Just A Minute

It's hard judging comedy from 40 years ago.  It's so heavily based on current culture, trends and attitudes.  How many people think Shakespeare's comedies are worth rolling around on the floor for?  Listen to "Much Binding in the Marsh" and ask yourself how funny it is now.  (But I must admit I quite like it even though I don't understand most of it.  Strange, that.)

We change, the recorded comedy doesn't. 

Remember when Ben Elton was the hottest thing in funny stuff?  I remember thinking Alexei Sayle was the funniest man on TV.  Today I can watch their repeats and start remembering the great days I had watching paint dry.

It's a very rare thing for a comedy to transcend decades and still generate a genuine LOL: the Goons can still make me weep; an unexpected moment in Round the Horn can make me snort milk from my nose (especially impressive because I don't drink milk. Must see the doctor about that); I can alarm passersby as I grin while walking down the street with my MP3 player producing great Humph lines from ISIHAC. 

The shelf life of comedy is not nearly as long as you might think.  If you don't believe me, try watching any Norman Wisdom movie.  (IMHO, of course).
So please be gentle judging old funnymen.  If they can even make you smile 50 years later, they must have been doing something brilliant back then.

2.2 cents worth, including tax.

Mark

-----Original Message-----
From: mat_bagnall@...
Sent: Tue, 12 Jul 2011 21:27:03 -0000
To: just-a-minute@...
Subject: [just-a-minute] Re: New poll for just-a-minute

 

Have been listening to the very early series' and their not as funny as nowadays. I'd also agree that Kenneth wasnt a team player as such. However there are many occasions when its Kenneth who would provide the laugh.

It will be good to hear the shows development through the series and the years.

--- In mailto:just-a-minute%40..., Julian Bishop <julianxbishop@...> wrote:
>
> I think KW was a team player. He was regularly asked by the producer to rescue a show when there hadn't been a laugh for a while. He was my favourite when I was a boy. I loved it when he won (a real rarity). We now know that KW was a very unhappy (who loathed himself). I think these days it would be much easier for him to come to terms with his homosexuality.
>
> IMO JAM is much funnier now (more comedians) and I agree with you entirely that it's a team game. The really good stuff comes from interplay between two or more players.
>
> Julian Bishop
> +44 7771 822106
> www.julianxbishop.wordpress.com
> @julianxbishop
> www.julianbishop.linkedin.com
>
>
> On 12 Jul 2011, at 19:29, "kj.naughton" <kj.naughton@...> wrote:
>
> > Hello Mathew,
> >
> > He's probably only viewed negatively by some. Others will love him. The same is true for modern-day players. Personally Gyles Brandreth gets right up my goat but I know that others think he's great. I quite like Liza Tarbuck in JaM; I know others don't agree with me.
> >
> > I have to say that I'm not a KW fan though. I'm not a fan of the older series either. I haven't decided whether those two are related; I suspect not because I'm not a fan of old Clues either.
> >
> > I see JaM as working best when it's full of team players. I know it's an individual game but I like everyone to be involved and given a go and I love it when players bounce off each other. Some of my favourite players do just that; Paul Merton, Tony Hawks, Ross Noble, et al.
> >
> > Kenneth seemed either to like to dominate proceedings or he retreated into a sulk, neither of which are characteristics which make for a good performance.
> >
> > All, of course, IMHO. Other opinions are available.
> >
> > Cheers
> >
> > kJ
> >
> > --- In mailto:just-a-minute%40..., "mathew" <mat_bagnall@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Being new to the site am wondering why Kenneth Williams is viewed negatively.
> > >
> >
> >
>

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