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Re: Article + Edinburgh Guest

Messages in this topic: 13 View All
Dean BedfordAug 19, 2009
 

 
I suspect almost no-one goes on stage not having some thought about the
subjects. I'm not sure that's changed either. After all in his diaries
Kenneth Williams describes mugging up on historical subjects days before
a recording.

I do respect and understand your wish for complete spontaneity. Not sure
I feel as strongly - I think I'd rather they had something to say on the
subjects than waffle on saying nothing. But I do see where you're coming
from.

On Thursday, August 20, 2009, at 12:53 AM, nylon net wrote:

>  
> I certainly agree that JAM is unscripted, but I wonder how many modern
> contestants refuse to be told what topics their episodes will include. 
> They all seem SO prepared when their topics arise.  It really, sadly
> reeks of days of careful preparation.
>
> While there are certainly uncertainties after the first challenge
> comes, I wonder how many contestants are really flying off the cuff
> when Saint Nick says "You have 60 seconds starting NOW"?
>
> Preparation surely helps the contestants manage their tendencies to
> vomit on-stage when they get a tricky subject, but it does sound rather
> glib much of the time when the first speaker launches into a virgin
> topic. 
>
> JAM is - or is meant to be - the modern equivalent of the Coliseum. We
> oooh and ahh at the vicissitudes and victories of the victims, but less
> blood is spent in the sawdust nowadays.  In the early days of "I'm
> Sorry I haven't a Clue" Bill Oddie would  pulsate with terror at each
> request for an unscripted poem or song.  Are modern performers too
> precious to be stressed like this nowadays in a "theatre-sports"
> environment like JAM?  Surely not. 
>
> I believe their pluck will be seen, and their spirits more greatly
> admired when it's obvious they are hearing the subject for the first
> time in their lives.
>
> Don't give them the topics in advance!  (Except, perhaps for the
> newbies like Paul Merton)
>
> Regards
> Mark
> nylon.net
>  
>
> -- In just-a-minute@..., Dean Bedford <dbedford@...> wrote:
>
>
> I'm fairly sure that I've heard Paul Sinha on Radio 4's "The Now Show"
> where ISTR he came across really well, although that's clearly a
> scripted show and JaM isn't. More interestingly he's appeared on BBC
> Five Live's "Fighting Talk" - one of my favourite shows - which is much
> more spontaneous.
>

>

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