Whose Line is it? and autism

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Since my brother-in-law has moved in (BTW his presence here doesn't particularly bother me so this isn't about that) he and my wife have developed the habit of watching old episodes of a comedy show called "Whose Line is it Anyway?". It's an improvisational show, there are 3 regular performers, all male, one Canadian (Colin Mochrie), one perhaps more Canadian than American (Ryan Stiles), and an African-American (Wayne Brady). Plus they always have a guest performer, usually but not always male, plus they'll have another guest star that comes in at some points and participates in some of the gags.

Hard to describe it in detail. I recommend you watch a few episodes if you can find them. I'll try to describe the humor. Much, perhaps most of it is basically clowning. Occasionally there'll be some clever lines but I wouldn't call it mordant humor. TBH it seems like the same joke over and over again. Lots of penis jokes, some involving random objects that are brought in as props. Much of the humor also involves Mochrie and Stiles pretending to be gay in some way, sort of along the lines that a man revealing another man as gay should put the audience in stitches. Or they do physical things to each other that would get either of them arrested if done to a woman, such as one licking the other on the face etc. Probably the better part is segments in which they are asked to make up song lyrics. That can be be clever sometimes. Wayne Brady is no doubt the funniest of the regular 3 but somehow doesn't seem to set the tone as much (he is probably also better at the improvised song lyric bits) in fact my wife and her brother seem to think Mochrie hates those.

Why I am posting about this is that, sitting in the TV room watching this, I can't help feeling like there's something wrong with me because I'm not laughing my head off. Does it make sense for this sort of humor to appeal less to someone on the spectrum? Of course I'm sure there are others on WP who love this show nevertheless.

In case anyone wonders if I lack a sense of humor, consider another show I found out about recently called "The Great American Joke-Off". Apparently this is a spin-off of a UK show but of course that show would need a different name lol. This show features what I would call wry observational humor. Actually the performers are roughly 50% American 50% something else e.g. British, Irish etc. however they all do basically the same type of humor. It's presented as improvisational, however I doubt the extent to which it's improvised, but I don't care because it's so funny. I laugh at most of what's said in this show. I swear I am not pretending to think it's funny. In fact, I would like to see some of these comics perform live (in fact I did get to see one person who was on this show, Alonzo Bodden, appear live although not doing stand-up per se).

As it turns out, "Whose Line" rates about 8.5 on IMDb whereas the "Joke-Off" show only about 6.5, so it would seem the former is more highly regarded.

At one point my wife observed that it was strange to see her brother laugh his head off at "Whose Line" while I sit silent whereas I laugh out loud at GAJ-O and he sits silent.

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I remember that show (WLIIA) and while I found it fairly funny much the time, I also didn't ROFLMFAO at the content. A lot of it was, like you say, very "edgy" and "juvenile" to me. That said, I tend to "fall apart" at absurd stuff the most. Like reading the Three Word Story aloud... some of the "threads" are most hilarious and bring me to tears. (I think that's why I'm "reading" the entire thing "all at once")

One thing about Whose Line Is It Anyway is that it makes me feel kind of anxious, sort of like the performers are dancing (though in this case making jokes) as fast as they can and sweating it because they could mess up at any moment, and to me that doesn't translate to laughter necessarily, although it's a common strategy, for instance in sitcoms, to set up some situation that is about to go very badly, for humorous effect.

I used to watch this show with my parents when I was a kid, and while I enjoyed it I felt the exact same way. Improvisational comedy in general makes me anxious. I worry that they'll mess up and embarass themselves, or say something too inappropriate and make people upset.

Even some forms of non-improv comedy makes me feel a bit anxious, including stand-up and sketch comedy. Unless I know the comedians well and am confident that they're going to do a good job, it's hard for me to enjoy it.

I used to watch the UK version. I was always really impressed by the mental agility of improv comedians but like you I never found it particularly funny.

I sometimes wonder whether taking part in improv sessions might have some therapeutic benefit for some people with neurodiversities. So many of us struggle with 'live' social interactions that improv almost seems like a safe way to practice the art of listening and responding, as well as imaging scenarios that aren't literally happening. I feel like it might help me, I just struggle with the obligation to be funny part.

I don't know if that's ever been tried. Quick Google search says yes it has: https://www.improvconnect.com/improv-for-autism