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Re: My observations thus far...

Messages in this topic: 14 View All
Espen KrømkeAug 25, 2014
 

 
Welcome to the group Jerry, and thanks for a great read!
Like Mark said, it's always fun to read observations and thoughts from
new fans.



Den 21. aug. 2014 21:17, skrev jerryvonkramer@... [just-a-minute]:

>
> Hello all,I am 31, soon to be 32. Up until about a week ago, I was a
> total JAM virgin. I had never listened to a single episode. Frank
> Skinner mentioned on his radio show that he had just been on JAM which
> was "something to tick off his bucket list". This led me, for whatever
> reason, just to look up the show. I was aware of it, but something
> piqued my curiosity. Then, I saw that Nicholas Parsons is 90(!) and
> has not missed a show since 1967. I did a few searches to see if I
> could find more info and to find some old episodes. And sure enough, I
> found Dean's wonderful site (surely everyone's first stop for JAM
> online) as well as a pile of old episodes on a download (I've already
> forgotten the source!).
>
> I am not one to do things by halves. I didn't just want to listen to
> the latest episode or dive in with the Merton era, I had to start at
> the beginning in 1967. Indeed, I have been listening to all the
> episodes from this download from th! e first one. I'm now just at the
> start of 1973. I thought I'd use this thread to track some
> observations as I continue this journey.
>
> - While Clement Freud seems to be the one who uses "every trick in the
> book", it's actually Derek Nimmo who is the more aggressive and
> sharper challenger. On the 60s shows, he seems like the most fierce
> competitor -- at times it is almost as if he is bullying the female
> guests with his near-constant haranguing.
>
> - The times when Nicholas is on the panel, I'm afraid, really
> highlights his limitations as a performer. At the same time though, it
> also shows how tough his job is: Clement is too strict as chairman,
> Kenneth is too lenient accepting every challenge.
>
> - Of the female participants thus far, Geraldine Jones has been far
> and away my favourite and perhaps also the best at the game.
> Wonderfully articulate woman who has a wit that goes under the radar.
> On the other hand, Nicholas's sucking up! to Aimi MacDonald is both
> cloying and cringe-worthy. Sheila Hancock is fiesty and gives Kenneth,
> especially, a run for his money, but I don't think she's as good at
> the game as Geraldine. Andree Melley has been too nondescript to make
> a real impression.
>
> - Kenneth Williams is not the same on the 1960s shows as he would be
> in the early 70s shows. It seems like it takes him some time to grow
> in confidence on the show, by 69 it's obvious that he's a fixture, but
> he's still quite reserved by his standards on those shows. There
> turning point, I would say, is Peter Jones's arrival. Listening to the
> shows in sequence, it is almost as if Jones being there flicks a
> switch in Kenneth. He becomes much much more adversarial, territorial
> almost. I do not know what it is about Jones that brought this out in
> him, but his performances in 1972-3 are borderline psychotic at times
> with his rants at Jones and at Nicholas. It's all in good humour, of
> course, and frequently very funny -- indeed, these shows are much
> funnier ! than the earlier shows -- but one gets the impression that
> Williams was also letting Jones know who was boss. I find this turn in
> Kenneth a bit puzzling because Peter seems like such a mild and good
> natured chap, but the difference in him after Jones's introduction is
> marked. It is unmistakable, I would say.
>
> - Speaking of Peter Jones, he is not at bad at the game as the various
> descriptions I've read make out. Does he get worse? While he's not
> been spectacular in terms of scoring points thus far, he's more than
> held his own. His put downs of Kenneth during their verbal sparring
> has been glorious. On one I was just listening to (Episode from
> 30/1/73), he brought the house down by saying he couldn't possibly
> know what the topic was from listening to Kenneth rabbiting on. Very
> funny.
>
> - Clement Freud seems to win every single game. His only real
> competition seemingly is Derek Nimmo. It seems to me that they mostly
> pair off Clement vs. Derek, Ke! nneth vs. Peter. Clement and Kenneth
> seem to have a tacit alliance. But all are united in their contempt
> for Nicholas.
>
> It's been interesting to see how the show has developed and changed in
> its first 5 years. I'm looking forward to getting to 2014 eventually.
> And I'll track my observations here as a I do.
>
>

 
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