Just a Minute

[dzug]

OK it's radio not TV but this looks the likeliest board.

DAK if the contestants are actually ad-libbing or have they had some forewarning of the topics?




dzug Sun 08/01/06 16:03

[joko]

I'm pretty sure they haven't. some get so tongue tied and have no idea what to say, and they'd all be coming out with super witty oneliners if they had - if i was them i'd spend ages coming up with a great lines.

perhaps they get a quick look 5 mins before, but i doubt they are given any decent length of time to prepare anything.

they also don't know who will get what topic as it changes all the way through

[Playbill]

I've been to recordings of "I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue" (funniest programme on radio) where the contestants also have to come up with quick, funny answers. They seem to produce these almost instantly and a few times dry up or are not so funny (and are edited out). But I still have a SLIGHT suspicion they have seen the questions previously.

[vehelpfulguy]

I remember reading a few years ago that the contestants on Just a Minute WERE shown a list of the topics before the show, but did not know in which order they would come, or who was going to get them.

[Glossopswift]

<XMP> </XMP>

I was reading about �I�m sorry I haven�t a clue� on the BBC�s website and Humphrey Lyttleton says that the panellists get a few days notice of some of the rounds. I would guess that the need to provide a funny show is high on any producer�s list of priorities and they can�t run too much of a risk of people drying up and so some sort of advance preparation is also made for JAM. Only my guess, mind, and as it always makes me laugh I hope they continue.

[joko]

it makes sense to give them a little bit of a headsup like immediately before the show starts - to give them a chance to think of things from their lives etc rather than being 'caught on the hop', but days in advance is too long and i agree on SIHAC sounding contrived sometimes, but i think JAM usually sounds unscripted.

on JAM, the rules of buzzing in could be foiled by people memorizing 'mini scripts' on the subjects, so as not to repeat or deviate - which they do a lot, so i think it can't be much time in advance.