Just A Minute

> anyway, I used to listen to a lot of ISIHAC recordings and have
> noticed that some people who appeared on JAM as guests appeared on
> ISIHAC and seemed to be better suited to the latter rather than the
> former. Amongst those individuals that come to mind are John Junkin,
> Denise Coffey, Kenny Everett, Sandi Toksvig and Jeremy Hardy. I
> think this is because the format of ISIHAC is much more loose and
> unstructured as opposed to something like Just a Minute, where
> sometimes those who appear on the show feel intimidated or find the
> rules a bit too restrictive to their style of humor.

I sort of know what you mean about ISIHAC being more "loose and
unstructured". But it's not quite right. Clue is mostly pre-written. JAM
isn't. It's a show where you improvise. You can't get less "loose and
unstructured" than something where the jokes are all done before you
start.

 

That's true.  I guess the fact that many of them have a chance to prepare their stuff beforehand helps as opposed to the extemporizing that's done on JAM. 

> but the one thing that always struck me was that although the
> original members of ISIHAC would cross over to JAM, the original
> Foursome of JAM never felt inclined to guest appear on ISIHAC, I
> wonder why?

* Until Willy Rushton's death, the same four did about 95 percent of the
shows and they rarely used guests. JAM had the percentages round the
other way.

* The original concept of Clue (still used in their opening theme) is
that it's a takeoff of panel games like JAM, or "the antidote" as it
calls it, and concepts like the female scorer and the points are clearly
meant to poke fun at JAM. Does it work if you have the JAM people there?

 

I guess not. 

* The shows are actually quite different. Clue suits people who are good
at puns and the like. JAM is about being witty while thinking on your
feet really, and how you interact with the others. Apart from in
particular games like Charades, interaction isn't all that important on
Clue.

 

good point, that never really dawned on me until you pointed that out.  but I think also that the interaction comes from the two teams on opposing sides working together, as opposed to the 'every man for himself' attitude presented on JAM. 

* None of the JAM people seem to me to be especially suited to it. I
can't imagine any of them enjoying games based on making puns and the
like, and none of them ever had it as part of their comedy. I mean -
Kenneth trying to think of film titles based around gardening? Clement
singing while the music stops? I just can't imagine it.

another excellent point, and you're right.  now that i think about, I can't really imagine any of that stuff happening as it pertains to the original JAMsters.