Drew Live II

Last updated
"Drew Live II"
The Drew Carey Show episode
Episode no.Season 6
Episode 5
Directed by Gerry Cohen
Written by Brian Scully
Production code226360
Original air dateNovember 8, 2000 (2000-11-08)
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Mimi's a Partner"		Next →
"The Pregnancy Scare"
List of episodes

"Drew Live II" is the fifth episode of the sixth season of the American sitcom The Drew Carey Show , and the 132nd overall. It first aired on November 8, 2000, on the ABC network in the United States. The episode's plot sees Drew (Drew Carey) open an employment agency, but he has trouble finding jobs for his friends Lewis Kiniski (Ryan Stiles) and Oswald Lee Harvey (Diedrich Bader).

Contents

The episode was written by Brian Scully and directed by Gerry Cohen. It was conceived after the success of the first live Drew Carey Show episode, which aired the previous year. Improvisational segments were added to a basic plot, and producers chose to keep many elements of the episode a secret from the cast. The episode was performed live three times for the Eastern/Central, Mountain and Pacific time zones. It featured guest appearances by several Whose Line Is It Anyway? cast members and talk show host Jay Leno.

"Drew Live II" was seen by an estimated 15.2 million viewers, finishing just outside the Top 20 in the ratings for the week of November 6–12, 2000. It was the sixth highest-rated show on ABC that week. Production mixer Klaus Landsberg was recognised for his work on the episode with a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.

Plot

Drew (Drew Carey) returns to the Winfred-Louder department store to speak with his former boss Mr. Wick (Craig Ferguson) about his rejected unemployment claim. Wick tells him that he should not have quit his job, but Drew argues that he was fired. Mr. Wick tells him to take it up with the assistant director of personnel, which was Drew's former job. They go back and forth, until Drew gives up and Wick declares to the other employees that the show is over. Drew's co-worker, Eugene (Colin Mochrie) does not join in with the applause and tells Wick that he thinks what he did to Drew was cruel, so Wick fires him. Drew vows to help Eugene find a new job, before deciding to open his own employment agency.

Drew's friends Lewis Kiniski (Ryan Stiles) and Oswald Lee Harvey (Diedrich Bader) tell Drew that they are unhappy in their current jobs, so Drew offers to recommend them for mystery diner positions at Shenanigans restaurant. Drew later reveals that there is only one position available, but Lewis and Oswald have already quit their jobs. Drew cannot decide whom to pick, so Kate O'Brien (Christa Miller) suggests they go to Shenanigans to see who is better at the job. Both Lewis and Oswald are terrible, so Drew tells them they can work for him. Oswald realises that he went into the wrong office when he quit his job and returns to work. Lewis and Drew visit Lewis' boss (Jay Leno) at DrugCo to ask him to give Lewis his job back.

Production

Wayne Brady appears with other Whose Line Is It Anyway? cast members in the improvisational segments. Wayne Brady 2011.JPG
Wayne Brady appears with other Whose Line Is It Anyway? cast members in the improvisational segments.

Following the first live episode of The Drew Carey Show in 1999, which achieved high ratings, a second live episode was conceived in a bid to repeat that success and capitalise on the November sweeps ratings period. [1] The producers also wanted to "push the envelope even further" than before, so they decided to keep many elements of the episode a secret from the cast. [1] Improvisational segments were added to the basic plot, allowing the producers to throw the cast "a few curve balls". [2] Executive producer Bruce Helford stated, "The actors don't know what's coming at them. They don't know what's behind every door." [1]

Helford planned to bring in guest stars during the recordings, [1] as well having the studio audiences come up with suggestions on how the episode should end, leaving the cast with little time to prepare before they act it out. [2] Neil Conrad, the channel's Broadcast and Standard Practices editor, admitted that he was scared about the episode, especially after the first live broadcast, in which a guest cast member was caught with a handwritten message to his mother on his buttocks. [2] Helford joked that Conrad had a right to be worried, [2] but he also said that if the cast were to mess up, then it just adds to the fun. [1]

As with the first live episode, the cast and crew performed "Drew Live II" three times for the Eastern/Central, Mountain and Pacific time zones. [2] Several cast members from the improvisational comedy series Whose Line Is It Anyway? made guest appearances in the episode. Colin Mochrie once again reprised his role as Eugene, while Wayne Brady, Brad Sherwood, Charles Esten, Greg Proops, Kathy Greenwood and Laura Hall appeared in the various improv segments. [2] Talk show host Jay Leno also makes a cameo appearance. [3] [4] To coincide with the episode, ABC planned to air live promos featuring actors coming by The Drew Carey Show studio to promote their ABC shows. [1]

To prove to the viewers that the episode was live, some of the actors were seen watching and improvising the dialogue for that night's broadcast of Felicity , which aired in the same time slot on The WB. [5] Helford had originally chosen an episode of The West Wing , but the show's producers rejected the idea and Felicity was chosen instead, as long as the actors did not make any jokes about Keri Russell's hairstyle. [5] Felicity creator J. J. Abrams praised the segment, saying "The idea of characters on a live show tuning in to another network to see what's on was brilliant. My only hope is that it reminded people: 'What the hell am I doing not watching The WB?'" [5]

Reception

In its original broadcast, "Drew Live II" was watched by 15.2 million viewers, finishing in 22nd place in the ratings for the week of November 6–12, 2000. It was the sixth highest-rated show on ABC that week, following episodes of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire , NFL Monday Night Football , The Practice , NFL Monday Showcase, and ABC's coverage of the presidential election. [6]

A writer for Warner Bros. stated that the episode showed The Drew Carey Show was "one of the most consistently unique comedies on television", and that the show would "go where no other comedy has gone and put new twists on the series' second annual live episode". [2] Joel Brown of The Spokesman-Review chose the episode as one of his television "Highlights" for November 8, 2000. Of the cast, he commented, "expect them all to crack themselves up, as usual". [7] A critic for The Orlando Sentinel included the episode in the newspaper's "Prime Picks" feature, and commented that it was "a dangerously unpredictable episode." [8]

Sandra P. Angulo from Entertainment Weekly included "Drew Live II" in her feature on "the splashier sweeps events" for the week, commenting "In what's becoming an annual event, Drew and company – including the improv aces from Whose Line Is It Anyway? – perform live for each of the three time zones. Basically, they have three chances to get it right." [9] James Joyce, writing for the Newcastle Herald , noted that Carey had "always been willing to toy with the conventions of the sitcom format", and dubbed Oswald and Lewis his "dimwit buddies". [10]

The Washington Post's Lisa de Moraes was not a fan of the live format, stating "Apparently no one at ABC watched last season's live, partially improvised Drew Carey train wreck, so they're allowing the producers to do it again." [11] Allan Johnson for Chicago Tribune gave the episode a mention in his round up of the special episodes airing during November sweeps. [12]

Production mixer Klaus Landsberg earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Multi-Camera Sound Mixing for a Series or a Special for his work on the episode. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Stiles</span> American/Canadian actor and comedian

Ryan Lee Stiles is an American-Canadian actor, comedian, and producer whose work is often associated with improvisational comedy. He is best known for his work on the original British series and American version of Whose Line Is It Anyway? and for his role as Lewis Kiniski on The Drew Carey Show. He also played Herb Melnick on the CBS comedy Two and a Half Men and was a performer on the show Drew Carey's Improv-A-Ganza.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colin Mochrie</span> Canadian comedic actor

Colin Andrew Mochrie is a Scottish-born Canadian actor, writer, producer and improvisational comedian, best known for his appearances on the British and US versions of the improvisational TV show Whose Line Is It Anyway?

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brad Sherwood</span> American improv comedian

Bradley Sherwood is an American actor, singer, comedian, game show host and writer.

The Norm Show is an American television sitcom that ran on ABC from March 24, 1999, to April 6, 2001. Starting in September 1999, the show's title was shortened to Norm. The series starred Norm Macdonald, who created the series with Bruce Helford.

<i>Nikki</i> (TV series) American sitcom television series

Nikki is an American sitcom television series that aired on The WB from October 9, 2000, to January 27, 2002. Nikki was a starring vehicle for Nikki Cox, who had previously starred in another WB sitcom, Unhappily Ever After, which ran for five seasons. Looking to capitalize on Cox's popularity, Bruce Helford created a sitcom that featured her as the title character.

<i>The Drew Carey Show</i> American television sitcom

The Drew Carey Show is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC from September 13, 1995, to September 8, 2004. Set in Cleveland, Ohio, the series revolved around the retail office and home life of "everyman" Drew Carey, a fictionalized version of the comedian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drew Carey</span> American actor, comedian and game show host (born 1958)

Drew Allison Carey is an American comedian, actor, and game show host. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and making a name for himself in stand-up comedy, Carey gained stardom in his own sitcom, The Drew Carey Show, and as host of the U.S. version of the improv comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway?, both of which aired on ABC. He then appeared in several films, television series, music videos, a made-for-television film, and a computer game. Carey has hosted the game show The Price Is Right since October 15, 2007, on CBS.

<i>Whose Line Is It Anyway?</i> (American TV series) American improv TV series

Whose Line Is It Anyway? is an American improvisational comedy television series, and is an adaptation of the British series of the same name. It originally aired on ABC and ABC Family from August 5, 1998 to December 15, 2007, hosted by Drew Carey. A revival of the show, hosted by Aisha Tyler, began airing on The CW on July 16, 2013.

"New York and Queens" is the twenty-fourth episode and season finale of the second season of the American sitcom The Drew Carey Show, and the 46th overall. The episode centers on Drew and his friends taking a disastrous road trip to New York City. Upon returning to Cleveland, the group decide to attend a midnight screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, only to be confronted by rival fans of its replacement The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. A dance-off between the two sets of fans then ensues.

"Drew Cam" is the ninth episode of the fifth season of the American sitcom The Drew Carey Show, and the 110th overall. The episode sees Drew becoming a 24-hour salesman for the Winfred-Louder department store. Webcams are installed in his house and he has to promote the store's range of appliances. While Drew is out, the webcams continue to stream events that occur in his house. When the viewers become bored of Drew's life, Kate O'Brien is hired to play his girlfriend for the show. She is soon replaced by Isabel, who Kate becomes jealous of. She eventually tells Drew that she loves him during the webcast.

"Pilot" is the first episode and the series premiere of the American sitcom The Drew Carey Show. It first aired on September 13, 1995, on the ABC network in the United States. The premise of the show revolves around the life Drew Carey would have lived if he had not become a stand-up comedian. The pilot introduces the main characters of Drew (Carey), Kate, Lewis and Oswald, as well as Drew's workplace, the fictional Winfred-Lauder department store, and enemy Mimi Bobeck.

"The Dog and Pony Show" is the eighth episode of the third season of the American sitcom The Drew Carey Show, and the 54th overall. The series focuses on the work and home life of a fictionalized version of actor and comedian Drew Carey. The episode first aired on November 12, 1997 on ABC in the United States. The episode's plot sees Mr. Wick pass off caring for his boss Mrs. Lauder's Hungarian Puli to his employee Drew. When Drew has the prize-winning dog shaved and neutered, he and his friends decide to perform a striptease at the local bar, The Warsaw Tavern, to earn quick cash to buy a replacement.

"Drew Live" is the eighth episode of the fifth season of the American sitcom The Drew Carey Show, and the 109th overall. The episode's plot focuses on Drew trying to stop his friend, Kate, from pursuing a relationship with a mystery man, as Drew is in love with her. However, Drew is unaware that he is stopping Kate from pursuing him. Meanwhile, Drew's brother Steve Carey and his fiancée Mimi Bobeck hold a joint bachelor and bachelorette party.

"The High Road to China" is the ninth episode of the fourth season of the American sitcom The Drew Carey Show, and the 83rd overall. The episode's plot sees Drew stranded in China without money or his passport by his enemy Mimi Bobeck, after he plays an elaborate practical joke on her. Drew finds help from Ming, a local woman who speaks English, who offers him shelter and a job. Meanwhile, Drew's friends struggle to come up with a plan to get him back home to Cleveland.

"Drew's in a Coma" is the fifteenth episode of the sixth season of the American sitcom The Drew Carey Show, and the 142nd overall. The plot of the episode sees Drew left in a coma after he is hit by a car. Drew entertains himself through a fantasy world he creates, while his friends try various things to get him to wake up. At the end of the episode, Drew chooses whether to go to heaven or not and his sister-in-law, Mimi, goes into labor. The episode was written by Les Firestein and directed by Gerry Cohen. It first aired on February 7, 2001, on the ABC network in the United States.

"In Ramada Da Vida" is the second episode of the fourth season of the American sitcom The Drew Carey Show, and the 77th overall. It first aired on September 30, 1998 on the ABC network in the United States. The plot of the episode sees Drew and his friends form a band to play at a Ramada Inn. After they are offered a regular gig by the hotel manager, they realise they need a guitarist and audition several hopefuls. Meanwhile, Kate O'Brien decides to quit her job to find something more fulfilling.

"Drew Carey's Back-to-School Rock 'n' Roll Comedy Hour" is a double-episode of the American television comedy series The Drew Carey Show, covering the 1st and 2nd episodes of the seventh season, and the 155th and 156th episodes overall of the series. It first aired on September 26, 2001 on the ABC network in the United States. The episode, which does not follow the ongoing narrative of the sitcom, is formatted as a variety show, featuring the members of the cast along with guest stars Jenny McCarthy and Amanda Bynes performing comedy sketches out of character, loosely oriented around a middle/high school theme. Interspersed between sketches are musical performances from Sugar Ray, SHeDAISY, Smash Mouth, Uncle Kracker, and the Peter Frampton band.

The first season of the American television series Whose Line Is It Anyway? premiered on ABC on August 5, 1998, and concluded on March 24, 1999.

"Brotherhood of Man" is the 27th episode of the fourth season of the American sitcom The Drew Carey Show. It also serves as the show's 100th episode and the season finale. The plot sees the staff of Winfred-Louder given a month-long vacation by the new Dutch owners as the store is renovated, except for Drew Carey, who has to stay behind to make sure the wages are paid. He learns the owners plan to demolish the store putting the employees out of work. Drew then has to decide whether to inform his co-workers or take a promotion. Meanwhile, Drew's friend Oswald Lee Harvey buys a pay phone in order to make money.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 De Witt, Barbara (November 1, 2000). "Live from L.A., it's Drew". Los Angeles Daily News . Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Drew Carey & Cast Kept In The Dark For Live Episode". Warner Bros. November 3, 2000. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Drew Live II". On TV Tonight. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  4. ↑ Zaleski, Annie (September 14, 2015). "The Drew Carey Show's musical guests were as absurd as the sitcom's plots". The A.V. Club . Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 Cunneff, Tom (November 27, 2000). "Insider". People . Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  6. ↑ "Millionaire's Celebrities Help Sweep ABC to Win". Los Angeles Times . November 15, 2000. Retrieved October 15, 2020– via Newspapers.com. Lock-green.svg
  7. ↑ Brown, Joel (November 8, 2000). "TV Tonight". The Spokesman-Review . Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Prime picks". The Orlando Sentinel . November 8, 2000. Retrieved October 16, 2020– via Newspapers.com. Lock-green.svg
  9. ↑ Angulo, Sandra P. (November 2, 2000). "Boy bands, Barbra, and the return of 'The X-Files' top the TV sweeps". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  10. ↑ Joyce, James (March 20, 2001). "Channel Surf". Newcastle Herald . Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  11. ↑ de Moraes, Lisa (November 2, 2000). "Trying to Sweep Up With O.J. and Jackie". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on November 18, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2017.(subscription required)
  12. ↑ Johnson, Allan (November 1, 2000). "Sweeps inspiration: Juggling generates ratings and confusion". Chicago Tribune . Archived from the original on November 19, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2017.(subscription required)
  13. ↑ "Emmy 2001 nomination list". Variety . July 12, 2001. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.