One of the funniest things I've seen on the American version was Ryan Stiles playing a foal being born as a party guest.

I'd forgotten about that one, but yeah.

The one I caught last night had Ryan as a first time mother going from conception to birth and during the birthing sequence Wayne decided to take the role of the baby. It was more the look on his face than anything else, but it had me laughing incredibly hard (though not quite "I can't breathe" level.)

I seem to recall liking Tony a lot (though Ryan and Colin were my favorites on the British version so I was really happy to see them as permanent members of the American cast), though it's been a long time since I've seen any of the original show.

The only Whose Line guy who stands out in my mind as being consistently unfunny was the guy who apparently helped create the British version (I can't remember his name.) who was in like every episode of the first few seasons and his entire sense of "comedy" seemed to be babbling in a high-pitched voice. Ugh. I know there were other guests I didn't care for, but at least they were only occaisional nuisences.

And of course, I rarely find the scenes Drew's involved in the American version to be very good. I really miss Clive Anderson. (Who in addition to being a great host, knew to stay behind the desk.)

Ooh, just remembered another "I nearly died" Whose Line moment. Ryan styles as Carol Channing but her head was magnetic or something. Really off the wall concept, but Ryan's running around, getting his head stuck to things while spouting off in that voice (which is hysterical on it's own) and manages to break the neon lights on the front of Drew's desk with his head.

the guy who apparently helped create the British version (I can't remember his name.) who was in like every episode of the first few seasons

John Sessions.

Thank you. I was pretty sure it was John something, but I couldn't remember the last name.

I may be early saying this, but I can't imagine I'll ever be able to listen to Sarah Silverman's version of "The Aristocrats" without laughing until I cry.

Sessions was in Brannagh's Henry V as the Irishman who gets in an argument over his nationality with the Welshman (Ian Holm) and some Englishman (played by someone I can't remember).

I saw Pretty Persuasion last night.

It was interesting. For the first 2/3 of the movie, I was in love with it - it was brilliantly evil, scatchingly hilarious. The last 1/3 became rather overwrought, unfortunately, which keeps me from recommending the movie entirely whole-heartedly, though I still think it was more than worth my $10.75.

By far the best thing about the movie was Evan Rachel Wood's performance. She is absolutely, completely, totally amazing. She has a hard role - a smart, devious, manipulative bitch of the highest order, using sex, guile, and the showmanship of scandal to get exactly what she wants when she wants it while destroying those she wants to hurt, and she plays it perfectly. I spent the entire movie delighting in how brilliantly evil this character is. The movie could have been really, really bad; in fact, I think it would have been really bad with 97% of actresses playing the main character, because it's just such an unbelievable premise in many ways. ERW makes it work.

See it if you like super-dark teen movies, or just super-dark comedy/tragedies. Feel free to wait for DVD, though, as this type of movie doesn't suffer from that.

I actually have an episode of the American Whose Line saved on my Tivo forever and ever because it includes the mission impossible skit with the burnoose-washing and the cat.

Brothers Grimm was disappointing, and I wasn't expecting all that much from it except prettiness. It's like watching the "Love Conquers All" version of Brazil. Occasionally you can feel Gilliam trying to squirm through, but mostly it feels like someone with no sense of humor was trying to ape Tim Burton. Which is just odd.

But maybe he'll rant entertainingly on the DVD.

Art School Confidential, the Daniel Clowes/Terry Zwigoff film that was supposed to open on September 30, got pushed back to 2006.

Art School Confidential, the Daniel Clowes/Terry Zwigoff film that was supposed to open on September 30, got pushed back to 2006.

Fuck! That was one of my most-looked-forward-to movies this summer. Bastards. First V for Vendetta, now this.