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Re: Article + Edinburgh Guest

Messages in this topic: 4 View All
nylon netAug 20, 2009
 

 
Must agree. Wendy always seemed rather po-faced and irritable, especially when Clement listed. And she *always* objected to lists, which grew rather tiresome.

nylon.net
nylon@...

> -----Original Message-----
> From: clitheroekid@...
> Sent: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:57:59 +0100
> To: just-a-minute@...
> Subject: [just-a-minute] Re: Article + Edinburgh Guest
>
> At the risk of being unduely contraversial, I'd have to say that the fact
> Kenneth Williams was always worth hearing was largely *because* he was
> able
> to say something intelligent about a subject, due to doing some research
> beforehand - not merely because of being witty.
>
> They didn't always have subjects that needed researching. "My favourite
> colour" or "Why Kenneth Williams irritates me" were topics that clearly
> needed no research. But when they had a historical character as the
> subject,
> that did benefit from some research.
>
> In my opinion, having someone on the show who was not simply waffling was
> a
> real benefit to the show. It gave it some depth, which it sadly lacks
> today.
> (If this week's contestants had done any research, I don't think it
> showed!)
>
> And Kenneth could be funny about *anything* - a feat which only Paul
> Merton
> can achieve now.
>
> Whereas, at the other end of the scale, Wendy Richard (bless her) - who I
> loved dearly - never did anything but waffle. Aimi Macdonald too. But
> Aimi
> was capable, at her best, of being hysterically funny: something which
> can
> excuse a multitude of sins!
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dean Bedford" <dbedford@...>
> To: <just-a-minute@...>
> Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2009 1:12 AM
> Subject: Re: [just-a-minute] Re: Article + Edinburgh Guest
>
>
> 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
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
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