Remote patrol

Remember ABC's endless promotional campaign for "Once and Again"? (If you're an "NYPD Blue" fan, how could you forget?) Well, here's all the good it did: According to Nielsen, "Once and Again" finished the season in a ratings tie for 58th place. The show it was tied with? Would you believe "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" (7 and 7:30 tonight, Channel 9), the low-budget improvisational comedy show with host Drew Carey. "Whose Line" was hardly ever promoted - and worse, it was buried in a Thursday-night time slot where many an ABC show has gone to die. Given those disadvantages, what made it such a relative hit? If you ask me, it's Ryan Stiles. The lanky "Drew Carey Show" co-star is possessed of one of comedy's fastest minds. Pair that with a body made for physical humor and you have one of the loopiest, most sublime performers in the deceptively simple art of improv. Other regulars on "Whose Line" include Wayne Brady, Colin Mochrie, Greg Proops and musical whiz Laura Hall. The original British version still airs in reruns on Comedy Central (and the Brits return the favor, carrying the U.S. version over there). @ART CAPTION:'Whose Line' regular Wayne Brady @ART:Photo (color) >>>