, this time) instead of the other way around, as in Sound Effects. In Scenes From A Hat, we were once again treated to shots at Drew - "things found in Drew Carey’s appointment book". In Wayne’s "version", he had Drew scheduling to count all his money. Ryan’s, in my opinion, was the better of the two - "7 p.m. - blow up" (acting like he’s scratching that out) "pick up girlfriend". Hoedown gave us Wayne taking a cute shot at Colin (referring to that Garfield line from earlier), Drew getting off a decent verse, Colin working that Garfield line at the end of his verse & Ryan borrowing Betty’s "stretching" motions for his verse. All in all, I found the episode enjoyable.

Episode #: 247/111/4.11
Original Airdate: October 18, 2001
Production Code (last 3#): 422
Players: Greg Proops, Wayne Brady, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles
Games: Let’s Make A Date - Wayne: contestant; Greg: "Judge Judy"; Colin: turns into a killer hamster when frightened; Ryan: TV’s "Crocodile Hunter" on various dangerous encounters. Newsflash - Greg, Ryan: in studio; Colin: field reporter; scene: pro wrestling. Whose Line - Colin, Ryan; scene: Colin is "Beauty" & has gone to the castle on a desperate mission to plead with the "Beast", Ryan, who has imprisoned her father. Weird Newscasters - Greg: anchor (I’m all that & a bag of chips); Colin: co-anchor - streaker who has bet his friends he can get into all the shots; Wayne: sports - Italian stud who would rather be picking up women; Ryan: weather - running in an Olympic relay. Irish Drinking Song - Wayne, Greg, Colin, Ryan; song: "Divorce".
Winner: Ryan
Credit Reading: Ryan as the "Croc Hunter" with the other as animals behind him
My Opinion: NEWSFLASH!!!!! Not including the "Best of..." special at the start of the third season, this was the first US episode that did not include a Drew game. It went off as like one of the UK episodes, with the winner, Ryan, being announced at the end & leading into him doing the credits. I know that there are going to be those die-hard, US (version), Drew fans who will feel as though they were cheated or something. Then there are those of us die-hard UK (version) fans who feel as though we were treated. I know it’s not a permanent change, but it was still nice! (And, no, that’s not a shot at Drew. I found it to be a welcomed break.) OK, on to the show. This was another one of the third season tapings to be given a fourth season airing. I could tell by the clothes & some lines that were used. In Let’s Make A Date, we got to hear Ryan’s Aussie accent again. When he started, I didn’t know who was going to laugh first at it - Ryan or Colin. Greg as "Judge Judy" was priceless! In the first round, some of the lines he used reminded me of his current gig on the dating show, "Rendez-View". Newsflash, as always, had it’s moments. I’m not into pro wrestling, so some of the hints thrown at Colin went over my head. (I had to ask a fan.) It was the first playing of Whose Line this season. Once again, Colin was stuck playing the woman. Poor guy! The highlights in Weird Newscasters were when Wayne was hitting on Drew & when Colin joined Ryan in his relay run, with each taking turns at taking the lead. Wonderful! While this playing of Irish Drinking Song wasn’t the best, it did have it’s moments...like when Ryan sang 2 lines in the second verse, not giving Wayne the chance to do his finishing line. Overall, this wasn’t one of the best episodes, but it was truly a memorable one because of the no Drew game.

Episode #: 248/112/4.12
Original Airdate: October 25, 2001
Production Code (last 3#): 336
Players: Wayne Brady, Kathy Greenwood, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles
Games: Weird Newscasters - Colin: anchor (Oswald that ends wald); Kathy: co-anchor (Jeanne Jenew) - whiny girlfriend from a 1930’s gangster movie who thinks Colin is her boyfriend; Wayne: sports (Jose can you see) - female Russian weightlifter trying to impress an American man with her strength; Ryan: weather (Cole Front) - increasingly desperate Prince Charming using his own shoe as the slipper. Song Styles - Wayne, singing in the style: ‘80’s rock anthem, to audience member Ingrid, a police detective. Newsflash - Ryan, Kathy: in the studio; Colin: field reporter; scene: rollercoaster ride. Greatest Hits - Ryan, Colin: pitchmen; Wayne: singing "Songs of the Racecar Driver" - styles: Dixieland: "Axle Grease Rag"; The Police: "er-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-BANG!"; Lambada: "Two Laps to Go". Hoedown - Wayne, Drew, Colin, Ryan; subject: got arrested.
Winner: Kathy
Credit Reading: Kathy as a whiny ‘30’s gangster moll, to her gangster boyfriend, Colin
My Opinion: For those of you who felt a bit of deja vu while watching this episode, especially the last half, you are a Whoser indeed! More about that in a moment. In Weird Newscasters, I don’t know whom I enjoyed more - Wayne, as the female Russian weightlifter when he tried to lift Drew, or Ryan, as the desperate Prince Charming attempting to find someone who fit his shoe...and actually coming close a couple of times. Both were wonderful! I honestly don’t think that there has ever been a member of the police force as the audience participant before. Wayne used just about every police item he could think of in Song Styles. Pretty good! As for Newsflash, Colin would have guessed it with just the audience reactions to the rollercoaster shots. OK, now for the moments of deja vu. It was not the first time that "Songs of the Racecar Driver" was done in Greatest Hits. It was also done back in the third season - May 10, 2001 - Production Code: #339. Same taping. (Keep that information in mind because it comes up again.) OK, the songs and styles were not the same; so we now have 6 song titles on that album. Wayne goofed up the titles of the first two songs, acknowledging it in the first one while he was singing. It was also not the first time that "got arrested" was the subject of a Hoedown - April 12, 2001 - Production Code: #311. Same taping. Drew’s verse was the only throw-away one. I usually don’t mention the Credit Reading here, but, this time, I just have to say something because this is what triggered the deja vu for me. (I didn’t see much of the show while I was taping it, not seeing the other 2 moments until replaying the tape.) When I heard Drew announce it, "Damn, that sounds familiar!" I grabbed my notes. It’s the same one used back on May 10, 2001 - Production Code: #339. To prove it to myself, I even dug out my copy and played the Credit Reading. The same. I think that this is the first time that a Credit Reading has been repeated. Hmmm. As for this episode, I did enjoy myself, in spite of the deja vu.

Episode #: 249/113/4.13
Original Airdate: November 7, 2001
Production Code (last 3#): 418
Players: Greg Proops, Wayne Brady, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles
Games: Press Conference - Greg, Wayne, Ryan: reporters; Colin: Tin Man announcing he & Dorothy have just had a child. Hats - Colin, Ryan vs Greg, Wayne; scene: world’s worst dating video. Multiple Personalities - Colin, Greg, Ryan; scene: On a cruise on the SS Poseidon when it’s hit by a tidal wave & capsizes; items: captain’s hat - John Wayne, life saver - Liberace, telescope - "Rainman". Greatest Hits - Colin, Ryan: pitchmen; Wayne singing "Songs of Retirement"; styles: Destiny’s Child: "Puttering Around the Garden"; polka: "I’m Gonna Torch the Place"; metal: "Shut Those Kids Up I’m Trying to Sleep". World’s Worst... - Greg, Drew, Colin, Ryan; scene: ...self help instructional video.
Winner: Wayne
Credit Reading: Greg, Ryan as news anchors who don't know the microphones are still on
My Opinion: This episode came as a delightful surprise! I had been misinformed, believing that the episode being aired was a repeat. As for the games, it was nice to get to Press Conference again. Just a minor complaint - why has it been Colin "holding the press conference" both times it’s been played this season? Just curious. Colin caught onto the hints rather quickly. Hats had several wonderful moments! Multiple Personalities was played for the first time this season. Greg did each of the personalities. Colin & Ryan did 2 each - with Colin avoiding doing Liberace (handing off the life saver to Greg without saying a word) & Ryan not coming in contact with the telescope, but did do John Wayne & Liberace at the same time. Points to Ryan! I loved the name of the movie they were "cutting away from" in Greatest Hits - "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Drag Queen". All 3 guys were sharp, but I enjoyed the Colin/Ryan banter a wee bit more than Wayne’s singing. In World’s Worst..., Greg ruled! Every one of his suggestions were hilarious! Ryan seemed a bit slow in this game...which seemed to run quite longer than usual. Anyway, once Ryan got started, out came a shot at Drew, who tripped & nearly fell when walking back backwards to the step after his first suggestion. Drew immediately took a shot back, making a comment about Ryan’s sexual talent. In that competition, Ryan did get the last shot back. After another one of his suggestions, he did the exaggerated look back to the step. (Right afterward, Drew came up behind Ryan, giving him a little nudge.) I did get a lot of giggles from watching this episode! It was good.

Episode #: 250/214/4.14
Original Airdate: November 14, 2001
Production Code (last 3#): 507
Players: Wayne Brady, Whoopi Goldberg, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles
Games: Hollywood Director - Colin: director; Ryan, Wayne, Whoopi: actors; scene: The evil whip-wielding Judge Forlow (Ryan) has cornered gypsy girl Esmerelda (Whoopi) in the bell tower and is forcing her to do a sensual dance for him. Suddenly, hideously ugly Quasimodo (Wayne) swings in to save her. Song Styles - Wayne; style: Tina Turner; singing to: Whoopi. Dubbing - Colin, Ryan, Wayne - supplying the voice for Whoopi; scene: Colin is a brilliant French designer in love with his temperamental star, supermodel, Whoopi, as she is practicing her catwalk routine backstage. Her jealous photographer boyfriend, Ryan, bursts in. Scenes From A Hat - Colin, Ryan, Wayne, Whoopi; scenes: bad thing to do as you walk down the aisle at your wedding; if classic movies had nude scenes; if cartoon characters had adult conversations; what you don’t want to see tattooed on your date; inappropriate times to use baby talk; inappropriate topics of conversation when meeting the Queen of England. Foreign Film Dub - Drew (Ryan translating), Whoopi (Colin translating); movie title: Chinese action film - "Soba Noodle for You".
Winner: Wayne
Credit Reading: Wayne, Whoopi as two old women talking about whose hot in the retirement home.
My Opinion: The episode began as the Robin episode did, with Whoopi being the last one mentioned while sitting in the second seat. Of the 5 games played, 2 were the same as what Robin played - Hollywood Director and Scenes From A Hat. (If you want to count that both, in one way or another, took part in a singing game - Robin singing in Duet, and Whoopi being sung to in Song Styles, you can make total 3.) Whoopi seemed to connect quite well with the guys, but not more than with Wayne. Their best work was in Dubbing and Scenes From A Hat. In Dubbing, Wayne did well in supplying the vocal attitude to the physical attitude Whoopi was displaying. This playing of Song Styles was a first, that another player was the one being sung to. From what I’ve been reading elsewhere, this won’t be the last time. It seems as though the audience will be taking part in less of the games...at least for a little while...with guest celebrities filling in. There was something that Whoopi did in Scenes From A Hat that I found, well, odd. While most of the players remain at "center stage" for a second or so after giving their line to "milk" the moment, Whoopi didn’t. She’d do the line and then immediately head back to her spot. Was it nervousness? Or was she just being considerate, making room for the next player? Overall, I did like her performance and the episode. Fashion note: Drew is now wearing bow ties. Personally, I don’t think they look good on him. But, hey, that’s just me.

Episode #: 251/115/4.15
Original Airdate: November 21, 2001
Production Code (last 3#): #503
Players: Brad Sherwood, Wayne Brady, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles (special guests: Lassie & Sid Caesar)
Games: Questionable Impressions - Brad, Wayne, Colin, Ryan - scene: emergency room. Duet - Brad, Wayne - style: country - to Lassie. Film Dub - Brad, Wayne, Colin, Ryan - scene: 2 street gangs arguing over territory. Sound Effects - Ryan (sounds by audience member Julie), Colin (sounds by audience member Karen) - scene: Ryan is one of "Charlie’s Angels" & Colin is Bosley, (they) receive instructions from Charlie to infiltrate a criminal mastermind’s jungle headquarters where his militia has kidnapped the other angels. Foreign Film Dub - Drew (translation by Ryan), Sid Caesar (translation by Colin) - film: French spy film - "Escargot", with the language changing to German, Japanese, Russian.
Winner: None announced
Credit Reading: None - everyone singing "Happy Birthday" to Sid Caesar
My Opinion: This episode was a special - "A Salute to American Television". I really, really wanted to like this episode, but that didn’t happen. In my opinion, the gimmick of using guest stars for one game is one that failed - at least this time. (Yes, that does mean we’re in for more.) The only game I really enjoyed was Questionable Impressions. Getting to hear Colin doing his Peter Graves again was priceless! Beyond that, ho-hum. But I do have to say that my 18-month-old great nephew did get a kick out of Lassie being there in Duet. (He likes dogs.) Film Dub just didn’t have any sparks. The audience participated Sound Effects still isn’t one of my favorites, so having to sit through another round of the game was of no thrill. While I agree that Sid Caesar is a double-speak genius, Drew is not. It was more like watching a professional team playing a real game against a sandlot team. The only thing I really liked in the game was the change of languages - but that was to accommodate Sid’s talent. Not counting the compilation episodes over time, this was the first time that no winner was announced. Lastly, some trivia - if my count is correct, since there was no Credit Reading, the number of episodes Ryan has appeared in has now passed the number of episodes with Credit Readings. Am I excited about the future of special guest star episodes? No, but I need to see another to see if one does work. When this episode airs as a repeat, I will think like a quarterback facing third down and long - pass.

Episode #: 252/116/4.16
Original Airdate: November 22, 2001 (Thanksgiving Day - US)
Production Code (last 3#): #417
Players: Wayne Brady, Jeff Davis, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles
Games: Questions Only - Wayne, Jeff, Colin, Ryan - scene: a bawdy Saturday night in a frontier town at the height of the Gold Rush. Infomercial - Colin, Ryan: pitchmen; miracle product: to remove excessive arm hair. 2-Line Vocabulary - Colin: can say whatever he wants; Jeff: "I resent that." & "Oh my god, that’s enormous."; Ryan: "Should I use my gun?" & "What was that?"; scene: Colin is a jungle expedition leader desperately trying to get his colleagues (Jeff & Ryan) to set up camp before darkness falls. Greatest Hits - Colin, Ryan: pitchmen; Jeff, Wayne sing "Songs of the Motorcycle" ; styles: mariachi: "Old Lady on My Hog"; ‘60’s protest: "Asphalt and Chaps"; thrash: "eng-eng-eng" (starting engine sound). World’s Worst... - Jeff, Drew, Colin Ryan; scene: ...neighbors.
Winner: Wayne
Credit Reading: Wayne, Jeff, Colin, Ryan as a heavy-metal band trying to come up with a name for themselves
My Opinion: I am happy to announce that I didn’t think this year’s Thanksgiving Day episode was a turkey. In Questions Only, Wayne and Jeff started the game off with their amusement of the use of the word "bawdy". I don’t recall hearing the word in quite that context before. As usual, I wasn’t bowled over with Infomercial, even Colin and Ryan seemed to be having quite a time with the items from the box. As for 2-Line Vocabulary, while it’s suppose to be Colin "leading" scene, it was Jeff and Ryan instead. I got a kick out of it! In Greatest Hits, Ryan showed one more time his knack at sounds. They are fun to hear, but try to write them! As usual, the duo of Jeff and Wayne ruled! (As I have said before, Wayne is good at this game, but I believe he’s even better when paired with another player.) In World’s Worst..., it started off being just Colin and Wayne. Drew and Jeff eventually jumped in. It was nice to see Jeff again! He "kicked" in just about every game he played. The only game Jeff seemed lost in was World’s Worst..., coming up with only one suggestion. This was only his second appearance this season. I hope that he’s in a few more. Overall, I did have a fun time watching this episode!

Episode #: 253/117/4.17
Original Airdate: November 28, 2001
Production Code (last 3 #’s): #412
Players: Brad Sherwood, Wayne Brady, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles
Games: Weird Newscasters - Brad: anchor; Colin: co-anchor (Barney Smallpants) - just found out his boyfriend, Brad, is having an affair with someone else on the show & wants to know who it is; Wayne: sports - a farmboy defending his title in the finals of the national greased pig round-up; Ryan: weather (Sparky McSpark-Sparker) - a first time mother going from conception to birth. 2-Line Vocabulary - Colin: anything he wants to say; Brad: "Says who?" & "What the hell is that?"; Ryan: "That can’t be good." & "When’s lunch?"; scene: Submarine Commander Captain Colin is questioning 2 seamen, Ryan & Brad, because he suspects one of them of being a spy. Quick Change - Wayne: caller; Brad, Colin, Ryan - scene: Outlaw Brad is giving Miss Kitty, Colin, a hard time in the saloon when sheriff Ryan enters to sort things out. Scenes From A Hat - Brad, Wayne, Colin, Ryan - scenes: Latin American soccer announcers on their day off; Weird thing for people to find beautiful; Weird things for your grandmother to give you for Christmas; What politicians’ wives are really thinking as they smile & wave from the podium. Irish Drinking Song - Wayne, Brad, Colin, Ryan - song: "Graduation".
Winner: Brad, Wayne, Colin, Ryan
Credit Reading: Brad, Wayne, Colin, Ryan - Brad, Wayne are contestants in a greased pig catching contest - Colin, Ryan are the pigs
My Opinions: A few things stand out in this episode. First: This episode might just go down in the book with the name of "greased pig". Not only was it part of Wayne’s quirk in Weird Newscasters, but it was brought up again in Quick Change, by Brad, & as the Credit Reading. In Weird Newscasters, I think the only people who didn’t think that Wayne would go after Drew - must be refugee viewers on a break from one of the other networks. Second: Colin really is a good sport! Look at the quirk he was given in Weird Newscasters, playing Brad’s boyfriend & then being named the father of Ryan’s baby (played by Wayne). Then, in 2-Line Vocabulary, was delighted to be actually playing a guy instead of a female. (Drew responded with something about "if it had been another game, you probably would have been playing the wife of the submarine commander captain".) Then, he ends back to playing the woman in the very next game, Quick Change, as Miss Kitty. Taking it in stride definitely earns him the "Good Sport" award. Third (& last): It was nice to see another episode where Drew didn’t take part in any of the games, giving the four-seat player, Brad this time, a chance to take part in another game, Irish Drinking Song. As I said before, I know that it’s not going to be a permanent thing, but it’s still nice to have just the 4 players "doing their thing" together throughout the entire show. One last note: Brad sure does have a thing regarding certain slang. Just in case you haven’t figured out yet what Brad said that was bleeped in Scenes From A Hat, I am almost absolutely positive that he said "Bush". (I won’t give the definition.) All in all, I had a good time watching this episode!

Episode #: 254/118/4.18
Original Airdate: December 5, 2001
Production Code (last 3 #’s): #421
Players: Chip Esten, Wayne Brady, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles
Games: Weird Newscasters - Colin: anchor (Gay Apparel); Chip: co-anchor (Guiseppi Guisoupi) - singing gondolier whose boar springs a leak; Wayne: sports (Yakameto Yakameto Yakameto Jones) - excited Japanese tourist; Ryan: weather (Toulouse Around-the-waist) - Bigfoot caught on camera & desperate to escape being filmed. Title Sequence - Wayne, Chip: singers; Colin, Ryan: acting out; show: "B & B (Bea Arthur & Brad Pitt)". Scenes From A Hat - Wayne, Chip, Colin, Ryan; scenes: what your wife is saying right now; Boy Scout badges we’ve never heard of; diet books that didn’t exactly fly off the shelves; strange 900 numbers; bad racehorse names to call in a race. Improbable Mission - Wayne: voice on tape; Colin, Ryan: secret agents; mission: washing the car. Irish Drinking Song - Wayne, Chip, Colin, Ryan; song: "Secret Hair Transplant". Props - Colin, Wayne vs. Drew, Ryan.
Winner: Colin, Ryan, Wayne
Credit Reading: Wayne, Chip, Colin, Ryan as people at a very dysfunctional family reunion.
My Opinion: I thought that this episode was a bit uneven. I loved the first half but wasn’t impressed much with the second half. Let me go through them. In Weird Newscasters, Colin was wonderful with the names...as usual. The best of the bunch was Ryan, as Bigfoot. He went running around the stage, eventually ending up backstage because he brought out a plate of food at the game’s end. In Title Sequence, the guys (Colin & Ryan) were just hilarious as Bea & Brad, respectively, with Ryan on his knees. It was a pleasant surprise that Scenes From A Hat wasn’t as predictable as it can be. When "diet books that didn’t exactly fly off the shelves" came up, I don’t think that anyone was surprised with Ryan taking his usual Drew-shot. But what was a surprise was that Chip followed that with a shot at Ryan ("Eating to Get Smart" by Ryan Stiles). Improbable Mission was the start of the downhill portion of the episode. Besides not being that funny, it felt like it was longer than what it usually runs. (One because of the other?) There were even less funny moments in the "Secret Hair Transplant" Irish Drinking Song. Most of the rhymes were predictable...along with the shot at Colin. Yawn! I do have to admit that there were quite a few funny moments in Props, but still not one of the best rounds. What started off with promise, ended up missing the mark.

Episode #: 255/119/4.19
Original Airdate: December 12, 2001
Production Code (last 3 #’s): #411
Players: Wayne Brady, Chip Esten, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles
Games: Let’s Make A Date - Chip: contestant; Wayne: power-crazed Southern state trooper; Colin: joined at the butt to Ryan but desperate for his own career in showbiz; Ryan: bragging motorcycle stunt rider taking on ever-greater challenges. Motown Group - Wayne, Chip, Ryan; subject: hockey player. Song Titles - Wayne, Chip, Colin, Ryan; scene: in the Army. Scenes From A Hat - Wayne, Chip, Colin, Ryan; scenes: When cartoon characters goes on dates; First drafts of famous movie lines; World’s worst person to be stuck with at a party; Trivial reasons to hold a press conference; Color commentators on their day off; Things you can say to your dog but not your girlfriend; Other things Dorothy & her friends asked for. Hoedown - Chip, Drew, Colin, Ryan; subject: body odor.
Winner: Wayne
Credit Reading: Colin, Ryan as guys joined at the butt
My Opinion: Drew named Wayne as the winner, but I thought it was Chip. While he wasn’t the best in all the games he played in, which was all the games except for the Credit Reading, he was the best in most of the games. In Let’s Make A Date, he played the contestant as an airhead’s airhead - counting on the fingers to try to remember what number came after 2, eventually pointing to Bachelor #3. I have to give honorable mentions to Colin, for sticking to Ryan while he did his quirk, & Ryan, for doing his quirk while having Colin sticking to him. In Motown Group, while everyone knew that someone would rhyme "puck" with that "other word", which Chip did, but who would have thought that someone, Chip again, would slip in "zamboni" (the ice machine)? No one, I thought, really stood out in Song Titles, but I do have to give an honorable mention to Ryan for the way he used "Oh, Canada!" Chip left quite the "impression" on me in Scenes From A Hat - first for his "Snagglepuss" in the cartoon one & then for his "Ah-nold" & "Darth Vader" in the movie lines one. An honorable mention to Colin for his one-word response in "things you can say to your dog but not your girlfriend". (While I have mentioned before that I am tired of "things you can say to your (blank) but not to your girlfriend", this one was funny!) The round of Hoedown was one for the books. Ryan went blank & announced it. Drew then stepped in. He stood behind Ryan & sang while Ryan lip-synched. His verse for Ryan was better than the verse for himself. For that, Drew gets an honorable mention; but the winner had to be Colin for his verse about dinosaurs’ body odor, ending with the word, "extinct" (ex-stink-ed). (Being the resident dinosaur impressionist, he should know!) Overall, this episode was a winner with me!

Episode #:   256/120/4.20
Original Airdate:   December 13, 2001
Production Code (last 3 #’s):   #415
Players:   Brad Sherwood, Wayne Brady, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles
Games:   Hollywood Director - Colin: director; Brad, Ryan, Wayne: actors; scene: Wayne is a store detective in a pet shop & suspects Ryan of shoplifting. Brad is a police officer called to the scene; styles: like Elvis; doing the scene backwards; tacky Vegas showgirls. Infomercial - Colin, Ryan: pitchmen; miracle product: cures acne. Party Quirks - Brad: host; Wayne: family coming to blows on "The Jerry Springer Show"; Colin: synchronized swimming teammate of the others; Ryan: series of animals spotting & charging the camera. Title Sequence - Brad, Wayne: singers; Colin, Ryan: actors; ‘70’s sitcom title: "George Washington & the Ventriloquist". Helping Hands - Drew, Ryan/Colin; scene: The bad-tempered owner of an ice cream parlor, Ryan, teaches his new soda jerk, Drew, how to make the ultimate, ultimate sundae.
Winner:   Wayne
Credit Reading:   Brad, Wayne, Colin, Ryan as animals charging the camera
My Opinions:   My, my, my. The second new episode in 2 days. I have to admit that I was not in a great mood when I first watched this episode. It didn’t help me as much as I had hoped. I did enjoy Hollywood Director more than I usually do. We have seen Ryan doing Elvis many times, but I do believe it was the first time seeing Brad or Wayne at it. Wayne did better Brad but not as good as Ryan. The 3 were wonderful doing the scene backwards! Points to all! Excuse me for getting political for the moment. Am I the only one finding it quite tiring that just about every time Brad plays a cop he does the police brutality bit on Wayne? For me, the joke stopped being funny quite a while ago. Infomercial still escapes me. While I did find a few chuckles, most of it was ho-hum. For the second episode in a row, Colin gets to play mimic. This time it was in Party Quirks. For me, his quirk was the only redeeming value of the round. As for Title Sequence, I think that the only thing I will say is...NEXT! I found it funny that tonight’s playing of Helping Hands would have Ryan & ice cream because Comedy Central aired an UK episode earlier with another round of Helping Hands with Ryan & ice cream. (The one with Josie.) Was this planned? If so, by which network? Hmmm. (Ha-ha-ha!) Anyway, I’m sorry to say, that I found tonight’s round mostly predictable & not very funny. The best part was actually in the intro, when Wayne had a little trouble reading the scene from the card. Of course, Drew got in his shots! Wayne did find a little revenge, re-reading & stressing the part about Drew being the "soda jerk". Not one of the best episodes, but far from being one of the worst.