Would I Lie to You?

Thanks to YouTube, I've become a HUGE fan of the British original, so I dipped my toes in this US version with trepidation. After all, who do we have here that can rival Lee Mack and David Mitchell in this type of format?

While precisely adhering to the original's structure, the best I can do is to call the comedy content rather spotty. The upside for this US viewer is not missing many of the jokes that are culture-specific for the English. The downside is a matter of personnel, which will change each week.

In fairness, the earliest episodes of original-recipe WILTY weren't as fast-paced and funny as the later ones. So this imitator deserves a few more episodes to see how it ripens. They were amusing enough to warrant a bit of learning-curve patience.

Actually, it would probably be pretty disappointing even if we hadn't seen the British version.

The British version is laugh-out-loud / stop-the-video-to-recover hilarious even when you don't know British culture. We watched the first two episodes of the American version and it's just dumb slapstick and shouting.

Check out the British version on youtube (especially after Rob Brydon became the host starting in series 3)...it's worth 10 stars.

When they try to duplicate british tv on american television, they never watch the show and get to know the panel characters and their skills. They bring the show here and because they dont know the english comedians they replace them on the US version with c-list comedians from the US. They did the same with taskmaster with reggie watts. Lee mack, david mitchell, greg davies and the rest etc, are not c-list comedians. They aere the kevin harts, the jim gaffigans. The top teir...

But because they arent known in US the US producers dont know this and just put any comedian uin to do what they do. This show will fail just like taskmaster US cause they dont bother to get the same level of comedian. Just cause you dont know who they were doesnt mean they are equal to unknown US comics. Taskmaster would have killed with danny devito maybe? But reggie? Come on!!!

Oh, and as usual from a non white cast, it took about 30 seconds into the first show for them to make white people jokes. Racism is racism. Ill never watch again.

The British version is almost ridiculously conversational with no one giving a damn about how any of it looks. It's a collaboration in silliness and that seems lost here. Maybe some things just don't travel. It might find a place but it needs less effort.

This US version of WILTY maintains all the same elements of the British original, only poor editing doesn't give it a chance to deliver. The first episode is worth watching as Richard Kind shines, capturing the playful banter of the British original with his distinctive, sly improv style. Aasif Mandvi doesn't quite have Rob Brydon's mischievous wit, but he holds his own as a host. Other well-known comics like Dulce Sloan and Matt Walsh were also on the first episode, but the show's frenetic pace (it's about 8 minutes shorter than the British version, with more ad breaks) doesn't give anyone a fair chance, and jokes end as soon as they start. It's a shame given all the talent in the room, since it's clear that the essence of WILTY has been painstakingly captured, only for it to be squeezed to death by editing and ad breaks.