Just A Minute

 
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The future of JAM, as decreed by Nicholas Parsons

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Robert L. TorresAug 1, 2007
 

 
It's no secret that I'm not a big fan of the current chairman of
Just a Minute. However there have been moments, very few mind you,
where he has actually proven to be quite good at what he does.

I remember there was a discussion some time ago regarding the idea
of a new chairman. I seem to recall a few people here and there
that felt that the show would end with Nicholas retiring or dying.
I feel that this is completely untrue to be honest, and here is
proof that something like this is untrue from the words of the
chairman himself, this was a portion of an introduction that
Nicholas gave before an episode featuring Clement Freud, Lance
Percival, Wendy Richard and Richard Murdoch, in relation to the
recent passing of Kenneth Williams:

"One of the most interesting aspects of this recording is that the
participants included only one of the original players. We
frequently had guests, but always three guests, which included
Kenneth Williams, who was in nearly verey recording when he was
alive. In fact his contribution was so memorable on occasions that
when he died, the powers that be at Radio Four thought that the show
could not survive without him. I remember discussing this with him,
and pointed out that while Kenneth was brilliant in the show, the
strength of the show didn't rest on one individual. It was the
interplay between the players and the chairman, and the repartee
that was generated, as well as the skill of speaking on the subject.
Provided the show contained talented and witty performers who could
also marshal their thoughts clearly, there would always be a
programme. We would miss Kenneth, as indeed we still do. He was a
unique performer. But with so much talent available we could survive
without him. Fortunately common sense prevailed and more series were
commissioned. And this recording proves the programme can still be
entertaining and very funny provided there are always two
experienced players of the game, and they are supported by talented
and humorous performers."

From Nicholas' own lips, he stated quite categorically that the
show's strength does not lie with one individual.

and it doesn't, no one person is more important than any other, it
is essentially a team effort, its the interaction between panelists
and the chairman, as well as their skills at the game and fluency in
speaking on the subjects that matter the most.

there are plenty of talented people out there, granted not all of
them have what it takes to play Just a Minute. By the same token it
may be hard for any of them to have what it takes to be chairman,
from the few examples we've seen in the past that there are
different people who have different approaches of course, but those
shows are mostly done in the context of enhancing the comedy
anyway. it shows that someone else can be chairman, but obviously
you need just the right sort of person to be the right sort of
chairman on JAM.

I mean hey, Bob Barker himself realized he couldn't go on forever
and is stepping down, and CBS wasn't about to pull the plug on 'The
Price is Right' just because of that. Granted, its different
because on the one hand you're talking about an actual game show
where people win prizes and money, and on the other hand you've got
a comedy panel show where the whole point is to generate humor.

but the principle still applies, both are long running shows, both
have had one person as host/chairman for a very long time, and there
may come a point when Nicholas may have to step down, we all know
this, it's a fact and an absolute certainty, Nicholas is not going
to live forever.

Even the seemingly immortal Desmond Llewelyn somehow knew he
wouldn't be able to do the Bond movies forever and insisted on a
character to be created as his replacement, which they did, and it
proved to be rather poignant considering the poor man died in a car
crash after he finished his last Bond film 'The World is Not
Enough', even though there were plans for him to make a cameo
appearance in 'Die Another Day'.

anyway, this is not a slight against Nicholas at all, I know he has
a great love for the show, as do I, as do many people. I would love
the show to continue, I just feel that its a daft to say that people
hope the show 'dies with Nicholas'. The show is bigger than Kenneth
Williams, Derek Nimmo, Peter Jones, Clement Freud and Nicholas
Parsons. Yes they have all set the groundwork for those who partake
in the show now, but as individuals they are of no greater
importance to show as a whole.

 
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