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Re: Series 62, episode 1 - Your thoughts?

Messages in this topic: 5 View All
DeanFeb 12, 2012

I’ve been meaning to write a blog post and still might do so. My thoughts were

* like KJ, i’m not sure the gimmick of using old subjects quite worked – but I suppose it did again emphasise again that one of the big differences in the show between this era and the Kenneth Williams era is that the panellists today rarely even try to say anything meaningful about the subjects they are given anyway. An exception was the subject “Derek Nimmo” where Gyles gave a pretty good sketch. I would like to hear each of the other three of that era as a subject.

* Ross Noble didn’t quite warm up... he often seems to be better in the second show. He probably needs to play more regularly to get the rhythm of it, at his best he is as good as anyone in the show’s history. He wasn’t at his best here.

* Jenny Eclair is always very funny and I thought Gyles and Paul too were in good form.

* But for whatever reason, I thought the show wasn’t in its best form and it was slightly disappointing perhaps after such a long period (five months!) off air.

This season doesn’t feature such big names as Tony Hawks, Graham Norton, Sheila Hancock, Stephen Fry... makes me wonder if we will be hanging out for the TV season to hear the show back at its best.

From: kj.naughton

Sent: Monday, February 13, 2012 9:16 AM

To: just-a-minute@...

Subject: [just-a-minute] Re: Series 62, episode 1 - Your thoughts?

Hi dagi,

Perhaps we just needed someone to set the ball rolling? ;-)

To be honest, I found the episode unremarkable in both senses of the word - hence why I haven't remarked upon it. It was a decent enough episode but, given JaM's high standards, not a stand-out. I guess as an episode which marked the 45th anniversary in some way I was even a little disappointed that it wasn't better. But perhaps that's unfair of me.

The "twist" of having retro subjects perhaps backfired a little. It's probably hard to get people to talk in an interesting way on a subject such as "When I wear a top hat" in 2012. One of the strengths of JaM, for me at least, is that it's kept up with the times whilst keeping the timeless format pretty much intact. I'm not keen on the earlier episodes so perhaps that aspect of it coming back in slightly put me off.

Whilst recognising the qualities Giles brings to JaM, I have to say that he doesn't ring my bell so perhaps that's another reason I don't rate it amongst the best episodes.

I have to say that I'm most looking forward to hearing the Indian recordings as that may be a turning point for JaM. They were due to have taken place on 1 February but I haven't heard anything about them.

Cheers

kJ

--- In mailto:just-a-minute%40..., "dagi_uk" <dgnews@...> wrote:

>
> Hi everyone,
>
> I started following this group with interest just after JAM series 61

ended last year.

>
> When JAM returned last Monday, I expected this

group to be full of comments, reviews and opinions about our favourite radio comedy.

>
> I've just read 32 posts from the last week, I was

really surprised (and a little disappointed) that nobody posted anything about the episode. The posts were fine in themselves, but why isn't anyone talking about the *actual* programme?

>
> Having just heard it, I thought

it was a good panel who performed well with lots of laughs. NP seemed on excellent form (he sounds 20 years younger than his actual age) and I liked the twist of using the original topics of the very first programme.

>
>

I think Gyles can be overly pompous and lacking in modesty on other programmes (e.g. his Desert Islands Discs appearance last year), but when he's on JAM his humour contrasts nicely with Paul and Ross.

>
> If we were using a

5 star rating system, I'd give it 4 / 5.

>
> Have you listened to

62-1, if so, did you enjoy it?

>
> dagi
>

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