Episode #: 258/122/4.22
Original Airdate: January 24, 2002
Production Code (last 3 #’s): #423
Players: Wayne Brady, Kathy Greenwood, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles
Games: Questions Only - Wayne, Kathy, Colin, Ryan; scene: tensions rise in the cottage where "Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs" live. Hollywood Director - Colin: director; Wayne, Kathy, Ryan; scene: a 1950s teenage couple, Kathy & Ryan, & they are kissing passionately in their car; motorcycle cop, Wayne, rides in because he suspects they’re dangerous criminals who are carrying concealed weapons; styles: "America’s Funnies Home Videos"; climax in a Sam Peckinpah movie; mouth numb from novocaine. Songs Styles - Wayne; singing to: Joe, a pool guy; style: Eminem. Number of Words - Wayne: 4 words; Kathy: 2 words; Colin: 5 words; Ryan: 3 words; scene: It’s a scene from "Titanic" - Colin is Jack & Kathy is Rose & they’re making out on the deck when, Wayne, her horrified fiancée, & Ryan, the ship’s captain, comes to tell them the boat hit an iceberg. Helping Hands - Kathy, Ryan (Colin); scene: Kathy is a frustrated customer trying to get through the express line at a supermarket, Ryan is the loud-mouthed busybody checker. Props - Wayne, Colin vs. Drew, Ryan.
Winner: Kathy
Credit Reading: Kathy, Ryan as a couple getting ready for work in the morning in the bathroom & arguing that they’re getting a divorce
My Opinions: Welcome to 2002! The show started off with Drew showing a headline from a TV magazine, with a picture of Colin on the cover. The caption read something along the line that Colin was the host the British show, "Whose Line is it Anyway?". Drew then feigned insult. Actually, since the thing said "British", it should be Clive who gets to feign insult. Anyway, this does get mentioned again in one of the games. The first game was Questions Only. This was one of those times that I was actually impressed with Kathy’s performance. For a while, it looked as though it was only going to be just Kathy & Wayne going at it. Hollywood Director had some hilarious moments in it! When Drew read that Ryan & Kathy (characters) "are kissing passionately", Ryan grabs himself a breath mint. A short while later, Colin does a little rant about how the scene wasn’t coming out, to which Ryan takes an age shot at him..."...unlike you, I wasn’t alive during the 50s". In Song Styles, Wayne gave a kicking performance as rapper Eminem! What more can I say? While I wasn’t too thrilled with the game Number of Words, I was still quite impressed with Colin’s performance. He sure seemed like he was having a great time! (Could it have been because he didn’t have to play the girl?) While this playing of Helping Hands wasn’t the best ever, it was good! Ryan had to wear a wig. So cute! I think that Ryan & Colin were a bit out of sync. You know by now that Ryan will catch food in his mouth. Well, it took a leaning of the head back a bit more than usual to get Colin to toss the grapes. There was beer involved...apparently the real stuff. When Colin was shaking it, both Drew & Wayne moved from their spots - just in case. It did get opened, but the only ones hit were the 3 in the scene. Last game, Props, there were only a couple of moments that I got a major giggle from. This episode was good, but not great.

Episode #: 259/123/4.23
Original Airdate: January 24, 2002
Production Code (last 3 #’s): #416
Players: Greg Proops, Wayne Brady, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Mochrie
Games: Superheroes - Greg: Quick Dick; Ryan: Faking Injury for Sympathy Man; Colin: Captain Coward; Wayne: Show-Stopping Number Boy; crisis: too many blue shoes. Multiple Personalities - Greg, Wayne, Ryan; props/personality: gas can - Richard Simmons; map - John Wayne; flashlight - "Scooby Doo"; scene: a car breaks down in the forest in the middle of the night. Scenes From A Hat - Greg, Wayne, Colin, Ryan; scenes: times when it would be nice to have the ability to be beamed up; what really made the kids in "Blair Witch" run off screaming; what members of the "Whose Line" cast say to their therapists; outtakes from the hillbilly national theatre’s Shakespeare festival; how the naked Fridays policy turned out at your off. Greatest Hits - Colin, Ryan: pitchmen; Wayne; album: "Songs of the Doctor"; songs: mambo: "This is Gonna Hurt a Little"; Marilyn Monroe: "Gallstones are a Girls’ Worst Friend"; 80’s rock: "My Gown Has No Back". Sportscasters - Drew, Greg: commentators; Colin, Ryan; event: 2 rival pizza makers trying to impress a female customer.
Winner: Wayne
Credit Reading: Greg, Wayne, Ryan as Richard Simmons, "Scooby Doo" & John Wayne
My Opinions: This episode had a running gag involved with almost all the games. Look at the crisis in Superheroes. Those shoes belong to Ryan, & that what the running gag was. I absolutely loved the name Ryan gave Colin, "Captain Coward"! That has to be one of the best names I have heard in a long time! Wayne was just phenomenal as "Show-Stopping Number Boy"! In Multiple Personalities, it was Ryan again who got stuck with 2 items; this time it was the map (John Wayne) & the flashlight ("Scooby-Doo"). He walked like "The Duke" & talked like "Scooby-Doo". Greg still does the best "Scooby-Doo" of the trio. And Ryan did the best John Wayne. All 3 did a great Richard Simmons parody! At the end of the game, Drew made a comment about Ryan’s shoes, saying that he "couldn’t hear anything because Ryan’s shoes were too loud". With the exception of the first scene, in Scenes From A Hat, I loved it all! In the "Blair Witch" one, Wayne took a shot at Ryan’s shoes; but the better one was Colin’s, about a crappy sequel. Then, in the next scene, regarding the "therapist", he joined in about the shoes, with, "I mean, I don’t get it, I mean it’s the color of sky & water". In the "hillbilly" one, Wayne says something that was quite similar to something Greg had said in a game of Props in the UK series - "Read a book, people". The last one would have fit right in on one of the "Too Hot" episodes, with Greg’s implication that Colin was extremely well-endowed...which lead to Ryan being told, by Colin, to get his finger off of his "xxxx". That, of course, was bleeped. The last time Ryan’s shoes were mentioned was in his intro in Greatest Hits, saying "...we’ll return you to ‘The Blue Shoe Diaries’...". The only song that I wasn’t impressed with was the Marilyn Monroe. I just didn’t find it amusing. The best of the bunch was "My Gown Has No Back". Wayne was just terrific! Last game, Sportscasters, was the only letdown of the episode. Drew was just so out of place as one of the commentators. I guess that he’s trying different games, instead of always playing the ones he usually does. I think, with the exception of the last game, this episode could turn out to be one of the best of the season for me.

Episode #: 260/124/4.24
Original Airdate: January 31, 2002
Production Code (last 3 #): #508
Players: Brad Sherwood, Wayne Brady, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles (special guests - Hugh Hefner & 2 Playboy Playmates, Eva Fabian & Victoria Falls)
Games: Award Show - Brad, Wayne: presenters; Colin, Ryan: winners (Brendan & Lorenzo Haberdasher); award: most obnoxious drunk. Duet - Brad, Wayne; singing to: (special guests) Hugh Hefner & 2 Playboy Playmates, Eva Fabian & Victoria Falls; style: swing. Scenes From A Hat - Brad, Wayne, Colin, Ryan; scenes: Superman secret inner thoughts; things you did as a child that aren’t as cute when you’re an adult; if celebrities had been the first people to walk on the moon; inappropriate slide shows that your neighbor makes you sit through. Living Scenery - 2 Playboy Playmates, Eva Fabian & Victoria Falls: props; Colin, Ryan; scene: 2 treasure hunters canoeing down the Amazon decide to pitch their tents by the river when they come under attack by the natives. Props - Drew, Ryan vs. Brad, Wayne.
Winner: Colin
Credit Reading: Brad, Wayne, Colin, Ryan & the 2 Playmates, Eva Fabian & Victoria Falls...the guys are trying to impress the Playmates at the (Playboy) mansion
My Opinion: Fashion mention...It was a rare fourth season episode because Ryan didn’t wear a tie. His clothes were quite casual. OK, enough of the fashion & onto the show. I loved Award Show! As before, it was Colin & Ryan who were the winners. I loved how the audience got into it! Mostly, I loved how Colin & Ryan got into the audience...giving & receiving hugs & "high-tens"! And then there was their on-stage antics while accepting the award - Colin trying to climb onto the podium & Ryan, at the end, starting a fight with Colin. And then there was Duet. Considering who it was sung to, the lyrics were somewhat predictable; but what was not predictable was that Wayne would get himself censored. That’s a rarity. I was surprised at the shorter than usual round of Scenes From A Hat, with only 4 scenes. In the Superman one, Colin pulled one that a lot of us have thought of over the years, about how everyone is seemingly fooled by Superman when he’s wearing glasses as Clark Kent. But my favorite scene was the "celebrities...first people to walk on the moon". Brad did himself, to which Drew took a shot at him, "I said celebrities." Then Wayne did the ultimate - Michael Jackson, moon-walking on the moon. Lastly, there was Ryan. He certainly does have a thing for doing Carol Channing! After the game, there was a comment about how it’s a show for the whole family, or words to that effect. Ryan then brings up the Playboy Bunnies, to which Colin replies, "...and special guest, Carol Channing!", to which Ryan feigned a heart attack. Love it! I admit that I wasn’t too excited by the idea of the Playmates playing the props in Living Scenery, but I have to admit that while I did have a good time watching, it obviously wasn’t as much fun as Colin & Ryan were having. On a few occasions, the women took it upon themselves to do what the guys had said without them putting them into position. (Like a tent, for example.) Maybe the game should be played with audience members getting moved? Just a thought. Anyway, I am still not that crazy about the show having special guests coming in for a game or two, though. As for Props, nothing really...as usual. Brad did get in a shot at Ryan. His & Wayne’s props were huge & Brad referred to the items as Ryan’s shoes. Just a mention about the Credit Reading. Ryan didn’t say much at first, but had bent over & untied a shoe. He then showed it to the Playmates, mentioning that his feet were that big. (I am too much of a lady to explain why he did that.) Brad then brought up the point that the other 3 were married. Cute, Brad, cute! When I first heard about the special guests, I had a set thought that I would not like the episode. I guess that I was wrong because I liked the episode more than I thought I would.

Episode #: 261/125/4.25
Original Airdate: February 7, 2002
Production Code (last 3 #): #403
Players: Wayne Brady, Chip Esten, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles
Games: Superheroes - Colin: "Tacky Shirt Man"; Ryan: "On the verge of a Nervous Breakdown Boy"; Chip: "Mick Jagger Kid"; Wayne: "Junkyard Dog on a Chain Kid"; crisis: out of loud colors. Sound Effects - Colin (sounds by Carmen); Ryan (sounds by Flo); scene: Ryan & Colin are 2 English knights preparing to defend the castle & the demanding Queen from an approaching barbaric army. Newsflash - Chip, Ryan: in studio; Colin: field reporter; scene: sports bloopers. Scenes From A Hat - Wayne, Chip, Colin, Ryan; scenes: if actors were completely honest during their award acceptance speeches; circus acts that didn’t last long; odd things for a lounge singer to sing about. Hoedown - Chip, Drew, Colin, Ryan; subject: The Backstreet Boys.
Winner: Wayne
Credit Reading: Wayne, Chip, Colin, Ryan as if they’re watching horrible sports bloopers
My Opinion: The theme for this episode was Colin’s tacky shirt, which was brought up in every game (except for the Credit Reading). I personally wouldn’t have called the shirt "tacky", but it was truly ugly! It all starts off with Colin being dubbed, "Tacky Shirt Man", in Superheroes. There were various designs on the shirt, one of them being a guitar, to which Ryan pretended to play when he "entered", singing his apology. Then, when he was to "leave", Ryan then pretended to sip something from the shirt. As for the playing, once again it was Ryan who came up with a great name - "Mick Jagger Kid" for Chip, who pulled it off. After the game, Ryan makes a comment that Colin’s shirt is taking the heat off of his shoes. Was that Colin’s intent? Those who have read these recaps know by now that I am not a fan of audience participated Sound Effects. I have to admit that I did have a few good laughs this time. (And not because of Colin’s shirt.) The 2 women were creative...to a point. (The shirt was brought up by Ryan, the Queen taking offense to it.) In Newsflash, both Chip & Ryan were getting caught up in the clips, which looked painful at times. Colin brought up his shirt, that it was the reason why the "events" started. In Scenes From A Hat, it was Chip who got the shirt idea in "circus acts that didn’t last long". While pointing the shirt out, he was doing calliope music. In the first "scene" though, "if actors were completely honest during their award acceptance speeches", Colin got himself bleeped...twice! For those who are not so good at lip-reading, I believe the 2 words were: butts & tongue. One thing about the game itself, the number of scenes are getting less & less, with only 3 this time. Lastly, Hoedown, in which all the players got in somewhat great shots at The Backstreet Boys. Even though I enjoyed Colin’s bit about "making them wear copies of his shirt" (you knew that was coming), my favorite was Ryan’s shot, about them "not being a real band because they don’t play instruments". All in all, the episode was fun to watch!

Episode #: 262/126/4.26
Original Airdate: February 12, 2002
Production Code (last 3 #): #404
Players: Greg Proops, Wayne Brady, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles
Games: Weird Newscasters - Colin: anchor (Yassir-Yassir 3 Bags Full); Greg: co-anchor - the dominatrix Colin has hired for the evening; Wayne: sports - outraged secretary desperate to find out who left a photocopy of their butt in her in tray; Ryan: weather - about to die & his whole life flashes before our eyes. Hats - Greg, Wayne vs. Colin, Ryan; scene: world’s worst dating service video. Greatest Hits - Colin, Ryan: pitchmen; Wayne; album: "Songs of College"; songs: ska: "Rah, Rah, Rah, Ska, Rah, Rah"; Cuban: "Alma Mater, Alma Fater". Film Dub - Greg, Colin, Ryan; scene: celebrating a special occasion. Show Stopping Number - Wayne, Colin, Ryan; songs: Colin: "We’re Going to Use it to Buy Wallpaper"; Ryan: "I’m Too Tired to Hurt You"; Wayne: "...And Your Butt Belongs to the State as Well". World’s Worst... - Greg, Drew, Colin, Ryan; subject: priest or rabbi.
Winner: Wayne
Credit Reading: Greg as a dominatrix disciplining the other 3 & tells about his past clients
My Opinion: This episode, & the next, were labeled as "Too Hot for Whose Line". While this one had it’s moments, the label was more for the next episode. But I’ll deal with that there. The episode started off with a round of Weird Newscasters. Greg & Colin were having way too much fun with the punishment! Do you think...? Nah! Never mind! As for Ryan, he, of course, just had to throw in something about his dislike of Hoedowns during his "final moments". One of the moments why this episode was labeled might have been because of Greg getting bleeped in Hats. Greg was wearing a mask. Drew didn’t understand him. Greg responded with something about wearing a (bleeping) mask. (Warning: Bad Pun Alert!) Tapioca ran in Greatest Hits & oozed through most of the remaining part of the episode. The songs were all right but, sorry Wayne, the highlight of the game was Colin displaying his mastery of making Ryan crack up. Ryan asked Colin something along the line of, "What comes to mind when I say ‘Ricky Ricardo’ & cigars?" Colin’s reply, you got it, "Tapioca.". At first, Ryan’s laugh seemed as though it was forced or fake; but then he just couldn’t compose himself, even turning away from Colin. Other thing about the game was that it was the first time that there were only 2 songs...probably because of Ryan’s losing it. Film Dub was fun but not like it has been. Ryan brings up his own cracking up at "tapioca" in his song in Show Stopping Number, which I thought was the only highlight in the game. Last game, World’s Worst..., belonged to Drew, with his Jerry Lewis impression as a rabbi. It got everyone, especially Greg, who actually snorted when he laughed. While this episode won’t be my favorite of the season, it will sit in the Top 10.

Episode #: 263/127/4.27
Original Airdate: February 12, 2002
Production Code (last 3 #): #432
Players: Brad Sherwood, Wayne Brady, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles
Games: Let’s Make A Date - Wayne: contestant; Brad: puritan witch hunter who sees the devil’s work everywhere; Colin: pompous politician at a press conference who starts a terrible fight with his fiancée in the audience; Ryan: the head of Colin’s angry ex-wife sprouting from Colin’s neck. If You Know What I Mean - Brad, Colin, Ryan; scene: hotel employees working the night shift. Duet - Brad, Wayne; singing to: Suzie; style: The Rolling Stones. Title Sequence - Brad, Wayne: singers; Colin, Ryan; 70s sitcom: "Bill Cosby & the Insurance Salesman" (originally suggested: "Bill Cosby & Hitler"). Scenes From A Hat - Brad, Wayne, Colin, Ryan; scenes: how the cast of "Baywatch" would react to an actual emergency; if Tarzan & Tonto were roommates; if you could give the youth of America just one piece of advice, it would be...; strange sweet nothings whispered in your lover’s ear; unlikely souvenir t-shirts. Hoedown - Wayne, Drew, Colin, Ryan; subject: directors.
Winner: Brad
Credit Reading: Brad, Wayne, Colin, Ryan as Mick Jagger
My Opinion: This episode, like the one preceding it, was labeled as "Too Hot for Whose Line". And, boy, I could see why! There were 2 threads running through this episode. One was started by Ryan & the other was ended by Ryan. The one Ryan started begins in Let’s Make A Date, when, as Colin’s ex-wife’s head, he licked Colin’s ear. UGH! He took a mess of mints right afterwards. I really got a kick out of If You Know What I Mean, especially Brad, who came up with several winners. One of them was in response to Ryan blanking when put on the spot, "Your elevator isn’t going up, if you know what I mean." In Duet, I have to give the nod, again, to Brad. I think he does the best parody of Mick Jagger better than any of the other players. Wayne, on the other hand, he did get in a shot at Keith Richards. Title Sequence is where the second thread begins. If you didn’t see the episode, the show’s director had rejected them using the name Hitler in the game (which I opted to include in the Games listing). To say that Drew wasn’t pleased with having to change the roommate to an occupation, is a great understatement. He got bleeped a couple times. Ryan did get in a bit about Hitler, by doing the "salute" during the song. Drew still continued his rant during Scenes From A Hat. A bulldog & his bone! At the end of the first "scene", Drew made a comment. Wayne returned to center stage & did his previous bit but now with a German accent. Then, at the end of the second "scene", Drew comments about how it’s all right for them to make fun of Native Americans but not the Germans (or words to that effect). To that, Brad & Wayne returned to center stage, with Brad as "Tonto", saying (to Wayne, as "Tarzan"), "Go upstairs & tell Hitler he’s making too much noise." In the next "scene", Colin brought back Ryan licking his ear. In the last "scene", Brad modeled the "Cosby & Hitler" t-shirt. Both threads had their finales in Hoedown. Wayne shot at Drew, who shot back at Wayne, both using the subject of porno films. Colin brought up the ear licking in his verse. Even though Ryan has repeatedly professed his dislike of doing Hoedowns, the man, once again, displayed that he rules this game. When he heard the subject, "directors", you just knew his wheels were turning. I think the only way he would have changed the aim of his verse, at the WL’s director, is if someone ahead of him had done it. Ready...Aim...FIRE! With the exception of when legendary Sid Caesar was introduced, I honestly can’t think of another time the audience gave one of the players a standing ovation - either version. This episode truly was Ryan’s! It was his best in a long, long time. And, for that reason, this episode has a great shot at being my favorite of the season. (It’s already on my All-Time list.)

Episode #: 264/128/4.28
Original Airdate: March 7, 2002
Production Code (last 3 #): #431
Players: Brad Sherwood, Wayne Brady, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles
Games: Weird Newscasters - Brad: anchor (Frozen Underpants); Colin: co-anchor (Frosty Chatterbox) - psycho hitchhiker getting a ride with the anchor; Wayne: sports (Nippy Frostbite) - very enthusiastic bikini car wash girl looking for shiny surfaces to clean; Ryan: weather (Brisk Ice-Cube-Pants) - Hollywood’s most demanding temperamental star trying to give an award-winning performance. Scenes From A Hat - Brad, Wayne, Colin, Ryan; scenes: if human doctors acted like animal doctors; the good news & the bad news; refreshingly honest statements that could earn you a black eye. 2-Line Vocabulary - Colin: whatever he wants; Brad: "That’s easy for you to say" & "Is that good?"; Ryan: "What are those?" & "I’m sorry, I wasn’t listening"; scene: An Army Captain, Colin, is looking for 2 volunteers to go on a dangerous mission. Greatest Hits - Colin, Ryan: pitchmen; Brad, Wayne; album: "Songs of the Flight Attendant"; songs: Tom Petty: "You Can’t Use the First-Class Can"; flapper tune: "Don’t Call Me a Waitress"; Thrash: "Do You Want Meat or Fish?". Foreign Film Dub - Drew (Ryan translating), Wayne (Brad translating); film: Swedish action; title: "Meatballs Blow Up".
Winner: Colin
Credit Reading: Ryan - as a temperamental Hollywood star trying to give an award winning performance
My Opinion: I had a great time watching this episode! We start off with Weird Newscasters. It was one of those times that the names Brad gave out had nothing to do with food. His selection of names was perfect for the season, though. But the winner of this game, as with most of the games, was Ryan. He played his quirk "over the top". After the game, Drew gave him "2 thumbs up". Ryan responded with, "Up where?", believing Drew had more plans with that line. Instead, Drew then "gave" him 10,000 points & a Cable Ace Award. (Note: The Cable Ace Awards ceased to exist about 5 or so years ago when more cable shows began picking up Emmy Award nominations.) Although it was shorter than usual, I believe the best game in the episode had to be Scenes From A Hat. Colin came up with the winner for the second scene - "the good news & the bad news" (to Wayne): "You’re in a very funny show - it’s against ‘Friends’". (Oddity? This same scene, "good news & bad news", also appeared in the third season repeat that aired prior to this one.) Then, a "tip o’ the hat" goes to Wayne for in the last scene - "refreshingly honest statements that could earn you a black eye": "Drew doesn’t do a damn thing", a line that he used twice in the round. Drew then used the line on himself when the show returned from its commercial break. When it comes to 2-Line Vocabulary, I believe that those in charge pick lines first then come up with a scene to match. Sometimes it works - sometimes it doesn’t. Thankfully, it was one of those time that it worked. While Brad did a nice mix with his 2 lines, Ryan kept on using, "I’m sorry, I wasn’t listening", to the point where Colin began anticipating it. But Ryan didn’t limit his use of that line to just that game. He threw it in at the beginning of Greatest Hits & as one of the translations in Foreign Film Dub. In Greatest Hits, I give Ryan a Groan Award for the bad, bad pun he used (about Tom Petty), "If he has a little spare change in his pocket, is that Petty cash?" I also give Colin a Groan Award for his bad pun after the second song (flapper tune) - "Flapper, Flapper, King of the Sea". From the audience’s reaction, most didn’t get it. (The original line is from the theme song from the old TV series, "Flipper", just in case you were one of the ones whose head it went over.) Brad & Wayne really rocked in the Thrash song, which was my favorite of the trio. The last game was Foreign Film Dub. Besides Ryan’s repeat of, "I’m sorry, I wasn’t listening", his translation, "This is the first exercise I’ve had in 3 years", earned him an inside the jacket "finger" from Drew. This was the second straight episode where Ryan was in a groove. If we can get more episodes like this one, this season might end up turning out good.

Episode #: 265/129/4.29
Original Airdate: March 14, 2002
Production Code (last 3 #): #402
Players: Wayne Brady, Kathy Greenwood, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles
Games: Hollywood Director - Colin: director; Wayne, Kathy, Ryan: actors; scene: fiendish Spanish Colonel, Ryan, rides in to kidnap beautiful Mexican girl, Kathy; Zorro, Wayne, arrives to rescue her; styles: 1950s musical; performing in the pitch dark. Song Styles - Wayne; Kathy, Colin, Ryan: background - "Bond" girls; singing to: Doug, a chemistry teacher ("Bond" villain); style: "James Bond" theme song. Newsflash - Kathy, Ryan: in studio; Colin: field reporter; scene: bats. Living Scenery - Wayne, Kathy: props; Colin, Ryan; scene: 2 guys at the beach to sunbathe & surf. Scenes From A Hat - Wayne, Kathy, Colin, Ryan; scenes: difficult things to say with a straight face; announcements made over Hell’s PA system; rejected gift ideas that the (3) Wise men considered. World’s Worst... - Wayne, Drew, Colin, Ryan; style: ...TV advertisements.
Winner: Kathy
Credit Reading: Colin, Ryan while they’re surfing on Kathy & Wayne
My Opinion: I found this episode to be so-so, with a touch of deja vu. Starting up this episode was Hollywood Director. I actually got a kick out of this playing. We got to hear the players attempting accents. This time, Ryan wasn’t the worst. That honor goes to Kathy. Hilarious! In the first style, "1950s musical", we got treated to a first - Kathy singing! She doesn’t have that bad of a voice, so I don’t understand why she never plays Hoedown. Hmm. The first of the deja vu moments came in Song Styles. The style was "’Bond’ theme song", a style used in a playing of the game during the second US season. But the real deja vu moment was the music. I swear it was the same tune used the last time. Unlike the previous time, the other players were in the background. I prefer the second season playing, with Pastor Bob. I somewhat liked this playing of Newsflash. I like it when they use clips from nature films, that way we get to hear some wonderful hints. I wasn’t too excited by this playing of Living Scenery. The best moment of the game came when Colin was waxing his "board" - Wayne, making a comment that his board had a big bump on the back, which would be used again later in the show. Scenes From A Hat ran short again, with only 3 scenes. The reason was because of the last scene. There were quite a few, none of which tickled my fancy. The same for all the scenes. OK, some did make me giggle, but nothing spectacular. (The "big bump" was mentioned in the first scene.) The last deja vu moment came in the final game, World’s Worst. One of Wayne’s suggestions was called, "Bro-Jack". It was something used in an episode of his show. Considering how WL is taped, did Wayne borrow it from WL for his show or is it vice versa? (Side Note: "Bro-Jack" was also the episode title of "The Jamie Foxx Show" that another player, Greg Proops, appeared in.) But I thought that 2 of Colin’s suggestions ("a breath mint that’s also a suppository" & an aluminum condom) were the best of the bunch. (He also threw in the "big bump" again.) I usually don’t comment about Credit Readings, but I just had to this time. I think we all know by now that former player, Ron West, works for the current show. I might be wrong, but I think it was the first time that someone actually mentioned his name in the reading. (Colin mentioned it.) It’s not the best episode of the season, but it did have it’s moments.

Episode #: 266/130/4.30
Original Airdate: March 28, 2002
Production Code (last 3 #): #429
Players: Greg Proops, Wayne Brady, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles
Games: Weird Newscasters - Colin: anchor (Tito Thru-the-Tulips); Greg: co-anchor - German insult comic; Wayne: sports - Girl Scout selling cookies who’s possessed by the devil (little Suzie); Ryan: weather - old man who takes an extremely short-acting rejuvenation pill (Jerry At-Trick). Whose Line - Colin, Ryan; scene: Dr. Frankenstein, Ryan, & his devoted assistant, Igor, Colin, are trying to bring the monster to life before the mob arrives. Action Replay - Greg, Wayne; Colin, Ryan; scene: (first) Greg & Wayne are on a safari, a tourist & his guide, set up camp for the night & they’re confronted by a hungry lion; (second) Colin & Ryan are dancers. Scenes From A Hat - Greg, Wayne, Colin, Ryan; scenes: versions of Hell other than eternal flames; famous film scenes as performed by cartoon characters; if morning show hosts acted like most people do in the morning; what members of the Whose Line cast say to their therapist; announcements that tend to ruin parties. Hoedown - Wayne, Drew, Colin, Ryan; subject: hockey player.
Winner: Greg
Credit Reading: Wayne as a Girl Scout selling cookies who’s possessed by the devil
My Opinion: Greg may have called the winner, but the real winner was Colin. He was so much in the zone! In Weird Newscasters, while Wayne was great as being possessed, it was Greg that stole it as the German insult comic! He threw quite a few zingers at Colin, who, in turn, tossed a couple back at Greg. Between games, it was a shooting gallery! Drew told Wayne that he "wasn’t the first possessed Girl Scout he’s seen". To which Ryan replied, that "they were not real Girl Scouts, just girls paid to pretend". To which Drew replied, "Tell your wife I said hello." (You get the implication.) Then Colin jumps in with - "Hey, come on, make fun of the bald guy! I’ll be your lightning rod of hate!" (Colin refers back to the "lightning rod" a few times in the show, with Drew including it in his intro for Whose Line, also calling Colin, "baldie".) As for Whose Line, was I mistaken or did Colin do only one of his 2 lines? Why? In the game, Ryan threw in the predictable use of the word "hunch". In Action Replay, it wasn’t so much how it was played, but what happened before & after the game. Ryan was obviously enjoying the music on the headphones by the way he bopping to it. Greg makes a comment, asking them would they also like drinks. Ryan & Colin, of course, couldn’t hear it. In one scene, Wayne lays on his back, kicking his legs up. Colin did the move when it was his & Ryan’s turn. By doing it, not only did he bother his back a little, he also relocated his battery pack, which he announced after the game, "I lost my battery pack somewhere in the area of my buttocks. That’s OK, my pack is halfway up my ass." Ryan, joined by Greg & Wayne, starts singing, "My pack is halfway up my ass." Drew gives Colin 1,000 chiropractic points. He then apologizes to Colin for finding humor in his pain. To which Colin makes a gesture of "lightning rod" line. With Drew still laughing, Ryan offers to throw in one of his blue shoes. Each scene in Scenes From A Hat had at least one wonderful moment. In the one about "Hell", Ryan once again voiced his dislike of doing Hoedowns. Next, Colin did one about the "Yentl" soundtrack. Since that didn’t get quite the reaction he expected, again with the "lightning rod" gesture. Next, while Greg did get some laughs with his "still in Mississippi", it was Wayne who got the bigger laughs using it. The "film lines/cartoon characters" brought us Colin doing Snagglepuss ("Rosebud even."), which was followed by the movement for "exit stage left". (If you’ve seen the character, you know what I mean.) It also gave us Wayne as Yogi Bear doing a "Dirty Harry" (Clint Eastwood) line. In the one about "morning show hosts", I don’t know what made me laugh harder, Greg & Wayne with their bathroom humor or Ryan giving Colin cab fare to get home. In the "therapist" one, Greg takes a shot at Colin, saying that "it’s just bald paint". To which Colin responded, "It doesn’t really bother me, it’s all about penis envy." To which Drew replied, "Yes, we all wish ours was shorter." In the last one, about "parties", Greg took one last shot at Colin ("It’s time to coat Colin in Crisco."). Ryan takes a shot at Drew, "Drew’s here, Drew’s here, Drew’s here." And, FINALLY, came Ryan’s Hell, Hoedown. Did Colin react the way he did because Wayne took his "zamboni" line or was he just psyching himself up? Drew did the expected use of the word "puck" in place of it’s rhyming word. Colin then did a partial verse, much like the way Tony did with the handkerchief. Colin acted as though he was singing his verse, then, near the very end, "adjusts his battery pack", he then sings "battery pack". By how long this is, I’m sure you can guess I really enjoyed myself!

Episode #: 267/131/4.31
Original Airdate: April 11, 2002
Production Code (last 3 #): #427
Players: Greg Proops, Wayne Brady, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles
Games: Let’s Make A Date - Greg: contestant; Wayne: smooth rap star blindfolded and handcuffed to the bed by his new girlfriend gradually realizing the evening is going wrong; Colin: deranged window dresser whose only friends are mannequins Wayne and Ryan who he has fun undressing and dressing after hours; Ryan: horse whisperer calming and mounting the others who he thinks are wild stallions. Narrate - Colin, Ryan; scene: maternity ward. Film Dub - Greg, Colin, Ryan; scene: 3 years into an international space mission. Greatest Hits - Colin, Ryan: pitchmen; Wayne; album: "Songs of Retirement"; songs: protest: "I’m Movin’ to Florida"; old blues (Wet Biscuit McGlee): "(gibberish)". Props - Wayne, Colin vs Ryan, Drew.
Winner: Greg
Credit Reading: Wayne as Wet Biscuit McGlee
My Opinion: Greg may have been said to be the winner, but, I’m sorry to say, that he was the most quiet of the bunch tonight. That just sort of fit in with the episode itself. While it did have some hits, the misses outnumbered them. The episode started off with promise with Let’s Make A Date. Points to Wayne for his raps and for going along so well with Colin’s quirk. Ryan’s quirk seem to dominate Colin’s, though. And, of course, you knew that Drew would be brought into things. The biggest annoyance of this playing was the length of the quirk, each coming close to a novelette all it’s own. The first of the weak spots was in Narrate where, the only highlight for me was Ryan using the old line, recalling Colin’s delivery, that he didn’t know which end to slap. But that wasn’t the weakest game. That belongs to Film Dub. The politest thing I can do is go on with the rest of the episode - Greatest Hits. I thought that this was the only other highlight. A couple of rarities happened. The first, is that stoic Colin almost cracked up during his blues intro. The second is that there were only 2 songs. I think that came up because of how long Colin’s blues intro took. As for the songs, Wayne did do Dylan quite well. His moment was doing the blues with a Scottish accent. A moment indeed! I just also have to mention that Colin came up with another winner for a phony movie title, "Crouching Tigger, Hidden Pooh". How does he come up with these is beyond me! As for Props, it was almost as lackluster as Film Dub. While there were a few giggles, but nothing major. Drew seemed as though he was there only to follow Ryan’s lead. As you can tell by the shortness of this opinion, I didn’t think a whole lot of the episode. If you already have seen it, you can go ahead and miss it when it’s repeated.