Just a Minute celebrates its 45th anniversary over the next few (investigative journalism, there) weeks (*) with a version for television at 6pm on BBC2, the 26th or so (investigative journalism, there) attempt to do so.
Tonight’s episode features Paul Merton, Sue Perkins, Graham Norton and Phill Jupitus. It is directed by Bother’s Bar favourite Richard van’t Riet.
(*) Two weeks.
The next 2 weeks; there are 10 shows.
Oops, posted before I’d read to the end, sorry!
Ha ha, no problem!
Well that was a whole lot better than the ham fisted version that ITV put out in daytime a few years ago. I’ve been listening to JAM longer that I can remember, but even I didn’t get to the 2nd part of that first show.
Also, one of those rare shows that is so simple (and dare I say cheap) to televise you wonder why it’s not been on the box more often than now.
Love how the studio set has been designed to look like the BBC Radio Theatre. Simple and uncluttered. You could also tell Richard directed it (didn’t know who the shot-caller-in-charge was beforehand) but his name sprang into my head whilst watching it, with the numerous close-up’s and slow camera tracking moves that he favours.
Only thing missing – lack of a subtle on-screen clock.
Seems strange marking a 45 year old format, but I’ll give it without any repetition, hesitation, deviation or repetition 8/10.
I taped the first episode and watched it back later on. I have never heard Just A Minute before, but I think I might listen to it more now after seeing it on TV. Yeah, the rules are so simple it hurts (talk about a given subject for 60 seconds without hesitating, repeating yourself or deviating from the subject), but it made for an entertaining game with the celeb players ribbing each other and being entertaining (like Phill’s face when he was given ‘The Eternal Optimist’), so the game had a QI feel to it as well. All it needed was an on-screen clock and it would have been perfect. I will definitely watch as much of this TV version as I can (bit of a packed schedule for the next 2 weeks or so, so that’s why I wasn’t on for stage 6 of MIURG) and listen out for any on the radio.
I’ve not been keen on previous TV versions of the show, but last night’s was ruddy fantastic. Like Andy said, an on-screen clock was needed, but it was a superb first show!
I actually quite like the lack of an onscreen clock, I quite like the fact that everyone’s ignorant of how far through the minute they are (allowing for the occasional moment of “talking for 55 seconds then getting buzzed” and Nicholas sometimes not stopping them when the time runs out to watch them squirm).
Challenge have confirmed that Blockbusters will return to Challenge on May 8th. Which happens to be my Dad’s birthday, so no excuses in forgetting to buy him a card.
There’s still an excuse, you can say that’s his present.
Also it’s the day all of my Uni work has to be finished and handed in. EEP.
Very good guests, good topics, lovely direction and Nicholas has a lovely big grey button, Much more to my taste than previous versions – it just feels modern and relevant, which is quite an accomplishment for a show with 45 years’ heritage. However, there were odd points where the frame rate of the show seemed to drop to such a low rate that the motion did not look continuous. What’s up with that; is our new TV terrible? Is it just the technology in use?
Nicholas Parsons is two months and two days older than even the US’s Bob Barker! Are there international contenders for the age crown?
Interesting that they seem to be having a censorship policy of “If we can do it on Radio 4, there’s no reason we can’t do it on BBC2”, it preserves that slightly out-of-control feel of the radio show and is completely to its benefit.
I could easily see a nervous editor stripping out some of the funniest mistakes and jokes because they’re deemed unfit for teatime TV; they didn’t do that, I applaud them for holding the show to the same standard as the radio version, and I do hope there’s no reactionary complaints as a result.
It’s basically the radio show with a nice set and the added visuals adding plenty of extra comedy to the game. So basically it’s the radio show but on television, which is I think exactly what everyone wants it to be anyway.
Except Mark Lawson, apparently.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2012/mar/28/just-a-minute-tv-radio
He’s completely missed the point that this was a one-off commission to celebrate an anniversary. It’s not intended to have an on-going presence on TV.
Yet.
I wouldn’t be surprised if it gets recommissioned if the figures are good.
Not taping them and knocking em out in the Eggheads/Countdown intensity, but a two week run for a couple of times a year wouldn’t mean it outstays it’s tv welcome.
Plus given how cheap it must be to make, when the DQF cuts start hurting, shows like this must be in the minds of channel controllers to help fill up the airtime.
(Bzzz – paragraph hesitation)
I do wonder which Radio 4 panel show may be next on the radar – Sorry I Haven’t A Clue just won’t work (that show is more scripted than you would think) and The News Quiz is sort of on tv already with Have I Got News For You. So that only leaves The Unbeliveable Truth, and bar having the speakers deliver their speech from a lecturn with stock photos for illustrations, I’m not sure it would work.
I wonder when Nicholas Parsons will call it a day? He seems to be coping very well considering he’s 88 years old.