I've seen a live taping with Doug Benson, Esther Povitsky, and Greg Behrendt; the guests are not scripted but the actual taping is around 35 to 45 minutes. They do edit out the long pauses if the guests don't answer immediately, an entire segment was also cut out for the 25min broadcast.

We were also chastised by Hardwick for cheering at the wrong video and had to reshoot just the intro to that. And even if the guest asks for a "redo," the producers fight as much as possible to not reshoot a response. This is why some guests can be seen upset when the buzzer does not work.

I never felt like it is scripted but it seems impossible that they can come up with some of the answers that they do come up with.
Unless they have early access to what the questions will be and can prewrite responses.
Sometimes they appear to be looking down at the podium or tablet deciding what response to use.

I stopped watching about 6 weeks ago.

Like the show but gets old after a few weeks in a row.

In case anyone missed it, they renewed this show for another 40-week run in 2015.

Sweet. Not every show is a gem but even the bad ones make good background noise.

Points!

I believe some of the "questions" are given out just before taping and they have a while to prepare a few responses before taping. Others are completely off the cuff.

Agree about it getting old. I record it, but kind of binge on a couple shows at a time then skip it for a week or two, then catch up all at once. I skip through some episodes a lot quicker depending on who the guests are.

That's what I gather. You can definitely tell when they make a cut. Two of three people answer and they cut to the next bit.

I assume they also get to prep a little bit on the material. Just so the guest doesn't totally bomb.

The show is hit and miss. It's REALLY all about who's on there. Some nights they're stacked (like the Marc Maron episode) and I giggle through the whole thing. Many nights it is unknowns from the local scene and the jokes are really hit and miss.

Thumbs up to everyone just for making it through. I can be funny. But I'm terrible at coming up with jokes on the spot. I feel a little bad for some of the guests, because they don't seem to do better than I'd do. If you're few jokes bomb, nobody gives a shit. Next bit.

It's definitely a good platform for getting your name out there and some practice.

--buzzes in --

What is "Good god, not another Duggar pregnancy!?"

I've stopped watching almost any episode in which I don't recognize two of the three names on the panel. Throwing two or three local or nationally unknown comedians on one episode is a recipe for disaster.

I'd probably branch out and go with more actors as the occasional guest. I would also run more themed panels (the cast of X, Harvard graduates, etc).

As for it being scripted, it does say in the article linked on the previous page that contestants are given topics a few hours before showtime. That gives them plenty of time to come up with comedy gold...or crap. I'm sure they have notes on their podiums.

With that in mind, it makes it worse when someone bombs on the show. It's always a bad sign when Chris doesn't smile at a joke and just flatly says, "Ehh, okay, points."

The show would get better if Hardwick had a snarkier personality. He needs to demean the bad jokes and poor comedians for laughs.

Cancelled

http://screencrush.com/chris-hardwic...ight-canceled/

One Hardwick show falls, another rises.

Wonder if they have something in the works to fill the 11:30 spot?

I think his last show is in August, so I'm sure they will figure something out.

It had over 600 episodes which is pretty crazy.

Even crazier to me is I think I 'watched' them all, though the last few hundred were out of habit and not through any actual enjoyment (barring a few favorite guests). I was too lazy to delete the series record off the DVR I guess. Problem solved!

I still watch it and enjoy it. I'm not surprised Hardwick is leaving -- he's getting too big for a show like that given his other projects -- but I'm a little surprised they're not continuing on with a new host.

I think I started watching the show a year or so ago, so I've probably seen about a quarter of the episodes. I did like the show and Hardwick as the host, but some of his bits between the games went on too long and often times didn't land. It's like, there's a panel full of comedians on the show, let them be the funny ones.

Crazy in what way?

It was on every day like any other talk show is.

Also, it's final episode will be the 600th, so not over 600 episodes.

I'm kind of glad it's done. 2 hours a week I can use to watch other stuff now.

Running a show called "At Midnight" at 10:30pm was bound to catch up to them sooner or later. False advertising.

Seriously though, I have really enjoyed this show. Hard to believe it has been four years ...

Kristen Chenowith ( ) was on last night and they revealed that she accidentally agreed to be on because she thought it was one of his other talk shows.

It had its time. It was a fun show.

I have a prediction: that whole snarky part of the Twitterverse is close to ending too. It's so saturated. Some of the people I follow are kind of losing their grip. There are still tweets that make me laugh harder than any TV show I watch.

Having 100k+ followers and posting funny stuff on Twitter all day is one way to throw away your material.

1 hour series finale is tonight...at least until they bring it back in some new version.

Some people might miss it since it's not usually on Fridays.