Would I Lie to You?

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.

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.

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.

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.

This show is the US attempt at creating an already great UK show where two teams of celebrities play against each other in a series of rounds where the opposition has to guess if they are telling the truth or making it up?

The UK version is already a classic after about 15 years of being on the air, but this US version just doesn't have the same vibe.

The host and two team captains are not cast right. The host contributes nothing, and who the heck are the team captains anyway? One is plain annoying thinking she's a rapper or something, the other seems to have little to no charisma.

The selections for guest "celebrities" is a real head scratcher. I think a total of 3 people have been on this show I'd actually call a celebrity. The rest seem to be unheard of "comedians" and some sort of TikTok nobodies.

Its a show that could work for the USA, but it needs to scrap everything its doing right now, follow the UK formula and actually have guests on people know and wanna see on a weekly basis.

Give the show to someone like the Who's Line Is It Anyway crew, or bring back a team from the past like the MadTV cast perhaps? Anyone but these has-beens that never was who pretend the audience knows who they are and add in 2 or 3 actual celebrities during the coarse of the season.

By the way, I said follow the UK formula, which means, stop doing the typical US filler where when a known name is mentioned, it gets a round of applause, and the terrible obvious cuts in editing that ruin the feel that what you're watching isn't just slapped together because there's too much boring stuff being cut out. Get the vibe going and let the guests let loose, not an obvious take 2 moment.