Would I Lie to You?

I love the British (original) version of the improve show, Would I Lie To You (WILTY), and watched this trying to be unbiased. I loved the British improv show Whose Line Is It Anyway, but feel the American version with Drew Carey was better. However, I don't see this ever being the case here. Granted, the British WILTY has been on for many years and started off rough - but the team captains (the brilliant David Mitchell and Lee Mack) were always very quick and funny... the American captains (Matt Walsh and Sabrina Jalees) aren't.

Also annoying is the CW channel and their app insist on commercials instead of a subscription option, and I hate commercials (but that's a CW criticism).

I'll tune in when actual funny people are visiting the show.

I tried. I wanted to like it. There's no rapport between the host and team captains. After reading another reviewer mention the level of comedian in those slots compared to the level of those in the original, I agree. But also, having three people, no matter if they're A listers or C listers, who have worked together and have a playful and occasionally caustic relationship would be the key here. This was a missed opportunity to get the likes of Joel McHale and Ken Jeong (who never seems to turn down an offer) and someone else from their group.

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.

It's horrible and not funny or entertaining.

While they stick to the script of the British original word for word, and the format is the same, it's terribly done and annoyingly cringy.

The host isn't funny, the team leaders are terrible, and the guests are 5th rate.

I realize that hoping for the US version to get even a single David Mitchell or Lee Mack was a long shot, but come on! This cast is pathetic. Not even Rob Brydon would lower himself to be on THIS version.

Contrast the terrible US version with the recently finished first season of the Australian version. The Aussies get it right, and while not as consistently funny as the current (16th season) British version, it's first season was on par with the first from Mitchell-Lee-Deayton. I went into the Aussie season without knowing any of the cast, and yet it still was FUNNY (though not Bob Mortimer funny, more Lee Mack on a moderately tired Thursday kind of way).

The British version did get better after they fired Deayton and replaced him with Brydon, but it was enjoyable because the format and Lee/Mitchell were so good. In addition, the guests were also very well selected and almost always did a good job (though some of the edited out bits were not always as good). For the US version to get worth watching, they'll have to replace the ENTIRE cast and do a MUCH better job with the editing.

I guess the US just isn't always good when trying to replicate British hits. WILTY, Taskmaster, Great American Baking Show, etc. Certainly the more involved the regulars are (judges, Team Captains, etc.), the less chance of success in the US since the American production companies always miss the mark when hiring.

Will this get better in the future? It'll probably improve a star or 2 but still not enough to survive. Best case it'll get a couple years before the axe, though less than the Great American Baking Show got before cancellation. However, I'll be surprised if it even gets a second season since it's so so bad. US taskmaster was cancelled after one season, and that at least had Alex Horne and yet was still dreadful.

TL/DR: Your time is much better spent watching the British version, or even the Aussie one. Heck, rather than watch this dreck, maybe plotting how to get the US to rejoin the British colonies would be less painful.