Have I Got News For You now has a US version, too. I also know that things like Hollywood Squares used a similar format a long time ago. I can’t think of anything else that uses as consistent and expansive a stable of talent as UK panel shows, however.
December 6, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Have I Got News For You now has a US version, too. I also know that things like Hollywood Squares used a similar format a long time ago. I can’t think of anything else that uses as consistent and expansive a stable of talent as UK panel shows, however.
There are plenty of North American comedians I can name who have national and consistent recognition in the UK from TV work: Reginald D Hunter, Ruby Wax, Rich Hall, Katherine Ryan, (Colin Mochrie and Greg Proops were also Whose Line mainstays). There are more I can’t put names to, I know.
December 6, 2025 at 9:49 PM
There are plenty of North American comedians I can name who have national and consistent recognition in the UK from TV work: Reginald D Hunter, Ruby Wax, Rich Hall, Katherine Ryan, (Colin Mochrie and Greg Proops were also Whose Line mainstays). There are more I can’t put names to, I know.
A good example of this difference can be seen with Ryan Stiles. Despite being American, it was his 90s work on the UK Whose Line that set his course to being a household name. He did US movie and sitcom work at the same time but it was WLIIA moving to the US that gave him his “break” in the States.
December 6, 2025 at 9:49 PM
A good example of this difference can be seen with Ryan Stiles. Despite being American, it was his 90s work on the UK Whose Line that set his course to being a household name. He did US movie and sitcom work at the same time but it was WLIIA moving to the US that gave him his “break” in the States.
Meanwhile, the US seems to still require “big breaks” to cross from working small comedy clubs to selling out stadiums. Sitcoms, movies and SNL are the major venues for this, and all of them require a lot of luck and commitment to pay off in the long term.
December 6, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Meanwhile, the US seems to still require “big breaks” to cross from working small comedy clubs to selling out stadiums. Sitcoms, movies and SNL are the major venues for this, and all of them require a lot of luck and commitment to pay off in the long term.
They have always provided a stepping stone for up-and-coming stand ups, allowing them to get national recognition for their particular brand of comedy, without needing to put a lot of work into writing new material beforehand. Established comics also benefit from this, giving income outside touring.
December 6, 2025 at 9:49 PM
They have always provided a stepping stone for up-and-coming stand ups, allowing them to get national recognition for their particular brand of comedy, without needing to put a lot of work into writing new material beforehand. Established comics also benefit from this, giving income outside touring.
It’s a tradition that existed most of my life, going back to Have I Got News For You, Shooting Stars, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, and the original Whose Line Is It Anyway. It’s generally a winning formula, with Taskmaster being the most recent big success.
December 6, 2025 at 9:49 PM
It’s a tradition that existed most of my life, going back to Have I Got News For You, Shooting Stars, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, and the original Whose Line Is It Anyway. It’s generally a winning formula, with Taskmaster being the most recent big success.
*I* love your books and I’m an adult man.
December 2, 2025 at 6:10 PM
*I* love your books and I’m an adult man.
To be fair, 11-year-old me would usually either give up after a bunch of deaths or upon reaching the “buy the full game to explore further!” point of the game. Few RPGs held my attention longer (the Exile series was the best) but Baldur’s Gate came along and set the bar higher for the genre.
November 29, 2025 at 8:35 PM
To be fair, 11-year-old me would usually either give up after a bunch of deaths or upon reaching the “buy the full game to explore further!” point of the game. Few RPGs held my attention longer (the Exile series was the best) but Baldur’s Gate came along and set the bar higher for the genre.
I grew up on shareware RPGs that came on discs from the covers of PC magazines. They had static character sprites, no tutorials, no difficulty settings. Nothing stopped you from wandering into an area with high level monsters and getting killed at level 1. Nothing told you where you should go.
November 28, 2025 at 8:49 PM
I grew up on shareware RPGs that came on discs from the covers of PC magazines. They had static character sprites, no tutorials, no difficulty settings. Nothing stopped you from wandering into an area with high level monsters and getting killed at level 1. Nothing told you where you should go.
The writing, the acting, the cinematography, the set design… all of it was genius.
November 13, 2025 at 3:24 PM
The writing, the acting, the cinematography, the set design… all of it was genius.
Reminds me of “ferret roulette” which was a thing at country town fairs when I was a kid. Had to look it up; it’s still a thing, looks like.
November 13, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Reminds me of “ferret roulette” which was a thing at country town fairs when I was a kid. Had to look it up; it’s still a thing, looks like.
Day 3: Nextwave. This is an interesting one. Basically, I’m just picking lesser-used characters that I think could handle satirical rebranding.
Captain ☠️☠️☠️☠️
Quasar (Wendell Vaughn)
Doc Samson
“Lady Punisher” (Lynn Michaels)
Namorita
I’m also sure they would all hate each other, which helps.
Captain ☠️☠️☠️☠️
Quasar (Wendell Vaughn)
Doc Samson
“Lady Punisher” (Lynn Michaels)
Namorita
I’m also sure they would all hate each other, which helps.
November 3, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Day 3: Nextwave. This is an interesting one. Basically, I’m just picking lesser-used characters that I think could handle satirical rebranding.
Captain ☠️☠️☠️☠️
Quasar (Wendell Vaughn)
Doc Samson
“Lady Punisher” (Lynn Michaels)
Namorita
I’m also sure they would all hate each other, which helps.
Captain ☠️☠️☠️☠️
Quasar (Wendell Vaughn)
Doc Samson
“Lady Punisher” (Lynn Michaels)
Namorita
I’m also sure they would all hate each other, which helps.
Well, I have my next book purchases planned. I’ll do my part to make up for potential lost sales.
November 3, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Well, I have my next book purchases planned. I’ll do my part to make up for potential lost sales.
Day 2: Avengers.
Leader: Captain America (Steve Rogers).
She-Hulk (Jennifer Walters).
Black Widow (Natasha Romanov).
Ironheart.
Hercules.
Jack of Hearts.
Leader: Captain America (Steve Rogers).
She-Hulk (Jennifer Walters).
Black Widow (Natasha Romanov).
Ironheart.
Hercules.
Jack of Hearts.
November 2, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Day 2: Avengers.
Leader: Captain America (Steve Rogers).
She-Hulk (Jennifer Walters).
Black Widow (Natasha Romanov).
Ironheart.
Hercules.
Jack of Hearts.
Leader: Captain America (Steve Rogers).
She-Hulk (Jennifer Walters).
Black Widow (Natasha Romanov).
Ironheart.
Hercules.
Jack of Hearts.
“The Long Way Home” stick out in my mind as an awesome example of this. Fantastic sci-fi in a single issue.
November 2, 2025 at 2:42 AM
“The Long Way Home” stick out in my mind as an awesome example of this. Fantastic sci-fi in a single issue.
The Lord of Muuuurder shall Peeeerish, and in his wake he shall spawn a score of mortal proooopgenyyyyyy… Chaos will be sown in their paaaaasaaaage…
November 2, 2025 at 12:39 AM
The Lord of Muuuurder shall Peeeerish, and in his wake he shall spawn a score of mortal proooopgenyyyyyy… Chaos will be sown in their paaaaasaaaage…
