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Topic: Re: Clement

Message 1 / 4
Dean BedfordFeb 6, 2008
 

 
On Wednesday, February 6, 2008, at 09:11 PM, lapsedcat wrote:

> On the subject of Clement, I thought I was probably alone in wishing
> that he would retire gracefully. He tends nowadays to begin talking
> on a subject (which he no doubt has prepared a set speech for
> beforehand) and then just stops, or says "that's all I have to say on
> the subject." This always earns him a point from an indulgent
> Nicholas, but rather lets the game down in my opinion.

I'm not actually wishing for it - I think - like Peter Jones - he is
still giving value to the programme and should stay on. I'm just
wondering if he himself might feel this way, he is after all in his mid
80s and not in outstanding health.

Clement doesn't prepare a set speech. A few years ago when it was
reported the panellists were shown subjects before the show, Clement
said that he always refused to even look at the list, as he'd always
genuinely spoken off the top of his head, and he wasn't going to change
his ways now.

Personally I find he still adds an element of gravitas and genuine
competitveness and a few good comments in each show and I hope he stays
on for as long as he can. It would be very different without him...

 
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Topic: Clement

Message 2 / 4
lapsedcatFeb 6, 2008
 

 
Dean,

I didn't mean to sound callous or dismissive of Clement in my previous
post - in fact, I rank him higher than Nimmo and Jones in
the "classic" JAM pantheon. What I was trying to say was that I think
he should think about retiring soon, as I feel the other contestants
(bar Merton) and especially Nicholas tend to indulge him these days,
and while this is very noble, it doesn't necessarily make for a tight,
punchy programme... I'm reminded of the (in my opinion) ill-judged
handful of Stanley Unwin editions in the late seventies, where even
Kenneth Williams seemed to handle him (Unwin) with kid-gloves.

Just A Minute has survived so long for many reasons, not least because
it has constantly evolved and hasn't "carried" people - with the
possible exception of (again in my opinion) Peter Jones towards the
end, Aimi MacDonald (and let me get all Daily Mail here and say why,
why, why did they continue to invite her back when she was so
singularly inept and barely amusing?) and now Clement.

 
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Topic: Re: Clement

Message 3 / 4
stevenwickhamFeb 12, 2008
 

 
AT LAST!!! Someone else who thinks that Aimi McDonald was absolutely
terrible, and slowed up every show she was in due to Nicholas'
ridiculous attempts to be chivalrous and flirty!!


--- In just-a-minute@..., "lapsedcat" <lapsedcat@...>
wrote:

>
> Dean,
>
> I didn't mean to sound callous or dismissive of Clement in my

previous

> post - in fact, I rank him higher than Nimmo and Jones in
> the "classic" JAM pantheon. What I was trying to say was that I

think

> he should think about retiring soon, as I feel the other

contestants

> (bar Merton) and especially Nicholas tend to indulge him these

days,

> and while this is very noble, it doesn't necessarily make for a

tight,

> punchy programme... I'm reminded of the (in my opinion) ill-judged
> handful of Stanley Unwin editions in the late seventies, where even
> Kenneth Williams seemed to handle him (Unwin) with kid-gloves.
>
> Just A Minute has survived so long for many reasons, not least

because

> it has constantly evolved and hasn't "carried" people - with the
> possible exception of (again in my opinion) Peter Jones towards the
> end, Aimi MacDonald (and let me get all Daily Mail here and say

why,

> why, why did they continue to invite her back when she was so
> singularly inept and barely amusing?) and now Clement.
>

 
<<<<   1906   >>>>

Topic: Re: Clement

Message 4 / 4
IanFeb 13, 2008
 

 
--- In just-a-minute@..., Dean Bedford <dbedford@...> wrote:

>
>
> On Wednesday, February 6, 2008, at 09:11 PM, lapsedcat wrote:
> > On the subject of Clement, I thought I was probably alone in wishing
> > that he would retire gracefully. He tends nowadays to begin talking
> > on a subject (which he no doubt has prepared a set speech for
> > beforehand) and then just stops, or says "that's all I have to say on
> > the subject." This always earns him a point from an indulgent
> > Nicholas, but rather lets the game down in my opinion.
>
> I'm not actually wishing for it - I think - like Peter Jones - he is
> still giving value to the programme and should stay on. I'm just
> wondering if he himself might feel this way, he is after all in his mid
> 80s and not in outstanding health.
>
> Clement doesn't prepare a set speech. A few years ago when it was
> reported the panellists were shown subjects before the show, Clement
> said that he always refused to even look at the list, as he'd always
> genuinely spoken off the top of his head, and he wasn't going to change
> his ways now.
>
> Personally I find he still adds an element of gravitas and genuine
> competitveness and a few good comments in each show and I hope he stays
> on for as long as he can. It would be very different without him...
>

I've just joined the group and want to add my '2 penneth' on the
subject of Clement. Having been listening and adoring JAM since mid
70's I cant imagine the show without him. I guess having Clement
around connects me with the great 'minutes' and fabulous banter that
he's delivered over the years. I always loved the spats between him
and Kenneth and thought Nimmo's impressions of him hilariously
accurate. Long live Clement! (although they're slowing leaving us!)