| Host | |
| Rove McManus | |
| Broadcast | |
 | |
| Packagers | |
| Satisfaction - The Television Agency Carousel Television Shine America | |
Riot was a short-lived, improv comedy series based on the Australian counterpart series Slide Show and its French counterpart series Vendredi tout est permis Avec Arthur ("On Friday, Anything Goes with Arthur/Anything Goes").
Premise[]
Two teams of celebrities and comedians in a series of competitions that have the teams sing, dance and create comedy sketches while overcoming multiple mental and physical obstacles. Instructed by guest team captains, two teams of comedians are instructed to create and participate in a set of unscripted improv skits, some of which take place on a set tilted at 22-1/2 degrees or some of which take place in complete darkness with the audience able to observe through night-vision cameras while the contestants blunder about.
Regular Cast[]
Brian Palmero
John Ross Bowie
Jamie Denbo
Jordan Black
Rob Gleeson
Meryl Hathaway
Jessica McKenna
Guests Team Captains[]
Andy Buckley
Andy Dick
Cheryl Hines
Chris Kattan
David Arquette
D.L. Hughley
Jason Alexander
Mayim Bialik
Michael Ian Black
Nicole Sullivan
Orlando Jones
Oscar Nunez
Rob Delaney
Steve Carell
Tom Green
Will Sasso
Studio[]
Radford Studio Center, Studio City, California
International Versions[]
The following are a list of countries that have previously aired their versions of Riot/Slide Show/Vendredi tout est permis avec Arthur includes:
Australia
Brazil
Denmark
France (country that originated the program as Vendredi tout est permis avec Arthur)
Romania
Portugal
Spain
Ukraine
Reception[]
The show has received mixed reviews from television critics and currently has a Metacritic score of 63 out of 100 based on 5 reviews. Neil Genzlinger of The New York Times wrote "There's no describing how hysterical this is; you have to see it". Diane Werts of Newsday wrote "Is there anything great here? No. Is it goofy fun? Yes. BOTTOM LINE Silly fun in the summertime". Brain Lowry of Variety wrote "If imitation is the sincerest from of flattery (and television), those responsible for Whose Line is it Anyway? should be positively red-faced watching Riot, Fox's amped-up, exhausting new improv show. Host Rove McManus bills the premiere as an 'utterly ridiculous night of fun". Lowry expanded that even with the creativity and comedy of the various skits, the show's "stunt-enhanced physical gags" do not quite merit the name Riot. Neil Drumming of Salon said the "premise felt like harmless summer programming, though a bit manic for my tastes".