The History of The Whosers

By J. Johnston (with due recognition and thanks to the various people of the WBiiA, for contributing the thread that was used to put this article together)

It all started in October of 1997, or about then as far as anyone can tell. Alison, a Canadian, started the original messageboard. Mark, who maintains Longmuir's Whose Line is it Anyway Page (which started earlier, in March or April), linked it up on his site in November. Teresa, who maintained an earlier mailing list, also had those addresses distributed. Through these accesses, and future links both on pages and search engines, the people started coming.

At first, the messages weren't very frequent. A lot of them dealing with such things as "John Sessions sucks" but they did start to progress beyond that (or not, if you consider the "Drew Carey is nothing compared to Clive" threads that went on for a long time.)

A lot of the influx was because of The Comedy Network in Canada beginning to show WL regularily, and for free for a little while. Whose Line had been showing on Comedy Central since 1992, however, and had a lot of fans. However, Comedy Central stopped showing it in 1998, to the dismay of the American fans.

The American version started in the fall of 1998 though, to give double doses to those who got the British version, and at least some for the American viewers. However, the current hiatus of the British version leaves a lot in worry and speculation about it's future.

The first contestant post came from Colin in January of 1998. The assumption is because he visited Mark's page (and signed the guestbook in November) he followed the link (or was harassed by those who found his email to come visit). He answered questions about the upcoming American version of WLiiA and was as usual (and as he is still) really nice to those who asked and posted.

Also in January 1998, the Tape Copying Saint began distributing the wealth, which led to a bunch of other tape copiers, and the tradition of trading tapes of episodes and other related things among the group.

That same month, a regular poster, Adria, decided to offer her house for an informal WL party. The idea was, at first, for a get-together of the large amount of southern ontario fans. However, once February came around, this had expanded to a full-fledged convention, the first annual one, with people coming from all over North America and the United Kingdom. Extra excitement grew when Colin agreed to perform that weekend at Second City with his friend (and great canadian comedian) Paul O'Sullivan.

The date was set for the first weekend in March, the 6th to the 9th. This would be the first main Whoser meeting, and the first meeting with someone who had been on the show. Needless to say, there was a lot of excitement, and buildup, as everyone prepared to go.

The first night there was a big party with lots of WL games played, wherein even the shyest people were pulled in to the insanity (a habit that gives a lot of the closeknit feeling of this group). The rest of the weekend was filled with video marathons, and talking. Lots of the second. Fun was the plan, and obviously a success. When there is reminiscing about one of the fun events being the cab rides, you know fun was to be had.

But the main event was when Colin & Paul performed in Tim Sims' playhouse at Second City. The lights came up, and Colin was standing 10 feet in front of everyone. There were gasps, nails in people's hands, and general shock. Followed also by a lot of giggles and such at in jokes, which the two men on stage had fun with. The most memorable to most being the group gasp at the mention of a backwards scene (which got one of the "looks" from Colin we've become familiar with over the years), but there were also memorable moments like the Musical of Grease meets Babylon 5 (with singing from both participants.) And when Paul finally mentioned Whose Line, the yell practically knocked him off the stage.

After which, they came to Wayne Gretzky's, though at the time Colin got much more attention then the others (which we've tried to make up for other trips *G*) Colin left about 2 hours later, after everyone else of his party had left. After talking with us, answering many many questions, and even doing the dinosaur impression, he finally left, waving all the way.

After the convention, the messageboard was filled with gushing posts, and those who didn't go either had to be annoyed or live vicariously. People who could would go on other trips, often those in Toronto. Bringing new people into the group from the messageboard to real life. Bringing back with them stories of seeing Colin at Second City etc., and talking with him, for the others to read.

This "living vicariously" thing has continued over the time the Whosers have been together. People posting interesting anecdotes of what happens when they go on trips. And differing opinions to, because those who have, for example, met Colin many times, have a different less awed, more fun perspective (because Colin is just so nice that he makes you feel so comfortable around him.) The same has been said about many other contestants, Greg, Wayne, Brad, Ryan, etc. etc. That they are too nice to us.

The next big event was when it was found out that the British WLiiA was going to be taping in Los Angeles in May. Audiences Unlimited, who took the tickets, took us under the group name of Whosers (which was the first official use of the name.) April itself was a flurry of activity as people planned trips towards the west coast to go see the British tapings.

In May came the Whosers first TV tapings. This was the introduction of the Banana Bungalows, of fame and horror among the Whosers. Also the use of Denny's as a food source started at this time. These facts are sad, but true ;)

Another item that came into Whoser Folklore was Fabian the page (It's not me, it's my boss), and Michael...angelo, and Mae. The pages at the studio who have had to put up with us at various times. Over the years more and more pages have gotten indoctrinated into the Whoser way and have come to know the faces that visit more frequently.

Then of course was the meeting of the cast. Through great stalling techniques (fighting over props? hmm ...) those on this trip got to meet Clive, Greg, Ryan & Colin that first night, and the following night Wayne and Brad. Again, this was the beginning of traditions. From even a brief moment of autographing, to longer conversations, the contestants of Whose Line have shown themselves to be beyond kind to their fans.

Then in June was the first of the american tapings. On the plane from Toronto, the placement of people on sticks, most notably Fabian, began. The group gathering yet again in Banana Bungalows, again eating at dennys (you see why it's a trend.)

The lineup at the studio became a place to sing Whose Line songs for our own enjoyment. Yelling out to the pages we knew, particularily Fabian, even if they didn't know us. Showing Fabian himself on a stick, and watching him attempt to hide the swear. Doing all this without realizing a few people who would soon become one of us were standing just a little ways away, thinking we were absolutely insane.

July came around, and a new show showed up in Canada. This was called Improv Heaven & Hell, hosted by the Devil's Advocates, and showcasing a lot of canadian improvisers, including Colin Mochrie. Of course, this brought out a good handful of Whosers in force, to meet all the different people (of course including Colin), and to see a new improv show in the making. This and other such things (including the gala and Supertown) led to a great following of canadian comedy and improvisation out of Toronto from the local Whosers.

Here as well, Richard Vranch from the British series was encountered by a few Whosers lucky enough to go to the Just for Laughs Festival that year. Richard Vranch also ended up posting on the WLiiA messageboard, occasionally. This brought in the Comedy Store connection, which was already strong, but grew stronger. Trips to the comedy store in London began to join in tradition with the canadian trips, for those lucky enough to be able to get to London in the first place.

August hit, with the American version (known as DLiiA from now on) premiered on ABC/CTV for a 6 episode run. Receiving great reviews and becoming a summer hit, this brought a new influx of press and therefore people to the group. Another interesting addition to the messageboard was Wayne Brady posting for the first time, which he was much thanked for.

Also, Supertown Challenge, starring Colin Mochrie, taped its first episode this month, with many Whosers attending the taping in Hamilton (oh lovely Hamilton) to bring enthusiastic support. Support which occurred at every taping (one person, notably, the "Supertown Queen" made it to every taping), and made it so that our antics and our faces were relatively well known to the cast and crew.

As a matter of fact, it became habit for the director/producer (Bruce Pirrie) to make fun or have fun with us, and the Supertown Queen's habit of bringing Pez led to an addiction held by many of the crew members, and leading to the questions if the pez had been laced with anything (all a joke, who needs more than sugar?).

In September, the 1998 UK WLiiA episodes started on The Comedy Network in Canada, which brought some very happy responses from those seeing these new episodes for the first time, especially with familiar scenes and faces in them.

In October, the DLiiA recordings resumed in Los Angeles when ABC ordered more episodes. Another group of Whosers makes it to these tapings, bringing back more stories and more pictures.

Supertown Challenge and Improv Heaven & Hell premiered on the Comedy Network in Canada. Colin Mochrie began visiting many Canadian talk shows, allowing for trips to go see him or at least taping the episodes.

Also, in hopes of starting earlier, and having a real, organized, and well put together convention, the planning for the 1999 Convention began in this month, by the elections for the 1999 Convention Committee. The voted in committee of five began working on planning out the next year's event.

In November, another small group of Whosers returned to Los Angeles for the final tapings of that session. This was noteable as this trip not only involved DLiiA tapings, but the first excursions to the Improv (for the Drew Carey show improvisation and other standup) and to ACME (with Brad & at that time, Denny) and Houseful of Honkeys (with Wayne). Introduction to other very funny and talented comedians through these groups was a great bonus, just as introduction to Canadian comedy through IH&H, Supertown, and other such events had been a great bonus in the Toronto area. This has caused one thing to become certain. The Whosers, although set up as 'fans of Whose Line' ... are more often fans of improvised comedy in general. Live shows in any city they can get to, from Boston to Calgary to Toronto to Edinburgh, are going to find themselves with Whosers in the audience!

Finally in December, DLiiA made its triumphant return to the Wednesday night schedule, and watching continued. At New Years Eve, a group make it to see Greg perform that night in San Francisco, sending new years wishes to the entire group. Again, another tradition of the Whosers - supporting fun standup and improv comedy, wherever they can. Especially contestant related moments, but others as well. Can you blame us?

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