Have I Got News for You

I don't usually like cable news shows, but I thought that this American spin on the venerable UK panel show was surprisingly likeable and funny. Roy Wood Jr does a great job as host, and co-captains Michael Ian Black and Amber Ruffin are fun and good-natured, if a little stiff in the first outing. By the third or fourth episode, everyone has gotten more used to the format, and MIB and Ruffin get faster on the jokes and better at expounding on each topic. The show is at its funniest when it lets the guests and hosts really go off on tangents, like a hilarious bit about an early acting gig of MIB's in the fifth episode. They could definitely dig a little deeper on the jokes; I think they're a bit afraid to get 'mean' given how early the show is in its run and CNN's centrist reputation. Overall, however, the show has consistently improved each week, and I'm excited to see how it continues to evolve as it establishes itself.

The best thing on CNN nowadays is a 30-minuite comedy show. Comedy? CNN? The most laughs on CNN are when the newscasters fail to flow up the many errors and lies being told all the time. Or when they say "breaking news" and it already broke a while ago. Put up all that aside. This new, quirky, irreverent and sometimes silly show is about the only good thing on CNN right now. They give you the news chopped up, dissected, twisted, and mish-mashed so many ways you'll still be laughing from the last bit when the new bit gets you too. No, it's not perfect and sometimes it is downright infantile, but it's funny, innovative, pertinent, topical, and did I say funny?

I like Roy Wood Jr, I love Michael Ian Black and it was very funny at times, but I was also confused. What is this show supposed to be. It seems very random. Meaningless points and teams. A retread of the weeks news where the panel guesses the story, quote, or person involved? Huh? It's like Wait Wait Don't Tell Me but not as good. I also saw this is based off a British show of the same name that's run since 1990. That show is clearly a success to last that long. So here's hoping the show finds its footing and a better structure in the episodes to come. I'll be continuing to watch to give it more of a chance.

This is a good one.

Holds the spirit of the original BBC version, but with its own unique twist.

It was smart, funny, well rounded and well written. Roy Wood Jr. As the host was absolute genius casting. They've also done a very good job picking guest team members/comedians/personalities to be on the teams.

Interestingly, this show has a unique approach in that the questions just basically provide as a jumping off point for the jokes, but they're also very interestingly constructed game play as well.

The way they approach topics is very refreshing & wonderfully light hearted.

Top notch show all around.

At times watching the episodes I was rolling around with laughter. I've given up watching the UK version as it's become somewhat stuffy and dated with team captains now into their dotage. The younger, fresher team captains and presenter, a great mix of guests and a far broader sense of humour without the endlessly now dated pedantry of Hislop and phoning it in occasional quip from Merton makes this one far fresher, funnier and more vibrant in character.

Truly a great reimagining of the UK show with broad appeal even to UK viewers who are in tune with US politics, cultural and social references.

You might not find it as funny if you're expecting it to be a facimile of the UK format, but you'll love it if you enjoy a show where women and minorities are not always the just the token guest or presenter as is the case with the UK show.

I used to love the UK show, don't get me wrong. But they self-censor themselves so much now due to Hislop's history of ending up in litigation that it's always "oh we can't say this" and Paul Merton barely says a word most weeks now.

The US one definitely feels like a breath of fresh air in comparison.