Drew Carey, & The Improv All-Stars

Hollywood Theater, MGM Grand

The Monday Morning “Nobody-Asked-Me-to, But-Here-I-Go-Anyway” Review: Drew Carey & The Improv All-Stars.

(or, Why I Will Never Be A Professional Concert Reviewer…)

I think I know now what Jack Nicholson’s Joker character felt like in the first Batman movie. My mouth is still frozen in a smile that won’t go away – and my cheeks are throbbing from laughing so hard!

I’ve been a fan of improv comedy for decades. About a hundred years ago, I used to be a groupie of the Theatre X comedy troupe that ran for years in Winnipeg. Many of those members went on to much more success, and continue to do so.

But as for the improv gold standard, you’d be hard-pressed to find more amazing performers than the former cast of “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” – along with ringmaster (and The Price Is Right host) Drew Carey. These guys continue to massacre audiences with unscripted comedy that cracks even themselves up – it really seems like half a dozen Tim Conways, trying to crack up hapless Harvey Kormans…

In addition to Drew, this ever-changing cast last night included…well, just scroll back up and read the poster – I shouldn’t have to do ALL the work here!

The show opened with a stand-up set from Mr. Carey, unshackled by the need to censor himself for TV, and reveling in that freedom. If I say here that he was free to cuss, I’d be sugar-coating even the mildest parts of last evening. But what a gas, as he giddily lampooned his current TV hosting duties, dumb people and training a dog - but plenty of the gags were directed right back at himself.

From then on, the gloves were off, as the Improv All-Stars went into sets familiar to anyone that watched “Whose Line Is It Anyway” – although you may have to have been watching it on HBO to recognize it last night.

Highlights to say the least were workouts on a Celebrity Jeopardy broadcast, the infamous late-nite record collection infomercial where the actors make up songs from the host’s banter,and so much more.

What is amazing about this troupe of artist is the depth of the talent pool. I mean, many of these people sing better than professional recording artists. And something as simple as an unexpected slap to the face becomes a thread that runs throughout the rest of the show. I won’t even get into the hapless couple that were in town for a grocer’s conference – and didn’t happen to be married to each other. Neither one of them will forget the evening, I’m sure…

Exceptional evening of first-class entertainment!!

Chow for now!!