Rebooted ‘Whose Line’ sure to score laughs

Once upon a time, before Drew Carey hosted The Price is Right and got all skinny, he fronted a little ABC show called Whose Line is it Anyway? The premise was simple and the results were funny: four performers created scenes, songs and characters on the spot via improvisational games, while the giggly host oversaw the proceedings.

Now, after six years off the air — nine if you don’t count the repeats and lost episodes on ABC Family — Whose Line is back. And, like Dame Helen Mirren or a long-lost box of Twinkies, it hasn’t aged a bit.

The format is the same, and the set is nostalgic. Even the band members — Laura Hall and Linda Taylor — come from the old show, as do the regular performers: Ryan Stiles, Wayne Brady and Colin Mochrie (who all appeared on both the British and U.S. versions). In each episode they’re joined by various guest-stars, and here’s where things get tricky. The new edition of Whose Line airs on The CW, widely known for its pretty, pretty shows starring pretty, pretty people.

A youth-oriented network, it is home to America’s Next Top Model, The Vampire Diaries and The Carrie Diaries. (The word “diaries,” apparently, is like catnip for cool kids.) So why would it air a series that has died twice and stars older dudes like Stiles (age 54), Brady (age 41) and Mochrie (age 55)?

It seems The CW is trying to blend the guys’ road-tested hilarity with promotion for its shows. Upcoming guests include Maggie Q of Nikita, Candice Accola of The Vampire Diaries and Wilson Bethel of Hart of Dixie. The fact that Kevin McHale of Fox’s Glee stops by seems incidental.

With Carey busy manning the big wheel at The Price is Right, comedian Aisha Tyler makes an affable and able host, ostensibly the only new element in the series. Not that that’s a bad thing. When the Whose Line crew is on, you’d better be sure you’re wearing absorbent undergarments.

Sure, many of the cast members have other jobs — Brady hosts the updated Let’s Make a Deal, Tyler is a co-host on The Talk, Stiles occasionally appears on Two and a Half Men — but they seem to be genuinely enjoying themselves on Whose Line. Which makes it all the more fun to watch. (8 p.m., WPIX, WGN)

The seemingly never-ending audition round on America’s Got Talent continues, this time in Las Vegas. Is there anything judges Howie Mandel, Howard Stern, Mel B and Heidi Klum haven’t seen yet? We’re one nine-year-old sword-swallowing beat-boxer who juggles puppies from finding out. (9 p.m., NBC, City)

Just because Pretty Little Liars airs on Much, burns up Twitter weekly and stars four nonchalantly attractive actresses, doesn’t mean that the show’s just for the junior set — the show’s more mysterious than that greenish goop lurking in your fridge. This week, Hanna must explain why she’s in possession of a gun, Mona blabs Spencer’s secret and Shana appears in unusual places. (8 p.m., Much)

Saving Hope sees Alex, Charlie and Joel operate on a malpractice lawyer. Meanwhile, Zach tries to cope with an unwanted patient. (10 p.m., CTV)