Relaunched Whose Line Is It Anyway? proves hit for The CW

British production company Angst Productions is celebrating success as the American revival of the legendary comedy improv series Whose Line Is It Anyway? brings in ratings for its new home on The CW.

This brand new version of the award-winning show premiered in America on Tuesday 16th July and gave The CW network its best viewing figures for years. Two days later Angst’s other hit, Mock The Week, ended another very successful run, its twelfth, on BBC Two.

Originally hosted by Clive Anderson on BBC Radio and Channel 4, Whose Line Is It Anway? proved a popular series for ABC from 1998-2004 and ABC Family from 2005-2007, both runs hosted by Drew Carey.

The latest revival features the popular regulars from the ABC years – Ryan Stiles, Colin Mochrie and Wayne Brady – but is now hosted by standup/actor/broadcaster/podcaster Aisha Tyler, probably best known in the UK for her recurring role as Ross’ girlfriend Charlie in Friends.

Whose Line Is It Anyway? attracted 3 million viewers, five times The CW’s recent average audience, and was the channel’s best unscripted series premiere in the all important 18-34 age group since January 2009, and the best for any series premiere on the network for almost two years, winning the hearts of a whole new generation.

The CW Network is America’s fifth network after ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC and has until now been dominated by teen dramas such as The Vampire Diaries, Carrie Diaries and 90210. Mark Pedowitz, CW Network Head, took a punt on bringing back Whose Line Is It Anyway? to broaden the channel’s viewing demographic and to introduce comedy back to the channel.

Angst Productions is a small independent production company run by Dan Patterson who created Whose Line Is It Anyway? and Mock The Week with his creative partner Mark Leveson.

I’m thrilled by the continuing success of Whose Line. It’s another example of a British product triumphing in America. It’s often overlooked by commentators and journalists in the UK, possibly because they think improv is an American comedy form, but the show seems to be going from strength to strength. – Dan Patterson

Whose Line Is It Anyway? is an Angst/Hat Trick production for The CW. Now all we need is a UK revival with Su Pollard as host and then the world will be a joy once more.

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