Just A Minute

the longer I listen to JAM, the more I think to try and chart points where rules changed is a pointless (intentional pun) exercise. Nicholas is inconsistent. Always has been, always will be, bless him. But there is usually an element of rough justice to his decisions...

I agree! I nearly always understand *why* he ruled as he did, it just sounds inconsistent there and then. But usually there is indeed a rough justice to what he decides. Either in relation to earlier this show, how many minutes a given panellist has been given so far, how good he/she has been so far etc. Nicolas really is the circus ringmaster.

With one decade as exception: The 90s. I really think he was bad in many shows during that decade. Some totally meaningless rulings, not to mention his favorism of Merton, who received a bonus point what seemed to be every single time he opened his mouth. Regardless of how good he was (and Merton is VERY good in those years) it just wasn't right at all.

At the same time I think the 90s has some of the absolute highlights of JAM. To me it is the decade of highs and lows.