Just A Minute

 

 

 

 

 

Yes I'm 40 & remember there used to be a lot more British shows on when I was a kid, but during the 80s and 90s the stations started to show less of them. I think I saw JAM was on at 5.30am on ABC radio - seems a bit pointless.

As Mel said, ABC recently started showing QI - I think it'll be very successful. At work, I had 3 people separately ask me had I seen QI just after it started airing, which is not usual, so it means people are watching. NZTV should do themselves a favour.

We'll never see HIGNFY because it's too UK oriented as you say, but I think it would have a fairly wide audience if they did. The British heritage of NZ & Aust. means there's a lot of people that would still be interested in it I think.

The Graham Norton show is on here too, but I don't like celebrity chat shows so I don't watch it, even though I really love him on JAM and he was recently on QI with David Mitchell and Dara O'Briain, where he was brilliant. He is my favourite contestant on JAM after Paul Merton. In one episode of JAM, Nicholas Parsons introduced Graham as 'the man I like to call the leprechaun of comedy' LOL.

Gee there's a whole pool of these people who do the rounds of these comedy quiz programmes in the UK isn't there? Paul Merton, David Mitchell, Dara O'Briain, Graham Norton, Phil Jupitus, Sue Perkins, Jo Brand, Sean Lock, Marcus Brigstocke, Ross Noble, Jack Dee, Sandi Toksvig, and on and on. Not all do JAM but many do.

Mel & Miriam have both mentioned Whose Line is it anyway. I've found the series on the internet so will download the first series (has Paul & Stephen Fry so must be good). Have not heard of it so will give it a go, thanks.
That's great that you got to see him live Miriam. I read in some interview that he regularly performs live, often once a week, just to keep his hand in, even though he doesn't have to with all the tv/radio work he already has.

He was in an interesting bunch of programmes that I downloaded at Xmas. They were 4 pantomimes written by Stephen Nye & broadcast by ITV: Aladdin, Dick Whittington, Cinderella and Puss in Boots. These were made for TV specials that get shown on UK tv during Xmas pantomime season. They were made between 1998 & 2002 and have a wikipedia entry under 'ITV panto'. Paul was only one of many well known actors in the shows, but was very good, very funny (they also had Julian Clary who is always good value). It was very funny seeing Paul Merton as one of the ugly stepsisters along with Ronnie Corbett in Cinderella. Not everyone's cup of tea but worth a look if it is.

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -

--- In just-a-minute@ yahoogroups. com, "Dean" <dbedford@.. .> wrote:

>
> When I was a kid, (I'm

talking 30 years ago, I'm 43) Just A Minute used to play on our non-commercial radio network often in the early evening here in New Zealand and that was how I first came to love it. In recent years it's played - as it does in Australia - in the middle of the night and so people like Paul don't have a big profile here either. I think it's a great shame. Personally I also love Have I Got News For You, though it might be a bit too much UK-oriented to be successful here.

>
> We don't yet have QI, which personally I think would be

successful here.

>
> Graham Norton's shows though run here

regularly and are reasonably popular.

>
>
>
>
> From: humiliated_grapes2
> Sent: Monday, February 15, 2010 2:20

PM

> To:

href="mailto:just-a-minute%40yahoogroups.com">just-a-minute@ yahoogroups. com

> Subject: [just-a-minute] Re: When was Paul Merton's first

episode?

>
>
>
> I agree, Andrew. It's very difficult

to find anything with Paul Merton in it, or indeed many others from JAM, here in Australia without the aid of the internet.

>
> The Comedy Channel

sometimes play the UK version of Whose Line, but I've not yet seen a Paul Merton episode on there (seems they loop through season 6-9). As you pointed out, the ABC did show Paul Merton in China recently. Only recently have they started playing QI, which is a chance to see a few JAM contestants, such as Stephen Fry, David Mitchell, Liza Tarbuck etc.

>
> I first discovered Paul a few

years ago by downloading episodes of Whose Line and watching them obsessively, which then led to my discovery of JAM. When I think of how much joy Paul Merton's comedy brings me, I realise it's such a shame that he's not more well known in this country!

>
> --- In

href="mailto:just-a-minute%40yahoogroups.com">just-a-minute@ yahoogroups. com, "andrew" <andrewjg2004@ > wrote:

> >
> > Thanks very

much for the info, Dean.

> >
> > I did look through quite a

few of the pages of messages first in the hope I might find the answer already asked by someone, but couldn't see it in any message title. Anyway your answer clears it all up.

> >
> > That transcript was really very

funny, I went & found the recording it came from & listened to it today as well. The image of the dog at home whipping up a custard and waiting for his friend Derek Nimmo to get home is very funny. Just brilliant humour. It's a shame the show isn't more well known.

> >
> > I've only just

discovered Paul Merton this last year after coming across the tv programme 'Have I got news for you'.

> > He is a great comic talent, but almost

unknown here in Australia & I'm assuming in New Zealand too. I wish the tv & radio stations would show more of these great British shows. The ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) , the main government non-commercial station here, did recently show 'Paul Merton in China', and there were a fair few comments on the ABC website from people saying how they liked Paul Merton, so obviously a few people are aware of him.

> >
> >

Obviously they've downloaded his shows from the internet. Thank goodness for the internet. It really frees people from being bound to local tv and radio stations and opens up the world, especially for smaller, isolated countries like ours.

> >
> > thanks and all the best.
> >
> >
> > --- In

href="mailto:just-a-minute%40yahoogroups.com">just-a-minute@ yahoogroups. com, "Dean" <dbedford@> wrote:

> > >
> > > Hello and

welcome Andrew, nice to have you with us.

> > >
> > >

You mention one of the episode list questions I get mentioned most often - at least once a month someone writes to me about this or the Derek Nimmo final eppy puzzle.

> > >
> > > The order of shows isn't the same

as that recorded. The show you mention is the first show to be BROADCAST that featured Paul. But the show that Paul first RECORDED is 393/22/5, 25 April 1989 with Paul, Derek Nimmo, Peter Jones and Sir Tim Rice. His first show with Clement is in the following season - 399/23/1, 17 March 1990 with Paul, Derek, Peter and Clement.

> > >
> > > If you are REALLY after

some great early Paul form - here's a round from his other first season show - in my humble opinion, the funniest round in the show's history! (To be fair it is even funnier when you hear Peter Jones's immaculate vocal timing) Enjoy!

> > >
> > > Dean
> > >
> > > NICHOLAS PARSONS: And you kept your recitation going until the whistle went

to gain that extra point and you are now in the lead Paul alongside Derek Nimmo. And Peter Jones and Richard Murdoch are both together in second place only one point behind. Paul would you take the next round, the subject is my pet. Will you tell us something about a pet that you have, or just my pet starting now.

> > >
> > > PAUL MERTON: My pet is a cat called Zooby.

This cat is a peculiarly stupid cat...

> > >
> > >

BUZZ

> > >
> > > NP: Derek Nimmo challenged.
> > >
> > > DEREK NIMMO: Two cats.
> > >
> > > NP: There were two cats, yes, and you've only got one I'm sure so

that's repetition.. .

> > >
> > > PM: If the cat

was a schizophrenic, would that help me in any way?

> > >
> > > RICHARD MURDOCH: He could be a Siamese cat like in twins.
> > >
> > > NP: Yes but in Just A Minute if you repeat the word

that is repetition. And so it is a correct challenge from the other party which was Derek Nimmo, 56 seconds Derek on my pet starting now.

> > >
> > > DN: My pet is a beautiful red retriever dog that I've had

since it was six months old. Had it trained by somebody in the part in Northamptonshire known as Oney. It is a great chum to me and of course a wonderful pet. But more than that, it is a personal friend with an ability...

> > >
> > > BUZZ
> > >
> > >

NP: Paul Merton challenged.

> > >
> > > PM: I think

you should extend your social life! If this, if this red retriever is a personal friend! I once, I used to correspond with a tortoise but I don't...

> > >
> > > NP: So you're having him for deviation?
> > >
> > > PM: Deviation, yeah!
> > >
> > > NP: Because of his, er, oh yes, um, I think what we'll do is give you

a bonus point because we did enjoy the challenge Paul. But ah I think within the bounds and the rules of Just A Minute Derek wasn't actually being too devious. So he keeps going with 33 seconds on my pet starting now.

> > >
> > > DN: His name is Rufus, named after the King of that

particular appendage. And when I take him with me for a run in the park...

> > >
> > > BUZZ
> > >
> > >

NP: Peter Jones has challenged.

> > >
> > > PETER

JONES: The dog was named after a King's appendage?

> > >
> > > NP: Yes I know!
> > >
> > > PJ: Was it? I

didn't...

> > >
> > > NP: Oh...
> > >
> > > PM: Is that the reason you became friends?
> > >
> > > NP: Oh dear! Now I have to judge on that and decide

whether...

> > >
> > > PJ: Well...
> > >
> > > NP: ... it's deviation or not.
> > >
> > > PJ: Definitely deviation on somebody's part!
> > >
> > > RM: He was trying it on the dog!
> > >
> > > NP: What happens Peter is you're going to get a bonus point for your

challenge, I can tell you that right away! Um if you can name it, if his red hair which is why he was called Rufus by the way, that was William the Second, is called an appendage or not, then of course maybe Derek wasn't actually being devious.

> > >
> > > DN: I meant his name.
> > >
> > > NP: I think what I'm going to do in this situation

is put this to the superior wisdom and judgement...

> > >
> > > DN: Oh I don't want it!
> > >
> > > NP:

...of our charming audience...

> > >
> > > DN: I'm fed

up with this bloody dog! It doesn't exist anyway! I hate dogs!

> > >
> > > PM: So much for friendship! You're appearing on Radio

Four, this dog's at home waiting for you, a personal friend, probably whipped up a custard or something.

> > >
> > > NP: Yes that's

right! Now you've thrown the whole thing out of the window and given it over to Peter Jones. Right, all right Peter, 23 seconds on my pet starting now.

> > >
> > > PJ: My pet was a blue rabbit called Jimmy...
> > >
> > > BUZZ
> > >
> > >

NP: Paul Merton challenged.

> > >
> > > PM: I would

suggest that you weren't heating it properly! Probably keep it indoors and it'll...

> > >
> > > PJ: Blue chinchilla rabbit,

that's what it was.

> > >
> > > NP: Right well keep

it, save it Peter because Paul gets another point because we liked the challenge, Peter keeps the subject and a point for an incorrect challenge and he goes on about his blue chinchilla rabbit with um, 20 seconds left starting now.

> > >
> > > PJ: But after a couple of years I must say

I had to admit it was rather boring. It didn't sort of give anything much. A rabbit is pretty, you know...

> > >
> > > BUZZ
> > >
> > > NP: Derek Nimmo challenged.
> > >
> > > DN: Well hesitation and repetition of rabbit.
> > >
> > > NP: Um which one do you want?
> > >
> > > DN: Well both really. Sometimes you give two points, you

know, you gave him...

> > >
> > > NP: I will say no,

yes I agree with you Derek but only one point I'm afraid but 11 seconds on my pet starting now.

> > >
> > > DN: My wife calls me my

pet. I'm...

> > >
> > > BUZZ
> > >
> > > NP: Paul, I know your challenge, but come on Paul, yes.
> > >
> > > PM: No I was going to say repetition of

my, but of course that's, that's included in the subject.

> > >
> > > NP: Oh I thought you were going to say if his gold... if his,

if his golden retriever was his pet, how could his, be the pet to his wife as well.

> > >
> > > PM: No I wasn't going to say that!

Um, mainly because I don't understand what you just said!

> > >
> > > NP: I'll be honest...
> > >
> > >

DN: There was no logic in it!

> > >
> > > PM: Then

you're probably still upset about Sale of the Century being cancelled!

> > >
> > > NP: Yes!
> > >
> > > PJ:

Did your wife have you trained by this man in Northampton?

> > >
> > > PM: And did you ever turn blue?
> > >
> > > NP: I don't know who has the subject but I think it's actually still

Derek Nimmo. And six seconds on my pet starting now.

> > >
> > > DN: Come here, my pet, she says to me, go out and look for the doggy!

I go to the lane and go to the whistle...

> > >
> > >

BUZZ

> > >
> > > NP: Paul Merton challenged.
> > >
> > > PM: Repetition of go.
> > >
> > > NP: Yes you were going too much Derek. So Paul got in with three

seconds to go on the subject still my pet starting now.

> > >
> > > PM: She used to be a kitten, that was of course many months

ago...

> > >
> > > WHISTLE
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > From: andrew
> > > Sent: Sunday, February 14, 2010 3:58

PM

> > > To:

href="mailto:just-a-minute%40yahoogroups.com">just-a-minute@ yahoogroups. com

> > > Subject: [just-a-minute] When was Paul Merton's first

episode?

> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Hi thanks for sharing the episodes to Just a Minute on the site. I belong

to a site that lets you download British tv and radio programmes & discovered JAM just a few months ago. It's such a funny, clever programme. The site I belong to has all the series back to the 90's but not before that.

> > >
> > > What I'm really after is the first episode

that Paul Merton does. I heard Paul's radio tribute for the death of Clement Freud, & he mentioned the first time he (Paul) was on the show & Clement tried to throw him off by whispering how badly the show was going, with the inference that Paul was causing it.

> > >
> > > From

what I can see on the episode list on this site Paul's first episode was:

> > >
> > > '4 April 1989, Nicholas Parsons with

Paul Merton, Derek Nimmo, Peter Jones and Richard Murdoch, coconut shies'

> > >
> > > But I've listened to the episode and

Nicholas says 'we welcome back Paul Merton'. Also Clement is not in it. So there must be an earlier episode. Can anyone clear this up?

> > >
> >
>