Drew dread

In a way I hate writing about Improv-a-Ganza, Drew Carey's upcoming improv comedy show on GSN. It's not a game show, not even a competition show. So what the hades is it doing on an alleged game show network?

Okay, I know what it's doing on GSN, or supposed to do. Network execs want Drew to attract some young'uns to the ancient-skewing GSN. Comedy skews young, according to partially justified conventional wisdom. That's why the network has run Improv-a-Ganza promos for six years now (very slight exaggeration).

The latest promo features a bit of footage from the show. It's embarrassingly lame and unfunny. The show's debut has already been delayed from March 28 to April 11, indicating at least a little uneasiness with the project. As one critic accurately grumps:

When the Game Show Network began running promos for Drew Carey’s Improv-a-Ganza, a daily show debuting in April, I became excited because I enjoyed Whose Line is It Anyway? so much. Now new promos have appeared, and promise has turned to dread. If the scene pulled to attract viewers to the show is the best available preview, Improv-a-Ganza is in trouble. Note to GSN: Regroup, reshoot, and recut, or disaster is at hand.

"Disaster" might be a tad strong. The show will get at least good initial sampling from curious Whose Line fans. But the funny better be real, or a massive flop could ensue.

My evil side might not mind that. At least a flop could dissuade GSN from doing more non-game, non-competition, non-everything shows. The network has bet a good-sized farm on Drew. Will he deliver?