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Re: What is JAM?

Messages in this topic: 16 View All
DeanOct 29, 2011

I think Matt makes an absolutely key point here. Trying to decide “is the show about the rules or about the humour” misses the point that a lot of the humour of the show is the arguments about the rules and whether they have been broken and whether decision X is consistent with decision Y.

I’ll take it further. Let’s assume that some time in the future, Just A Minute has some robot or technology that can give absolutely consistent and accurate decisions. Or even that Nicholas was some super human that could do it, or that he had a different sort of personality, perhaps more like a judge in a court room, where it was just not done to question or challenge his decisions. In short, no discussion of rules or decisions was allowed.

Wouldn’t that make Just A Minute a hell of a lot less funny?

From: mattcchinn

Sent: Saturday, October 29, 2011 3:35 AM

To: just-a-minute@...

Subject: [just-a-minute] Re: What is JAM?

Yes, we (or I do anyway) listen to it for the spontaneous comedy banter.

Nicholas has always been bendy with his interpretations of the rules to keep the comedy flowing and to encourage less-experienced players to be more involved (or less intimidated?)

However, as discussed by Nicholas and Paul Merton on the intro to one of the CD collections, it's critical to the show that the players themselves are competitive and argue about the rules. Therein lie some of their best sources of humour.

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