Drew Carey & Cast Kept In The Dark For Live Episode

(November 3, 2000 - Burbank, CA) - Continuing its tradition as one of the most consistently unique comedies on television, "The Drew Carey Show" will once again go where no other comedy has gone and put new twists on the series’ second annual live episode Wednesday, November 8. What those twists might be, is anyone’s guess…especially the actors! With just a few days until the live broadcast of “The Drew Carey Show,” performed fresh to each of the four time zones (6:00pm Eastern/Central, 7:00pm Mountain and 9:00pm Pacific), producers want to maintain hushed secrecy and pull as many punches as possible on the unsuspecting actors, which include Drew Carey, Ryan Stiles, Kathy Kinney, Christa Miller, Deidrich Bader and Craig Ferguson. Adding improvisational elements to a basic storyline, the producers plan on throwing a few curve balls to the cast for good measure. Even the three live studio audiences may be able to get into the “act” when members will shout out suggestions about how to end the episode, leaving the cast with as little as a minute to completely present the never before heard idea. It’s all enough to make ABC Broadcast and Standard Practices editor Neil Conrad a little nervous. During last year’s live broadcast, a member of the guest cast donned a risqué wardrobe. It wasn’t until the show was well underway and on the air when people in the booth noticed the actor had written “hi mom” on his buttocks. The fact that this year, anything could happen, makes Conrad half-jokingly say, “nothing scares me more than the annual 'Drew Carey Live' episode. It's like watching your career flash before your eyes." Executive producer Bruce Helford adds, “he’s right to be scared!” Performers from ABC’s hit improvisational sketch comedy series “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” including Wayne Brady, Colin Mochrie, Brad Sherwood, Chip Esten, Greg Proops, Kathy Greenwood and musician Laura Hall will once again join the “Drew” cast. Carey and Stiles are also regulars on “Whose Line…” Produced by Mohawk Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, "The Drew Carey Show" airs Wednesdays 9:00-9:30pm (ET/PT) on the ABC Television Network. Bruce Helford, Drew Carey, Robert Borden (episodes 1-13), Holly Hester (episodes 14-26) and Deborah Oppenheimer are executive producers. The series was created by Bruce Helford and Drew Carey. # # #