CW to try American version of "Would I Lie to You?"

[David Bruggeman]

Aasif Mandvi will host the CW's Americanization of the British panel show, premiering April 9th.

https://deadline.com/2021/12/would-i-lie-to-you-aasif-mandvi-matt-walsh-sabrina-jalees-to-lead-the-cw-adaptation-of-british-format-1234868258/

For those who haven't seen it (segments and full episodes are available on the YouTube), contestants are given a statement they haven't seen until that very moment, and assert its truthfulness (whether it is or not). The opposing team asks questions to see if they can poke holes in the story.  An example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16WIwgW_fuY

The team captains - Matt Walsh of Veep and Sabrina Jalees of Carol's Second Act - are regulars while various other performers will fill out the teams in each episode. 

I love the British version, currently hosted by Rob Brydon with team captains Lee Mack and David Mitchell.  They have been doing it forever, though, so I would try to give the U.S. version some time to find its footing.  I have no sense of Jalees, but I think Mandvi and Walsh have the skills to make it work.

David

[Bradford Harvey]

Why not? They had such a success with Taskmaster.

 

(Yes, I’m still mad about that one.)

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[Mark Jeffries]

"Taskmaster" was the British version--an American version had already failed on Comedy Central. The CW was looking for Covid programming but didn't have the patience here.

I would think that with the Kings ("Good Wife/Fight," "Evil") on board as producers, this might have a chance.  It's still Saturday night and the C-Dub's going to be bought out by Nextstar soon, so who knows.

Mark Jeffries
spotl...@gmail.com

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[Adam Bowie]

I've got to admit that I love 'Would I Lie to You.' Both it and Taskmaster are the only two comedy panel shows I watch religiously.

The key is in the casting of the teams, and not being solely reliant on comedians. The UK version has actors, singers, presenters, newsreaders and so on. It's always entertaining when someone unlikely is an exceptionally good liar. And then over time there are the regulars. Bob Mortimer may be an unknown name  to most in this group, but the way he plays the game is remarkable. You can simply believe or disbelieve every story he comes up with. It's impossible to work out and therefore it's fantastic television.

To be honest, I guess the main problem is trying to squeeze the number of stories into a half hour slot with commercials or alternatively over stretching a 30-minute show to an hour to squeeze in the commercials. A 30 minute commercial-free show always feels just right. Leave the audience wanting more.

Adam

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[Carlton Doerner]

I’ve watched the British version for several years. Recently they started an Australian version as well. It’s an hour long format. Quite often, it feels too long. Would probably be better off doing it the British way, and spending an episode or two at the end of each season with a “Unseen Bits” episode showing. The Australian version crams in every trick every episode.  Every panel member gets at least one go. Then they have the “How do you know them” segment. Then the “there’s a prop under your desk” bit.  The British version doesn’t always get to every guest and doesn’t always have a prop segment.

I did not like the first couple episodes of the Australian version. They took it too seriously in trying to catch people in a lie and playing sleuth. It’s less fun that way. The fun of the show is the storytelling in my opinion. Also, the show really needs you to like the two captains for this to work. In the British version, David Mitchell and Lee Mack are phenomenal and are able to carry things when needed.  In the Australian version, my enjoyment has increased as I have gotten to know the captains better. One, Frank Woodley, I am starting to genuinely enjoy. The other guy, Chris Taylor, is just annoying and will probably be why I give up on their version eventually.

Adam is right. Bob Mortimer is the best. 

Carlton

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