Alan Davies
Desiree Burch
Guz Khan
Morgana Robinson
Victoria Coren Mitchell
https://www.nme.com/news/tv/taskmaster-announces-contestants-for-series-12-line-up-2944819
Oh my God. VCM!!
Guz Khan and Morgana should be good. I don't really know Desiree Burch.
Not particularly keen on the other two, but they could be good on this I suppose.
I know two of them, dont know two of them, and dislike one of them. Pretty happy with that, to be honest.
I see the NME have taken it down now, but if true my thoughts are:
Alan Davies - Ugh, can't stand him, my only hope is that he'll be so shit that everyone will mock him ala Baddiel.
Desiree Burch - First saw her when she was part of the theatrical group "The Dirty Thirty" who put on short monologues in sixty minutes, and she was really great. The half hour stand up show that she did for the BBC was weak though, so while not unhappy about her inclusion I'm not excited.
Guz Khan - I'm seemingly a massive racist as I've never seen any of his work unfortunately.
Morgana Robinson - I kind of like her, and did see her do her Natalie Cassidy impersonation live while hosting a mixed bill back in 2019, which was reasonably amusing, so hopefully she'll be fun.
Victoria Coren Mitchell - I only know her due to her book with Charlie Shelton, Once More With Feeling, and a couple of panel show appearances but again I'm cautiously optimistic she'll be fun.
This is the first time women have outnumbered men isn't it?
This could be the series with the most kick-back against Greg in the studio.
Quote from: beanheadmcginty on May 20, 2021, 02:17:52 PM
This is the first time women have outnumbered men isn't it?
No - Jo, Rose & Katy in nine.
This is fine, I think we could do with a fallow year
I dunno the overlap of task filmings / studio recordings when it comes to making series back-to-back. But, when the series 11 contestants were being guessed I was convinced Guz Khan was one of them (due to some Taskmaster-adjacent shenanigans), obviously I was a little premature but some similar shenanigans recently would make me guess Kemah Bob will be part of the next bunch.
Looks like the NME broke an embargo.
It doesn't strike me as a classic lineup, but Morgana's got funny bones and Victoria Coren Mitchell seems very different to everyone they've had on before (is she the first person they've had on who's never done any comedy performing or writing? Panel shows don't count) which I think is a positive.
The other three leave me cold, though at least Desiree and Guz have a bit of energy. Alan Davies would've been near the bottom of my list but thank god he's not Russell Kane, who had been rumoured.
Quote from: Wayman C. McCreery on May 20, 2021, 03:04:10 PM
(is she the first person they've had on who's never done any comedy performing or writing? Panel shows don't count)
Richard Osman?
Quote from: selectivememory on May 20, 2021, 03:10:46 PM
Richard Osman?
He created Boyz Unlimited with Matt Lucas and David Walliams. I suppose Alice Levine is the most non-comedy person they've had on before, especially if you treat My Dad Wrote a Porno with the same contempt that I do.
Quote from: Wayman C. McCreery on May 20, 2021, 03:04:10 PMVictoria Coren Mitchell seems very different to everyone they've had on before (is she the first person they've had on who's never done any comedy performing or writing? Panel shows don't count)
She used to do stand-up, albeit a very long time ago. A couple of months ago I saw a YouTube clip of her doing so in her late-teens/early-20s. (EDIT: Which I can't find now, before anybody asks.)
She also co-writes the (sometimes allegedly) funny intros & outros on Only Connect.
Yeah I wouldn't really consider VCM to be specifically *not* in comedy, even if she is only tangentially. Heresy was somewhere between comedy and discussion anyway, and she was great on that.
Her and Guz Khan should be good fun. I find Alan Davies a bit annoying (and, perhaps unfairly, find it difficult to view him as the harmless dope from QI because of some story I vaguely remember of him biting a tramp years ago). Don't know much about Morgana beyond her impressions, and Desiree Burch is ok. One of those series that will live or die on the chemistry I guess - it's not a line-up that excites me, but there's no one on it that I really dislike either.
I actually think the whole lineup is pretty good, but then I don't share the hatred of Alan Davies that so many round here seem to have.
I only know Desiree Burch from her appearances on The Mash Report, but she was pretty amusing then, e.g. here (https://youtube.com/watch?v=agha6v2kjhM).
Can't stand Morgana Robinson's Natalie Cassidy impression, I think it's pointlessly cruel, but I once saw her do stuff out of that character and it seemed quite good.
Guz Khan is the one I know least about, but have a vaguely good impression of him. Apparently he did a Live at the Apollo once, maybe that's where I have that from.
VCM is god. She'll be brilliant on anything that requires intellect; will be interesting to see how she does on the more physical tasks.
Quote from: Ambient Sheep on May 20, 2021, 03:20:01 PM
She used to do stand-up, albeit a very long time ago. A couple of months ago I saw a YouTube clip of her doing so in her late-teens/early-20s.
Curiosity got the better of me: https://youtu.be/vZs34oowi2A?t=1428
I know there were some strange youth-oriented shows in the early 90's, but that's certainly an oddity.
I think her and Natalie Cassidy are friends? Might be misremembering, I know she is friends with one of the people she impersonates but it might be Fearne Cotton (who she also impersonates brilliantly).
Quote from: Pseudopath on May 20, 2021, 03:31:38 PM
Curiosity got the better of me: https://youtu.be/vZs34oowi2A?t=1428
I know there were some strange youth-oriented shows in the early 90's, but that's certainly an oddity.
Isn't it weird how her persona there is more or less the same as it is now, and yet it comes across so cringy because of her youth. I couldn't cope with more than 30 seconds or so, and I think VCM is great.
Quote from: Pseudopath on May 20, 2021, 03:31:38 PM
Curiosity got the better of me: https://youtu.be/vZs34oowi2A?t=1428
Ooooh, thanks for that! That's not the clip I saw... however same outfit and same stage, so clearly a different snippet of the same gig. This bit was funnier, it has to be said.
She would have been 19 or 20 at that time.
Quote from: Pseudopath on May 20, 2021, 03:31:38 PM
Curiosity got the better of me: https://youtu.be/vZs34oowi2A?t=1428
I know there were some strange youth-oriented shows in the early 90's, but that's certainly an oddity.
Oh that's a great find. And thanks
Ambient Sheep - I stand corrected.
Quote from: Wayman C. McCreery on May 20, 2021, 03:04:10 PM
is she the first person they've had on who's never done any comedy performing or writing
Baddiel?
Isn't Robinson married to Baddiel?
Can't stand AD. Can't stand VCM. At least there are no Russells.
Quote from: Wayman C. McCreery on May 20, 2021, 03:04:10 PM
is she the first person they've had on who's never done any comedy performing or writing?
Alice Levine and Liza Tarbuck?
Quote from: DrGreggles on May 20, 2021, 03:42:28 PM
Nope
Just realised I've had Morganna and Morwenna confused for
several years several years.
Quote from: holyzombiejesus on May 20, 2021, 03:44:20 PM
Alice Levine and Liza Tarbuck?
Tarbuck performs - she was in that sitcom within Extras.
Never seen his sitcom, but based on Guz Kahn's chat on Buxton's podcast he should be good fun.
Quote from: holyzombiejesus on May 20, 2021, 03:44:20 PM
Alice Levine and Liza Tarbuck?
Yeah, I was classing My Dad Wrote a Porno as comedy but I suppose it's no different to me initially ruling out VCM because I (incorrectly) thought her only comedy was experience was on panel shows.
Liza Tarbuck's been in
loads of sitcoms though: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0850337/
Liza Tarbuck wrote a book recently which looks low-effort but is supposed to be amusing, as well as vast amounts of comic acting.
VCM is going to be really annoying and argumentative, which might be amusing, but also I imagine won't be very good at the challenges, mainly because she doesn't really exist on the same planet as most of the human race.
I quite like Alan Davies, and also imagine him being very bad at it but making a lot of apologetic faces. Just as long as he doesn't kill any puppies.
I'd put my money on Tarbuck to win.
it looks like a good lineup!
Quote from: dissolute ocelot on May 20, 2021, 03:58:07 PMI'd put my money on Tarbuck to win.
I'll bet you £50,000 she won't.
Interesting cast. Victoria Coren-Mitchell is dream Taskmaster contestant for me, I think she's brilliant. Always love on Only Connect how committed she is to whatever bit she's doing. I think she'll have a brilliant, unexpected approach to a lot of the tasks.
Alan Davies I've always found fairly affable on QI, be intrigued to see what he's like in the tasks. It is the great leveller this show isn't it, because you can't have a persona, even if you try - inevitably you can only be yourself.
I always remember being really irritated by Morgana Robinson's bits on Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe, mainly because I was very defensive of Russell Brand at that time, and took an immediate dislike to anyone making the obvious swipes at him. But I loved her in House of Fools. And I always have it with Taskmaster that I refuse to go in disliking anyone, for their comedy or anyone else.
Don't know Burch or Kahn, but again, this is why I love Taskmaster, because it's a good opportunity to get familiar with people you don't really know. And I've never disliked anyone because everyone ends up being completely self-aware, even if they start out cocky and arrogant. It's a great show for getting to see the joy of people's personalities.
I'M IN.
Quote from: BritishHobo on May 20, 2021, 06:14:54 PM
Alan Davies I've always found fairly affable on QI, be intrigued to see what he's like in the tasks. It is the great leveller this show isn't it, because you can't have a persona, even if you try - inevitably you can only be yourself.
I see a lot of people in this thread who are fairly unoptimisitc about Davies, and I can understand why (cushy job on QI, didn't do stand-up for years and years, never did anything interesting or funny or new etc...)
But interestingly (maybe), I have grown to be a big fan of his as a result of listening to his Tuesday Club podcast about Arsenal.
He's funny, at times, but much more importantly than that, you actually get a sense of the man behind the persona.
He is so passionately devoted to his football club that he appears as himself first and foremost, and as comedy persona second.
As a result, he is much more likeable and much funnier.
Hopefully, we see that side to him on TM as you suggest. Although I doubt that many of the tasks will be about Arsenal so he might just revert to QI's TV funnyman Alan Davies...
I want him to approach all the tasks in the persona of Jonathan Creek.
Hang about, wouldn't Caroline Quentin be a great contestant?
I don't like the way Davies says "chocolate" as "choc-lit". Other than that, I have no particular opinion of him.
Greg better be nice to Alan Davies or he might get his ear bitten.
Quote from: Claude the Racecar Driving Rockstar Super Sleuth on May 20, 2021, 11:19:05 PMI don't like the way Davies says "chocolate" as "choc-lit". Other than that, I have no particular opinion of him.
Cho-clit
Quote from: Mr Trumpet on May 20, 2021, 11:06:26 PM
I want him to approach all the tasks in the persona of Jonathan Creek.
Hang about, wouldn't Caroline Quentin be a great contestant?
Fucking yes that's a class shout. To both points.
Though actually would quite like them to both be in persona.
Maddie Magellan and JC as a team on tasks would be carnage
Guz Khan is on tonight's repeat of WILTY S13E04 on BBC1 at 20:05, if anybody wants to check him out. That's probably where I've seen him before, come to think of it.
Quote from: cacciaguida on May 21, 2021, 01:58:44 AMMaddie Magellan and JC as a team on tasks would be carnage
Totally.
Quote from: Ambient Sheep on May 21, 2021, 04:00:05 AM
Guz Khan is on tonight's repeat of WILTY S13E04 on BBC1 at 20:05, if anybody wants to check him out. That's probably where I've seen him before, come to think of it.
Man Like Mobeen is the obvious starting point for Guz Khan. It's an alright sitcom.
Davies isn't that bad if you ignore QI is he? It's just that that's all he's done for about 15 years.
Quote from: The Roofdog on May 21, 2021, 06:56:05 AM
Davies isn't that bad if you ignore QI is he? It's just that that's all he's done for about 15 years.
Nah, he's a terrible stand up. Only became popular through Jonathan Creek and only got the QI gig because he did some adverts with John Lloyd.
According to Alex on the latest Taskmaster podcast:
Victoria Coren Mitchell: "Different to anyone we've ever had before. Really approaches things with a logic that Greg can't cope with."
Alan Davies: "On the first day he was in the caravan doing something and remembers thinking 'maybe this isn't for me'."
Guz Khan: "Someone we've caught at exactly the right time."
Desiree Birch: "A real star of the series."
Morgana Robinson: "A force of nature."
Out in September.
Quote from: confettiinmyhair on May 21, 2021, 06:33:55 AM
Man Like Mobeen is the obvious starting point for Guz Khan. It's an alright sitcom.
Quote there for the DVD.
I've never seen Victoria Coren Mitchell move (sat and standing on Only Connect), so excited for that.
Was guessing possible contestants for this throughout yesterday's episode. Came up with about twenty.
I didn't get one!
A good lineup though and know them all for once.
Early prediction: Desiree Burch will win.
Now VCM is appearing it makes it even more strange that David Mitchell has never been on, what with his general ubiquitousness on panel shows, thought he would have been a shoe-in to appear. Mind you, it's taken until now to get Mike Wozniak on and he was the winner of the original Edinburgh TM shows, so who knows.
Quote from: BeardFaceMan on May 21, 2021, 10:23:00 AM
Now VCM is appearing it makes it even more strange that David Mitchell has never been on, what with his general ubiquitousness on panel shows, thought he would have been a shoe-in to appear. Mind you, it's taken until now to get Mike Wozniak on and he was the winner of the original Edinburgh TM shows, so who knows.
Robert Webb for series 13?
David Mitchell was one of my guesses.
Along with Maisie Adams, Jayde Adams, Sue Perkins. Kevin Eldon, Richard Ayoade, Dara, Tom Allen. And some others.
I only have previous with Davies and Coren-Mitchell. Alex's comment about the latter is encouraging, the former worrying. We've been blasting our way through Jonathan Creek while the whole lot's on iPlayer and I like him in that. There were many more things that annoyed me about QI than Davies' contributions (the theme tune, mostly) so we'll see...
Unfortunately due to Fringe shows being a rare luxury since the onset of child I am not up-to-date with current circuit comedians, so it's often TM that's breaking them to me.
In the history of TM there's only been 1.5 contestants I've actively disliked, which is a pretty high strike rate (97% if you're wondering). I've more often been disappointed by someone who I thought would fit the format well (Tim Vine and Dave Gorman spring to mind) who put in so-so performances.
We've just got the finale of S10 to go to catch up with the main series. I might do a write-up of this binge watch (somewhat extended, started just before Christmas) if I can be arsed and can come up with anything more intelligent to say than "I laughed". However it's impressive that, bar a couple of duff runs and the odd rubbish task, the quality has kept up over 400+ tasks.
Updated overall list of average points per episode:
Roisin Conaty 11.3
Katherine Parkinson 11.8
Charlotte Ritchie 12.5
David Baddiel 12.8
Paul Chowdhry 13.2
Phil Wang 13.3
Nish Kumar 13.4
Paul Sinha 13.6
Jamali Maddix 13.7
Joe Wilkinson 13.8
Johnny Vegas 13.9
Sian Gibson 14.3
Sarah Pascoe 14.4
Tim Key 14.7
Joe Thomas 15
Lee Mack 15.1
Mawaan Rizwan 15.1
Alice Levine 15.2
Mike Wozniak 15.4
Jo Brand 15.4
Frank Skinner 15.5
Romesh Ranganathan 15.5
Doc Brown 15.6
Iain Sterling 15.6
Lolly Adefope 15.63
Aisling Bea 15.75
Katy Wix 15.8
Daisy May Cooper 15.8
Sarah Kendall 15.8
Asim Chaudhry 15.9
Rose Matafeo 15.9
Al Murray 16
Bob Mortimer 16
Hugh Dennis 16.1
Dave Gorman 16.2
Richard Herring 16.2
Mark Watson 16.3
Sally Phillips 16.3
Josh Widdecombe 16.38
Lou Sanders 16.4
James Acaster 16.5
Rhod Gilbert 16.7
Ed Gamble 16.7
Mel Giedroyc 16.8
Joe Lycett 16.9
Russell Howard 17
Richard Osman 17.2
Tim Vine 17.5
Jessica Knappett 17.5
Rob Beckett 17.57
Noel Fielding 17.6
Kerry Godliman 17.6
Jon Richardson 18
Liza Tarbuck 18.1
Katherine Ryan 18.4
I know we have the wishlists before every series reveal but I can't think of many things in the world that would make me happier than Daniel Kitson on Taskmaster. Also surprised no Adam Buxton yet.
Each series tends to have two big hitters at least. You need to spread them out.
A Big Hitters Series
Jack Dee
Richard Ayoade
David Mitchell
Dara O'Briain
Paul Merton
Frankie Boyle was asked, wasn't he? Shame he turned it down as I think he'd have been really good.
I don't usually listen to the podcast because it's really boring, but gave the latest one a go seeing as Alex was the guest. He was talking the series 12 lineup up a lot and pretty much said that the chemistry between them was like no other series, partly due to it being the only one completely filmed during lockdown.
Quote from: holyzombiejesus on May 21, 2021, 01:43:04 PM
Frankie Boyle was asked, wasn't he? Shame he turned it down as I think he'd have been really good.
Yeah, he mentioned it on New World Order. Ayoade has definitely been asked before but they couldn't make the timing work. I don't know anything about Rhys James, but I'd expect him to turn up in a series after he tweeted then deleted a photo from the house about six months ago
It surprises me that they always manage to keep future contestants a secret given that at least a bit of every series has been filmed in a public place (though I think the only example of that from series 11 was Lee and the woman in the car).
Quote from: vainsharpdad on May 21, 2021, 01:12:41 PM
A Big Hitters Series
Jack Dee
Richard Ayoade
David Mitchell
Dara O'Briain
Paul Merton
God that'd be miserable.
Oh yes a crap mix if they were all in the same series - but all people I'm pretty sure Alex would love to get.
Found myself wondering a couple of times how Chris Morris would approach it...
I wouldn't be shocked to see Margaret Cabourn-Smith pop up at some point, she's a superfan, she really wants to do it and she's always great.
Reece Shearsmith would be ace.
Quote from: greencalx on May 21, 2021, 04:14:50 PM
Found myself wondering a couple of times how Chris Morris would approach it...
Who?
Quote from: Ambient Sheep on May 21, 2021, 05:24:39 PM
Who?
The boss off that show that keeps getting repeated on the same channel.
Quote from: holyzombiejesus on May 21, 2021, 12:33:06 PM
I know we have the wishlists before every series reveal but I can't think of many things in the world that would make me happier than Daniel Kitson on Taskmaster.
Can't imagine anyone other than Greg in the role now, but a freewheeling, cocksure, power crazed DK would make an excellent Taskmaster
I'd love to see George Egg as a contestant. He has a proven track record of creativity with household items.
you know who i would like to see on taskmaster? stone cold steve austin!
I reckon Alex would sell a stunner brilliantly.
Oh dear. VCM doesn't have a funny bone in her body - she may be a lovely person, no idea, but whenever you see her on a panel show...it's like she knows the shape of comedy, but not the colour. Or something. Her bits sound like comedy bits, just without anything even remotely funny in them.
Quote from: Hat FM on May 24, 2021, 10:33:07 AM
you know who i would like to see on taskmaster? stone cold steve austin!
He's too funny.
Quote from: Famous Mortimer on May 24, 2021, 05:07:27 PM
Oh dear. VCM doesn't have a funny bone in her body - she may be a lovely person, no idea, but whenever you see her on a panel show...it's like she knows the shape of comedy, but not the colour. Or something. Her bits sound like comedy bits, just without anything even remotely funny in them.
I've seen a few episodes of Only Connect. When she tries to tell a joke or a funny anecdote, I want to take an acid bath. Doesn't help that she performs them to awkward supergeeks who have no idea how to respond.
Quote from: up_the_hampipe on May 24, 2021, 05:36:20 PM
I've seen a few episodes of Only Connect. When she tries to tell a joke or a funny anecdote, I want to take an acid bath. Doesn't help that she performs them to awkward supergeeks who have no idea how to respond.
Surely that's the whole point of it though. The jokes are knowingly and deliberately shit.
Not the best place to put this, but on the latest episode of the podcast, which has now started working through series 3, Al Murray says that there was an unbroadcast episode that was recorded during the same session as the first episode. He didn't go into much detail about what it contained, just that it was all different tasks from any that appeared in the broadcast episodes and that he won it. No-one else has mentioned anything similar from any other series and series 3 is the only one that has 5 episodes, so I wonder if something happened that meant they had to pull it? Either way, I'd love for it to be available to watch one day. I think it's a very underrated series.
Series 2 had 5 episodes too, if I remember right it was something to do with series 2 and 3 being commissioned at the same time but Dave still not being fully on board with the show yet.
Greg & Alex once talked about there being an unaired pilot which was used to convince Dave the show was feasible. I wonder if Al was one of the contestants for that, because when Alex was asked about the pilot (either on a Reddit AMA or his twitter - I just cant find it right now) he said the competitors in the pilot weren't the same 6 that ended up being on the first series.
I read somewhere that the pilot featured Greg being much stricter and not really breaking character, which didn't really work. And he had a cane with a gold T on it, which sounds hilarious. I'd love to see it.
I know Phil Wang did some tasks that they showed to people before they were even given a pilot too. The original plan was to have the contestants to the tasks in their own home, before they figured out how impractical that would be.
It's weird watching the first series back actually - there's a very different feel. It's filmed in an actual theatre, you've got the task in public, there's no running total because Dave wanted to choose which order to show the series in, the trophy is just a trophy and the contestants actually put some effort into the prize tasks.
Quote from: Wayman C. McCreery on May 28, 2021, 10:40:14 AM
I know Phil Wang did some tasks that they showed to people before they were even given a pilot too. The original plan was to have the contestants to the tasks in their own home, before they figured out how impractical that would be.
The "tasks in your own home" idea pretty much became Alex's Saturday teatime BBC1 show 'The Button'.
Quote from: up_the_hampipe on May 24, 2021, 05:36:20 PM
Doesn't help that she performs them to awkward supergeeks who have no idea how to respond.
Hey!
I wondered how long that would take!
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XrHXehgsIw
Starts on 23rd September.
I think this series will live or die by how Alan Davies approaches it.
My theory is that good Taskmaster contestants are usually at least one of high energy, creative or weird*. Low energy is great if you're creative or weird (like Katy Wix, Angella Dravid and Joe Thomas), otherwise you just end up with another David Baddiel, Jo Brand or Asim Chaudhry. There's a big danger that Davies will fall into that latter category.
Two contestants break my algorithm: Ed Gamble, who was high energy but too calculative to be funny; and Leigh Hart off NZ series 1 who played the whole thing very straight but was still
Spoiler alert
wickedly talented
and funny.
https://twitter.com/AlexHorne/status/1435553398884032516?s=20
Transmission date confirmed & new promo shot of the line-up.
I just noticed that Alan Davies' hoodie is : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-NH6TGZTcc
Quote from: olliebean on September 07, 2021, 07:27:56 PM
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XrHXehgsIw
Starts on 23rd September.
That close up of a cake being inserted into someone's backside was a bit strong I thought.
Press pack with loads of interviews: https://www.channel4.com/press/press-pack/taskmaster-series-12-press-pack
Quote from: beanheadmcginty on September 08, 2021, 11:52:32 AM
That close up of a cake being inserted into someone's backside was a bit strong I thought.
Ever more convinced that Horne is deliberately sneaking in content designed to satisfy online fetish communities.
Quote from: beanheadmcginty on September 08, 2021, 11:52:32 AM
That close up of a cake being inserted into someone's backside was a bit strong I thought.
Initially thought I may have clicked on the Only Fools and Horses thread there. That is the perfect comment for it.
Quote from: beanheadmcginty on September 08, 2021, 11:52:32 AM
That close up of a cake being inserted into someone's backside was a bit strong I thought.
Yeah thought the same when I watched it, quite the lingering image! Also it reminded me there's already been the Best Ever Cake-Sitting when Horne did it at Liza Tarbuck's behest and profiteroles went up his jacksy.
Quote from: BritishHobo on September 08, 2021, 12:45:28 PM
Ever more convinced that Horne is deliberately sneaking in content designed to satisfy online fetish communities.
I kind of assumed it was more about personal gratification.
Hopefully it turns out to be the result of a Bob Mortimer cameo doing his South African character. FEED THAT CAKE INTO YOUR ANUS.
Quote from: Wayman C. McCreery on September 08, 2021, 12:05:57 PM
Press pack with loads of interviews: https://www.channel4.com/press/press-pack/taskmaster-series-12-press-pack
I've only read one of them (the Alan Davies one), but based on that one you might want to give those interviews a miss if you prefer to go into the series not knowing anything about the tasks in advance.
I read Guz Kahn's and it was spoilerific too, mention of specific moments in tasks and things...avoid.
I think this series will live or die by how much screen time Victoria Coren Mitchell gets
The Greg and Alex interviews are pretty much non-spoilery, and very very good.
The VCM interview was so horrifically spoilery I stopped reading halfway through.
Quote from: Norton Canes on September 08, 2021, 07:23:19 PM
I think this series will live or die by how much screen time Victoria Coren Mitchell gets
Because she'll be really good, or really bad?
FWIW the announcement just popped up on Instagram too. Like the Twitter one, but with more photos:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CTmN5a-seGp
Are they not doing the little video interviews this year or do they go up once the series starts?
Quote from: BeardFaceMan on September 10, 2021, 03:58:46 PMAre they not doing the little video interviews this year or do they go up once the series starts?
Last time they staggered them after the series started, if I remember right.
New promo pics just released showing Victoria Coren Mitchell & Alan Davies are together for the team tasks & elsewhere they're using that dome in the garden that was 1st seen in the New Years Special.
This starts tonight. Bumping this thread so that people don't start posting about it in the series 13 thread by mistake.
Pre-broadcast thoughts: I'm not wild about the lineup (while at the same I'm grateful that they're getting more diverse, and continuing to give attention to people who aren't on every other panel show), but if the tasks are as good as they were on the last series then it'll be fun.
I just hope we haven't been spoiled by the NZ series, this UK series is going to have to be on form to compete with that.
Quote from: BeardFaceMan on September 23, 2021, 10:51:54 AM
I just hope we haven't been spoiled by the NZ series, this UK series is going to have to be on form to compete with that.
Didn't Alex say they've used a task from the first NZ series this time around?
Quote from: MigraineBoy on September 23, 2021, 11:49:59 AM
Didn't Alex say they've used a task from the first NZ series this time around?
If he had any sense he would because there were some great ones, but Alex has also said he has a bit of task hubris and doesn't like taking ideas from anyone else so it'll be interesting to see what happens, I'm not overly impressed with the cast for this series so it's going to live or die on the strength of the tasks.
QuoteSweden's little version of me is also one of the producers who comes up with the tasks. I really enjoy watching their show, and we share tasks, which is nice. There's a balloon popping task in this series, which was a Swedish task that we adapted.
We had another one which was a version of a New Zealand task based on waiting for a toaster to pop. Another fun bit with the international ones is that we work together, so it feels like a little community of people, all trying to make this odd thing.
Funny I don't remember the NZ toaster task.
The beauty of the NZ tasks have been their simplicity & how none of them required a location other than the house/garden. It really felt like the first few UK series when money was obviously a bigger constraint.
That does make me more hopefully for this series if Alex is finally getting help with the tasks. I think there was mention in the NZ thread of one of the NZ writers being in touch with Alex to make sure they didn't come up with duplicate tasks, it's nice to hear it's a two-way thing and everyone's working together. Makes me even more hopeful of some sort of International Champion of Champions.
How many more countries do we need to come up with a good Taskmaster so that we can be watching it all year round?
I won't be watching this tonight.
Because my wife is out and we'll want to watch it together, so it'll be tomorrow. I'll have to be good and not peek at this thread before then.
Quote from: mjwilson on September 23, 2021, 06:00:47 PM
How many more countries do we need to come up with a good Taskmaster so that we can be watching it all year round?
Thinking about it, it seems there's only the US which managed to fuck it up. Which, yeah, they would, wouldn't they.
Genuinely fucked off they're bleeping the swearing, not because I love swearing but the ping noise they're using is throughly annoying and distracting.
Yeah, why is that a thing? I thought they did a family-friendly alternative version.
At first I thought it was just Morgana calling Alex a 'cunt' but the annoying dinging continued throughout. It's gotta be an accident, they've aired the wrong version, surely?
They bleep the repeats when they're shown at an earlier time and the YouTube highlights. There's no need to bleep the post water shed slot surely.
This feels like quite a comedown after NZ series 2. Contestants are pleasant enough, but I've not really laughed once.
Apparently, it's not supposed to be the censored version.
I thought that was a pretty fun first episode. Sure, not to the amazing high standards of the recent Taskmasker NZ, but the line-up gelled quite nicely already.
And yeah, I assumed they must have played the censored version by accident.
I quite enjoyed that, going in with very low expectations. Desiree going batshit with the forks was a highlight and feel like Morgana's going to be a really fun contestant...even Alan Davies came across pretty well and I thought he might be enough to put me off watching entirely (basically pleased he is approaching it lowkey rather than his "on" QI persona).
Nowhere near as great as NZ series 2 and the tasks were a bit middling but taken for what it was, a decent hour of telly.
I'm 99% certain the bleeped version was shown by mistake and it'll be back to normal next week. It definitely spoiled the episode for me.
A solid start, but it's done nothing to allay my fears that Alan Davies is just going to coast through the series. The others all made me laugh though.
The live task seemed familiar. Was that from NZ series 1?
Quote from: BeardFaceMan on September 23, 2021, 01:35:32 PM
That does make me more hopefully for this series if Alex is finally getting help with the tasks. I think there was mention in the NZ thread of one of the NZ writers being in touch with Alex to make sure they didn't come up with duplicate tasks, it's nice to hear it's a two-way thing and everyone's working together. Makes me even more hopeful of some sort of International Champion of Champions.
There was a duplicate task in the first NZ series though, wasn't there? The one about making the largest object disappear? It was identical to the task in the UK series that was on around the same time, so the idea must have been shared from one to the other.
Quote from: olliebean on September 23, 2021, 10:27:32 PM
There was a duplicate task in the first NZ series though, wasn't there? The one about making the largest object disappear? It was identical to the task in the UK series that was on around the same time, so the idea must have been shared from one to the other.
Apparently that was a coincidence.
Alex has confirmed the bleeped version was shown by mistake: https://twitter.com/alexhorne/status/1441150151230255107
These comparisons are a bit off. I love NZ S2, but I don't think it hit the ground running and the second half was much stronger, although admittedly that could be down to getting to know the contestants.
This was a decent opening episode, with some good tasks. No stand-out contestants yet, but no duff ones either. My gut tells me that Victoria will ultimately shine, and Morgan will continue to be very attractive.
True, it does always take an episode or two for the dynamic to settle so right not to judge it too harshly just yet. Unfortunately any series without a David Correos in is already at a big disadvantage now, as far as I'm concerned.
Quote from: Wayman C. McCreery on September 23, 2021, 10:27:08 PM
The live task seemed familiar. Was that from NZ series 1?
Yeah, it was. I think they did it but with sport, colour and animal maybe?
Quote from: Wayman C. McCreery on September 23, 2021, 10:27:08 PM
A solid start, but it's done nothing to allay my fears that Alan Davies is just going to coast through the series.
I dunno, I really think he's quite a bit more bearable coasting through it. Seems like an amiable mate of your dad's which frankly I'll take over the over-confident child hopped up on too many sweets version of him from QI.
Always loved Morgana but never seen her so skinny. Lessgana?
Quote from: Wayman C. McCreery on September 23, 2021, 10:27:08 PM
I'm 99% certain the bleeped version was shown by mistake and it'll be back to normal next week.
I hope so.
I don't care about the NZ version. Perhaps there should be a separate thread for discussing that?
There is a separate NZ thread, but it's inevitable that people will make comparisons- especially seeing as the general consensus on here is that it's superior to the UK version.
I'm going to rewatch last night's episode when the uncensored version is available. It wasn't just the swearing that was cut - apparently they also censored
Spoiler alert
Guz's big reefer for Greg
in the portrait task.
Re: Alan, I don't watch QI so don't really know what he's like when he's "on" - but I worry he's going to be another Herring. I hope I'm wrong! Maybe you need someone like that in every series though.
Just a heads up, the uncensored version is up on All4 now, if you want to watch it with swears.
Who would have thought that
Spoiler alert
VCM
would be this year's thickie?
Uncensored version is on youtube
Quote from: Virgo76 on September 24, 2021, 06:25:36 AM
I don't care about the NZ version. Perhaps there should be a separate thread for discussing that?
I would advise you to care and care passionately about the NZ version as it's superior in almost every way.
Quote from: SteveDave on September 24, 2021, 01:39:07 PM
I would advise you to care and care passionately about the NZ version as it's superior in almost every way.
The tasks and contestants are good but Jeremy's nowhere near as good as Greg in the TM role.
I enjoyed this first episode quite a lot. Could be a very strong set of contestants, all seem good. Even Alan Davies, if he's going to go down that "can't be arsed make a cup of tea i'm middle-aged and tired" route he's infintely preferable to Baddiel or Jo Brand.
Good first episode, that. Watched it on All4 so had no idea about the censored bit til reading this thread. Either way, seems to be a decent lineup but it may just appear that way cos I went in with low expectations.
Quote from: SteveDave on September 24, 2021, 01:39:07 PM
I would advise you to care and care passionately about the NZ version as it's superior in almost every way.
i watched and enjoyed a few eps of series 1 but stopped and now they are no longer on the youtube :(
I don't really understand the praise that the NZ version gets. It's good, but basically on par with the UK version imo. The only thing it has going for it really is Paul Williams, who is just absolutely delightful.
Gooood start to this series i reckon - Morgana calling Alex a little fucker and getting an extra point for it was great
Quote from: Hat FM on September 24, 2021, 02:44:29 PM
i watched and enjoyed a few eps of series 1 but stopped and now they are no longer on the youtube :(
I'll PM you.
Quote from: Virgo76 on September 24, 2021, 06:25:36 AM
I don't care about the NZ version. Perhaps there should be a separate thread for discussing that?
Paul Williams is going to be on the next Taskmaster podcast, try not to tweet at Ed and tell him it should be a separate podcast though.
That was fun. Seems not being able to watch it live paid off as we got the full swearies.
Seemed like a decent rapport between the contestants even in the first episode which is good - sometimes takes a while to bed in. I presume it's still a cinema audience - reactions felt much more natural than in the last series somehow. Tasks were good enough for the job but not classics of the genre - the balloon one was entertaining.
I do miss Mike Wozniak though.
Really strong start and already they all seem a great bunch. All set to be a classic series.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed that, Alan Davies was nowhere near as bad as I feared, and the only person I was slightly irritated by was VCM. Guz Khan and Morgana seem to be the ones who'll be the most fun right now, but Desiree shows potential too.
I strangely quite enjoyed watching the bleeped version as well as pretending they were saying cunt each time made it funnier, I might stick to doing so each week now.
Yeah, I liked that a lot. I wasn't sure beforehand about Alan Davies or VCM, but to be honest I didn't really have a strong opinion about either, and they were both good in this I thought. The other three all seem like a great fit for the show.
As for the NZ version (spoilered for those who don't want to see NZ chat in this thread, I promise I won't mention it again),
Spoiler alert
I think it's good, but not as good as the UK version at its best. The whole Greg-Alex dynamic is an important part of the UK one for me, and I don't feel Jeremy and Paul have much chemistry at all. Paul is very good though, and Jeremy does enough to be an acceptable Taskmaster and is occasionally funny, but it's the quality of the tasks and contestants that have made it so good up to this point. Dunno how sustainable it'll be over several series, will be interesting to see.
I liked that the lack of effort for the prize task wasn't looked kindly on, particularly for VCM.
Then again, maybe make them pick something better before they get on stage? Feels a lot to leave to the contestants when it's the thing that kicks the episode off.
Thought the balloon task was great and the rest okay. Found the editing a bit too quick at the top, maybe to compensate for the prize task.
Overall, excited for more, it's still a superb hour of telly.
It might just be my memory playing tricks, but it felt like one of the strongest first episodes I can think of. The tasks weren't necessarily great, but the contestants elevated things nicely. The highlights were Khan's mad expressions during the ball throwing task and "Yes you can!"
Quote from: beanheadmcginty on September 23, 2021, 11:51:56 PM
Always loved Morgana but never seen her so skinny. Lessgana?
I don't like it how some people on here can be so quick to comment on the appearance of females, but both me and my wife thought she looked ill, really gaunt. Hope she's ok as I think she could be the star of this series. Her comment about sitting on Santa's face was brilliant. Quite liked the episode as a whole, Davis and VCM didn't irritate me as much as I'd feared. As someone else said, I miss Wozniak.
Quote from: holyzombiejesus on September 24, 2021, 11:59:30 PM
I don't like it how some people on here can be so quick to comment on the appearance of females, but both me and my wife thought she looked ill, really gaunt. Hope she's ok as I think she could be the star of this series. Her comment about sitting on Santa's face was brilliant. Quite liked the episode as a whole, Davis and VCM didn't irritate me as much as I'd feared. As someone else said, I miss Wozniak.
The Woz is on this week's TM podcast. Apologies if it sounded like I was criticising Mogs, that's not my intention. I was just genuinely surprised by how different she looks since I last saw her.
It's odd how we all seem to have low expectations for this new series when the show has a phenomenally high hit rate.
We're 12 series in and there are only two that I don't bother rewatching (6 and 10), but even those contained some great episodes.
It's consistently been the funniest thing on TV for six years now. We should probably have more faith!
I thought there was a bit more imagination in the prize task selections than in the past, though this may be my memory playing tricks. I thought the stage task was at the weaker end of the spectrum - I like the ones where the contestants have more scope to subvert or disrupt proceedings.
Agree re the strike rate. I've only seen each series once, although did that pretty much back to back during the winter lockdown. It was only s6 that I found a chore to sit through. Although mostly due to the lack of rapport between contestants (I think it was mentioned as some point that the team composition was determined entirely by their existing schedules, and I got the sense that some of them were just fitting this in between other more important things) I think the fact it was the first 10ep run and came straight after an exceptional series had something to do with it. I found myself wondering the whole time what Bob, Aisling or Sally would have done with the extra run time.
Also another thing about this show is that past performance is little guide to how they'll perform on it. Whether they'll take a high energy, low energy, creative or competitive approach can't easily be judged by their style of comedy.
how is this 6 feet from the contestants?
(https://i.imgur.com/dEmOmbR.png)
unless the doorframe is about 3.5 feet tall. it's on the fucking ceiling!
Might be a bit of fish-eye lensing going on there. There seems to be some sort of tent built inside the lab - I'd wager those poles are vertical in reality, and the door set back from the sheeting at the rear of our view. So it could be a case of "small" and "far away", confounded with the weird optics of a wide-angle lens.
Quote from: holyzombiejesus on September 24, 2021, 11:59:30 PM
IHer comment about sitting on Santa's face was brilliant.
Taken together with the whole washing machine thing... could she be the most distractingly filthy contestant since Sally Phillips?
Alex Horne talking Taskmaster book and Katy Wix talking not the Taskmaster book on this new podcast:
https://www.bookoffpodcast.com/episodes/episode/71b86969/alex-horne-and-katy-wix-im-not-sure-i-was-meant-to-tell-you-that
I haven't listened yet but it'll probably be good if Alex is on it.
In a slightly related note, this starts tonight
https://dave.uktv.co.uk/shows/outsiders/
Taskmaster but with camping? Only one out of the six named contestants hasn't been on Taskmaster before.
Quote from: SteveDave on September 29, 2021, 01:23:06 PM
In a slightly related note, this starts tonight
https://dave.uktv.co.uk/shows/outsiders/
Taskmaster but with camping? Only one out of the six named contestants hasn't been on Taskmaster before.
Wait, this is real? When one of you posted about this a few weeks ago I thought you were taking the piss.
Quote from: turnstyle on September 29, 2021, 02:16:03 PM
Wait, this is real? When one of you posted about this a few weeks ago I thought you were taking the piss.
No you don't understand, this one has SIX contestants, it's completely different
Not seen it but judging from this review it sounds like Taskmaster with less interesting tasks: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/sep/30/outsiders-david-mitchells-desperate-bid-to-outdo-the-genius-of-taskmaster
QuoteThe glory of Taskmaster is that the tasks doled out to comedians are knotty and open-ended. Write a song about a stranger. Eat as much watermelon as you can. Make a cocktail in complete silence. Any task on Taskmaster can be beaten in an almost infinite number of ways, and is chosen specifically to get the best out of a comedian. Asking a comedian to chop down a tree just means that we'll watch a comedian wrestle with an axe, the same way as a vet or an accountant would. If you like watching famous people hit bits of wood with an axe upward of 100 times, Outsiders is the show for you.
Not sure I'm loving all the helmet cameras in this series.
Feels like they're really struggling for tasks
I'm CONVINCED they're now making this for people in niche online fetish communities
This food one is gopping. Makes me feel ill watching it.
I'm quite optimistic about the whole episode airing before Channel 4 crashes again.
Quote from: Gambrinus on September 30, 2021, 09:38:15 PM
This food one is gopping. Makes me feel ill watching it.
it was a mistake to get chipper food beforehand
Guz looks remarkably like young Derek Trotter but with a beard.
I liked Greg's bin rhyme.
Assumed that the mystery foods task would have a clever solution, like if you put them in a blender (don't think it said it had to be switched on) they would separate due to different densities or be clearly visible, or if you went into the kitchen all the ingredients would be out. Probably worth it to watch Alex eat a mouthful, but otherwise I didn't care much for the tasks.
I just found out Morgana is half sisters with Brody Dalle of all people. Funny old world!
Morgana.
That studio task would probably make a nice party game to play at home but it was one of the least telegenic things ever
Quote from: The Crumb on September 30, 2021, 09:30:09 PMFeels like they're really struggling for tasks
This week's team task was a low point, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt for now as it's got to be hard coming up with covid-safe tasks. Having said that, there were some great team-task moments from last series, but a lot of those might've been from the Wozniak-Mack combo.
We know they've definitely got at least one more series in the can with full distancing.
Quote from: Norton Canes on October 01, 2021, 08:25:20 AM
That studio task would probably make a nice party game to play at home but it was one of the least telegenic things ever
I don't know why they thought it would make good telly. Aside from the silk hankerchiefs bit, which was fun the first time, it was just "go through all the pockets".
I liked the space hopper one as they were able to get some good creativity in there (and a mess), and I thought they all gelled a bit more this week, so overall I enjoyed it.
Maybe they should think about repeating some of the better studio tasks from previous series. I'd rather see a good task done twice than have to watch a dull new one.
Quote from: Norton Canes on October 01, 2021, 11:07:49 AM
Maybe they should think about repeating some of the better studio tasks from previous series. I'd rather see a good task done twice than have to watch a dull new one.
*cough* or nicking from NZ *cough*
I think this series has a problem with two quite boring TV personalities in Alan and Victoria.
Surprised to see VCM in last spot after two weeks - though none of the tasks have so far played to her analytical mind or (supposed) deviousness. I reckon she'll either sink like a stone or go on an all-conquering blitz.
I'm wondering whether the prize task of "most awesome square" was chosen in the vain hope that VCM would bring in her husband.
Whether Victoria's formidable wit and intelligence will translate into points remains to be seen.
An ok episode but felt a bit of a step down after last week's cracker. Must admit I completely zoned out during the live task.
As soon as Guz showed his approach for the space hopper task I think we all knew exactly how it would play out and it was immensely satisfying when it did.
Quote from: confettiinmyhair on October 01, 2021, 11:56:14 AM
I think this series has a problem with two quite boring TV personalities in Alan and Victoria.
I think Victoria's been good value, but I'm struggling to remember anything that Alan has said or done so far.
Last night's episode was ok. The filmed tasks had the ingredients of being good ones, but they all fell a bit flat. There were some good moments though - particularly from Guz and Morgana. They both seem made for this show.
Quote from: SteveDave on September 29, 2021, 01:23:06 PM
In a slightly related note, this starts tonight
https://dave.uktv.co.uk/shows/outsiders/
Taskmaster but with camping? Only one out of the six named contestants hasn't been on Taskmaster before.
I'm watching it now and it's good fun.
Really like the whole group, though I guess Alan isn't very memorable. But he's not annoying at least. Not confident the tasks are going to be great based on what we saw in this episode though.
They'll never do it, but I wouldn't be opposed to them just stealing task ideas from the NZ series. It's not as if the British contestants are likely to have seen them.
Quote from: Ja'moke on October 01, 2021, 11:33:36 PM
They'll never do it, but I wouldn't be opposed to them just stealing task ideas from the NZ series. It's not as if the British contestants are likely to have seen them.
Or the British audience, it's just going to be a few nerds on the internet who have seen the NZ series, so using tasks from there shouldn't be a problem, or any of the international versions. I think something needs to be done, the task quality has definitely been slipping.
It was fine. Nothing exceptional, but nothing as embarrassing as the security task from S11. Seem to recall the first couple of episodes of that season was also a bit ropey on the task front. The mountain climbing task reminded me a bit of the "draw a picture with this fitness app" task from S1, and I thought Alan did a good fall. Space hopper task was fine, though I suspect they were hoping it would get messier. I can see the tasting task is a bit of a polariser but Alex's weird food combos are always good for a laugh. My son was taken with "oatmeal and death".
It's the live tasks that I think are letting the show down just now. Hopefully these will improve.
I thought that was one of the weakest episodes I've seen in a long time, there was potential with the mountain climbing task but Alan and VCM's attempt was flat out terrible, and Morgana, Desiree and Guz's efforts were only vaguely amusing. The prize and live tasks were dull, the food one a bit grim, and the only one I enjoyed was the space hopper. I'm starting to actively dislike VCM as well, which might make this series a real struggle.
TBH the most impressive thing VCM has done so far in this is work out the scores for the space hopper task.
They've done essentially the same food task at least once before, haven't they, but with the food in pots or bowls instead of plastic bags?
The prize tasks and the live tasks are actively hurting the show for me, now. Between the lack of effort put in by people for the prize task and the general poor quality of the live tasks, each show is starting and ending with a whimper.
Quote from: olliebean on October 02, 2021, 12:39:19 PM
They've done essentially the same food task at least once before, haven't they, but with the food in pots or bowls instead of plastic bags?
Yeah, pretty sure it was baby food last time. There was a weird flavoured crisp one as well. I really thought the dog-shit one was a low, more repulsive than funny and didn't really give much scope for the contestants to do anything interesting. The watermelon task in S1 worked because the contestants chose to go grim, it wasn't quite forced on them.
This all feels a bit stale to me now. The in-studio banter is still good but more and more I'm zoning out during the tasks.
Quote from: olliebean on October 02, 2021, 12:39:19 PM
TBH the most impressive thing VCM has done so far in this is work out the scores for the space hopper task.
They've done essentially the same food task at least once before, haven't they, but with the food in pots or bowls instead of plastic bags?
It was basically "don't breach the pie" from series 1, but less interesting.
Quote from: BeardFaceMan on October 02, 2021, 12:45:50 PM
The prize tasks and the live tasks are actively hurting the show for me, now. Between the lack of effort put in by people for the prize task and the general poor quality of the live tasks, each show is starting and ending with a whimper.
The prize task has been dead for a while, I've been giving it the benefit of the doubt and assuming that lockdown meant that people didn't want to go out to get things for it, but now it just feels like no-one cares. Kill it off.
Quote from: Small Man Big Horse on October 02, 2021, 10:48:55 AM
I'm starting to actively dislike VCM as well, which might make this series a real struggle
Exactly how I've felt for the last six series of Only Connect
Bloody hell, the negativity here! Both episodes were good I thought, yes E1 better than E2 but both a great watch.
Put up with far worse than this in S6 & S10 (and to some extent S8 & S11).
I think it's because it's come straight off the back of the second NZ series which was, frankly, much better than this one has been so far.
I don't know why this happens and it irritates the shit out of me, but when I watch Taskmaster (any of them) my brain automatically switches off when the task is being read out and then re-engages when they start doing it. So I then have to rewind and make a deliberate effort to watch the task being read out. What causes this?
I have exactly the same thing. I get worried I'm starting to go senile, but it's such a specific lack of attention - it is exclusively as the task is being read out.
Quote from: beanheadmcginty on October 03, 2021, 10:23:18 AM
I don't know why this happens and it irritates the shit out of me, but when I watch Taskmaster (any of them) my brain automatically switches off when the task is being read out and then re-engages when they start doing it. So I then have to rewind and make a deliberate effort to watch the task being read out. What causes this?
I'm not sure but if you find out let me know because I'm dying of it too.
Me and mrs frajer have taken to waiting until the scoring to retroactively hear the aim of a lot of tasks. I think a lot of it is due to us watching on Friday evening when we're both braindead from the work week.
I think it might be because they rarely have someone read out the task in one go, it cuts between the contestants all reading little bits of it, repeating bits of it etc, it makes it harder to follow.
I can't bear to listen to the Taskmaster podcast. Did Paul Williams say anything particularly interesting about the NZ version on the latest episode?
is it just me is or Greg doing a shit job of being the taskmaster this series? It's like watching a teacher try to be one of the kids
Quote from: Led Souptin on September 24, 2021, 03:15:50 PM
I don't really understand the praise that the NZ version gets. It's good, but basically on par with the UK version imo. The only thing it has going for it really is Paul Williams, who is just absolutely delightful.
See, for me the taskmaster is a lot more authoritative in the NZ version. And his put-downs are a lot more witty than Greg's.
Quote from: Gregory Torso on September 24, 2021, 02:27:54 PM
I enjoyed this first episode quite a lot. Could be a very strong set of contestants, all seem good. Even Alan Davies, if he's going to go down that "can't be arsed make a cup of tea i'm middle-aged and tired" route he's infintely preferable to Baddiel or Jo Brand.
I liked that he was still the smartest one in that round with the darts and balloon.
Quote from: Bobloblawslawbomb on October 01, 2021, 01:31:16 AM
I just found out Morgana is half sisters with Brody Dalle of all people. Funny old world!
edit: keeping it light, but if you dig deeper on this it's pretty fucked up
KEEP IT LIGHT!
Quote from: BeardFaceMan on October 03, 2021, 11:13:52 AM
I think it might be because they rarely have someone read out the task in one go, it cuts between the contestants all reading little bits of it, repeating bits of it etc, it makes it harder to follow.
It happens to me also. Another reason I think I've noticed it in recent series is that Alex or Greg now rarely reiterate the rules of the task when they cut back to the studio before seeing the attempts.
Also some of the rules are more contrived than they need to be. For example, the food one, where the task was essentially, taste and identify the two foods mixed together in each of these bags. The detail of Alex cutting a small hole in each bag, and the insistence that a large spoonful of each must be eaten, were unnecessary, as was the option to mix them all together in the blender.
Quote from: olliebean on October 03, 2021, 12:43:42 PM
Also some of the rules are more contrived than they need to be.
I think that's been my main problem with the tasks the last few series, too many convoluted tasks. Those types of tasks rarely produce gold because everyone is too busy trying to remember the rules to do anything else.
I'm another one who zones out while the tasks are being read out. I think it's the little segue montage that tells my brain it can switch off for a bit, then it takes a while to realise I need to start paying attention again
Quote from: Retinend on October 03, 2021, 11:32:06 AM
is it just me is or Greg doing a shit job of being the taskmaster this series? It's like watching a teacher try to be one of the kids
To be honest I thought he'd been on pretty good form so far
Quote from: Wayman C. McCreery on October 03, 2021, 11:16:46 AM
I can't bear to listen to the Taskmaster podcast. Did Paul Williams say anything particularly interesting about the NZ version on the latest episode?
I had a go at listening as there was a good guest but I had to turn it off as soon as they started talking about the episode, and it was a tough slog to get that far. A pleasant enough chat but nothing too interesting as Ed is so fucking boring.
I'm still enjoying it, although I do prefer the Jeremy/Paul combo to Greg/Alex now. I want Guz to win, or Morgana - the other three are pleasant enough to watch but not exactly thrilling. Nothing against them, though (yet).
Quote from: BeardFaceMan on October 03, 2021, 01:21:18 PM
I had a go at listening as there was a good guest but I had to turn it off as soon as they started talking about the episode, and it was a tough slog to get that far. A pleasant enough chat but nothing too interesting as Ed is so fucking boring.
Ed Gamble seems like a nice bloke so I can't hate him. But the fact that he's a professional comedian is fucking insane. If he was one of my mates he would definitely be regarded as the unfunny but nice one.
Quote from: beanheadmcginty on October 03, 2021, 01:57:37 PM
Ed Gamble seems like a nice bloke so I can't hate him. But the fact that he's a professional comedian is fucking insane. If he was one of my mates he would definitely be regarded as the unfunny but nice one.
Yeah he's one of those people who I don't mind seeing acting, like in Man Down, but when he's trying to be funny himself - no thanks.
The only interesting bit I can recall from the podcast was that Ed first met David Correos when he came over to do his Edinburgh show, which involved him eating dogfood and shoving a bicycle pump up his arse (although Ed annoyingly says 'ass' for some reason. In solidarity with Paul, do they say 'ass' over there?). Paul was saying he was shocked that David was actually allowed to be on Taskmaster as he's a bit out there and has form for doing shit that means it's hard for him to get on tv.
Quote from: olliebean on October 03, 2021, 12:43:42 PM
Also some of the rules are more contrived than they need to be. For example, the food one, where the task was essentially, taste and identify the two foods mixed together in each of these bags. The detail of Alex cutting a small hole in each bag, and the insistence that a large spoonful of each must be eaten, were unnecessary, as was the option to mix them all together in the blender.
I dunno - Morgana did a smart work-around. Get him to blend the stuff but ignore it and have a sniff & inspect of the bags with an option to have a little taste but not a "big spoonful".
Quote from: olliebean on October 03, 2021, 08:43:04 AMI think it's because it's come straight off the back of the second NZ series which was, frankly, much better than this one has been so far.
Ah OK, I've not seen any of the NZ ones yet. Partly practicalities, partly have been saving them.
Thanks for that, would explain a lot.
Desperately hoping Morgana comes out with an impression of Victoria Coren-Michell at some point in the series.
The NZ series still uses cutaways to the studio during the tasks. Can't remember when the UK series stopped doing that, eg. Tim Key reacting to Romesh smashing the watermelon. I agree with Retinend about Jeremy Wells being good.
Yes, if you can get past the fact that he's not the same as Greg Davies (which seems to have been the basis of most of the criticism I've seen against him), he does a fine job in his own right.
I feel like the forum will instinctively turn against Jeremy once you learn about his family background. He's almost royalty level of privileged.
He's grown on me, but I dunno if it's fair to write off any criticism of him as kneejerk not-Greg-ness. In the first series at least, it didn't feel like he was really giving a lot - it felt like the prizes/task outcomes would be presented, the contestants themselves might try a bit of funny 'aw bullshit, I definitely deserve five points...' banter, and he would give nothing in response. Just give the points and move on.
He did take a while to warm up and get into the role, but he's settled down now and is very good.
Took him a while to find his feet, but he's good now.
People forget that Greg Davies wasn't great at the start either.
I'll give Jeremy Wells some credit, he is ever so slightly better than Andy on Athletico Mince.
Quote from: DrGreggles on October 03, 2021, 07:40:24 PMPeople forget that Greg Davies wasn't great at the start either.
I certainly did.
Quote from: DrGreggles on October 03, 2021, 07:40:24 PM
Took him a while to find his feet, but he's good now.
People forget that Greg Davies wasn't great at the start either.
Yeah people say how everything was in place in Taskmaster from the very first episode but it took a while for Greg to create the role he has now, he was hosting it more as himself than as the Taskmaster. I wouldn't so far as to say he wasn't great but he didn't hit the ground running in the same way Alex did, which is fair as it was new to Greg and Alex's idea.
My son, who seems to have an encyclopaedic memory of TM episodes, reminded me that in one of the first two series, Greg defended Alex from contestants' criticism.
Indeed, it took a while for him to go from that to giving people bonus points for calling him a little fucker. That weird S&M relationship they have wasn't there at all at the start, that just developed.
Quote from: BeardFaceMan on October 03, 2021, 12:49:00 PM
I think that's been my main problem with the tasks the last few series, too many convoluted tasks. Those types of tasks rarely produce gold because everyone is too busy trying to remember the rules to do anything else.
My suspicion is that the tasks are getting more convoluted in order to make them longer, in the hope that they'll get more decent content out of them. They're certainly getting more content but I would argue that it's not worth it.
Admittedly you can't just have five people smashing melons every episode but there ought to be some middle ground.
I think people are being a bit quick to write off the quality of the tasks. Series 10 was a bit of a disaster, but (the airport security one excepted) there were loads of brilliant ones in series 11.
That said, I'd be thrilled if they got some help from the NZ team to help freshen things up a bit.
Quote from: beanheadmcginty on October 03, 2021, 07:18:20 PM
I feel like the forum will instinctively turn against Jeremy once you learn about his family background. He's almost royalty level of privileged.
I suppose I just assumed he was Ted Danson's illegitimate son
Are this year's bunch the most evenly matched selection ever?
That sand bridge building task was a bit shit, wasn't it? Even the studio audience sounded underwhelmed.
This is really boring
Yeah, it's been a bit of a dud, this one.
And I really cannot stand Alan Davies.
Quote from: Norton Canes on October 01, 2021, 12:38:09 PM
Surprised to see VCM in last spot after two weeks - though none of the tasks have so far played to her analytical mind or (supposed) deviousness. I reckon she'll either sink like a stone or go on an all-conquering blitz
Hmm
Can I say, Morgana's face looks like it was sculpted by John Friedlander (that's not a criticism. In fact I think it's why I find her so attractive)
Quote from: jobotic on October 07, 2021, 09:52:17 PM
This is really boring
Agree. Except for the film task.
I'm starting to get series 6 vibes from this series. There's a standout contestant (Tim Vine/Morgana), a comedy black hole (Russell Howard/Alan Davies) and someone who's broadly fine but isn't really the right fit for the show (Alice Levine/VCM).
And on paper the tasks are good but the results just aren't entertaining enough. The wellycam one gave them all a chance to be creative and funny but only Morgana delivered. Alan's attempt was reminiscent of Baddiel's appalling chickpea task.
It might be a bit of a slog, this one. Ah well.
Very dull episode.
I'm surprised at this stage, assuming the contestants have bothered watching previous series, that they're not attempting to dismantle absolutely everything looking for secrets at the start of every task they do. That's what I'd do.
Well I liked the 'copy Alex' task, it was something a bit different and the music was inappropriately eerie sounding - reminded me of something you'd hear on a Cyriak video.
This has been a poor series so far, tempted to chuck it after that episode. All of the tasks were dull to watch except the welly cam one and even then Morgana was the only one who did anything creative. That copying task was nearly as bad as the acting one from the last series.
I think the quality of tasks hasn't been great for a while now but the lineup isn't really entertaining enough to make up for it this time.
I'm not even sure I'll finish this series and I normally love the show, Victoria is really irritating the hell out of me, and only Morgana and Guz are reliably funny (though I'm not sure what the latter was thinking when it came to the short film task as that was plain awful). As someone said in one of the previous threads the tasks seem to be designed so that we laugh at the contestants instead of with them, but even then far too many are really dull.
The only thing that annoys me about Victoria (in general, not just on TM) is not her fault whatsoever. It's the way everyone treats her as an Einstein-level genius when, as far as I can tell, she's just fairly bright. Does everyone assume that she personally comes up with all the questions on Only Connect? Or is it the poker thing? Are we meant to assume that all successful poker players are geniuses like chess grandmasters?
I really enjoyed the first episode but the following two have been a disappointment. Hoping it is just the tasks though.
Stark that the second episode of Outsiders was much much better than this week's Taskmaster.
Quote from: beanheadmcginty on October 09, 2021, 06:36:11 PM
The only thing that annoys me about Victoria (in general, not just on TM) is not her fault whatsoever. It's the way everyone treats her as an Einstein-level genius when, as far as I can tell, she's just fairly bright. Does everyone assume that she personally comes up with all the questions on Only Connect? Or is it the poker thing? Are we meant to assume that all successful poker players are geniuses like chess grandmasters?
Probably a mixture of a famous father, an Oxford education and a very early start writing for the Daily Telegraph when she was only 16. Before this I only knew her via her book Once More With Feeling which I really, really loved, but this has sadly put me right off her.
Quote from: beanheadmcginty on October 09, 2021, 06:36:11 PM
The only thing that annoys me about Victoria (in general, not just on TM) is not her fault whatsoever. It's the way everyone treats her as an Einstein-level genius when, as far as I can tell, she's just fairly bright. Does everyone assume that she personally comes up with all the questions on Only Connect? Or is it the poker thing? Are we meant to assume that all successful poker players are geniuses like chess grandmasters?
I think it's just compared to your TOWIE characters and suchlike that take up a lot screen time, somebody with above average intellect is gonna stand out. I don't have a strong opinion on her one way or the other myself (except for disliking some cringe-worthy Only Connect stuff of course) but she is definitely clever compared to the average TV personality that most people would know.
She regularly mentions the question-writers by name on Only Connect (not sure why) so I doubt many people think she writes them herself.
Quote from: Small Man Big Horse on October 09, 2021, 02:43:43 PM
As someone said in one of the previous threads the tasks seem to be designed so that we laugh at the contestants instead of with them, but even then far too many are really dull.
That was my observation about series 10, which had far too many Crystal Maze-style games. I'd rather see funny people be funny than struggling to complete physical and mental challenges.
Series 11 was a huge improvement in terms of tasks though, and it's probably my favourite UK run. That was as much down to the contestants obviously, and that's what I think the problem has been with the last two episodes of this series.
The tasks have had the ingredients of good ones (simple, no long lists of rules, and room for creativity) but Morgana is the only one with the chops to do anything funny with them.
Guz seems like a good laugh but that welly film was dreadful, Alan doesn't have a funny bone in his body, Desiree is another Ed Gamble, and I think VCM is great on Only Connect but this isn't the right show for her.
It's still early days though. This series might end up being a classic. And the fact the previous series was one of the very best proves that they're still capable of producing gold - it's just that we might have to wait until series 13.
Rhod Gilbert & James Acaster on their Taskmaster Arguments
https://youtu.be/QCkfa9ygKNU
First task was awful. Another one with too many moving parts. Even the audience wasn't laughing.
This second task is better. More old school Taskmaster. Simple task and open to the contestant's interpretation.
Massive comic potential in someone putting a foot down to steady a slow moving bike.
I thought the bike task was fine, the rest were entertaining, especially the team task. I quite enjoyed the episode actually, only spoilt by my recording being cut off before the winner was announced.
Last week's recording cut off just before the credits. I'm guessing it's cos of C4's ongoing problems, along with the hazy working mans club aesthetic they've got going on this series.
Despite not usually being a fan of the more complicated tasks I thought the bike and riddle ones were fine. My problem with this series is that Guz and Morgana are the only funny contestants.
It's still an ok hour of TV, but the last series and NZ series 2 were guaranteed to deliver a few belly laughs per episode. This one just raises the odd smile.
I can't get over what a void of humour Alan Davies is. It's breathtaking.
Quote from: amateur on October 15, 2021, 08:32:51 AM
I can't get over what a void of humour Alan Davies is. It's breathtaking.
Compared to Baddiel he's Groucho fucking Marx.
Quote from: amateur on October 15, 2021, 08:32:51 AM
I can't get over what a void of humour Alan Davies is. It's breathtaking.
You never seen him in anything else before?
I guess maths isn't Alex's strength - in the bike task, Morgana's adjusted time was half what it should have been, and Victoria's, inexplicably as he was only supposed to be dividing by twos, was 1/3 of the correct value.
Also, I guess he doesn't know what sort of moustache Charlie Chaplin had.
I reckon the best approach to the bike task would just have been to ride around the course for ages before starting the sub-tasks, thus building up a good time that could weather a few halvings.
Quote from: amateur on October 15, 2021, 08:32:51 AM
I can't get over what a void of humour Alan Davies is. It's breathtaking.
Without Stephen Fry there to fawn over his audience mugging, there really isn't a lot left he can do.
Quote from: olliebean on October 15, 2021, 09:38:51 AMAlso, I guess Alex doesn't know what sort of moustache Charlie Chaplin had.
I've got a feeling you can't generally buy the kind of moustaches that Chaplin wore.
Throwing forks into a bucket - fuck me this show is interminable much of the time.
Quote from: Uncle TechTip on October 15, 2021, 10:52:40 AM
Throwing forks into a bucket - fuck me this show is interminable much of the time.
Yeah, I've been defending the tasks this series but the live ones have been absolutely rotten.
Morgana stuffing frozen food down her top is another win for the fetishists
It just amazed me that when asked to spread jam on toast in a cool way they all went for really lame visual gags, rather than acting in an outlandishly faux cool way. As Greg pointed out, by far the funniest part of that task was Alan wandering around with his leaf blower.
I mean Morgana is an impressionist, could she not have caricatured someone cool?
Thinking about it, she must be the only impressionist I've seen on a comedy show who hasn't jumped straight in with a load of impersonations. I mean if [insert impressionist here - I'll go for Rory Bremner] turns up on anything you know within moments they'll be firing through their repertoire.
I think she's already done Cheryl Cole and Natalie Cassidy but she does show remarkable restraint compared to most other impressionists.
The tasks could do with a good kick up the arse. I'm looking forward to the NZ version more than the UK version these days, that's not good.
Quote from: Norton Canes on October 15, 2021, 02:49:50 PM
It just amazed me that when asked to spread jam on toast in a cool way they all went for really lame visual gags, rather than acting in an outlandishly faux cool way. As Greg pointed out, by far the funniest part of that task was Alan wandering around with his leaf blower.
I mean Morgana is an impressionist, could she not have caricatured someone cool?
Huh? It was bad because they didn't all pretend to be the Fonz?
Last episode very good I thought. Also, despite all the ear-biting, I don't find Alan Davies as annoying as some people seem to. In this.
Quote from: beanheadmcginty on October 09, 2021, 06:36:11 PM
The only thing that annoys me about Victoria (in general, not just on TM) is not her fault whatsoever. It's the way everyone treats her as an Einstein-level genius when, as far as I can tell, she's just fairly bright. Does everyone assume that she personally comes up with all the questions on Only Connect? Or is it the poker thing? Are we meant to assume that all successful poker players are geniuses like chess grandmasters?
She's definitely unusually intelligent. It's obvious every time she says anything e.g. on the latest Taskmaster podcast.
VCM makes out she isn't cool, but she is a professional poker player which is pretty fucking cool.
Quote from: AsparagusTrevor on October 15, 2021, 10:19:50 AM
I've got a feeling you can't generally buy the kind of moustaches that Chaplin wore.
Richard Herring gave out a sod load of them when he was doing Hitler Moustache at Edinburgh, though it was more just a bit of sticky tape than a proper hairy fake moustache, admittedly.
I thought this was awful yet again, Morgana and Guz in the jam task entertained, the rest of the time I was staring at the screen in disbelief as to how bad it was.
Quote from: olliebean on October 15, 2021, 09:38:51 AM
I reckon the best approach to the bike task would just have been to ride around the course for ages before starting the sub-tasks, thus building up a good time that could weather a few halvings.
You had to keep moving forward, best you could do if you had some mad BMX skillz would be a really tight zig-zag
Duffer of an ep for me too. Tasks are definitely feeling a bit limp and linear this series. How will they each ride this bike as slowly as possible? Almost identically and with no funny bits, it turns out.
Not sure it's a great group either but it's hard to blame the contestants when the tasks are stuff like "copy Alex" and then you just watch five people repeat the same thing to varying degrees of accuracy. Didn't hate it, but can't really say I enjoyed it either, which is an odd thing to feel about Taskmaster.
I'm surprised, myself, that Victoria Coren Mitchell didn't just do a 10 minute track stand.
I'm suprised Alex has managed to go this long without getting any real help with the tasks, quite impressive really that's he's mostly done it on his own. But now it's time for him to get over himself and get some proper help.
Quote from: The Roofdog on October 15, 2021, 08:39:49 PM
You had to keep moving forward, best you could do if you had some mad BMX skillz would be a really tight zig-zag
Would it have been within the rules to put your feet down (incurring one penalty) then just keep them down, basically just standing there for an hour, then continuing (and most likely incurring more penalties but you've got that hour, so assuming nobody else did the same thing you'd win.)
I've gone from quite liking the whole group after the first couple of episodes, to being completely bored by most of them now, and only really wanting to see more of Morgana.
And yeah, the tasks have been abysmal. What the fuck was that bike task? Felt like one of the weakest ones they've ever done. Surprised they decided to broadcast that.
VCM riding the bike after the task was really sweet though.
I must say that despite it being an improved episode this week, Outsiders was still stronger. There was a camouflage task in this week and it was proper classic Taskmaster style with one particularly ingenious moment from Jamali.
Quote from: JamesTC on October 16, 2021, 12:19:47 AM
I must say that despite it being an improved episode this week, Outsiders was still stronger. There was a camouflage task in this week and it was proper classic Taskmaster style with one particularly ingenious moment from Jamali.
Quite enjoying Outsiders, don't think there's loads of mileage in it but should stay entertaining for a series or two. Agreed that the camouflage task was a really good one. Nice bunch of contestants, even making me like Ed Gamble a bit more.
Quote from: JesusAndYourBush on October 15, 2021, 11:52:18 PM
Would it have been within the rules to put your feet down (incurring one penalty) then just keep them down, basically just standing there for an hour, then continuing (and most likely incurring more penalties but you've got that hour, so assuming nobody else did the same thing you'd win.)
IIRC it said the clock stopped when your feet touched the floor.
Quote from: frajer on October 15, 2021, 08:58:43 PM
Not sure it's a great group either but it's hard to blame the contestants when the tasks are stuff like "copy Alex" and then you just watch five people repeat the same thing to varying degrees of accuracy. Didn't hate it, but can't really say I enjoyed it either, which is an odd thing to feel about Taskmaster.
I just don't get it, surely if you're sat there coming up with tasks the next thing you'd do is think of how it might unfold and what possible funny outcomes could come from that. In the 'copy Alex' task that would just amount to "they might get it wrong and do it all out of time!" which is a pretty flimsy basis for including it in the show.
Genuinely baffled that some of the recent tasks don't seem to have been given that scrutiny before they ran with it, unless they've decided they want a more competitive/less funny format.
I hope the (subjectively) poor task quality is down to cramming too much production into a short space of time, probably to try and get as many in the can as they could in case they had to stop production due to covid. We know they've filmed another series already, so that's 4 series, plus the New Year's special, filmed in a very short amount of time. I think Alex should have a rest.
Quote from: Uncle TechTip on October 15, 2021, 10:52:40 AM
Throwing forks into a bucket - fuck me this show is interminable much of the time.
If they'd done it one at a time, and had to get it the furthest or something, it would have at least had some jeopardy. And yes, of course they've done that before, but I'd rather see something entertaining again than new and boring.
The credits still say Tim Key is 'task consultant' as well, so should some of the blame land on him too or does he not actually have anything to do with it anymore?
I don't actually mind Alan or VCM, but it's a shame Guz and Morgana had to land up in this series - think they could've shone much more in another group/with better tasks.
Quote from: The Crumb on October 16, 2021, 06:20:18 AM
Quite enjoying Outsiders, don't think there's loads of mileage in it but should stay entertaining for a series or two. Agreed that the camouflage task was a really good one. Nice bunch of contestants, even making me like Ed Gamble a bit more.
Agree with this! Ed's coming across really well. Much calmer and far less mugging.
Tim Key whenever asked (including on the RHLSTP that went up this week) always plays down the task consultant thing. I think Alex fundamentally doesn't think the contestants are meant to outsmart the task or find loopholes he hadn't considered at all which is why there's been such an upturn in rigidity through clauses and additional rules. He just doesn't think that's what Taskmaster is meant to be
I underplayed it though didn't I - it was people throwing forks in a bucket AFTER spinning round on a chair.
At the end Guz felt like I did and just chucked them in one after the other - nobody said anything (or I mentally switched off)
Looks like they've started posting contestants' video interviews for this series. Here's the first one, with Desiree Burch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AA0jIfolxPo
Quote from: Stone Cold Steve Austin on October 16, 2021, 01:12:02 PM
Tim Key whenever asked (including on the RHLSTP that went up this week) always plays down the task consultant thing. I think Alex fundamentally doesn't think the contestants are meant to outsmart the task or find loopholes he hadn't considered at all which is why there's been such an upturn in rigidity through clauses and additional rules. He just doesn't think that's what Taskmaster is meant to be
That's it really, it used to be that the tasks were there to be completed, now it feels like the tasks are there to be beaten, people are approaching them differently now.
Quote from: olliebean on October 16, 2021, 01:37:56 PM
Looks like they've started posting contestants' video interviews for this series. Here's the first one, with Desiree Burch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AA0jIfolxPo
the second one
Quote from: g0m on October 16, 2021, 02:15:02 PM
the second one
Oh. The first, with Alan Davies, didn't show up on my subscriptions feed for some reason.
Doesn't look like I missed much.
Might be an oversimplification, but really feels like a task works if it allows the contestants to come up with a mix of approaches, and otherwise (mostly) doesn't. So the jam spreading task, much like the spacehopper task from a week or two back, works because everyone does something slightly different. And the bike one doesn't, because everyone basically does the same thing. I did enjoy the riddle, but feel like they got a bit lucky there with the second team doing it so badly, if they'd done even a half decent job I don't think it would've been worth broadcasting, because again they're just following instructions. Might need to go back and rewatch some older episodes, but feels like there were far fewer tasks in those days where the contestants were basically just given a list of instructions and it just becomes about who follows them badly and who doesn't.
I generally agree with all the recent comments, but I did find it kind of funny/noteworthy that in the one task Victoria was excelling at it didn't occur to her that Alan obviously had the other half of the jigsaw/code she was trying to decipher.
I've noticed that the loopholes Alex likes are not when a contestant thinks of something that he hasn't thought of, but ones that he has provided to be found, like the answers written on the underside of the table or extra equipment in a hidden compartment.
Quote from: The Crumb on October 16, 2021, 06:20:18 AM
Quite enjoying Outsiders, don't think there's loads of mileage in it but should stay entertaining for a series or two. Agreed that the camouflage task was a really good one. Nice bunch of contestants, even making me like Ed Gamble a bit more.
Same. Outsiders has made me laugh much more than this series of TM has. Ed has been an unexpected highlight too. He's a good foil for Lou.
The editing is terrible in places though, and there's so much padding with the teasers and recaps before and after the ad breaks.
What the fuck is this advert? Google Translate?
The prize task was appalling (they really need to do something about that), but I thought the rest was much, much better. Even Alan made me laugh during the football task.
Best strategy IWHT with the live task would have been to go for only one balloon on each turn, thus minimising your chance of hitting a "bad" balloon and maximising your chance of winning and getting the full 10 points. Assuming none of the other contestants had the same idea, of course.
Football task was great. Best task of the series? Also liked the extended final task. Google thing was awful and I assume will be turning up in future ad breaks as well, not sure why they felt the need to do that.
Alex's fetishism has now reached Savile levels of hiding in plain sight. The man is an out of control monster and needs to be stopped.
Here's something nerdy: last December someone took a photo over the fence of Morgana doing the football task: https://www.instagram.com/p/CIlUFiMFbqG/
What did "the ball and goalposts must be on their spots" mean? Because I thought Guz taking the ball with its spot was fair enough but I wouldn't have allowed turning the goalposts around
Jesus Christ. loved this one
Not sure if this is going to be a regular sponsored content thing, but here's a task with desiree burch and al murray competing to teach some non-english speakers origami (https://youtu.be/mFcnFA6zAzA)
Quote from: g0m on October 22, 2021, 12:52:59 AM
Not sure if this is going to be a regular sponsored content thing, but here's a task with desiree burch and al murray competing to teach some non-english speakers origami (https://youtu.be/mFcnFA6zAzA)
This was shown as the entire first ad break for those watching on Channel 4. It was a bit confusing until I clocked the #Ad in the bottom corner. It was probably just a scheduling issue, but it did make me wonder if none of the rest of the current cast wanted to do it and so local boy Al Murray was drafted in.
Quote from: Captain Z on October 22, 2021, 12:58:41 AM
This was shown as the entire first ad break for those watching on Channel 4. It was a bit confusing until I clocked the #Ad in the bottom corner. It was probably just a scheduling issue, but it did make me wonder if none of the rest of the current cast wanted to do it and so local boy Al Murray was drafted in.
just found this article: https://www.channel4.com/press/news/google-joins-forces-channel-4s-taskmaster-new-cross-platform-partnership - looks like we're getting one a week for the next six weeks. no skin off my nose, i like these little one off tasks.
i was a bit confused at first because the youtube upload wasn't marked as containing promotional content but it ended with a few unbroken seconds of the Google logo, which certainly made it seem like an ad.
Breaking bad
Quote from: olliebean on October 21, 2021, 10:59:57 PM
Best strategy IWHT with the live task would have been to go for only one balloon on each turn, thus minimising your chance of hitting a "bad" balloon and maximising your chance of winning and getting the full 10 points. Assuming none of the other contestants had the same idea, of course.
Greg said as much when it was down to the final two, yet Morgana just kept chucking darts.
Quote from: MigraineBoy on October 22, 2021, 08:28:28 AMGreg said as much when it was down to the final two, yet Morgana just kept chucking darts.
She doens't seem like the kind of person who'd just sit back and win by default. She seems like the kind of person who'd enjoy chucking darts at stuff.
Quote from: The Roofdog on October 22, 2021, 12:12:00 AM
What did "the ball and goalposts must be on their spots" mean? Because I thought Guz taking the ball with its spot was fair enough but I wouldn't have allowed turning the goalposts around
There were two spots to mark the front two corners of the goal. It could be turned around as long as those two corners were placed back on the spots (albeit the other way round). I'd be very surprised if Alex hadn't anticipated that strategy.
Deflate the ball innit.
Quote from: steamed hams on October 21, 2021, 11:00:22 PM
Google thing was awful and I assume will be turning up in future ad breaks as well, not sure why they felt the need to do that.
Well it's commercial TV and I don't know what the going rate is but I imagine tens of thousands of pounds will have changed hands. As long as it's kept to the ad breaks and we don't have product placement in the show (clean this dirty bath using Cif Power & Shine Citrus Mousse Bathroom Cleaner - fastest time wins) then that's fine by me.
After a few weeks of duff episodes I was thinking about abandoning a series for the first time ever, but last night's episode was a lot of fun. I don't think Alan, Desiree or Victoria are funny contestants but when the tasks are as good as the football one then it almost doesn't matter.
And it's been said a thousand times, including by me about ten posts ago, but the prize task really needs binning. I wonder how many people who've never seen the show before turn off after five minutes because someone's brought a house plant in.
Silly that Morgana didn't come second in the darts task despite being second to last there.
In the ball-hall-lacrosse task, why didn't anyone get any points?
Surely the team who scored less badly won and the other team didn't win?
I must be totally out of kilter with the hive mind because I thought the football task was by far the worst task served up this series (outside the prize tasks obviously). For one, it was predicated on Alex's inconsistent ability to hit the target, and therefore unfair to some contestants. Also, how the holy heck does shooting a ball through the back of an upturned or reversed frame count as a 'goal'? I mean they've literally moved the goalposts on that one
(did no-one make that joke?)
Anyway it was beyond hilarious that having come up with the best way of impeding the ball's progress, VCM didn't place her obstacles close enough or think to stand in the goal. She really is proving to be spectacularly useless. I quite like her now.
That cake stuff though. Alex.
When the contestants entered the room for the cake task with their red Taskmaster seal badges, I thought for a moment they'd all been given poppies.
Quote from: Norton Canes on October 22, 2021, 09:33:48 AM
I must be totally out of kilter with the hive mind
I certainly have been for the last couple of episodes, with people acting like they were war crimes or something.
Quote from: olliebean on October 21, 2021, 10:59:57 PM
Best strategy IWHT with the live task would have been to go for only one balloon on each turn, thus minimising your chance of hitting a "bad" balloon and maximising your chance of winning and getting the full 10 points. Assuming none of the other contestants had the same idea, of course.
but 2nd through fourth place were awarded based on number of balloons popped. if you don't think you're likely to win, the best strategy is to try and pop as many balloons as possible before you get out
Quote from: DrGreggles on October 22, 2021, 08:58:06 AM
Deflate the ball innit.
I thought of this but it's still
pretty easy to kick a deflated ball into a goal. just look at alex's goal against victoria - if anything that'd be easier with a deflated ball
Cut Alex's feet off then.
Quote from: g0m on October 22, 2021, 05:32:19 PM
I thought of this but it's still pretty easy to kick a deflated ball into a goal. just look at alex's goal against victoria - if anything that'd be easier with a deflated ball
It wouldn't bounce.
What was the cake task then? I was watching a WAM video washing up when that was on I think
Quote from: DrGreggles on October 22, 2021, 08:26:57 PM
It wouldn't bounce.
yeah, but you can wedge your foot under a deflated ball, so you could get it in in one go pretty easy. UNLESS as well as deflating it, you attach a bunch of extra stuff to the ball
There's no way anyone could kick a deflated football that far you mad bastard.
Quote from: jobotic on October 22, 2021, 08:32:07 PM
What was the cake task then? I was watching a WAM video washing up when that was on I think
Sitting on cakes. Clearly made an impression on Alex when he did it in a previous series.
Quote from: g0m on October 22, 2021, 08:34:19 PM
yeah, but you can wedge your foot under a deflated ball, so you could get it in in one go pretty easy.
Then you stand in the goal and save it, if it reaches (which it won't).
Quote from: DrGreggles on October 22, 2021, 11:59:06 PM
Then you stand in the goal and save it, if it reaches (which it won't).
that hadn't even entered victoria's mind! look, i'm not saying this would work in every scenario, just that it would in that specific one
I can't believe everybody in the studio just let the cake stuff go without probing Alex's motivations or referring to his previous experience.
If any of next week's tasks involve gunging, I'm calling the police.
I loved the football task, don't get the rule based criticism above when the whole thread has been calling for open ended tasks that give contestants freedom to express themselves. No one cares about the rules in these tasks and on this show surely, it's all a framework to produce funny moments rather than quibble Ed Gamble-style about whether the ball crossed the line on a Geoff Hurst hype.
I'm surprised no one did a Rhod Gilbert and tried to incapacitate Alex on this one as it reminded me a lot of that task.
Quote from: thelittlemango on October 23, 2021, 11:23:20 PM
I'm surprised no one did a Rhod Gilbert and tried to incapacitate Alex on this one as it reminded me a lot of that task.
My first thought was to make sure you save the first shot and then just launch the ball over the fence.
Quote from: Bobloblawslawbomb on October 23, 2021, 11:44:39 PM
My first thought was to make sure you save the first shot and then just launch the ball over the fence.
Yeah I said the same when Guz made his first save, I'd have hoofed that ball right over the gate. Bye Alex!
I feel like the whole point of that football task was to give Alex a go as if he was a contestant. He was trying his best to solve a task set for him by someone else. A little indulgence for him as it was the 100th episode.
Here's the next Google ad task: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9uojXIxGOI (presumably this will be in an ad break in the next episode, so obviously don't watch it now if you want to watch it during the programme).
Christ, Alan Davies really is an absolute humour vacuum, isn't he?
Oh man, that's the best prize task in ages. They finally figured out how to make it feel personal again
Victoria's gift for Alan was so precisely off the mark, I couldn't help wondering if she'd done it deliberately, especially with the reveal that it wasn't even fully paid for but just a voucher towards it.
It was definitely deliberate as she mentioned that she knew Alan supported Arsenal, so was a wind-up about going to watch a 'good' team (statistically) instead.
Alan isn't very exciting but I don't mind him at all, there's more of a warmth to him than other similar contestants and his line about eating two Creme Eggs made me laugh.
Davies has been fine. Not brilliant by any means, but certainly not as irritating as a Stirling or as pathetic as a Baddiel.
Gus and Morgana are the stand outs this series though.
Random thoughts while watching it:
Prize Task - Poor bar VCM, though at least Morgana talked hers up and made it amusing.
Iron Task - Tedious stuff, Guz, Alan and Desiree showed no imagination at all, and though VCM and Morgana were at least a little inventive that didn't translate in to it being funny.
Dog Task - Potentially could be good, so it'll be the contestants fault if it isn't. So VCM deserves some kudos for her weird cat face, and I guess Guz's was okay, but while Morgana and Alan came up with a good idea they made shit toys, and Desiree was really bland yet again.
Secret Tower - Sounded awful from the task readings, but it was even worse than I feared. Morgana approached it in a smart way, but otherwise it was incredibly annoying, abject shit.
Live Task - Watching people throwing paper planes was always extremely unlikely to be funny. But not even seeing them all fail miserably was funny. Horrendous, and Greg's description of it wasn't wrong.
I normally love Taskmaster but this is making me angry whenever I watch it so I think I'm going to wait until people respond to next week's episode, and unless they rate it I won't bother with it.
Quote from: olliebean on October 29, 2021, 10:57:23 AM
Victoria's gift for Alan was so precisely off the mark, I couldn't help wondering if she'd done it deliberately, especially with the reveal that it wasn't even fully paid for but just a voucher towards it.
I assumed that meant that it was just a piece of printed card pretending to be a voucher... I mean there isn't such a thing as a voucher towards a season ticket is there? Esepcially one which says "This entitles the bearer to one season ticket at Manchester United".
Quote from: mjwilson on October 29, 2021, 07:43:14 PM
I assumed that meant that it was just a piece of printed card pretending to be a voucher... I mean there isn't such a thing as a voucher towards a season ticket is there? Esepcially one which says "This entitles the bearer to one season ticket at Manchester United".
I know I'm being a moany sod in this thread, but if true she should have been disqualified as anyone could have come up with an amazing imaginary gift, and it should have been something you could physically receive.
This is just background noise for me now, and probably has been since the end of the James Acaster series. I can watch, and rewatch, any series up to that on a constant loop and was always amazed by how they could make pretty much anyone come across as funny over the course of a series.
I'm not sure what's happened since then but I can't imagine rewatching a single series since. The tasks have been off, an increase in awful or plain boring contestants (notable exceptions like Mike Wozniak last season, and I feel like Morgana and Gus from this would have been brilliant with a different line up) and the lack of a live audience hurts it too.
Also had the misfortune of catching Alex on that Peter crouch thing a couple of times over the summer and so even a lot of his bits are falling flat for me now, too.
Feel like it could do with a break to get audiences back and to prevent the number of filler tasks in each episode.
I haven't bothered watched Thursday's episode yet, which says lot.
I said earlier this thread that the show's got a phenomenally high hit rate. But in hindsight, only series 11 (Wozniak et al) has really done it for me since the (incredibly underrated) series 8 (the Lou Sanders one). I tried to rewatch series 9 recently but couldn't make it past the first episode thanks to Baddiel and Brand - and to a lesser extent, Gamble (Katy Wix was brilliant, mind).
It needs some sort of a shakeup, but I don't think it'll happen - the audience reaction to this series seems to be overwhelmingly positive and it's getting good ratings.
Maybe I'm just being a grumpy bastard but I feel like the show's being made for the benefit of the people on r/taskmaster and Twitter who like #wholesome lineups - whereas I miss antagonistic arseholes like Tim Key, Rhod Gilbert and Lou Sanders.
The majority of the rumoured-but-almost-certainly-completely-accurate series 13 lineup doesn't fill me with excitement, but hopefully the return of a studio audience will help make things fun again.
I expect at the start of the pandemic Ch4 were desperate to throw resources at shows that could carry on production with minimal disruption. Unfortunately, I think that has harmed TM when it really could have benefitted from a break for various reasons. By the time of series 13, we'll have had 4 full series and 2 specials somewhat affected by social distancing measures.
The latest episode was alright I'd say. Annoyed at the final task though which was a great idea in principle. I assume they do try them all out first but even I could see that it was going to be much harder than you might think to throw paper aeroplanes into targets of that size. If they'd just had larger/more targets it could have been much more interesting.
Alan Davies made a good point about the last task in the most recent Taskmaster podcast; no matter how many pieces of paper you pick, you still get 2 minutes to make all the planes, so the more paper you pick the quicker you have to make the planes and the shoddier they are. So there's not much of an advantage in picking more pages, despite the penalties.
Quote from: Wayman C. McCreery on October 29, 2021, 11:37:12 PM
Maybe I'm just being a grumpy bastard but I feel like the show's being made for the benefit of the people on r/taskmaster and Twitter who like #wholesome lineups - whereas I miss antagonistic arseholes like Tim Key, Rhod Gilbert and Lou Sanders.
The wholesome series can work if there's a good enough anchor e.g. Bob, Sally or Mike, but I agree it's funniest when someone's being a bit of a spanner in the works. I'd love another Paul Chowdhry type inscrutable contestant.
Quote from: The Crumb on October 30, 2021, 11:56:33 AM
I'd love another Paul Chowdhry type inscrutable contestant.
"Bastard's crying innit"
I wonder if VCM was supposed to fill that role, there were a couple of moments in the first two episodes where she seemed a bit argumentative, but since then has largely been just dull instead.
I'm really surprised it's been so well received on reddit, quite a few people on the Digital Spy forums seem to be disappointed by it but on r/taskmaster if you even make a mild criticism you seem to get downvoted by thousands (Well, about 47 people did the one time I had a minor moan), though perhaps its due to that that no one bothers to be negative.
I thought Paul Chowdhry was excellent.
Quote from: Small Man Big Horse on October 30, 2021, 12:50:19 PM
I'm really surprised it's been so well received on reddit, quite a few people on the Digital Spy forums seem to be disappointed by it but on r/taskmaster if you even make a mild criticism you seem to get downvoted by thousands (Well, about 47 people did the one time I had a minor moan), though perhaps its due to that that no one bothers to be negative.
r/taskmaster is a funny old place. My very reasonable and completely inoffensive post about why I thought this series wasn't up to scratch was deleted within minutes and I got a message from a mod telling me to stop trolling.
r/taskmaster is just filled with Ed Gamble types, keep well away.
I thought Alex was going to show a little self-awareness with the overly-convoluted rules task, but no, it was just another task ruined by overly-convoluted rules.
Maybe it's because I'm getting a bit of fatigue with the UK show, but even things like Alex and his weird measurements are starting to get on my tits a bit now too.
Guz has been the standout for me so far, no idea who he was beforehand and I've been enjoying him a lot.
Guz is great, really enjoyed him on Adam Buxton's podcast too.
I hate the overly complicated tasks but thought this one at least had some kind of context by making them shred the rules, so it was more about trying to remember what to do rather than trying to make the framework as rigid as possible so they can't find loopholes. Task was still boring as fuck though.
Also agree on the Alex measurements thing, it created a funny moment where Greg has a go at Alex about him and his whimsy but thought that would be it, going back to doing it again afterwards seemed a bit tedious.
Quote from: Wayman C. McCreery on October 30, 2021, 01:13:48 PM
r/taskmaster is a funny old place. My very reasonable and completely inoffensive post about why I thought this series wasn't up to scratch was deleted within minutes and I got a message from a mod telling me to stop trolling.
Blimey, that's not good, but I guess it explains why you rarely see anything critical about the show.
Quote from: thelittlemango on October 30, 2021, 03:07:49 PM
Guz is great, really enjoyed him on Adam Buxton's podcast too.
I hate the overly complicated tasks but thought this one at least had some kind of context by making them shred the rules, so it was more about trying to remember what to do rather than trying to make the framework as rigid as possible so they can't find loopholes. Task was still boring as fuck though.
Also agree on the Alex measurements thing, it created a funny moment where Greg has a go at Alex about him and his whimsy but thought that would be it, going back to doing it again afterwards seemed a bit tedious.
I'm feeling that way about Alex too, the way he looked so pleased about how complicated the red seat task was annoyed me a lot, I know he's responsible for creating the show and for it being so good for so long, but I really wish he'd at the very least get more people onboard coming up with the tasks.
Well I'm still enjoying it anyway. It isn't close to peak TM by any means and it certainly has its problems, but I'm not actively hating it or irritated by it like most people here seem to be. It still reliably gives me a few laughs each week, even if I'm not in tears from start to finish.
I really liked Man Like Mobeen so it's great to see Guz is pretty much exactly the same in real life - he and Morgana are the only thing keeping me watching this.
Just caught up with the latest episode. I thought the iron and dog tasks were fine on paper but, yet again, only a couple of the contestants did anything funny.
All three main tasks were similar to ones from previous series: throwing a teabag into a mug from series 1, keeping a toddler occupied from series 8 and the burning task/undermine a vole one from series 11. But they all worked because the contestants were much, much funnier.
Ah well. A dud of a series. I'm even getting a bit bored of Greg and Alex's bits because they're just hitting the same beats every time - possibly a symptom of there being 20 episodes a year these days. But Guz and Morgana will keep me watching until the end.
Quote from: AsparagusTrevor on October 30, 2021, 07:06:21 PM
Well I'm still enjoying it anyway. It isn't close to peak TM by any means and it certainly has its problems, but I'm not actively hating it or irritated by it like most people here seem to be. It still reliably gives me a few laughs each week, even if I'm not in tears from start to finish.
Pretty much how I feel. I do think it needs to pick up a bit and agree with people that the tasks have been more erratic in quality lately, but it is still giving me a few laughs. Guz is great, and I'm enjoying Morgana too. VCM I find sometimes a touch irritating but generally endearing. I think I'd like her quite a bit in real life (my brother is mates with her through poker and she was at our godfather's funeral - and gave a wonderful eulogy - but I don't know her personally at all and have never spoke with her). Alan and Desiree are a bit bland but not in a way which is terribly detrimental my enjoyment of the series.
Still on board with it in a Bake Off comfort telly type way. Thought the gifting prize task was quite sweet. Hoping the final tasks will pick up when social distancing filming restrictions finally end.
I think it's going to continue at least verging on mediocre whilst they're burning through 10 contestants a year. You could have maybe had a classic series if you'd got the best contestants from the Ch4 run in one series but the standouts are usually surrounded by mediocrity.
Quote from: holyzombiejesus on November 04, 2021, 02:35:46 PM
I think it's going to continue at least verging on mediocre whilst they're burning through 10 contestants a year. You could have maybe had a classic series if you'd got the best contestants from the Ch4 run in one series but the standouts are usually surrounded by mediocrity.
They were doing 2 series a year on Dave, but only 10 episodes per series from series 6 onward. If it dropped back to 6 or 8 episodes per series the hit-rate would be higher.
Quote from: SteveDave on November 04, 2021, 03:59:26 PM
They were doing 2 series a year on Dave, but only 10 episodes per series from series 6 onward. If it dropped back to 6 or 8 episodes per series the hit-rate would be higher.
It does make you wonder what kind of tasks didn't make the edit for the last few series, they must be dire.
I've been defending some of the tasks this series by blaming the contestants instead, but fucking hell that shelf one was bad. I was waiting for a twist, but no - they literally just had to put a shelf up. Dismal.
God I hate music ones. Rather see shelves being put up.
It's somehow got worse. Desperately bad. Not even Guz and Morgana can keep me watching. I'll be back for series 13.
Put up a shelf. Push things through a pipe. This is bad television.
Guz and Morgana are great, but they're wasted on these tasks and in this line-up.
Starting to think that Alex is one of those people who creates a work of genius that everyone loves but he's done it by complete accident and the more he's given control of the thing resulting from its success, the worse it gets.
Quote from: Captain Z on October 30, 2021, 12:21:33 AM
Annoyed at the final task though which was a great idea in principle. I assume they do try them all out first...
After tonight's final task I would like to revise this assumption. 1 correct answer out of 20, not remotely fun to watch. At least Guz was clever enough to just give up and try to add some humour by writing messages.
In fairness to Alex Horne, the entertainment value of No More Jockeys on YouTube makes up for the dip in Taskmaster.
Light-hearted fun for me, Clive.
Not at it's best, but nothing worth getting angry about.
I loved this one. This series could end up being right up there for me
Quote from: DrGreggles on November 04, 2021, 11:18:15 PM
Light-hearted fun for me, Clive.
Not at it's best, but nothing worth getting angry about.
I'm not angry. Just disappointed.
It used to be chaotic. Almost
dangerous. Now it's just five people chuckling along while nothing of note happens.
Thought this was the best of the series so far, low bar perhaps, but I enjoyed it.
The pipe one was very, very poor though. It looked like a tie-break task that somehow had become a proper one. Didn't really see any opportunities for creativity.
By comparison I stumbled across an episode from series 7 the other day and the difference was astonishing. Excite Alex, make the best noise, get a ball into a hole by only striking it. The creativity and FUNNINESS was miles apart from this one.
Alex clearly needs a break, or some help.
I've noticed with this cast "fastest wins" on the task means nothing to them, so tasks like the shelf or pipe all get a pretty similar engagement.
In past series those two words on the task would've resulted in at least one contestant not engaging their brain and barreling straight into it.
Quote from: beanheadmcginty on November 04, 2021, 10:05:34 PM
Starting to think that Alex is one of those people who creates a work of genius that everyone loves but he's done it by complete accident and the more he's given control of the thing resulting from its success, the worse it gets.
To be fair to the man, it's been twelve series now to a pretty rigid format, it was always going to lose some freshness. But some very strange or desperate decisions being made with the tasks, making things that are neither funny nor suspenseful.
It could use some fresh creative input or a structure tweak. NZ showed the format still works with the right ingredients. Given the much reduced input of Alex into that you may be right.
Yeah, the last thing I want to do is sit here like a cunt criticising someone who has achieved far more than I ever will. But sometimes it's worth letting other people look in from the outside and help you out and I think the NZ crew could really do that.
Is Jessica Knappett just doing the voiceovers for everything now then?
Quote from: mjwilson on November 09, 2021, 09:03:09 PM
Is Jessica Knappett just doing the voiceovers for everything now then?
She must've got all the ones Ed Gamble missed, when Rylan was taking some time off.
There's an in-depth chat with Alex about Taskmaster on this new podcast: https://shows.acast.com/tv-show-podcast/episodes/alex-horne-from-taskmaster
I've only listened to 15 minutes of it so far, but it's really interesting stuff.
Frustratingly though it sounds like he's reluctant to get other people to help with writing the tasks.
Quote from: Wayman C. McCreery on November 09, 2021, 10:32:07 PM
There's an in-depth chat with Alex about Taskmaster on this new podcast: https://shows.acast.com/tv-show-podcast/episodes/alex-horne-from-taskmaster
I've only listened to 15 minutes of it so far, but it's really interesting stuff.
Frustratingly though it sounds like he's reluctant to get other people to help with writing the tasks.
This is a good listen, I skipped the non-Horne parts.
He does say he's reluctant to get other people involved beyond him and the two Andys, but concedes they'll have to at some point.
Also mentions he's a big fan of the NZ series, and that they repurposed some tasks from the Swedish version - which is very interesting, would love to know which ones.
So there is hope for collaboration here, one day.
It seems very odd if he doesn't want the contestants thinking laterally about the tasks. Shirley that's a large part of the shows appeal? The unexpected is the very essence of comedy.
Quote from: Claude the Racecar Driving Rockstar Super Sleuth on November 10, 2021, 03:24:18 PM
It seems very odd if he doesn't want the contestants thinking laterally about the tasks. Shirley that's a large part of the shows appeal? The unexpected is the very essence of comedy.
I've heard him mention that a few times over various podcasts and it always strikes me as odd too, because clearly the bits when the contestants have a flash of inspiration and go off-piste create some of the best moments in the series.
Also I'm sure Alex would say differently but a lot of the tasks were definitely less restrictive and far more open to creative interpretation in the earlier series. "Create a snowman" versus that recent pipe one, just off the top of my head.
Quality of this current series aside, must confess I've become a bit oversaturated with Horne. No More Jockeys was a weekly highlight and had me absolutely creasing but now I've got 6 episodes racked up I haven't even touched.
Starting to think Alex is paid by the word for the tasks.
I can't wait to fuck one of those Chilly's Fleshlights. They're good for the environment.
That live task at the end was quite enjoyable this week, I thought.
Yeah, good studio task.
The fact the Taskmaster podcast has made it to episode 8 without having Morgana or Guz as a guest is a solid indication one of them wins.
Bloody hell, that popcorn necklace task was pretty much the exemplar of a task that essentially exists only so that Alex can feel smug about how arse-clenchingly clever he's been.
Ear defenders for a balloon popping? Anyone else find that weird?
After I turned off halfway through last week's show this is the first episode I've chosen not to watch at all. Sounds like I didn't miss much?
No, it was fairly lousy again. Live task at the end was alright, but this entire series really has been a slog.
I liked the sports ticker.
WILKINSON HITS HOLE IN ONE
UPDATE: WILKINSON DISQUALIFIED
Quote from: Bad Ambassador on November 11, 2021, 11:38:54 PM
I liked the sports ticker.
WILKINSON HITS HOLE IN ONE
UPDATE: WILKINSON DISQUALIFIED
Delighted to see Rosalind mentioned too - as a long jumper
Yeah, the vidiprinter was a joy in a very bland episode. Even the tie breaker was a solid meh.
I chuckled at the vidiprinter, but it felt like cheating somehow. They shouldn't have to use TV trickery to wring laughs out of the tasks, it should all come from the contestants.
I like to put a positive spin on things, but I must concede it hasn't been the strongest series. I'm not as down on it as some here - I certainly wouldn't call it unwatchable, although I have been browsing my phone a lot while its on - but it seems to have fallen short of its potential after a smashing first episode. It's the opposite of the previous series.
Is that point about arse cream true? I've been getting baggy eyes lately and I think pretending I had piles would be slightly less embarrassing than letting the chemist know how vain I am.
Quote from: frajer on November 10, 2021, 03:39:42 PM
Also I'm sure Alex would say differently but a lot of the tasks were definitely less restrictive and far more open to creative interpretation in the earlier series. "Create a snowman" versus that recent pipe one, just off the top of my head.
I had a listen today, and Alex seems to agree with this - he says he liked having simple, snappy task wordings in the early series, but there were only so many they could come up with. He also mentions the workarounds, and people getting too savvy to the show and the loophole exploits becoming too routine.
So it's not that he doesn't want lateral thinking, he just wants it to be less predictable? I suppose that's fair enough, but it's a hell of a tightrope to walk.
You definitely get the sense in the early series that they are playing the tasks as presented, with a few instances of people trying to find a workaround. There seemed to be a point where all that went out the window and people are now looking at the tasks as challenges instead of tasks and are looking for workarounds from the start instead of just doing the task. That's why there are so many wordy tasks now, Alex has to get all the workarounds out of the way because he knows people aren't approaching them as a task any more, it's more like a challenge that needs to be beaten. The original premise of the show, where people complete tasks created by Greg and set by Alex to win Greg's favour, has long gone by now (just look at the dreadful prize tasks of the last few series), it's like a show of people trying to outsmart each other instead of trying to be funny and play silly games. Not helped by idiots like Ed Gamble treating it like a reality show and as if it's a real competition. Roll on NZ series 3.
Quote from: The Crumb on November 12, 2021, 01:19:15 PM
I had a listen today, and Alex seems to agree with this - he says he liked having simple, snappy task wordings in the early series, but there were only so many they could come up with. He also mentions the workarounds, and people getting too savvy to the show and the loophole exploits becoming too routine.
Ah that's interesting, thanks. I (mistakenly) got the impression Alex preferred the more convoluted tasks that have been cropping up more lately.
One loophole I'm disappointed nobody exploited was that task involving the wheelie bin that started when Alex tapped them on the shoulder. Rhod Gilbert was halfway there, using it as a barrier between him and Alex, but I would have dived into the bin and attempted to run around with it on my head. I can tell you from experience that it would have been an hilarious image.
Quote from: BeardFaceMan on November 12, 2021, 01:43:16 PM
it's like a show of people trying to outsmart each other instead of trying to be funny and play silly games.
That's a great shout.
I just listened to the rest of that Horney interview and he seemed to contradict himself a few times when he was talking about simpler v wordier tasks and workarounds. I get the impression he's so wrapped up in the Taskmaster world that he really doesn't see any problem with the current tasks. That probably extends to how dismal the prize task is these days.
The 'pop before the toaster' element of last night's live task was originally a NZ taskmaster studio task. Some of the NZ tasks have been marvelous in their simplicity so it'd be nice if he borrowed a few more - I'd even say the tinkering by adding 2 more 'pops' made it better.
My wife has fallen into the habit of falling asleep during episodes this series - not a good sign.
I thought the studio task was fun enough that I'd suggest she go back and watch it. First time I'll have done so!
The first task felt like it was baiting this thread, straight in with the 'do this fiddly and awkward thing while also considering this overly wordy and purposely tricksy thing in the fastest time' and made me audibly groan for the prospect of the rest of the episode. Thankfully it picked up a bit but that whole part was mostly devoid of laughter so seemed a real waste.
I know people say they're not into the musical ones but there have definitely been more open ended challenges like 'make a jingle for this product' which aren't a million miles away in concept from successful Taskmaster NZ ones like their adverts for countries or the diss tracks, it's just that rather than hone in on that side they seem to need to mix it up with these tasks that feel like they're supposed to be actual challenges for the contestants. No one cares about the challenge, they're not trying to win a washing machine and the element of competition is pretty moot, there's no joy in seeing Desiree Burch work something out, but there is joy in seeing someone come up with something inventive, silly or unpredictable.
Quote from: Claude the Racecar Driving Rockstar Super Sleuth on November 12, 2021, 12:46:34 PM
Is that point about arse cream true? I've been getting baggy eyes lately and I think pretending I had piles would be slightly less embarrassing than letting the chemist know how vain I am.
It's not the first time I've heard the claim.
It was in a movie (I want to say "Living In Oblivion", but I might be miles off) where the makeup person replies "what does it do? It shrinks tissue" when the person was wondering why they were having pile cream put on their face.
The first task was rubbish but the sports one and upside down face one were pretty good, because they allowed the contestants to be creative. And the live task was great.
The best episode of an otherwise weak series.
The sports one suffered from the fact that all sport is inherently as boring as fuck. And the upside down face one suffered from the stupid way they just pasted on stills of the upside down faces in the final videos.
Quote from: Ja'moke on November 12, 2021, 09:44:18 PMThe best episode of an otherwise weak series.
Nope. Possibly the worst.
Quote from: Ja'moke on November 12, 2021, 09:44:18 PMThe first task was rubbish but the sports one and upside down face one were pretty good, because they allowed the contestants to be creative. And the live task was great.
The best episode of an otherwise weak series
Yeah, just caught up with it, thought it was pretty good. Greg's girly jump at the balloon pop was the highlight.
An original fun task!!
Cracking first task.
Why's everyone saying goosebumps like an American? They're goose pimples over here in Blighty. Only Desiree should have been allowed to say goosebumps.
Quote from: beanheadmcginty on November 18, 2021, 11:48:55 PMWhy's everyone saying goosebumps like an American? They're goose pimples over here in Blighty. Only Desiree should have been allowed to say goosebumps.
Because if they'd said 'goose pimples' on the task, the lateral thinking they'd planned for (putting the Goosebumps books in the caravan) wouldn't have worked.
I've honestly never heard of goose pimples.
That one was ostensibly unfair because some people just don't get goosebumps, but it was disappointing that none of them thought to have a look around for the books.
Also disappointed that Victoria Coren Mitchell hasn't changed the name of her twitter to "Old Goosebumps Arm," but in any case I thought she ought to have got the point just on the basis that the Taskmaster himself was insisting she be called that for the rest of the episode.
Best episode in ages, certainly the best from this series. Guz is just a naturally funny man, isn't he.
Also nice that Morgana, like Sally Phillips before her, is clearly playing to the fact that the Taskmaster is a horny man.
Quote from: gilbertharding on November 19, 2021, 09:17:04 AMAlso nice that Morgana, like Sally Phillips before her, is clearly playing to the fact that the Taskmaster is a horny man.
He is, but quite coy about it. It's weirdly funny to see his usually outgoing, boisterous personality go all shy when the subject is broached.
Still really hoping Morgana does an impersonation of Victoria.
Yeah, that last one was a good one, so it seems they can still pull it out of the bag. I felt like Morgana was winning all the tasks, but someone Desiree won the episode. Morgana at least seems in with a chance of winning the series. Not that it matters, of course, but if they do do a champions special, I'd like to see Morgana again. And they need to find an excuse to bring Mike back, somehow...
When do they announce the christmas special contestants? (I'm presuming that there will be one this year, or will there be the champions of champions instead?)
Quote from: holyzombiejesus on November 25, 2021, 02:39:14 PMWhen do they announce the christmas special contestants? (I'm presuming that there will be one this year, or will there be the champions of champions instead?)
The Champion of Champions has definitely been recorded & you'd imagine that'll be the festive offering, otherwise if there is a special like last year's New Years Treat then they've done it without requesting an audience.
They've definitely recorded another New Year's Treat. The studio bits were filmed in front of an audience a couple of weeks ago.
Anyone know what the series scores are going into tonight's final?
EDIT: I'm being a lazy fucker, an easy google, Morgana only 5 points clear https://taskmaster.tv/leaderboards
Average points per episode:
Roisin Conaty 11.3
Katherine Parkinson 11.8
Victoria Coren Mitchell 12*
Charlotte Ritchie 12.5
David Baddiel 12.8
Paul Chowdhry 13.2
Phil Wang 13.3
Nish Kumar 13.4
Paul Sinha 13.6
Jamali Maddix 13.7
Joe Wilkinson 13.8
Johnny Vegas 13.9
Sian Gibson 14.3
Sarah Pascoe 14.4
Tim Key 14.7
Joe Thomas 15
Lee Mack 15.1
Mawaan Rizwan 15.1
Alice Levine 15.2
Mike Wozniak 15.4
Jo Brand 15.4
Frank Skinner 15.5
Romesh Ranganathan 15.5
Desiree Burch 15.56*
Doc Brown 15.6
Iain Sterling 15.6
Lolly Adefope 15.63
Aisling Bea 15.75
Alan Davies 15.78*
Katy Wix 15.8
Daisy May Cooper 15.8
Sarah Kendall 15.8
Asim Chaudhry 15.9
Rose Matafeo 15.9
Al Murray 16
Bob Mortimer 16
Hugh Dennis 16.1
Guz Khan 16.11*
Dave Gorman 16.2
Richard Herring 16.2
Mark Watson 16.3
Sally Phillips 16.3
Josh Widdecombe 16.38
Lou Sanders 16.4
James Acaster 16.5
Morgana Robinson 16.67*
Rhod Gilbert 16.7
Ed Gamble 16.7
Mel Giedroyc 16.8
Joe Lycett 16.9
Russell Howard 17
Richard Osman 17.2
Tim Vine 17.5
Jessica Knappett 17.5
Rob Beckett 17.57
Noel Fielding 17.6
Kerry Godliman 17.6
Jon Richardson 18
Liza Tarbuck 18.1
Katherine Ryan 18.4
VCM has to get at least six points tonight to avoid being the (joint) worst contestant they've ever had.
Confirmed line-up for the next series:
Spoiler alert
Ardal O'Hanlon, Bridget Christie, Chris Ramsey, Judi Love, Sophie Duker.
Quote from: Bad Ambassador on November 25, 2021, 03:53:31 PMAverage points per episode:
Roisin Conaty 11.3
Katherine Parkinson 11.8
Victoria Coren Mitchell 12*
Charlotte Ritchie 12.5
David Baddiel 12.8
Paul Chowdhry 13.2
Phil Wang 13.3
Nish Kumar 13.4
Paul Sinha 13.6
Jamali Maddix 13.7
Joe Wilkinson 13.8
Johnny Vegas 13.9
Sian Gibson 14.3
Sarah Pascoe 14.4
Tim Key 14.7
Joe Thomas 15
Lee Mack 15.1
Mawaan Rizwan 15.1
Alice Levine 15.2
Mike Wozniak 15.4
Jo Brand 15.4
Frank Skinner 15.5
Romesh Ranganathan 15.5
Desiree Burch 15.56*
Doc Brown 15.6
Iain Sterling 15.6
Lolly Adefope 15.63
Aisling Bea 15.75
Alan Davies 15.78*
Katy Wix 15.8
Daisy May Cooper 15.8
Sarah Kendall 15.8
Asim Chaudhry 15.9
Rose Matafeo 15.9
Al Murray 16
Bob Mortimer 16
Hugh Dennis 16.1
Guz Khan 16.11*
Dave Gorman 16.2
Richard Herring 16.2
Mark Watson 16.3
Sally Phillips 16.3
Josh Widdecombe 16.38
Lou Sanders 16.4
James Acaster 16.5
Morgana Robinson 16.67*
Rhod Gilbert 16.7
Ed Gamble 16.7
Mel Giedroyc 16.8
Joe Lycett 16.9
Russell Howard 17
Richard Osman 17.2
Tim Vine 17.5
Jessica Knappett 17.5
Rob Beckett 17.57
Noel Fielding 17.6
Kerry Godliman 17.6
Jon Richardson 18
Liza Tarbuck 18.1
Katherine Ryan 18.4
VCM has to get at least six points tonight to avoid being the (joint) worst contestant they've ever had.
Wow - look at how far down the ranks series champion Bob Mortimer is. Any other anomolies?
Quote from: Wayman C. McCreery on November 25, 2021, 03:10:18 PMThey've definitely recorded another New Year's Treat. The studio bits were filmed in front of an audience a couple of weeks ago.
Oh right. Must've missed the audience call-out for that one.
Quote from: gilbertharding on November 25, 2021, 05:39:50 PMWow - look at how far down the ranks series champion Bob Mortimer is. Any other anomolies?
Might include Champ of Champs, where I think he came last.
I think it does.
Had misunderstood from last week that Morgana was trailing by 5 points, rather than being in the lead by 5. Hopefully Davies will avoid a late surge and either Guz or Morgana clinches it. It would be nice if the most entertaining contestant could win it for a change!
Result!
Loved that last task. One of the best studio tasks in a long time.
Quote from: JamesTC on November 25, 2021, 10:03:30 PMLoved that last task. One of the best studio tasks in a long time.
Definitely.
Davies was hilariously dreadful at it.
Possibly the best ever studio task, it had me in stitches.
12 series, 12 white winners. Getting a bit embarrassing now and this was the first series to have two non-white contestants. (Something they're repeating for s13) I know it's luck of the draw but we were *this* close to a Guz win
Yay, by far the funniest contestant won.
Not a great series overall. I didn't dislike any of the cast, but only Morgana and Guz stood out. Though the last couple of episodes picked up quite a bit in terms of quality. And there were several very good live tasks, which made up for some of the tedious pre-recorded ones. Hopefully Alex raised his game for S13.
The final two eps have had the best live tasks of the series & both benefitted from having no audience. Otherwise Greg would've needed to be blindfolded for tonights & the contestants would've been blindfolded last week. Otherwise the crowd "oohs & ahhs" would've been tip-offs.
Alan Davies made up for 10 episodes of dullness with that WOW!
Quote from: Ja'moke on November 25, 2021, 10:24:45 PMAlan Davies made up for 10 episodes of dullness with that WOW!
I thought he came across really well all series.
That said, only a couple in TM history haven't.
Quote from: DrGreggles on November 25, 2021, 10:40:02 PMI thought he came across really well all series.
That said, only a couple in TM history haven't.
He didn't come across bad by any means. He just never really made me laugh until that moment.
I didn't realise that florid could mean red faced until this episode. I only ever knew it as meaning elaborate.
Was that drinking task not a fairly big choking risk?
I thought that, it seemed like the riskiest task they've done, bizarrely
Quote from: Claude the Racecar Driving Rockstar Super Sleuth on November 25, 2021, 11:25:43 PMWas that drinking task not a fairly big choking risk?
I wonder if Horne thought that one up during No More Jockeys. I'm pretty sure he tried attempting it himself on there.
Morgana
Quote from: DrGreggles on November 25, 2021, 10:40:02 PMI thought he came across really well all series.
That said, only a couple in TM history haven't.
I agree. I've no idea what all the sniping about Alan Davies on here was all about. He's been a perfectly decent contestant throughout and was very funny on yesterday's episode.
"Alan Davies - Ugh, can't stand him, my only hope is that he'll be so shit that everyone will mock him ala Baddiel...Without Stephen Fry there to fawn over his audience mugging, there really isn't a lot left he can do."
Some typically fair and balanced comments there. Stephen Fry hasn't even hosted QI for nearly six years!
Quote from: bobloblaw on November 25, 2021, 10:13:13 PM12 series, 12 white winners. Getting a bit embarrassing now and this was the first series to have two non-white contestants. (Something they're repeating for s13) I know it's luck of the draw but we were *this* close to a Guz win
I sometimes wonder if there's some unconscious cultural bias in the way the tasks are presented.
By my count, around one in five contestants have been non-white overall. up to the end of this series.
Guz did seem a bit uncomfortable during the tasks filmed in a church.
I wonder how everyone else would have been had they been filming in a Mosque?
Quote from: Virgo76 on November 26, 2021, 06:37:00 AMI agree. I've no idea what all the sniping about Alan Davies on here was all about. He's been a perfectly decent contestant throughout and was very funny on yesterday's episode.
I feel like Alan has been fine.
My top Alan moment was on the task when he took off his hoodie that he has been wearing all series, only to be wearing a t-shirt with the identical motif underneath.
Spoiler alert
Also, the nerd in me appreciates the Simpsons deep cut of the design
Quote from: Virgo76 on November 26, 2021, 06:37:00 AMI agree. I've no idea what all the sniping about Alan Davies on here was all about. He's been a perfectly decent contestant throughout and was very funny on yesterday's episode.
"Alan Davies - Ugh, can't stand him, my only hope is that he'll be so shit that everyone will mock him ala Baddiel...Without Stephen Fry there to fawn over his audience mugging, there really isn't a lot left he can do."
Some typically fair and balanced comments there. Stephen Fry hasn't even hosted QI for nearly six years!
Fair and balanced based on watching him for 25 years. Sorry that someone doesn't like a comedian you like.
Cracking live task that, Alex still has it in him now and again. Not a series that's inspiring a rewatch though.
I just watched the final having abandoned this series a few episodes ago.
Much to my surprise, I thought it was absolutely great - classic Taskmaster and plenty of belly laughs, all as a result of tasks that gave the contestants the space to be funny.
The weakest series by far for me, Clive. But I'm pleased it ended on such a high.
The last two eps were well up to scratch, so not sure what went wrong with the others. I don't particularly intend to rewatch any of the series, but if I were to do such a thing I think I'd come to this one before 6 or 8.
Morgana very enjoyably tells Ed Gamble to "put your foot off the cunt pedal" in the latest Taskmaster podcast.
Nice to see the (joint) best contestant win. No offense to whoever won the previous series, but I think we all wish it had been Wozniak.
I wonder if the scoring system is the root of the problem with the tasks. If they're going for easily quantifiable results, entertainment value is a secondary concern. "Fastest wins" can encourage a mad dash, but it's not guaranteed. The classic melon eating task could easily have been boring - it was just lucky that Key and Ranganathan went utterly off the rails with it.
Having said that, the prize task is essentially judged on laughs and that generally hasn't been producing the goods for some time.
I nearly gave myself a hernia laughing at Guz's proposal. I think I should check out Man Like Mobeen next.
There's nothing to stop Greg scoring for entertainment value rather than sticking to the letter of the task. Might encourage contestants to go for more laughs. Although I guess they don't know how they'll be scored till they get to the studio.
Small Taskmaster-related bonus at the end of the recent "No More Jockeys Training Game":
https://youtu.be/rjwarYsa-0w
Wouldn't be surprised to see 'touch as many former Taskmaster contestants as possible before the live show' as a future post-Covid task.
Quote from: beanheadmcginty on November 27, 2021, 09:50:12 AMMorgana very enjoyably tells Ed Gamble to "put your foot off the cunt pedal" in the latest Taskmaster podcast.
She's fantastically foul-mouthed, isn't she?
Last task was brilliant. Up on YouTube in full for anyone that wants to watch again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln6DfUvtPEM
Agree that it's been one of the weaker series, but I still think you could edit it down into a pretty fantastic six or seven episodes. Really they should film all the tasks, look at the quality of what they've got, and then decide on the number of episodes based on that. Not that that would ever happen of course. Although I guess just coming up with better tasks would be another way of fixing the problems.
One thing that's starting to annoy me is that Greg gives out joint scores so often these days. Too many tasks where two people get five points, two people get four points and one person gets three or whatever. I know it's hard to separate people sometimes, but please just do it anyway.
I think they should change the make up of the 2 teams for the team tasks throughout the series.
Quote from: Virgo76 on November 26, 2021, 06:41:39 AMI sometimes wonder if there's some unconscious cultural bias in the way the tasks are presented.
By my count, around one in five contestants have been non-white overall. up to the end of this series.
Guz did seem a bit uncomfortable during the tasks filmed in a church.
I wonder how everyone else would have been had they been filming in a Mosque?
Yes - each series has had one non-white contestant until series 12, which had two. I sense they are very aware of the issue - series 13 again has two non-white faces - and it is particularly evident in the all-white champion of champions episodes
Quote from: holyzombiejesus on November 28, 2021, 12:14:30 AMI think they should change the make up of the 2 teams for the team tasks throughout the series.
Probably awkward to do that as all the tasks for each team will be filmed in one day, when all members of that team are available.
Finally caught up with this. Thought it contained the best and worst of the show. Drinking task was awful - just drink the drink, your mouth's open the whole time because the drink's going into your mouth. Not even a task. By contrast the final task was one of the best things I've ever seen on the programme. Hilarious to see VCM not only be bad at the task, but be out-thought by Greg in every round.
Muted reponse from Mrs Canes when Morgana was announced the winner. I think she thinks I lust over her or something.
Desiree's proposal was an all-time great moment too, not sure how that wasn't worth five points.
Quote from: Norton Canes on December 01, 2021, 08:32:48 AMFinally caught up with this. Thought it contained the best and worst of the show. Drinking task was awful - just drink the drink, your mouth's open the whole time because the drink's going into your mouth. Not even a task.
Have you tried it? I did, it was impossible. Drink won't go down my throat if my mouth is open, I choked instead. I reckon you need to be the type who can chug a yard of ale in 10 seconds, then you could do this.
I figured Norton meant just drink it normally, and then argue that your mouth was open, as the drink wouldn't have been able to go in otherwise. As Alan successfully argued with the straw, the rim of the glass would be keeping it open.
The sort-of muted "yeah it was open" reaction that Alan got really underlined the weirdness of that task. It felt like one of the most limited tasks they've ever done in terms of options. It's possible they were hoping somebody would do Norton's suggestion, and so undermine all the other attempts - but then the 'go on then' shrug that Alan's straw got made it seem like they weren't really all that fussed on that task.
Oh yeah, the straw was the clever one.
Saw this last night and agree the drinking task was a bit odd. I think it was meant to make people overthink what they were doing - as said above, just drinking it normally would have worked.
Live task was an amazing finish, one of their best ideas ever. I loved Morgana's micro impressions of Victoria. Kind of a shame the series ended there, it was finally picking up steam for me.
Quote from: Endicott on December 01, 2021, 09:41:21 AMHave you tried it? I did, it was impossible. Drink won't go down my throat if my mouth is open, I choked instead. I reckon you need to be the type who can chug a yard of ale in 10 seconds, then you could do this.
It's quite difficult to swallow if your mouth is open - I think it's because as long as air is getting in your body reflexively tries to breathe rather than swallow - but you can get around that by curling your tongue up to the roof of your mouth to block the opening, i.e., your tongue is doing the job your lips would normally do. Then the most difficult part is remembering to keep your mouth open while you swallow.
None of them thought of that, though.
Quote from: olliebean on December 01, 2021, 11:00:12 AMIt's quite difficult to swallow if your mouth is open - I think it's because as long as air is getting in your body reflexively tries to breathe rather than swallow - but you can get around that by curling your tongue up to the roof of your mouth to block the opening, i.e., your tongue is doing the job your lips would normally do. Then the most difficult part is remembering to keep your mouth open while you swallow.
None of them thought of that, though.
Or you just be like Desiree Birch and be an ex-dominatirix with no gag reflex.
Quote from: olliebean on December 01, 2021, 11:00:12 AMIt's quite difficult to swallow if your mouth is open - I think it's because as long as air is getting in your body reflexively tries to breathe rather than swallow - but you can get around that by curling your tongue up to the roof of your mouth to block the opening, i.e., your tongue is doing the job your lips would normally do. Then the most difficult part is remembering to keep your mouth open while you swallow.
None of them thought of that, though.
It's even simpler than that, you just need to keep a steady flow of liquid to block out the air. It's just drinking a glass of squash in one go, which most people have probably done at some point.
I stopped watching this series a while ago (I think it was the task that went "do the opposite of not not NOT not ringing this bell!" that just fucked me off with its dick-tugging self-congratulary cleverness), which I haven't done since whichever series had Russel Howard on it, but I am glad I went back and watched the last two episodes because they really were great, both live tasks lots of fun, and I think the best contestant won (for a change).
They need to cut it to 8 episodes, I think. Ten too many. Alex irritates me hugely, bouncing away like a gimpy little monkey next to Greg (reminds me of that shrieking gibbon thing Jabba the Hutt had in Return of the Jedi), but I suppose he's a necessary part of it, although I feel Greg is a bit bored of the dynamic, his job consisting of repeating things we've just seen and heard in an exaggerated amused/bemused way. And please can we stop with the cake-sitting, boot-crushing, drooling and chewing fetish shit?
Quote from: The Crumb on December 01, 2021, 10:36:43 AMI loved Morgana's micro impressions of Victoria
Quote from: Norton Canes on November 20, 2021, 10:26:26 AMStill really hoping Morgana does an impersonation of Victoria
Well... eventually, she did... in a way
I missed these "micro impressions". When and what were they?
Quote from: beanheadmcginty on December 01, 2021, 11:23:32 AMI missed these "micro impressions". When and what were they?
During the noises live task, Morgana's bird noise and beatboxing were both done to sound like Victoria had made them.
I really liked the drinking task on the basis that it elicited some mad noises and facial expressions.
It was very much another one of Alex's oral fetish tasks
Quote from: Hex Triplet on December 01, 2021, 11:13:39 AMAlex irritates me hugely, bouncing away like a gimpy little monkey next to Greg (reminds me of that shrieking gibbon thing Jabba the Hutt had in Return of the Jedi).
Salicious Crumb mate, show some respect.
Quote from: The Crumb on December 01, 2021, 11:12:39 AMIt's even simpler than that, you just need to keep a steady flow of liquid to block out the air. It's just drinking a glass of squash in one go, which most people have probably done at some point.
I think your mouth would instinctively close on the final gulp though. You'd have to be confident enough to argue that that was "after" the final bit of drink had been consumed.
Quote from: Captain Z on December 01, 2021, 12:58:00 PMI think your mouth would instinctively close on the final gulp though. You'd have to be confident enough to argue that that was "after" the final bit of drink had been consumed.
Leave the glass in place until you finish the last gulp. Tried this just now and it was fine. Credit to Alex for making us really think about the mechanics of drinking.
Quote from: Wayman C. McCreery on December 01, 2021, 11:54:32 AMI really liked the drinking task on the basis that it elicited some mad noises and facial expressions.
That was obviously the intended result, so I guess it can be called a success. I'd say the problem was that it was all a bit predictable: Some of them made a mess, some of them quibbled over what counts as an open gob (using a straw certainly isn't) just as I would have expected.
Perhaps a more classic version would have been something like "Drink this juice, without using your hands. There would be more leeway for creative solutions and I'm sure Horne would have been there for one of them lapping it out of a bowl or something.
One surprise I was less pleased to see was how dull Victoria Coren was for most of it. Fair enough, she's not a professional comedian, but I was convinced she would make for a good contestant.
Quote from: Claude the Racecar Driving Rockstar Super Sleuth on November 27, 2021, 05:02:55 PMI nearly gave myself a hernia laughing at Guz's proposal. I think I should check out Man Like Mobeen next.
Man Like Mobeen is well worth a watch. Mobeen is very much just Guz!
I'm watching the first episode right now. It's started off very well.
Taskmaster's New Year Treat lineup is out:
Adrian Chiles
Claudia Winkleman
Jonnie Peacock
Lady Leshurr
Sayeeda Warsi
Decent haul!
Very funny, now when's the real lineup announced?
Warsi is a low point.
Failed to declare rental income, stayed rent-free in the home of a Tory donor and twice broke the Ministerial Code.
Urgh. Warsi.
The rest are fine and it could be fun, and I'm grateful that the New Year Treat exists as it means they can stick to comedians on the regular series.
But on the other hand, I didn't really enjoy last year's and the show only works when you get to know the contestants - which isn't possible with just the one episode.
Christ that's actually real.
Is Chiles now going out with Alex Horne?
And Warsi?! What? Get Blair on.
No Tony from Hollyoaks again. what a cock up.
Looking at the reaction on twitter to this, there seem to be a lot of BIG Claudia Winkleman fans. How does that happen? How do you become a fan of Claudia Winkleman?
Quote from: Cuellar on December 03, 2021, 01:14:54 PMLooking at the reaction on twitter to this, there seem to be a lot of BIG Claudia Winkleman fans. How does that happen? How do you become a fan of Claudia Winkleman?
Don't ever got to the Taskmaster reddit, they've been begging to have her on for years.
Quote from: Cuellar on December 03, 2021, 01:14:54 PMLooking at the reaction on twitter to this, there seem to be a lot of BIG Claudia Winkleman fans. How does that happen? How do you become a fan of Claudia Winkleman?
Over on Reddit she was ALWAYS in the request a contestant threads.
I'm fine with it - based on her appearance on Off Menu & Would I Lie To You I'm sure she'll be good value on a one-off Taskmaster. Warsi however...
Right. I'm sure she'd be fine, but I just don't get that some people spend time thinking about Claudia Winkleman, and imagining her doing things. It doesn't make much sense to me.
I'm weirdly relieved Winkleman's on it as it means she presumably won't be in any future series. Otherwise it sounds fairly awful, and I'll wait to see the reaction on here before possibly giving it a go.
I'm sure it'll be a fine vehicle for her to do her hilariously wacky and random shtick, while coming across like a drunk aunt at a christening do.
Winkleman's game for a laugh, I reckon. She doesn't seem to have a problem with making a fool out of herself so she should be good Taskmaster material.
If they'd have hung a bit they could have got Margaret Hodge.
Quote from: amateur on December 03, 2021, 09:51:14 AMTaskmaster's New Year Treat lineup is out:
Adrian Chiles
Claudia Winkleman
Jonnie Peacock
Lady Leshurr
Sayeeda Warsi
Decent haul!
Jonnie Peacock was ill for the studio filming, so he's replaced by Alan Davies for those bits. Shame it wasn't Warsi who had the shits.
Spoiler-heavy interviews here: https://www.channel4.com/press/news/taskmasters-new-year-treat-interviews-greg-davies-alex-horne-adrian-chiles-claudia
I'm guessing it was filmed on the same day as some of the S12 episodes, hence Alan Davies being around to step in? Shame they didn't get Guz to do it, if so.
Absolutely dreadful line-up (although I don't know who Lady Leshurr is so not including her).
Quote from: olliebean on December 22, 2021, 09:30:43 AMI'm guessing it was filmed on the same day as some of the S12 episodes, hence Alan Davies being around to step in? Shame they didn't get Guz to do it, if so.
It was filmed months later and in front of a studio audience. I guess Alan just happened to be available, like when Kerry Godliman and Katherine Ryan replaced Katy Wix when she was ill in series 9.
Quote from: jobotic on December 22, 2021, 09:47:00 AMAbsolutely dreadful line-up (although I don't know who Lady Leshurr is so not including her).
I didn't think the line up could be any worse... and then Alan Davies enters the room.
More potentially shitty news about forthcoming series: https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2021/12/23/49912/taskmaster_might_move_away_from_comedians
QuoteTaskmaster might move away from comedians
Alex Horne considers 'mixing it up'
Future series of Taskmaster might not be the sole preserve of comedians.
Series creator Alex Horne, and loyal lickspittle to Taskmaster Greg Davies, says that taking contestants from outside the world of comedy for the New Year special has encouraged him to consider expanding the field for future regular series.
He said:' We both felt it was great having people outside of comedy on the show.
'Maybe there's room to have three comics and two non-comics in the same series, or just one, or mixing it up.
'It would be good to have an athlete or a historian or something. Someone like Mary Beard. She was my lecturer at university. She was amazing, really inspiring. She's a good one. Quite scary.'
And Davies added: 'I really enjoy involvement from non-comics. I don't know what it means going forward, but it's really exciting.'
This year's New Year special, featuring Adrian Chiles, Claudia Winkleman, Jonnie Peacock, Lady Leshurr and Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, airs on Channel 4 at 9pm on January 1.
Well, they've had one or two non-comics each series. Amirite?
I guess I wouldn't say Richard Osman or Mel Giedroyc were first and foremost comics.
Quote from: Small Man Big Horse on December 24, 2021, 06:15:30 PMMore potentially shitty news about forthcoming series: https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2021/12/23/49912/taskmaster_might_move_away_from_comedians
Combine them running out of decent comedians to use and the move to Channel 4, this had to happen soon.
I give it three more series before Jess Phillips is a contestant
Quote from: BeardFaceMan on December 24, 2021, 06:28:26 PMCombine them running out of decent comedians to use and the move to Channel 4, this had to happen soon.
I have no objection to them having (more) non-comedians on Taskmaster, but why couldn't they have some of the earlier comedians back again? The first few seasons were half the length of the latest ones. Besides which, the dynamic between contestants would be different unless they got the exact same lineup back.
Quote from: BritishHobo on December 24, 2021, 06:23:58 PMI guess I wouldn't say Richard Osman or Mel Giedroyc were first and foremost comics.
Giedroyc was a comic before she was a presenter, wasn't she?
I can think of a sod load of comedians I'd like to see on the show so I don't think they've run out of decent potential participants - though whether they'd want to do the show is another question I guess.
One of my favourite episodes of the horne section podcast was the one where the guest was just alex's accountant. bring him one for a series
Quote from: g0m on December 24, 2021, 08:41:15 PMOne of my favourite episodes of the horne section podcast was the one where the guest was just alex's accountant. bring him one for a series
Yes, that was good.
Wasn't he there by accident, so they just recorded one anyway?
Quote from: DrGreggles on December 24, 2021, 08:45:09 PMYes, that was good.
Wasn't he there by accident, so they just recorded one anyway?
i don't think so, there was a bit mid-episode where alex read out texts he'd sent to the band about it
Quote from: g0m on December 24, 2021, 11:03:32 PMi don't think so, there was a bit mid-episode where alex read out texts he'd sent to the band about it
Ah, assumed that was made up.
Quote from: olliebean on December 24, 2021, 08:22:52 PMGiedroyc was a comic before she was a presenter, wasn't she?
I have never watched The Vicar of Dibley, and by pure chance I had a watch of the Christmas special repeated on BBC1 tonight, in which Mel appears in a dialled-to-11 comic relief role. Egg all over my face.
Personally I don't have a problem with people who aren't primarily comedians taking part as long as they are entertaining in the context of TM. But unless it reaches the point where people have to audition to take part, it's always going to be a gamble.
Adrian Chiles was very good value on RHLSTP. Self aware, self deprecating and can certainly tell a story. That probably won't make for a good Taskmaster contestant though.
Jonnie Peacock is obviously going to be competitive so he may well come across as a cock.
As for other non TM comics, I did think Richard Osman was good value on the show. Alice Levine, not so much. There have been comics on it who have been shit though so ultimately, it just depends on their personality.
Quote from: greencalx on December 24, 2021, 06:21:36 PMWell, they've had one or two non-comics each series. Amirite?
Spoiler alert
Baddiel?
don't mind the idea of having some non celebs as they could be great if the right people are picked but sports people would just end up doing the tasks in a very straight faced way like richard herring wouldnt they? Looking forward to Cristiano Ronaldo making an appearance when he hangs his boots up...
Quote from: olliebean on December 24, 2021, 08:22:52 PMGiedroyc was a comic before she was a presenter, wasn't she?
She was in Footlights, so yes.
I hate non-comedians on these sorts of show, it all becomes part of the same grey mush that Taskmaster had managed to not sink into. Ah well.
Quote from: Famous Mortimer on December 28, 2021, 10:45:47 PMShe was in Footlights, so yes.
I hate non-comedians on these sorts of show, it all becomes part of the same grey mush that Taskmaster had managed to not sink into. Ah well.
She was seen as a pioneer in the alt-comedy movement alongside Keith Allen I think.
I've got so used to them doing the socially distanced version, I really don't like them sitting so close together now. Makes the whole thing feel quite claustrophobic. I think they're even closer than they used to be pre-pandemic.
It's amazing how much better it is with a live audience.
The vinegar task was the kind of simple task I enjoy too.
Nearly didn't watch this because a) I hated last year's special and b) Warsi but - her aside - I thought it was a hit. Even the prize task delivered some big laughs.
The three main tasks were better than any from the last series. I wish they were all like that.
And I'm not going to start calling for non-comedians to become regulars (I wouldn't read too much into that Chortle article, which was taken from a few lines of a long interview), but it was obvious they were there for fun rather than to win. Which makes for a better show.
Fuck them for putting Warsi on the show, but Chiles and Lady Leshurr cancelled her out.
Didn't have high hopes for this, and probably only watched due to my crush on Lady Leshurr, but I thought it was really good.
I liked how much Alex clearly enjoyed having Lady Leshurr as a contestant.
That was a fun hour (just caught up, as 9pm is past child's bedtime, and yes, he does watch the unbleeped version). Had low expectations: Warsi has been a low point on HIGNFY (even by the dire standards of modern-day HIGNFY) and I didn't hold out much hope for Chiles, but as soon as his prize task choice came out I felt we could be in for a decent ride. Warsi managed to not annoy me, and Leshurr was great - the whole thing with the salmon is the kind of thing we've been missing from regular TM for a while. Johnnie gave good laughs for trying to make a spectacle of it. Even the shit attempts at the tasks were mostly entertaining in their good-faith shitness.
If the S12 contestants had been faced with these tasks, they'd have mostly just
just in case people are reading this before watching
popped the egg in the cup in the least effort way possible, found some nitpicky way to not bother drinking any of the shots, and walked the shortest pole possible round the course without saying a word.
I enjoyed this but was slightly alarmed that Alan Davis appeared to have made a golliwog in the live task.
Quote from: Hex Triplet on January 02, 2022, 04:23:56 PMI enjoyed this but was slightly alarmed that Alan Davis appeared to have made a golliwog in the live task.
I think there was a collective wince when that was revealed...
Loved Alex's mischievous jibe at Claudia in the live task too.
Fair play, really enjoyed that. All contestants good value,
Spoiler alert
Peacock spilling the vinegar is definitely something I'd do
, was strange at first seeing the show with an audience but it definitely help the show
Quote from: The Lurker on January 02, 2022, 05:55:15 PMSpoiler alert
Peacock spilling the vinegar is definitely something I'd do
Spoiler alert
Yeah! We really felt for him, having been the only one to spot Alex's hidden-in-plain-sight clue, and then to fuck it up like that. But great entertainment value.
It was alright. Decent tasks, and Chiles was great value. Honestly wouldn't mind seeing him in a full series after that, which is not something I anticipated saying.
No more Tories on it though please.
Quote from: Wayman C. McCreery on December 22, 2021, 10:24:48 AMIt was filmed months later and in front of a studio audience. I guess Alan just happened to be available, like when Kerry Godliman and Katherine Ryan replaced Katy Wix when she was ill in series 9.
Actually, she revealed in a podcast she suffered three bereavements over a couple years - her best friend, her father and then her mother during taping.
Despite wincing when somebody won 5 points for bringing in
Spoiler alert
their fucking music award
, I really enjoyed it. Can only echo the comments that the live audience and no distancing definitely helped, and the tasks were great. Still not convinced that non-comedians would be a good route to continue down.
Quote from: Captain Z on January 03, 2022, 10:02:26 PMDespite wincing when somebody won 5 points for bringing in Spoiler alert
their fucking music award
Especially as it was neither unwieldy (I did a Google image search to check how big they are, and found dozens of pictures of people wielding them), nor especially shiny (I think the picture they showed had been tweaked to make it look shinier than it is, and it still didn't look very shiny). Definitely not a deserving winner of that round.
Really enjoyed that. Lady Leshurr is the perfect contestant for shows like this, completely unfiltered bordering on unhinged at times.
I would definitely have enjoyed seeing both Adrian Chiles and Lady Leshurr on a full series.
Why was Lady Tory on this? Does she do a lot of telly?
She's been on HIGNFY a few times. Don't think I've seen her on any other light entertainment stuff.
If I didn't know she was an arsehole Tory I'd say she was pretty good on this, the Adrian Chiles ball was great and she threw herself into the egg cup task.
I was also on Alan Davies side last series and thought he wasn't as bad as others said, quite warm and likeable, but I've just heard his weird Man City rant from the other day where he comes across like some kind of mad xenophobe and can see the 'nasty' side that was referenced earlier in the thread.
Quote from: olliebean on January 04, 2022, 08:04:41 PMShe's been on HIGNFY a few times. Don't think I've seen her on any other light entertainment stuff.
She was on (and won) a channel 4 show last year where 5 celebrities competed for charity to see who could perform the best stand up. She beat Shaun Ryder, Reverend Richard Coles, Curtis Pritchard and Katie McGlynn.
This is the Alan Davies clip for those who haven't heard it, quite unhinged:
https://twitter.com/cityreport_/status/1478385828179107844?t=c3dBsy91ukZvp81ZcCemRA&s=19
Quote from: thelittlemango on January 04, 2022, 08:51:28 PMThis is the Alan Davies clip for those who haven't heard it, quite unhinged:
https://twitter.com/cityreport_/status/1478385828179107844?t=c3dBsy91ukZvp81ZcCemRA&s=19
Fucking hell. That's pretty horrendous.
Has that been discussed in this thread?
I don't think there's much wrong with what he's saying until the very last sentence. I mean it's pretty clear that his anger is about the damage their money is doing to the league rather than the fact that they are foreign. Obviously he's a huge hypocrite given that Arsenal are owned by billionaires too (as are most major clubs nowadays), but I don't think it's xenophobic, despite the casual stereotype at the end.
Quote from: Utter Shit on January 05, 2022, 10:22:46 AMI don't think there's much wrong with what he's saying until the very last sentence. I mean it's pretty clear that his anger is about the damage their money is doing to the league rather than the fact that they are foreign. Obviously he's a huge hypocrite given that Arsenal are owned by billionaires too (as are most major clubs nowadays), but I don't think it's xenophobic, despite the casual stereotype at the end.
sadly arsenal's billionaire owner knows better than to spend his own cash but we shouldn't really turn this into a football thread. tbf its just the kind of rant that the tuesday club's alan davies, rather than QI's alan davies, is known for and part of what made the podcast popular. I think he is just fed up withthe man city situation as an arsenal fan.
Quote from: Utter Shit on January 05, 2022, 10:22:46 AMI don't think there's much wrong with what he's saying until the very last sentence. I mean it's pretty clear that his anger is about the damage their money is doing to the league rather than the fact that they are foreign. Obviously he's a huge hypocrite given that Arsenal are owned by billionaires too (as are most major clubs nowadays), but I don't think it's xenophobic, despite the casual stereotype at the end.
I couldn't disagree more, I think the whole thing is xenophobic, and fucking horrible as well.
I just think it's hilarious how he changes his voice to 'pwoppa footbaw bloke'. If I didn't know who it belonged to, I would say there was a 95% chance that person was bald.
Is there something in particular which set this off? I know City played Arsenal and fluked a win, but when Davies says "to come here with that attitude to football, that attitude to the opposition, that attitude to the opposition fans, that attitude to Arsenal itself..." is he referring to any particular incident?
Not that it would make it much better, just wondering what caused it all to kick off.
(Has he never heard of 606?)
Quote from: Utter Shit on January 05, 2022, 10:22:46 AMI don't think there's much wrong with what he's saying until the very last sentence. I mean it's pretty clear that his anger is about the damage their money is doing to the league rather than the fact that they are foreign. Obviously he's a huge hypocrite given that Arsenal are owned by billionaires too (as are most major clubs nowadays), but I don't think it's xenophobic, despite the casual stereotype at the end.
"Get out of our league", "you're not wanted here", talking about Arsenal being an institution "in this country", I think it's pretty clear what he's saying and that last sentence wasn't an out-of-step-with-the-rest-of-his-rant comment, it was the full stop to his point.
I think if a bunch of englishmen had come along and spent more than £1bn in less than ten years on man city he would feel the same way tbh. i do enjoy the difference between his football podcast persona and his genial taskmaster presence though!
Quote from: BeardFaceMan on January 05, 2022, 07:59:20 PM"Get out of our league", "you're not wanted here", talking about Arsenal being an institution "in this country", I think it's pretty clear what he's saying and that last sentence wasn't an out-of-step-with-the-rest-of-his-rant comment, it was the full stop to his point.
are you a football fan?
Quote from: Enzo on January 09, 2022, 12:28:09 AMare you a football fan?
No, if I want to watch grown men get paid to fall over I'll watch You've Been Framed.
Quote from: Hat FM on January 05, 2022, 10:05:47 PMI think if a bunch of englishmen had come along and spent more than £1bn in less than ten years on man city he would feel the same way tbh.
I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have told them to "Get out of our league", "you're not wanted here" etc
Quote from: BeardFaceMan on January 09, 2022, 12:47:05 AMNo, if I want to watch grown men get paid to fall over I'll watch You've Been Framed.
That's fair enough, but you're missing massive subtext (on many points) in Davies' comments on an explicitly partisan football podcast and coming to your own conclusions based on a completely superficial reading.
Quote from: holyzombiejesus on January 09, 2022, 09:42:16 PMI'm pretty sure he wouldn't have told them to "Get out of our league", "you're not wanted here" etc
he would, to be fair.
Quote from: Enzo on January 10, 2022, 02:12:44 AMhe would, to be fair.
He absolutely wouldn't, he would have no problem if it was Arsenal getting funded and winning everything. And he certainly wouldn't be moaning if it was an English billionaire doing it.
Quote from: Enzo on January 10, 2022, 02:06:41 AMThat's fair enough, but you're missing massive subtext (on many points) in Davies' comments on an explicitly partisan football podcast and coming to your own conclusions based on a completely superficial reading.
No, I used to be a football fan so I know exactly what he's talking about. His problem isn't the money, it's where it's coming from. English football fans and lazy xenophobia go hand-in-hand.
If there is a massive subtext on multiple points I'm not getting, can you share what they are?
As an English football fan I must protest.
My xenophobia is extremely well crafted and complex.
Quote from: Enzo on January 10, 2022, 02:12:44 AMhe would, to be fair.
Don't think he would, to be fair. I've never heard people talking about Salford (for example) or other teams who buy their way out of the conference and lower leagues in the way Davies talks about 'foreign' money.
People were pissed off when Jack Walker bought the league for Blackburn, don't ever remember any talk of 'get out of our league' or 'you're not wanted here' though.
Quote from: Hat FM on January 05, 2022, 03:59:43 PMsadly arsenal's billionaire owner knows better than to spend his own cash but we shouldn't really turn this into a football thread. tbf its just the kind of rant that the tuesday club's alan davies, rather than QI's alan davies, is known for and part of what made the podcast popular. I think he is just fed up withthe man city situation as an arsenal fan.
Is this actually true that NO money is invested or is it just less than others?
I've been told that my club (Norwich) are the only self funded club in the top 2 divisions.
i.e. we don't have money being pumped in from other sources (i.e. outside tickets, advertising, sponsorship and TV revenue).
Quote from: KennyMonster on January 10, 2022, 10:29:36 AMIs this actually true that NO money is invested or is it just less than others?
I've been told that my club (Norwich) are the only self funded club in the top 2 divisions.
i.e. we don't have money being pumped in from other sources (i.e. outside tickets, advertising, sponsorship and TV revenue).
as far as i know the Arsenal's spending has not come out of the Kroenke's pocket but has been further added to the debt which is now to the tune of half a billion having been looking quite healthy with the standium slowly but surely getting paid off before they came along. comparing man city spending more than £1bn to salford is quite amusing. Even comparing them to Blackburn is although things were different back then and Jack Walker's financial influence was seen as a bit of a novelty at the time.
Quote from: Hat FM on January 10, 2022, 11:04:40 AMcomparing man city spending more than £1bn to salford is quite amusing. Even comparing them to Blackburn is although things were different back then and Jack Walker's financial influence was seen as a bit of a novelty at the time.
It's all relative though. Salford (or Blackburn or Newcastle under John Hall) may not spend the amount that MCFC have but in relation to the competition it's quite glaring and I haven't heard or seen anyone talking about any of those people in the terms Davies used. Glad you're amused though.
Quote from: BeardFaceMan on January 10, 2022, 08:58:13 AMHe absolutely wouldn't, he would have no problem if it was Arsenal getting funded and winning everything. And he certainly wouldn't be moaning if it was an English billionaire doing it.
No, I used to be a football fan so I know exactly what he's talking about. His problem isn't the money, it's where it's coming from. English football fans and lazy xenophobia go hand-in-hand.
If there is a massive subtext on multiple points I'm not getting, can you share what they are?
I'm not actually arsed defending Alan Davies on anything, but what I will say is that an Arsenal fan complaining about the present state of football financially and the reasons for that on a podcast exclusively aimed at arsenal supporters isn't exactly 'Rivers of Blood', especially when it is Autocratic regimes in the Middle East and Russian Oligarchs we're talking about.
going further into this rabbit hole will actually end up with me invoking Herbert Chapman's on field tactics and presentation policies of the early 1930s as well as murdered Indian and Thai maids, so the Taskmaster thread is probably not the place for it.
Start a new thread, by all means, because none of that sounds like 'massive subtext', it just sounds like you're saying it was a type of football fan talking to other football fan types. Which kind of backs up the 'lazy xenophobia' point.
Quote from: BeardFaceMan on January 10, 2022, 09:52:17 PMStart a new thread, by all means, because none of that sounds like 'massive subtext', it just sounds like you're saying it was a type of football fan talking to other football fan types. Which kind of backs up the 'lazy xenophobia' point.
I'd rather not while sitting alone on my 39th birthday, but will keep it under review!
In the spirit of the thread, consider it a task. Your time starts now!
Quote from: BeardFaceMan on January 10, 2022, 10:05:50 PMIn the spirit of the thread, consider it a task. Your time starts now!
In the spirit of Claudia Winkleman carrying out a task we are going to fail spectacularly at it and so carry on talking footy here.
Alex Horne likes football, which I always find quite surprising.
I really liked the festive special! Thought Claudia was great, good mix of silliness and outrage.
Peacock as the do-it-get-it-done candidate, but with some prowess, still messing things up, was a really lovely combo.
I bloody love sport
Having been getting less entertained by Taskmaster in recent years, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this special.
The task with the pole was a classic Taskmaster set up - superficially simple, but with plenty of scope for penalty vs gain calculation and leftfield interpretation of the rules pretty much all leading to slapstick hilarity.
Do we know when Champion of Champions is on?
Quote from: mjwilson on January 12, 2022, 08:35:03 PMDo we know when Champion of Champions is on?
Some time after series 15, presumably...