Dean, I'd be interested in your thoughts on a question that puzzled me in
those days. So far as you know, were the panellists ever given advance
notice of the subjects?
You've mentioned the episode in which Kenneth talks about Marcus Aurelius
Antoninus. When I heard first that one, it did occur to me to wonder whether
Kenneth had known in advance that this would be one of the subjects.
Although he was well known for being the most erudite member of the panel,
to know so much about a fairly obscure historical figure seemed unlikely,
unless he was aware that the subject was going to come up.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dean Bedford" <
dbedford@ihug. co.nz>
To: <
just-a-minute@ yahoogroups. com>
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2009 6:58 AM
Subject: Re: [just-a-minute] What have you learned from Jam?
>
> On Tuesday, May 19, 2009, at 04:03 PM, William Clarkson wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Dean,
> >
> > I want to thank you for putting the transcripts online. There isn't a
> > day which goes by that I don't listen to Just a minute. Tonight I found
> > myself trying to remember quotes from the show. It was easy by typing
> > the speakers name and what little dialog I remembered. Tonight I was
> > trying to remember:
> > I burn the candle at both ends, it will not last the night, but oh my
> > friends, and oh my foes, it gives a lovely light.
> >
> > But without Jam, I may have never heard of Stanley
Holloway's Albert
> > and the Lion, or known countless other facts,people or poems alluded to
> > over the years. I'm always curious when I don't know something someone
> > (usually Clement) quotes, or refers to, and I look it up online.
> >
> > So what I'm wondering from the rest of the group, what have you learned
> > from Jam?
> >
> > (don't everyone quote PM's educational show joke at once pls)
> >
>
> sorry for the belated reply William - has been a very busy week at work
> and that combined with sleeping very badly has made me a bit lax at
> responding to the email traffic.
>
> First thanks for the very kind words. I know I must sometimes seem like
> a grumpy old bugger, but I really enjoy sharing my love of this show and
> I am very proud of the success of things like this group (we passed 500
> members last
week!)
>
> On what I have learned from JAM - lots. I know my spelling isn't always
> very accurate but I will often look up someone on the web to check I'm
> spelling their name correctly. Last week I was transcribing the
> "missing" 195 eppy, "starters" and there was a subject, Marcus Aurelius
> Antoninus. I looked him up and found some material on him and I have to
> say - Kenneth Williams's summary was very accurate. I hadn't heard of
> him before, and I learned something.
>
> I suppose it's too much to expect Paul or Tony Hawks or Sue Perkins to
> bone up on obscure subjects as Kenneth used to do. But personally I
> rather liked the "educational" aspect of the show where Kenneth used to
> talk on these historical or literary subjects. These days they're likely
> just to turn a subject like this into a joke, or declare Marcus to be
> the shopkeeper down the road
or something.
>
> I suppose the difference is that even if he had to read up on subjects,
> Kenneth still was something of an intellectual or liked to be thought of
> one anyway. Maybe if Stephen Fry becomes a regular, this aspect could be
> brought back...
>
> Dean
>