Just A Minute

Well I must admit I've had my problems with Sue Perkins in one respect, namely her very basic lack of general knowledge on a couple of cringe-inducing occasions. I can't say I hold anything against L.T. at all. Simply that when talking on a subject she is neither particularly interesting or funny. No more so than a likeable member of the public might be, in fact. Come to think of it, other than having a very famous father, what is her claim to celebrity other than being just another C list panellist on various game-shows?

--- In just-a-minute@..., "Steve Kenrick" <steve.kenrick@...> wrote:

>
> I'll leap to the defence of Lisa Tarbuck. True, she's not in the Premier
> League of JAM players, but she does have an air of honesty and normality,
> that some of the more extrovert, surreal players choose not to exhibit.

For

> me, that produces a programme that is well balanced.
>
>
>
> I would choose Lisa over Sue Perkins every day of the week, in fact I'd
> choose anyone over..
>
>
>
>
>
> From: just-a-minute@...

[mailto:just-a-minute@...]

> On Behalf Of Oz
> Sent: 21 August 2010 08:54
> To: just-a-minute@...
> Subject: [just-a-minute] Re: Recent Shows/Classic Shows
>
>
>
>
>
> Hi Dean,
>
> I do agree that that formula is best, averaging 3 regulars drawn from a

pool

> of those I named in my 'top group'. However, I suspect that it just isn't
> possible due to the schedules of those people. Paul Merton would probably
> make time and Tony Hawks and Kit Hesketh-Harvey probably have time, but
> those such as Fry and Perkins seem to have an unbelievable amount of other
> work, Ross Noble has moved abroad, Clary and Norton probably have more

work

> than they can handle also. Even Jenny Eclair's mainstream career has taken
> off in a big way in recent years (I say 'even' because her stand-up is
> pretty crude stuff and nowhere near the mainstream).
>
> It really can only happen if such stars as these are prepared to put aside
> some of their other (most likely better paying work) simply for love of

the

> tradition of the game.
>
> I'm surprised no one has leapt to the defence of Lisa Tarbuck. Does this
> mean everyone agrees with me that her run has been over-long? Or is it

just

> that people couldn't be bothered to read such a long post?
>
> Keep safe on your travels, Dean
>
> Oz
>
> --- In just-a-minute@...
> <mailto:just-a-minute%40yahoogroups.com> , "Dean"

<dbedford@> wrote:

> >
> > Hi Oz
> >
> > thanks for such an interesting post. I agree with a lot of what you

say.

> >
> > Do you agree with me that they may be better to go back to the

formula for

> the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s and have say four or five regulars, three of

whom

> are in each show (sometimes two, sometimes four but three on average)?
> >
> > I think that would help with the repartee and getting people to play

off

> each other more...
> >
> > Haven't heard this week's show yet (I've been travelling) so I've

that to

> look forward to!
> >
> > And yes thanks indeed to the kind people who share their files...

lots of

> love from me!
> >
> > thanks again Oz...
> >
> > Dean
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > From: Oz
> > Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 7:58 AM
> > To: just-a-minute@...

<mailto:just-a-minute%40yahoogroups.com>

>
> > Subject: [just-a-minute] Recent Shows/Classic Shows
> >
> >
> >
> > For some time now I have been toying with the idea of posting about

the

> make-up of potentially classic shows. I'm sure many will disagree with my
> views and i'd be pleased to hear what you have to say. So here is my

theory:

> >
> > There are only a few people who have the skills and/or personality to
> speak on the given subject AND manage to be funny while avoiding the

J.A.M.

> rule pitfalls. (Eg. P Merton, S Perkins, J Eclair, S Fry, K

Hesketh-Harvey,

> G Norton, R Noble and to a lesser extent J Clary, T Hawks).
> >
> > In between talking on the subject there are many players who can make
> funny challenges or come out with one-liners or over-the-top reactions to
> what has been said and thus contribute and add to the fun eg. S Hancock, M
> Brigstoke, P Ayres, C Collingwood, G Brandreth, S Frost, M McErlane, P
> McLynn, D O'Brien, C Neill, F MacAuley, J Lawrence, T Rice and arguably

some

> others.
> >
> > Another group are those with potential who have perhaps yet to prove
> themselves fully but have already had good moments such as D Mitchell, D
> Gorman, A Cochrane, J Dee, P Jupitus, R Brydon.
> >
> > Then there are those who have little or no business on a J.A.M. panel

eg.

> Lisa Tarbuck (fantastic personality but does little more than contribute

an

> infectious giggle and is mostly incapable of discoursing on a subject AND
> being funny at the same time) John Seargent (It was all too apparent in

the

> recent show that the days of this kind of contributor are over) Bill

Bailey

> (surprisingly inept at allowing the show to flow, perhaps wanting to be

too

> big a part of it). Greg Proops (plenty of chances but just can't get going
> when he has the subject). Victor Spinetti is another disaster that springs
> to mind. Included, it would appear, for geographic reasons, at least the
> mistake was not long and drawn out like poor Lisa has been.
> >
> > For a potentially classic show I contend that you need at least two

from

> the first group named above (which you will note is really quite small - I
> include only those who are still available) and one or two from the

second.

> There is no guarantee of a classic show, of course, the mix has to be

right

> as well as the players being on their 'game' on the day.
> >
> > Fringe shows used to almost always be classics, with Paul Merton

clearly

> very much at home and excited audiences spurring on Freud, Jones and Nimmo

-

> but too many Fringe shows of late have been disappointing. In recent years
> the producers have gone out of their way to show-case new talent perhaps
> taking advantage of the Fringe format allowing bookings for just a single
> show. But the fresh faces have often either been no good or just too
> inexperienced at radio/J.A.M. The producer should never have more than one
> beginner on at any given time and there should always be at least two

names

> from the top group involved. Of course it is essential to try new people
> from time to time but don't try two new players on the same show! It isn't
> Opportunity Knocks.
> >
> > So, having said all that, I'm a little surprised at the negative

feeling

> towards the 3 shows of the new season so far. Yes, the John Seargent and
> Lisa Tarbuck on the same show was a casting disaster (and I assume there

is

> another show with this pair to come - how John Seargent comes back from

that

> I do not know - for his sake I hope it was the second recording of the
> pair), but the other two shows have been RICH with talent and a fantastic
> mix of the top two groups of players with the ever-dependable Paul Merton
> (along with Nicholas, of course) giving the show the anchor it needs.
> >
> > If the Fringe shows end up with the right mix of experience and the

odd

> new(ish) face I think this could end up being a classic season as I

already

> rate episodes 1 and 3 as potential classics (only time will tell if they
> deserve this appellation, of course).
> >
> > Lastly, Thanks to Paul Hurwood and all those of you who record the

shows

> and make them available to us who don't have the ability/tools to do it
> ourselves. The service you provide is absolutely invaluable to what I
> suspect is a very large, mostly silent majority. Thanks again.
> >
>