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Re: The New Breed of JAM Performers - Paul Merton

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Dean BedfordJun 5, 2008
 

 
What I meant Paul changed was the style of humour - his surrealistic
fantasy style has been copied by most of the other young performers,
when before him the style of humour was more anecdotal. I don't agree
JAM was more serious before him - it's just a different style of comedy.
Like Linda, I don't think JAM has ever been serious. I don't really
agree there are fewer arguments than there used to be either. But then I
don't find the ins and outs of points and challenges and rulings as
interesting as you do so maybe I'm just more focussed on the comedy.

On Thursday, June 5, 2008, at 05:22 AM, Robert Torres wrote:

> Tis true.  Arguably its a lot funnier and less serious, but he's also
> taken a lot of drama and tension out of the show in some respects,
> depending of course on the panelists that appears.  I mean, no one
> argues over points anymore, although there are moments, but more often
> than not, everything seems to be a joke, bonus points are handed out
> willy nilly regardless of whether someone actually said anything
> particularly clever, humorous or inventive, everyone gets so muddled
> that no one knows anymore whether a person said a word twice or not,
> people tend to acquiesce to the decisionmaking without a fight.
>  
> I miss that, because the arguments and the way people would get very
> angry and passionate was just as funny.  I'm not sure I'm all that keen
> on everyone playing nice when they slip up. 
>  
> granted, Paul's influence certainly opened doors for all sorts of
> convoluted types of challenges from other panelists.  And not to
> mention Paul is now without a doubt the master of the one-lined joke
> challenge.  He obviously learned that from Peter Jones, who introduced
> that concept during his time as a panelist.
>  
>  
>
>
> Dean Bedford <dbedford@...> wrote:
>
> 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!)
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>

 
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