Carey as Improv Pitchman on Engaging ‘Line’

Drew Carey has one prime-time hit with his eponymous ABC sitcom. Now he shoots--and mostly scores--for two with the new “Whose Line Is It Anyway?,” an American version of the popular British show.

“Line” is an engaging comedy (the earlier version was seen on Comedy Central) with a simple format. As host, Carey (one of the show’s five executive producers) supplies suggestions for improvised scenes or characters to a quartet of skilled ad-libbers who concoct everything as they move along.

Each of the principals relies on his quick wits and wacky sense of humor, generating bits of business and double-entendres that, by turns, are silly, spirited and occasionally inspired.

Ryan Stiles, always a crackup as the lanky Lewis on Carey’s comedy and a regular on the British version, earns most of the chortles in tonight’s debut.

Whether working the studio audience as a hyper auctioneer on “Let’s Make a Date” or making clever quips while wearing an assortment of goofy hats, Stiles keeps us smiling. He’s especially good in a physical segment as a “foal being born.”

The other standout is Wayne Grady, who excels at the spontaneous delivery of loony lyrics to “accounting songs” such as “Deduct This” (played with a Chuck Berry flourish) and “D-I-V-O-R-C-E IRS,” described as a disco favorite.

Colin Mochrie and Greg Proops also have their amusing moments on the show, which is comparable to attending a performance of the Groundlings improvisational sketches, one notable difference being that “Line’s” best scenes are culled from a 1 1/2-hour taping. In other words, some stuff works and other attempts fail, but that’s the nature of the beast. And there are certainly more beastly ways to spend an evening in front of the tube these warm summer nights.

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* “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” premieres at 9:30 tonight on ABC (Channel 7). The network has rated it TV-PG (contains material that parents may find unsuitable for younger children).