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Dean's JAM rankings for 2007

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Dean BedfordDec 22, 2007
 

 
It's the time of year when everyone is doing lists for 2007.

So this blog joins in on the act with this rating of the JAMsters -
solely on their performance in JAM this year. There are five categories
and then we'll count 'em down to the star of the year...

They won't be back next year

Jo Caulfield - Just a one-off for Jo and she seemed a bit overwhelmed,
and didn't have the funny material when called on to make her someone
the producers will be trying again.
Alun Cochrane - Perhaps the weakest performer of the year, Alun didn't
get into his shows at all. Unlikely to be tried again.
Maria McErlane - Has been in 14 shows now and yet she seldom seems to
have good material when she starts a subject and that was the case again
this year. She has a beguiling giggle though.
Pauline McLynn - I love the accent and voice and she tries hard. But
somehow she just doesn't seem to get much into her appearances. Her five
shows may be it for her.
Greg Proops - I've a soft spot for Greg as he was one of my favourites
on Whose Line Is It Anyway. And with nine shows spaced over 14 years, he
doesn't get much chance to refine his JAM skills. But he is usually
disappointing when he does get on the show, and he was again this year.
Perhaps intimidated by the requirements of the game.

They had some good moments

Jenny Eclair - I start off by saying I'm a big fan of Jenny. But this
year she wasn't at her best. Jenny can be a star and there would have
been plenty of times I would have had her near the top of my list. I
thought she wasn't in great form this year.
Dave Gorman - He found it a bit tough to get a word in against
mega-mouths Paul, Clement and Tony, but still had some funny things to
say when he got the chance.
Phill Jupitus - Warmed up during hius shows, and seemed to be hitting
his straps as he went on. Could be a star for the future.
Maureen Lipman - A great actor, and someone who loves JAM by the sound
of her, but she didn't have much of great wit to say when she had the
chance. Still someone I like to hear though.
Neil Mullarkey - Neil is a solid performer and hasn't much experience in
JAM but seemed to enter into the spirit of things.

They're about average

Clement Freud - There was a time when you would have struggled to
imagine JAM without the great man. I think a JAM post-Clemeht is no
longer unimagineable and he seems to be contributing less. Still though
comes out with a few good lines every time he's on though.
Tony Hawks - I felt Tony wasn't at his cheeky best this year, but he's
still dependable and reliable when it comes to JAM.
Kit Hesketh-Harvey - Almost got into the next category up. Kit's shows
weren't his best JAM work, but he's still witty, literate and jolly. I
wish he was on more often.
Fred MacAulay - I liked him on his only appearance this year, where he
had some funny bits and pieces. JAM"s format doesn't totally suit him,
but he's still good fun to hear.
Dara O'Briain - Like Fred, the JAM format isn't the best for him, but
his one show this year saw him come out with some good lines. He's
enjoyable to listen to.
Tim Rice - Tim's a wit rather than a comic, and I like him when he is on
the show where he does and Clement-like performance. I think though he
used to be better playing off people like Kenneth Williams and Peter
Jones though.

Let's see more of them

Chris Addison - The best of the newcomers this year, Chris seemed to
just fall into the JAM style naturally, even into teasing Nicholas.
Surely will be back soon.
Pam Ayres - Pam is warm and funny and even just a tad competitive. Would
get better if she could be asked back more often than once a year.
Janey Godley - Strong and funny, she deserves a go more often than just
getting one of the Edinburgh shows. I like the way she demands her share
of the time, it's reminiscent of Sheila Hancock.
Graham Norton - Graham's camp humour and dirty laugh always makes him a
welcome contributor on the show. He wasn't at his top form this year
though.
Sue Perkins - Clearly the best of the current woemn panellists and
someoen who should be doing the show more often. She always has
something funny to say when she is on the show.

Stars of the year

5th best: Chris Neill - Chris is one of those guys who seems to get
better every time he is on the show. He's a bit Kenneth Williams-like in
the way he can throw a tanty and he always has something funny to say. I
wish he could talk for more than 10 seconds at a time though.

4th best: Julian Clary - Julian's shows this years were top-class. He's
a real wit these days and very competitive too.

Bronze medal: Gyles Brandreth - Not everyone likes Gyles but he provides
a different style which is good variety. He's also well prepared and
always witty and relevant. Surely will be doing the show a lot more in
the future.

Silver medal: Marcus Brigstocke - Another certainty to make more and
more frequent appearances, Marcus has it all in JAM terms - very funny,
very sharp, very quick, very coherent and very competitive. The only
player who it seems is likey to compete with Paul in the points stakes.

Champion of the year: Paul Merton - Well it's no surprise that Paul is
the winner - if I'd been doing these ratings for years it would probably
be something like his 17th consecutive win or something like that. But
Paul is still the key to the show. He can't open his mouth without being
witty, and over the years he has developed the Kenneth Williams gift of
being able to lift the whole show when it's getting a bit off-track.
Paul's the reason the show is still on the air after 40 years.

 
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