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Topic: JAM - Current "First Banana" Players?

Message 1 / 5
TroubleshooterJun 7, 2013

Hi all - I recently read Dean's blog and his great take on the most recent JAM recordings. He made mention of the fact that Gyles is a great player and a splendid second banana, which I certainly agree with. It did get me wondering; currently playing the game, who other than Paul would the group consider to be capable of carrying the show on their own?

Louis

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Topic: Re: JAM - Current "First Banana" Players?

Message 2 / 5
MarkJun 7, 2013

Stephen Fry and Sue Perkins, together, would probably fill half an uninterrupted half-hour between them.

Both are freakishly fluent - and both make astute remarks as they go.

Suspend your disbelief for a minute and just wonder at what marvelous offspring they could produce if they bred together!

On 8 June 2013 15:12, Troubleshooter <troubleshooter47421@...> wrote:

Hi all - I recently read Dean's blog and his great take on the most recent JAM recordings. He made mention of the fact that Gyles is a great player and a splendid second banana, which I certainly agree with. It did get me wondering; currently playing the game, who other than Paul would the group consider to be capable of carrying the show on their own?

Louis

_

--
Mark
JAM Jar - http://jamjar.nylon.net - see the JAM forum for login credentials
JAM forum - http://b9fx.com

<<<< 9055 >>>>

Topic: Re: JAM - Current "First Banana" Players?

Message 3 / 5
Espen KrømkeJun 12, 2013

I'm sure Graham Norton on a good day could carry the show with ease - however not as regularly as Paul.

There are no true replacements for Paul yet as far as I can see. So luckily he's not that old yet. JAM *needs* Paul - maybe even more than it needs Nick.

Den 08. juni 2013 07:12, skrev Troubleshooter:

Hi all - I recently read Dean's blog and his great take on the most recent JAM recordings. He made mention of the fact that Gyles is a great player and a splendid second banana, which I certainly agree with. It did get me wondering; currently playing the game, who other than Paul would the group consider to be capable of carrying the show on their own?

Louis

<<<< 9081 >>>>

Topic: Re: JAM - Current "First Banana" Players?

Message 4 / 5
DeanJun 14, 2013

just having my two cents on this. I think what we are looking for is someone who is good enough, quick enough, brave enough and perceptive enough to jump in if energy levels are low and grab the subject or make a really funny challenge and just generally lift things up and energise proceedings again. I think the only other one who would definitely be able to do this - apart from Paul – at the moment is Graham Norton. There are others with potential – Marcus Brisgtocke, Ross Noble, Josie Lawrence – but I feel as if they don’t play often enough to be really really really good at the show.

Someone mentioned Stephen Fry – who obviously at his best is brilliant at the show. But two thoughts on him. I think his last few shows – the two TV editions last year and two radio editions in 2011 – have been by his high standards a little disappointing. And – is it possible he is at his best playing off one of the older players – Clement or Peter – and he’s not so good without someone like that to spark off? Perhaps he would be interesting on a panel with Gyles or Sheila?

Sue Perkins – I remember once before we debated her and not everyone was a fan. I think she is witty and clever and very competitive. But does she have the ability to really make you laugh hard with a bit of spontaneous brilliance in the way Paul and Kenneth could. Don’t get me wrong, I am a big fan of her and think she may well be the best woman in the show’s history. But I think shé’s sort of strong second banana material too, like Gyles.

I agree by the way with the person who said that at the moment Paul may be more valuable to the show, even than Nicholas. Paul would be really hard to replace. As happened when Kenneth died, I think the BBC could well be tempted to drop JAM if Paul was no longer available.

<<<< 9082 >>>>

Topic: Re: JAM - Current "First Banana" Players?

Message 5 / 5
DavidJun 15, 2013

Dean, here is a (somewhat) interesting thing that happened to me. I have liked Sue Perkins on the show. My small complaint has been that she sometimes has been a very good player rather than very funny. Of course this all depends on why you listen to the show - for the competition or the laughs.

However, my wife and I recently saw her on a couple of episodes of the BBC's Worlds Most Dangerous Roads. The shows were really good and I thought Sue was excellent. I have to say that this has made me more open to her as a player as I feel a little more understanding of her outside of Just a Minute.

I once saw Stephen Fry say that he wishes he could have a "smug" removal - I cannot remember exactly how he phrased it but it was to the effect that he wished his apparent smuggness could be surgically removed. For me, while he can be very funny it is that apparent smuggness that really puts me off. Strangely his recent talk of his "troubles" has made me much more sympathetic. The documentary he made about depression was amazingly good. Maybe this will effect my feelings about him on the show.

I thought I would just mention how a broader glimpse into a public person may effect our view of performances and characters on the show.

Love, David

--- In just-a-minute@..., "Dean" <dbedford@...> wrote:
>
> just having my two cents on this. I think what we are looking for is someone who is good enough, quick enough, brave enough and perceptive enough to jump in if energy levels are low and grab the subject or make a really funny challenge and just generally lift things up and energise proceedings again. I think the only other one who would definitely be able to do this - apart from Paul â" at the moment is Graham Norton. There are others with potential â" Marcus Brisgtocke, Ross Noble, Josie Lawrence â" but I feel as if they don't play often enough to be really really really good at the show.
>
> Someone mentioned Stephen Fry â" who obviously at his best is brilliant at the show. But two thoughts on him. I think his last few shows â" the two TV editions last year and two radio editions in 2011 â" have been by his high standards a little disappointing. And â" is it possible he is at his best playing off one of the older players â" Clement or Peter â" and he's not so good without someone like that to spark off? Perhaps he would be interesting on a panel with Gyles or Sheila?
>
> Sue Perkins â" I remember once before we debated her and not everyone was a fan. I think she is witty and clever and very competitive. But does she have the ability to really make you laugh hard with a bit of spontaneous brilliance in the way Paul and Kenneth could. Don't get me wrong, I am a big fan of her and think she may well be the best woman in the show's history. But I think shÃ©'s sort of strong second banana material too, like Gyles.
>
> I agree by the way with the person who said that at the moment Paul may be more valuable to the show, even than Nicholas. Paul would be really hard to replace. As happened when Kenneth died, I think the BBC could well be tempted to drop JAM if Paul was no longer available.
>

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