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Re: New poll for just-a-minute

Messages in this topic: 53 View All
DeanJul 22, 2011

on Kenneth, I can understand why not everyone would appreciate him. He is entirely unique. But – one of the great things about Espen’s stream is that you can listen to a Kenneth era show chosen at random and then a Paul era show also chosen at random and compare them – all the time.

I know Nicholas has said the shows are funnier these days and someone else said the same here. I think the difference is these days is that when the panellists are speaking on the subject, they always try to have frequent laugh lines. Thirty and 40 years ago, they did sometimes take the subject seriously and try to be informative. Not just Kenneth and his historical subjects but the others too. Now they never do. Last year we had John Sergeant trying to take subjects seriously and he was ridiculed by all the others. But had he appeared in say 1974, he’d probably have been applauded for managing to continue for long periods without breaking the rules.

But if I am choosing shows to listen to, I usually pick a Kenneth-era show. Because he is the one that regularly makes me laugh out loud. Because he provides the unexpected, the moments of drama. He can change so frequently. There was one show I was listening to yesterday where he was speaking and Kenneth was then challenged and there was a bit of argument about the challenge and Nicholas tried to move on by saying “oh well Kenneth you did hesitate there but we all thought you were lovely there...”and Kenneth came in with this gay voice saying “"oh I bet you say that to all the boys!” I happened to have a mouthful of orange juice at the time which ended up all over my nice new shirt. It was just perfectly timed and phrased.

No-one could admire Paul’s improvisational skills more than me. He is the King Kong of the show these days and I do think if he chucked it in, the show would die. But

Kenneth with his voices, his different styles, his knowledge – just a genius.. and i think of all he did it was Just A Minute that showed him off best...

From: Dave B

Sent: Friday, July 15, 2011 5:35 AM

To: just-a-minute@...

Subject: Re: [just-a-minute] Re: New poll for just-a-minute

Speaking of Julian, you may recall his red box incident when he was barred from UK TV for a while.

If you don't know about this and want to know more then this forum link may help

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=212813.

and Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAU7pATH5_M

On the subject of Kenneth, my dad had the radio on at tea time every evening through the 1960s and 1970s, so I guess, as a small child, I heard every JAM episode back then though all I can recall is Kenneth's voice, and maybe Sheila, and certainly Nick, until I finally caught the bug and started recording the shows when our first cassette recorder appeared in the house. Like I think Dean has written, listening to Just A Minute back then was a case constantly wanting Kenneth to win, cheering every time he went in to the lead (right), feeling saddened if he let it slip, and whooping if he actually won, usually not against the 3 other boys. It was almost like watching an England World Cup football match.....wanting it to happen but knowing it never would...but having a jolly good want. That's what it was like back then. Throughout the late 1990s up to today I listened (when work allowed) for something different, and that was a team of players having fun together and really passing the subject around, almost like that non existent England football team should have been doing with the ball.

I still have not had the courage to go back in time and listen to Kenneth and that time. Additionally the Nick-bating was cruel, whereas in the last few years every series has had a subject concerning the Chairman, because the treatment would be pure fantasy and fun, rather than cruel.

It may be interesting to do what Matthew is doing. Start at the beginning and work one's way up to 2011.

Dave

From: nylon net <nylon@...>
To: just-a-minute@...
Sent: Wednesday, 13 July 2011 3:58 AM
Subject: Re: [just-a-minute] Re: New poll for just-a-minute

I do love our Kenny, but like most rich dishes, a little of him can often go a long way ;-)

But at least he had variety in his personas. Unlike many one-dimensional "characters" in the media, he could change from fey to pompous to brutally aggressive to seductive to erudite to Cockney to Oxford and back to fey within 60 seconds.

Speaking of one-dimensional characters, I sometimes wonder why Julian Clary has stood the test of time with his single-entendre character, but I can only put it down to an indefinable bucketload of charisma and a great intelligence - and he always seems to be winking at you with a wry smile as if to say, "Yes, we both know it's silly, but just go along with it" and you do, because you're in on the joke.

Or not.

Mark

-----Original Message-----

From: espen.kromke@...
Sent: Tue, 12 Jul 2011 12:48:38 +0200
To: just-a-minute@...
Subject: Re: [just-a-minute] Re: New poll for just-a-minute

On 12. juli 2011 01:31, mathew wrote:

Kenneth Williams. Listening to him cracks me up every time. I really do like it when Kenneth goes off on one during the shows. Clement changed his style as the show went on however was very consistant throughout his tenure.

My dream 4 would feature Kenneth Williams, Paul Merton and Kenneth Williams as the first 3, not sure about the other.

Well, in the episodes where Williams is featured he already is featured twice as much as the others. :D

If Kenneth was still i JAM, I can say for certain I would not have listened to JAM today.
And if what Clement say in the jam documentary is true, JAM gained significantly more listeners after Williams died so at least I'm not the only one with that opinion - although I might be in the minority on this list. :)

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