User:TheHYPO/List of games from Whose Line Is It Anyway?

This is a list and descriptions of the games featured on the British and/or American versions of the television show Whose Line Is It Anyway?. The games are categorized based on their primary defining aspect, though some might fit into other categories as well. The flag icon indicates which version(s) the game was played on:

Musical games

Singing games

The following games are based around the performer(s) singing:

• All In One Voice: The performers, split into pairs, sing an audience-suggested song as given famous duo. Each pair sings simultaneously as one member of the duo. Similar to "Funeral".

• American Musical/Musical: The four performers act out a Broadway-style musical whose storyline is based on three audience suggestions. They begin talking normally, but break into musical numbers when background music begins. Similar games include "Show Stopping Number" and "Opera".

• Bartender/Prison Visitor/Psychiatrist: Three performers arrive, one at a time, to sing about their problems to the fourth, who then also replies in song. The fourth performer takes the role which gives the game its title in the three variations. A prop is provided in each game; a bar and drinks in "Bartender", a set of prison bars in "Prison Visitor", and a couch in "Psychiatrist".

• Song Styles: One performer sings a song about an audience member or about an audience-suggested subject; the performer is given a specific style or artist to emulate. Sometimes, the other performers provide backup vocals or dancing. In early playings, two performers would each be given different songs to sing. Variations on the basic game include:
  • Duet: "Song Styles" with two performers dueting.
  • Ballad Of: Two performers perform a country ballad in the form of a narration. Played only once.
  • African Chant: The three other performers back Wayne Brady in the style of an African chant.
  • Boogie Woogie Sisters: Three performers sing in the style of a 1960s Boogie Woogie group.
  • Doo-wop: Three performers sing in the style of a doo-wop group.
  • Motown Group: Three performers sing in the style of a Motown group.

• Greatest Hits: Two performers act as pitchmen in a commercial for a compilation of songs about an audience-provided topic. One or both of the other performers perform short songs whose title and genre/artist are prompted by the pitchmen. Running gags that evolved for the pitchmen include opening with "we'll be back to [a parody show title] in just a second", inventing an absurd combination of the number of songs and CDs in the collection, coming up with intentionally awkward segues to the next song or artist, and attempting to come up with difficult titles (such as simply a sound effect related to the topic). Other than early playings, Colin Mochrie and Ryan Stiles are always the pitchmen. Similar to "Telethon".

• Hoedown: The four performers sing a hoedown about an audience-provided subject, with each performing four-line stanzas (unrelated to each other). The same basic music is always used, and the stanzas typically follow the same AABB rhyme scheme with the fourth line as a punchline. The last line of the last stanza is repeated to end the song. As a musical game that involves all four performers (not just those with musical aptitude), a running gag is the performers' hatred of "Hoedown". Another running gag is to mock the host or occasionally other performers. When played, "Hoedown" (or its predecessors in the UK) are usually the last game before the closing credits (often the "prize" game in the US). The game has two predecessors:
  • Gospel: The song style is gospel.
  • March: The song style is a march. Occasionally the final performer performs an extra stanza.

• Irish Drinking Song: The four performers sing an Irish drinking song in about a given subject. The performers, in turn, each sing one line at a time in eight-line stanzas. Every other line typically follows an AABB rhyme scheme, with each stanza going through the rotation of performers twice. Four stanzas are sung with each performer taking the first line of one stanza.

• Opera/Rock Opera: The four performers perform an opera or rock opera based on personal information given by an audience member. The performers can only sing their dialogue. "Opera" was only played on the UK pilot episode; similar to "American Musical".

• Rap: The four performers perform a rap about an audience-suggested subject. The rap could be of any length of the performers' choosing. Only played until series 3. Similar to "Hoedown".

• Remember That Song?: One performer is a shop owner; two others enter, one at a time, and the owner asks each to sing a certain song they remember from the past. Only played once.

• Scene to Rap: Two performers begin a given scene, rapping throughout to provided music; the other two enter one-at-a-time during the scene, and join the rap. In most playings, each performer raps one verse, though in some playings, performers rap additional verses. Another version of the game is Gangsta Rap, involving two performers and only played once.

• Show Stopping Number: Three performers enact a scene. Periodically, the host sounds the buzzer, and the last performer to speak must sing a show-stopping tune based on their last line, to pre-recorded music.

• Telethon: Two performers host a telethon for an audience-suggested group of people who normally do not need financial aid. (e.g. NBA players), while the two other performers impersonate various musical artists as prompted by the hosts. Similar to "Greatest Hits".

• Three-Headed Broadway Star: Three performers sing a Broadway-style song, with each performer singing one word at a time, in turn. The title of the musical and the song are audience-suggested. The song is occasionally sung to an audience member seated in front of the performers.

• Title Sequence: Two performers sing the theme song for a sitcom which pairs two unlikely roommates. The other two performers act out the opening sequence as those two roommates. Colin Mochrie and Ryan Stiles always do the acting.

Background music games

The following games are based on a choice of background music:

• Advertisement: One performer advertises an audience-suggested product to the style of provided music.

• Scene to Music: The four performers enact a scene involving the style of background music played. In the UK version, only one piece of music played. In the US version, different styles of music would be played throughout the game.

• Wrong Theme Tune: Two performers enact a scene explaining a given subject, while in the background, an inappropriate style of music plays. The performers try to perform the scene in the style of that music. Played only once on television, but fairly common on the radio version.

Dialogue-based games

The following games are based on prescribing or limiting the dialogue of one or more performers:

• Alphabet: Two performers enact a given scene in which each sentence must begin with the subsequent letter of the alphabet, beginning with an audience-suggested letter. The performers must go through the entire alphabet once.
  • 90-Second Alphabet: The American variant used three performers instead of two, and had a 90-second time-limit.

• Backwards Scene: Two or three performers act out a given scene starting with the ending line and working their way line by line back to the beginning.

• Change Letter: The four performers act out a given scene, and must substitute every occurance of a given letter in their dialogue with another given letter (e.g. every "B" must be changed to "F").

• Every Other Line: One performer acts freely while another is given a book or play. That performer responds to the first by reading every other line of the work. The performer who is not reading must end the scene with an audience-suggested line. Played only in series 1, and once in series 4.

• Expert Translation One performer is an expert on a given topic, but can only speak a given foreign language. Another performer translates into English. Played up to series 4. Similar to "Foriegn Film Dub".

• Foreign Film Dub: Two performers enact a scene in a foreign language (usually using accented gibberish) chosen by the audience, while the other two performers "translate" into English after each line. Similar to "Expert Translation".

• If You Know What I Mean: Several performers improvise a scene in which they make up as many ambiguous euphemisms as they can, ending each with the phrase "if you know what I mean."

• Number of Words: The four performers enact a given scene. Each is also assigned a number, which is the exact number of words each must use at a time.

• Questions Only: Two performers enact a given scene speaking only in questions, while the other performers wait off-stage, one behind each of them. If either performer speaks in a non-question, or takes to long to respond, the host sounds the buzzer and they are replaced by the performer behind them. In early UK playings, the game was not a competition and involved only two performers. Similar to "Song Titles".
  • Questionable Impressions: In this variation, the performers must also do an different impression of their choice each time they enter the game.
  • Questions Only Version 4 aka Questions With Wigs: In this variation, the performers must act out the scene as a character dictated by the wig they are wearing.

• Quick Change: Two or three performers enact a given scene. Another performer stands offstage and says "change" at various times during the scene; the performer who had the last line must then provide and alternate line. The changed line is commonly itself "changed", leading to both confusion, or a punchline under the comedic rule of three.

• Song Titles: In the UK version, Three or four performers act out a given scene speaking only in existing song titles. In the US version, two performers do the same, while the others wait off-stage, one behind each of them. If either performer speaks in a non-song-title, or takes to long to respond, the host sounds the buzzer and they are replaced by the performer behind them. Similar to "Questions Only".

• Two Line Vocabulary: Three performers enact a given scene. Two of the performers are limited to using only two specific given lines each.

• Whose Line: Two performers enact a given scene. They are each given given several slips of paper with a written lines on them suggested in advance by the audience. Periodically, the performers pull a slip out of their pocket and include the line in the scene. The lines commonly contain some form of Innuendo.

Rapid-fire games

The following games involve creating many different brief scenes in succession:

• Props: The performers are split into pairs, each given a different unusual prop. The pairs alternate at the prompting of the host's buzzer, giving short scenes using their prop in a unique way. The game typically results in a series rapid-fire one- or two-liners, especially in later playings.

• Scenes From a Hat: The audience submits written suggestions which are placed in a hat. The host then draws from the hat, and any of the four performers, who stand off-stage, may enter and perform what are typically one-line punchlines in response. The suggestions can typically be likened to type of statements used as categories in the "Winner's Circle" round of the game show Pyramid (e.g. "What Drew Carey is thinking right now.") In early playings, only one response would be given for each suggestion (though the responses were often longer than one-liners). In later playings, each suggestion could elicit one or more responses from the same or different performers.

• Tag: Two performers begin in audience-suggested positions and must begin a short scene based on that position (though they can then move freely). At any point they choose, one of the other two performers calls "freeze", at which point they tag one of the two onstage performers and take their physical position, and begin a new scene. Performers continue to replace each other and perform short scenes. In earlier playings, scenes typically went on longer before being interrupted. Played until series 4.

• World's Worst: A topic is given in the form of "the world's world's worst [something]." The four performers come to "The World's Worst Step" (the lowest one) and step forward one-at-a-time with examples that fit the topic. Subjects include characters (e.g. the worst dentist) but also other subjects (e.g. the worst game show). One topic is chosen per playing, and the performers can step forward in any order, and as often as they want. In early playings, the examples are longer with later playings more commonly featuring one-liners.
  • Hats/Dating Service Video: A variation in which the performers are split into pairs. Each pair is provided a box of random headgear; the performers use the headgear to enact examples of "the world's worst dating service videos". Play alternates between the pairs at the prompting of the host's buzzer; usually only one member of each pair acts at a time. The game typically results in a series rapid-fire pun-laden pick-up lines. Early playings had subjects other than dating videos (e.g. movie auditions).

Guessing games

The following games involve one performer needing to guess some element(s) of the scene:

• Interrogation: Two performers are police officers interrogating a third, who plays a suspect in a given crime. The suspect, however, does not know what the crime is and must deduce it from the clues given by the other performers. Played only once; similar games include "News Flash" and "Press Conference".

• Let's Make A Date: One performer is the contestant on a dating-type show. The other three performers are the possible dates who are given odd personalities or characters via envelopes. Following one or two rounds of questioning, contestant must guess who the others are. Similar to "Party Quirks".

• News Flash: One performer stands in front of a green screen as a field reporter, while two others are news anchors. Certain footage is shown on the greenscreen which the anchors and the audience can see, while the reporter can see only the greenscreen. Based on clues in the anchor's questioning, the reporter must guess what kind of footage is being shown.

• Party Quirks: One performer hosts a party which the other three arrive at. The three guests are assigned odd personalities or characters via envelopes. Whenever he is able, the host must identify what each guest is portraying. The guests enter one-at-a-time at the prompting of a doorbell sounded by the host. When their quirk is guessed correctly, a performer returns to his seat. Similar to "Let's Make A Date".

• Press Conference: One performer is giving a press conference while the other three ask questions as reporters. The subject of the conference is either a known figure giving some sort of announcement (e.g. Santa retiring) or some sort of unusual achievement (e.g. the first female Pope). The subject is not informed of his identity, and must deduce it from the questions that the reporters ask.

Genre/structure games

The following games have a defined genre, event or scene structure:

• Action Replay (aka Instant Replay): Two performers enact a given scene, usually making exaggerated physical movements; the other two observe visually, but wear headphones so they can't hear the scene. They must then attempt to create their own scene, re-enacting the same motions, but not told what the first scene was about. Colin Mochrie and Ryan Stiles typically are the reenacters.

• Addicts Anonymous: One performer hosts an Alcoholics Anonymous-type meeting for the other three, who are addicted to a provided unusual item or activity.

• Award Show: Two performers host an award show for a given absurd achievement; the other two are the winners and make an acceptance speech. Various audience members are shown as other nominees.

• Courtroom Scene: One performer is a judge, and another is the prosecutor. The other two are given a selection of hats to choose from and act as witnesses in the given case.

• Daytime Talk Show: One performer is the host of a daytime talk show (usually a parody of the Jerry Springer Show and other similar shows). two other performers are guests appearing on the show, and the fourth portrays one or more members of the audience. The topic of the talk show is usually a given fairy tale, nursery rhyme, or Biblical story. Jerry Springer himself guest starred as the host of this game on one occasion of the US series. In early UK playings, there were three guests and no audience member, with less resemblance to the Jerry Springer Show.

• Fashion Models: Three performers act out a fashion show, the subject of which is usually an audience-suggested profession. The fourth performer comments on the show.

• Funeral: Three (in the US) or four (in the UK) performers act out a scene at a funeral for a person with an audience-provided name and occupation, who died in a job-related freak accident. One performer usually takes the role of the funeral director, with the remaining performers being associated with the deceased in some way. After briefly eulogizing, the performers sing an elegy all at once. Similar games include "All In One Voice" and "Wedding".

• Hey You Down There: Two performers silently enact a 1950s public information film on a given topic. A third performer provides the narration on top of a provided style-appropriate music track.

• Hollywood Director: Three performers are in a given scene. The fourth peformer is the director, who interrupts the scene and has the performers re-enact the same scene in a different style or performance suggestion. In the UK version, styles were provided by the audience, while in the US version, Mochrie was allowed to devise his own suggestions. Colin Mochrie always plays the director.

• Home Shopping: Two performers are presenters on a home shopping channel. They are given two useless items to sell, as well as a third audience-suggested item. Similar to "Infomercial".

• Ice Skaters: The participants are figure skaters performing their final routine. But instead of dancing, they are instead performing some other activity while skating. Only performed once on the US version.

• Infomercial: Two performers are presenters in an infomercial selling "miracle" solutions for a given personal problem. The performers are given a box of unusual props which they must use as products they are selling, or in demosntrations. Similar games include "Greatest Hits" and "Home Shopping".

• The Millionaire Show: The four performers enact a Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?-style game show, with a given theme (e.g. gangsters, hillbillies, Germans). The performers take the roles of the host, a contestant, a "phone-a-friend" lifeline, and an audience member lifeline (not part of the actual Millionaire format).

• Mission Impossible/Improbable Mission: Two performers are Mission: Impossible-style secret agents. A third performer is the voice on tape who gives them their assignment. The assignment is a mundane task which is carried out in an exaggeratedly intense, dangerous, and difficult manner. After the mission is defined by the voice on tape, suspenseful background music is played. Other than early playings, the two agents are always played by Colin Mochrie and Ryan Stiles.

• Narrate: Two performers enact a scene based in an audience-suggested location. The scene takes a film noir style, both in content and mood, as well as by breaking the fourth wall to approach the camera and narrate. Appropriate pre-recorded music is played during the scene. Other than early playings, this game is always played by Colin Mochrie and Ryan Stiles.

• News Report: The four performers enact a news report on the topic of a fairy tale or Biblical story. The country in which the report will take place is also chosen. One performer is the news anchor, another is an expert in the studio, another is a field reporter, and the fourth plays several characters interviewed by the reporter. Other than early playings, the reporter is always played by Colin Mochrie and Ryan Stiles.

• Panel: Host Clive Anderson is the host of a panel show; The four performers are given a variety of costumes and props and must discuss a given issue of the day. Played only once, but was fairly common on the radio version under the name The Great Debate; however, Anderson never participated in the radio version.

• Quiz Show: One performer is the host of an audience-suggested quiz show, while the other three are as contestants.

• Reunion: Three performers are old friends who once had the same profession, meeting at a reuinion. The scene culminates with all three players improvising an "old song" relating to the profession. Only played once.

• Secret: Two performers act out a given scene which begins shortly before one performer's secret object is discovered by the other. The location of the secret is audience-suggested.

• Sports Commentators/Sportscasters: Two performers enact a given scene, usually a mundane daily activity, in slow motion. The other two performers provide commentary as if the event were a sporting event. The activity is usually elevated to a highly competitive and extremely violent spectacle.

• Survival Show: The four performers enact a Survivor-style game which is set in an everyday location. One performer acts as the host, while the others perform stunts and have a tribal council as contestants.

• Themed Restaurant: Two performers dine in a restaurant with a given unusual theme; the other two performers act as waitstaff.

• Wedding: The four performers, along with a female audience member, perform a wedding using the audience member's foible as a base. One performer is the groom to the audience member's bride. Another is the master of ceremonies, another a drunken relative, and the last sinces a wedding song. It was played only once.

Quirk/identity games

The following games are based on one or more performers having a strange quirk or identity:

• Animals: Two to four performers enact a soap opera-type scene as given species of animal. Performed only once on the US version, with a second performance included in outtakes on the First season Vol. 1 DVD.

• Change of Emotion: Three performers are given an actual prop; whoever holds it must express a given emotion as they act out a given scene. Occasionally, two props are used, each assigned a different emotion.
  • Multiple Personalities: A variation in which there are three props, and each is assigned a different famous identity. The performers must bear the identity associated with whatever prop(s) they are holding.

• Expert: One performer has a strange way of behaving (e.g. frog spawn) and another interviews them in a given style (e.g. in the style of a children's TV presenter). Played in series 1 - 4.

• Fixed Expressions: The performers act out a scene while each must maintain a fixed facial expression. Each performer is given a different emotion to emulate.

• Here He Is Now: Two performers await the arrival of the others and discuss their Idiosyncrasies. The other performers them arrive and must enact the traits that were assigned to them.
  • That'll Be Charlie Now: A variation in which three performers wait in an audience-suggested place for their friend Charlie, played by the fourth.

• Meet The Family: Two of the performers are the parents of a third. The fourth performer is engaged to the third, and is meeting the parents for the first time. The parents are given odd personalities or characters. Played once on the American version.

• Old Job, New Job: Two to four performers enact a given scene in which one of the performers displays traits of his given old job while performing his new job.

• Superheroes: One performer superhero with an odd audience-suggested identity. He faces an audience-suggested crisis, and is joined by another performer. In welcoming this performer, he provides them another odd superhero identity. The third and fourth performers arrive in turn, and are named by their predecessors as well. Then, after the crisis is solved, the performers depart in reverse order. The superhero names are typically in stereotypical superhero form (e.g. [something]-man, or [something]-girl) with an unusual identifying characteristic or power. In later playings, it is more common to have very detailed names (e.g. Malfunctioning-Robot-With-An-Attitude Boy).

• Strange Bedfellows: Three performers are roommates, but each is given a celebrity impression to do during the scene.

• Unlikely Couples: Two performers play a scene, as two people (fictional or real) that wouldn't normally be seen together. Periodically, the host sounds the buzzer and requests audience suggestions for a different pairing. Played only once.

• Weird Newscasters: One performer is the lead anchor of a news broadcast who acts normally; the other three are the co-host, sports anchor, and weather anchor, and are each given an odd personality or character which they must exhibit. A running gag is for the lead anchor to introduce the other characters with humourous pun names, and to open the newscast with a joke news item. Other than early playings, Ryan Stiles is always the sports anchor.

• What Are You Trying To Say?: Two performers act out a scene in which are easily-offended, take offense to anything the other performer says.

Physical games

The following games are based on a physical impediment or requirement:

• Dead Bodies / Fainting Bodies: One performer acts out a given scene while the rest of the performers in the scene act as if they are dead or unconscious. The performer must physically move the others, including their mouths, and say their lines for them. In the UK, two "dead" performers begin in the scene with the third, while in the US, it is one performer and one audience member. In both, an additional performer joins the scene partway through and quickly dies/faints. Other than in early playings, Colin Mochrie is always the performer who remains alive.

• Hands Through/Helping Hands: Three performers enact a given scene; one performer can move freely, while another cannot use his arms, and places them behind his back; the third provides the arms for the second, placing his own arms through the second's armpits. The performers are usually provided with a table full of props (other than early UK playings), some of which are messy. They are also commonly provided with aprons or other protective costumes. Other than early playings, Colin Mochrie always provides the hands for Ryan Stiles.

• Living Scenery: Two performers enact a given scene. The other two performers or special guests stand in for props during the scene.

• Moving People: Two performers enact a scene, but they cannot move on their own. Instead, two audience members or special guests must move them into different positions during the scene. Other than early playings, this game is always played by Colin Mochrie and Ryan Stiles.

• Picture: A life-sized painting or picture is presented with the faces of some characters cut out. Two to four performers put their heads through the holes and enact a given scene.

• Scene with a Prop: Two performers are given a random prop, and must make up a scene using that prop. Played only once.

• Stand, Sit, Bend/Stand, Sit, Lie: Three performers enact a given scene; at any given time, one must be standing, one must be sitting and one must be either bending over or lying down, depending on the game. Whenever one changes position, the others must change to maintain this requirement. A (e.g. a chair or bed) is typically provided to accomodate the scene.

Other games

• Audition: One performer plays the director of an upcoming musical while the other three audition. One performer must act, one must sing and one must dance. The title of the musical is usually a combination of famous movies (e.g. The Godfather from Greece, a combination of The Godfather and Grease).

• Authors: The performers tell a story, each in the style of an author (or style) they select themselves. They each perform one-at-a-time, continuing from where the last performer left off when the host sounds the buzzer. "Authors" was last played in the fifth UK series. Similar to "Remote Control".

• Dubbing: Two performers enact a scene with an audience member, whose dialogue is provided by a third performer off-camera. Sometimes a celebrity guest is used instead of an audience member.

• Explanation: Two versions of this game was played. One is where two performers explain, for example, the existence of God in the style of 5 year olds. Only played twice.

• Film & Theatre Styles/Film, TV & Theatre Styles: Prior to the scene, the host solicits various styles of film, TV or theatre from the audience. Two or three performers then begin a given scene; the host periodically stops the scene with a buzzer and chooses an audience-suggested style for the performers to continue the scene in. In early UK episodes, only genres were accepted; later specific films, shows and plays were accepted. In the UK pilot episode, this game was called Genre Option. In the UK version, it was commonly played twice in one episode with a different pair of performers for each game. In the US version, it was played only once per episode with three performers.
  • Change of Cast: The four performers enact a given scene, changing their characters at the host's prompting.
  • Change of Company: The four performers enact a given existing fairy tale. The host periodically suggests a the profession for the characters to continue the scene as . Only played on the radio version.
  • Emotion Option: Variation on "Film & Theatre Styles" with emotions instead of styles.

• Film Dub: Two to four performers watch a clip from an old (and usually unknown) movie or television show that has been muted. While only the clip is shown on-screen, the performers each provide the dialogue for one of the characters following a given scene suggestion.

• Film Review: One performer is a film critic and reviews an audience-suggested film, while the other three act out scenes from the film, as prompted by the critic. Played only once.
  • Musical Film Review: A variation which adds music to the scenes.
  • Film Trailer: One performer provides a voiceover for an audience-suggested film's trailer over provided background music. The other three act out scenes from the film, as prompted by the narrator.
  • Musical Producers: Two performers are producers of a musical. The other two performers act and sing scenes, as prompted by the producers.
  • Story Teller: One performer is an author, narrating the non-speaking parts of a story. The other three performers portray are the characters in the story, entering when prompted by the narration, and saying dialogue. The author works towards an audience-suggested moral of the story. Played until series 4.

• Make A Monster: One performer acts as Dr. Frankenstein and one as Igor; the other two are corpses. Either of the two performers picks the head, arms, and legs for the two corpses of various professions or people, such as the head of Mr. T, the arms of a sushi bar chef, and legs of an ice hockey player. Played only twice on the American version.

• Remote Control: The four performers each enact a different given style of television program on the same topic (sometimes given, sometimes audience-suggested). They each perform one-at-a-time, switching when the host sounds the buzzer and chooses the next performer. Similar to "Authors".

• Scene with an Audience Member: Two performers and an audience member perform a given scene. Later in the show's run, the audience member would read pre-written lines from a card when prompted.

• Scenes Cut from a Movie: The four performers enact scenes ostensibly edited out of an audience-suggested movie.

• Sound Effects: In the first version of "Sound Effects", two or three performers enact a given scene and must react to pre-recorded sound effects which are occasionally played. In the second and most common version, one performer enacts a given scene while a second, offstage, provides sound effects vocally. The third version, played only in the US version, is a variation on the second version in which two performers enact a given scene while two audience members provide the offstage vocal sound effects. Other than early playings, the Ryan Stiles always provides the effects for Colin Mochrie; the pair also always play the third version.
  • Really Bad Hangover: Two performers wake up with hangovers. As a result, sounds they hear seem amplified. The other two performers provide the sound effects offstage.