Just A Minute

 
<<<<   2344   >>>>

Re: The New Breed of JAM Performers - Paul Merton

Messages in this topic: 13 View All
Dean BedfordJun 3, 2008
 

 
no harm in going on a bit - I enjoyed reading that.

I keep meaning to write my own Paul tribute.... he's a brilliant man, no
doubt and I'm beginning to think he's even better than Kenneth!! Paul
has totally changed the whole style of the programme too - it's arguable
no-one has had a greater impact on the show.

On Tuesday, June 3, 2008, at 07:04 AM, Cat wrote:

> I don't remember him being on Whose Line when I first watched it, I
> was too young. I mainly knew him through Have I Got News For You and
> Room 101 (although when I bought the Galton & Simpsons DVD I realised
> that some of the sketches I'd committed to distant memory were
> actually him, I just hadn't made the connection). Funny what you
> remember as a child. For years I wondered who had done the 'Burt
> Reynolds' sketch...
>
> The first time I heard Just A Minute on the radio was about 18mths
> ago, and I had just seen Greg Proops perform with the Comedy Store
> Players, and I found the show online with him on. I thought it was
> funny so immediately bought a couple of CDs (best of 2005 and 2006)
> and the first one I listened to had the 'herbaceous borders' bit with
> Linda Smith. After replaying it all day I moved on to other episodes
> and haven't looked back since, largely in thanks to this group.
>
> He has brought about a different way of playing the game, with players
> often confused as to whether they can lie or not, or whether it
> constitutes deviation. He always seems to confuse Nicholas too, which
> amuses me no end. Bless!
>
> One of my favourite examples of how Paul manipulates the game is the
> Mavis Drinkwater/Hilda Biscuit bit where Stephen Fry buzzes as he's
> convinced it's a lie....But Nicholas says he cannot prove it. Then
> when Stephen takes up the story, Paul buzzes as it's false.
>
> He's very clever, as much as he likes to pretend otherwise, and the
> breadth of his knowledge of comedy means he can pretty much go
> anywhere he likes with a story, any style, any situation. Anyone who
> tries to go up against him pretty much finds out that he can turn
> their weapon against them, so to speak.
>
> But I think the best thing about him on Just A Minute is that he
> obviously is a fan of the show, and enjoys it. Much like when you se
> him on Sundays down in the Comedy Store. People can throw money at him
> for touring China and presenting dodgy impro shows, but it seems that
> some things he does purely for the fun.
>
> (sorry for going on a bit!)
>
>

 
<<<<   2344   >>>>

Back to the Top