I just found out taskmaster is a thing two weeks ago and was absolutely delighted to find all seasons online. I have been steadily going through them and will most certainly also give the other...
I just found out taskmaster is a thing two weeks ago and was absolutely delighted to find all seasons online. I have been steadily going through them and will most certainly also give the other country series they have put online a go.
Sometimes I wish Dropout would attempt Taskmaster. They seem to be the best set of people to be able to pull it off. I don't know why they work so well together when they do unscripted things...
Sometimes I wish Dropout would attempt Taskmaster. They seem to be the best set of people to be able to pull it off.
I don't know why they work so well together when they do unscripted things compared to other non-dropout shows.
Sometimes I think it's because they all kind of know each other. It's similar enough to the UK panelshows where the scene is small enough that the comedians can be familiar with each other sometimes.
Agreed. There was an interview with Sam on NPR recently and the host mentioned panel shows and that sort of "low stakes" competition that Dropout excels at (and that Brennan often provides the...
Agreed. There was an interview with Sam on NPR recently and the host mentioned panel shows and that sort of "low stakes" competition that Dropout excels at (and that Brennan often provides the humorous contrast to).
I don't know how Brennan makes being competitive so entertaining. I got my friend to subscribe to dropout because of the queens. He's a big fan of drag race. But he ended up watching all the other...
I don't know how Brennan makes being competitive so entertaining.
I got my friend to subscribe to dropout because of the queens. He's a big fan of drag race.
But he ended up watching all the other shows on dropout instead (he couldn't get into dimension 20) and watched the survivor episode. He then said he really liked Brennan even though he usually doesn't like competitive people/characters.
Brennan manages to merge competitiveness and being wholesome somehow. Add comedy to that and it's incredibly entertaining.
I think because it's clear he's in it for the bit. He's absolutely competitive but would drop that in an instant if someone was bothered (He and Izzy are gonna be great, chaos driven, parents.)
I think because it's clear he's in it for the bit. He's absolutely competitive but would drop that in an instant if someone was bothered
(He and Izzy are gonna be great, chaos driven, parents.)
Yeah Brennan is possibly the one famous person whose outing as a horrible human would devastate me. He just so clearly cares about the people he's around whether on game shows or when playing D&D....
Yeah Brennan is possibly the one famous person whose outing as a horrible human would devastate me. He just so clearly cares about the people he's around whether on game shows or when playing D&D.
(Idk why I replied twice. Shakes fist at clouds ADHD brain)
Oh man, I DID! And Click to expand spoiler. Sam confirmed on Reddit that Oscar knew exactly what he was doing Apparently if the comments are to be believed, Sam talked with Alex Horne about...
Oh man, I DID!
And
Click to expand spoiler.
Sam confirmed on Reddit that Oscar knew exactly what he was doing
Apparently if the comments are to be believed, Sam talked with Alex Horne about taskmaster and while there was no lack of enthusiasm for the idea dropout cannot afford the rights. Essentially the owning company wouldn't even talk to him.
I bet they could get away with a parody episode or two like Survivor.
Aw man. I'd shill Dropout to death if that could help them make "Dropout Does Taskmaster" exist. But yea. At this point, I'd still be happy if all they can do is parody it. I was reading the...
Aw man. I'd shill Dropout to death if that could help them make "Dropout Does Taskmaster" exist.
But yea. At this point, I'd still be happy if all they can do is parody it.
I was reading the comments when the new Um Actually season trailer came up, and someone mentioned that Ify and BDG would make a great Taskmaster and Assistant. BDG as the assistant would be so fun. He could go into an existential crisis from time too time.
But yea! When I watched the new Game Changer episode and
Brennan ran off to modify things to make his gong strike louder, I immediately thought he would fit right in with Taskmaster.
Later on, when Ally interpreted the question differently and said they would choose Brennan as the winner instead of hitting the gong, I could see how fun their solutions to tasks would be.
Someone suggested Sam as the assistant but Katie M as the Task Master. I could also see Zac as the assistant. Grant could work but he'd make it sexual. (or alternatively phrased, Grant could work...
Someone suggested Sam as the assistant but Katie M as the Task Master. I could also see Zac as the assistant. Grant could work but he'd make it sexual. (or alternatively phrased, Grant could work AND he'd make it sexual!). If Vic wasn't hosting VIP I could see them being a great TM as well.
I need to see how Ify vibes, I think he'll be great but I don't have the same BDG background enjoyment that others have. Just haven't seen him in a lot so I don't know how he'll settle in yet. I'll miss Trapp but I'm so excited for him. I am wondering if GC was fully filmed before paternity leave for Brennan or if this is all we'll see of him.
Fully agreed about people being fantastic Taskmaster contestants. I love when people think around the problem but ALSO when that leads them to fail sometimes :D
Yes! I think Vic would make a very good Taskmaster too. I did consider Grant as the assistant too, but I came to the same conclusion. He would make it weird and sexual at some point. I could see...
Yes! I think Vic would make a very good Taskmaster too.
I did consider Grant as the assistant too, but I came to the same conclusion. He would make it weird and sexual at some point. I could see Zac or Katie as the assistant.
I read Katie as too serious (I mean she's not, she's a comedian but her persona). She'd be better as TM IMO. But Zac yeah for sure. And I enjoyed Ify and BDG a lot in Um actually. Though I want...
I read Katie as too serious (I mean she's not, she's a comedian but her persona). She'd be better as TM IMO. But Zac yeah for sure.
And I enjoyed Ify and BDG a lot in Um actually. Though I want him to be a bit pickier about answers. Seemed like he was getting into his groove
Coincidentally, they just started uploading episodes of Taskmaster Australia Season 1 to the official channel. Like NZ, I'll post the playlist once the season is fully uploaded.
Coincidentally, they just started uploading episodes of Taskmaster Australia Season 1 to the official channel. Like NZ, I'll post the playlist once the season is fully uploaded.
This was one of my favorite TM seasons ever, even including the UK ones β such a great cast with great chemistry. Guy Montgomery especially gets me every time.
This was one of my favorite TM seasons ever, even including the UK ones β such a great cast with great chemistry. Guy Montgomery especially gets me every time.
I think the cast was generally great, but Jeremy Wells just doesn't click with me. I know Greg has set an incredibly high bar, but at least in the first two NZ seasons, Jeremy just doesn't seem...
I think the cast was generally great, but Jeremy Wells just doesn't click with me. I know Greg has set an incredibly high bar, but at least in the first two NZ seasons, Jeremy just doesn't seem like a great fit.
To me, a significant part of what makes UK Taskmaster fun is that Greg leans into his role in a playful way, engages in the bits and banter, and is clearly in on the joke. On the other hand, Jeremy is very stiff and he fails to engage with Paul or the cast to the point where it feels like it's moved beyond a joke, and into taking himself a bit too seriously.
It's a shame because the contestants, Paul, and the tasks are all top-notch.
I actually appreciate that he doesn't try to blindly copy Greg and Greg's relationship to Alex. Some of the other non-UK ones have felt weird when they try to force that relationship. Jeremy...
I actually appreciate that he doesn't try to blindly copy Greg and Greg's relationship to Alex. Some of the other non-UK ones have felt weird when they try to force that relationship. Jeremy doesn't lean into the "bullying" relationship with assistant and just has a positive one - which works for him.
It's not that there has to be a bullying relationship between the taskmaster and assistant, and I agree that it would be worse if they tried to mimic Greg and Alex directly. What I find jarring is...
It's not that there has to be a bullying relationship between the taskmaster and assistant, and I agree that it would be worse if they tried to mimic Greg and Alex directly.
What I find jarring is that Jeremy often just plows forward ungracefully through the show, without really engaging with any other cast members. At most, he'll make a surface level observation on a task and then quickly move on. I often get the feeling that a moment has potential to become a really funny interaction between contestants and the taskmaster, but it just goes completely unacknowledged by Jeremy. It just feels very unnatural and forced to me, in general.
It seems like an editing/general production issue. Gossip says that most of the studio banter is cut out for time, and it's hard not to notice a real lack of care given to those cuts, personally....
It seems like an editing/general production issue. Gossip says that most of the studio banter is cut out for time, and it's hard not to notice a real lack of care given to those cuts, personally. Jeremy says one thing, a contestant responds, and then there's an obvious cut where now everyone is out of breath from laughter and there's clearly been a whole conversation. The UK version really spoils us with production value, but it's a shame how little banter seems to make it past the cut in NZ.
I didn't like Jeremy for all the same reasons too. To me, the Taskmaster's job is to banter and facilitate banter among the contestants. And he doesn't do that. But I've watched their 4th season...
I didn't like Jeremy for all the same reasons too.
To me, the Taskmaster's job is to banter and facilitate banter among the contestants. And he doesn't do that.
But I've watched their 4th season recently and I don't know if it's wishful thinking, but it feels like he's bantering a little more in that one.
I didn't think Jeremy was very well suited to the role at first, but he's definitely grown on me with time and I rather like his take on Taskmaster now. I do wonder, and perhaps some Kiwi...
I didn't think Jeremy was very well suited to the role at first, but he's definitely grown on me with time and I rather like his take on Taskmaster now.
I do wonder, and perhaps some Kiwi tilderinos can weigh in on this, whether there's some cultural context I'm missing by being outside of NZ. Greg Davies is a fairly well known comedian and actor in the UK, he's playing himself on TM, just turned up a couple of notches - but isn't Jeremy Wells a slightly more serious journalist/presenter?
I haven't watched Taskmaster, but I know Jeremy for his satirical current affairs show, Eating Media Lunch (which is around 20 years old). He was always very good at playing straight while dealing...
I haven't watched Taskmaster, but I know Jeremy for his satirical current affairs show, Eating Media Lunch (which is around 20 years old). He was always very good at playing straight while dealing with ridiculous subjects. Here's some clips from that if you're interested:
For context, Pakeha are white New Zealanders, and MΔori and the indigenous people.
IMO it works, because Paul Williams is outdoing even Little Alex Horne in the crazy department =) Jeremy being a bit more stoic works in context.
I think the cast was generally great, but Jeremy Wells just doesn't click with me. I know Greg has set an incredibly high bar, but at least in the first two NZ seasons, Jeremy just doesn't seem like a great fit.
IMO it works, because Paul Williams is outdoing even Little Alex Horne in the crazy department =) Jeremy being a bit more stoic works in context.
If, like me, Taskmaster NZ was your first exposure to quite a lot of NZ comedians and you'd like to see more, I can recommend seeking out Guy Montgomery's Guy-Mont Spelling Bee which is.. a...
If, like me, Taskmaster NZ was your first exposure to quite a lot of NZ comedians and you'd like to see more, I can recommend seeking out Guy Montgomery's Guy-Mont Spelling Bee which is.. a spelling contest. With about 75% of the various seasons of Taskmaster contestants on. It's funny.
Also Madeleine Sami is amazing in Deadloch but Deadloch is just solid gold from start to finish anyway (also features Nina Oyama from Taskmaster AU).
I really don't know why we don't get more New Zealand and Australian TV over here in the UK, there's such great stuff being made in both countries and it's all in - broadly speaking at least ;) - English so no need for subs or dubs..
Yeah, it's actually kinda weird. A lot of Australian comedians seem to come to the UK and do reasonably well, but Kiwi comedians in the UK are a lot lot rarer. The only ones I can think of are...
Yeah, it's actually kinda weird. A lot of Australian comedians seem to come to the UK and do reasonably well, but Kiwi comedians in the UK are a lot lot rarer. The only ones I can think of are Rose Matafeo, who coincidentally enough was on a season of Taskmaster UK, and a handful of others, like Eli Matthewson and Sully O'Sullivan who have also performed at Edinburgh Fringe a few times.
So thanks for the recommendations! I'll be sure to check out the Guy-Mont Spelling Bee, since he has also been one of my favorite contestants on Taskmaster NZ so far... the others being David Correos and Angella Dravid. :P Madeleine Sami didn't really click with me, but I'll probably still check out Deadloch too.
p.s. Have you seen 7 Days? When I was looking up David Correos that was his only credit listed on IMDB. And it apparently also had a bunch of the other Taskmaster NZ contestants on it too, like Angella Dravid, Urzila Carlson, Madeleine Sami, Guy Williams, Laura Daniel, etc.
Probably because all Kiwi comedians think you should spend less time with the kids, and generally hate the kids? https://www.tiktok.com/@bwblondon/video/7223756041060748550
Probably because all Kiwi comedians think you should spend less time with the kids, and generally hate the kids?
Wellington Paranomal isn't in your list of Taiki Waititi stuff although could be covered by the "etc" I'm just making sure because if you haven't seen it, it's the funniest of all of them. Karen...
Wellington Paranomal isn't in your list of Taiki Waititi stuff although could be covered by the "etc" I'm just making sure because if you haven't seen it, it's the funniest of all of them. Karen O'Leary was one of my favourite Taskmaster contestants and she's just as great in Wellington Paranormal (which also has one of the all-time best jokes on TV)
I actually haven't seen Wellington Paranomal yet! It looks great, like What We Do In The Shadows but from the police's perspective... mixed with a bit of Reno 911. :P So I've added it up my...
I actually haven't seen Wellington Paranomal yet! It looks great, like What We Do In The Shadows but from the police's perspective... mixed with a bit of Reno 911. :P So I've added it up my watch-list now. Thanks for the heads up about it!
Edit: It's available here in Canada on Crave, so I can watch it right away. Nice! :P
I just found out taskmaster is a thing two weeks ago and was absolutely delighted to find all seasons online. I have been steadily going through them and will most certainly also give the other country series they have put online a go.
NZ and AU are fantastic
Yeah... go ahead and skip the American series... How they bungled that one so hard is perplexing.
The only good contestant in the American attempt was ... British =)
What American series? They'd never make one.
(Except Gamechanger on Dropout)
Sometimes I wish Dropout would attempt Taskmaster. They seem to be the best set of people to be able to pull it off.
I don't know why they work so well together when they do unscripted things compared to other non-dropout shows.
Sometimes I think it's because they all kind of know each other. It's similar enough to the UK panelshows where the scene is small enough that the comedians can be familiar with each other sometimes.
Agreed. There was an interview with Sam on NPR recently and the host mentioned panel shows and that sort of "low stakes" competition that Dropout excels at (and that Brennan often provides the humorous contrast to).
I don't know how Brennan makes being competitive so entertaining.
I got my friend to subscribe to dropout because of the queens. He's a big fan of drag race.
But he ended up watching all the other shows on dropout instead (he couldn't get into dimension 20) and watched the survivor episode. He then said he really liked Brennan even though he usually doesn't like competitive people/characters.
Brennan manages to merge competitiveness and being wholesome somehow. Add comedy to that and it's incredibly entertaining.
I think because it's clear he's in it for the bit. He's absolutely competitive but would drop that in an instant if someone was bothered
(He and Izzy are gonna be great, chaos driven, parents.)
Yeah Brennan is possibly the one famous person whose outing as a horrible human would devastate me. He just so clearly cares about the people he's around whether on game shows or when playing D&D.
(Idk why I replied twice. Shakes fist at clouds ADHD brain)
Have you seen the latest Game Changer? I really really want Brennan on Taskmaster now. Ally would be great on Taskmaster too!
Oh man, I DID!
And
Click to expand spoiler.
Sam confirmed on Reddit that Oscar knew exactly what he was doing
Apparently if the comments are to be believed, Sam talked with Alex Horne about taskmaster and while there was no lack of enthusiasm for the idea dropout cannot afford the rights. Essentially the owning company wouldn't even talk to him.
I bet they could get away with a parody episode or two like Survivor.
Aw man. I'd shill Dropout to death if that could help them make "Dropout Does Taskmaster" exist.
But yea. At this point, I'd still be happy if all they can do is parody it.
I was reading the comments when the new Um Actually season trailer came up, and someone mentioned that Ify and BDG would make a great Taskmaster and Assistant. BDG as the assistant would be so fun. He could go into an existential crisis from time too time.
But yea! When I watched the new Game Changer episode and
Brennan ran off to modify things to make his gong strike louder, I immediately thought he would fit right in with Taskmaster.Later on, when Ally interpreted the question differently and said they would choose Brennan as the winner instead of hitting the gong, I could see how fun their solutions to tasks would be.
Someone suggested Sam as the assistant but Katie M as the Task Master. I could also see Zac as the assistant. Grant could work but he'd make it sexual. (or alternatively phrased, Grant could work AND he'd make it sexual!). If Vic wasn't hosting VIP I could see them being a great TM as well.
I need to see how Ify vibes, I think he'll be great but I don't have the same BDG background enjoyment that others have. Just haven't seen him in a lot so I don't know how he'll settle in yet. I'll miss Trapp but I'm so excited for him. I am wondering if GC was fully filmed before paternity leave for Brennan or if this is all we'll see of him.
Fully agreed about people being fantastic Taskmaster contestants. I love when people think around the problem but ALSO when that leads them to fail sometimes :D
Yes! I think Vic would make a very good Taskmaster too.
I did consider Grant as the assistant too, but I came to the same conclusion. He would make it weird and sexual at some point. I could see Zac or Katie as the assistant.
I read Katie as too serious (I mean she's not, she's a comedian but her persona). She'd be better as TM IMO. But Zac yeah for sure.
And I enjoyed Ify and BDG a lot in Um actually. Though I want him to be a bit pickier about answers. Seemed like he was getting into his groove
Coincidentally, they just started uploading episodes of Taskmaster Australia Season 1 to the official channel. Like NZ, I'll post the playlist once the season is fully uploaded.
My favorite human of the day
π
Want me to ping you when it's done and I make the topic for it in a few months, or have you already watched that season? Same for you, @creesch.
I have not seen it all yet! I watch with my partner as they come out on YT but I'm behind on NZ anyway right now. So a ping is a lovely reminder
Sure, I don't mind a ping!
This was one of my favorite TM seasons ever, even including the UK ones β such a great cast with great chemistry. Guy Montgomery especially gets me every time.
I think the cast was generally great, but Jeremy Wells just doesn't click with me. I know Greg has set an incredibly high bar, but at least in the first two NZ seasons, Jeremy just doesn't seem like a great fit.
To me, a significant part of what makes UK Taskmaster fun is that Greg leans into his role in a playful way, engages in the bits and banter, and is clearly in on the joke. On the other hand, Jeremy is very stiff and he fails to engage with Paul or the cast to the point where it feels like it's moved beyond a joke, and into taking himself a bit too seriously.
It's a shame because the contestants, Paul, and the tasks are all top-notch.
I actually appreciate that he doesn't try to blindly copy Greg and Greg's relationship to Alex. Some of the other non-UK ones have felt weird when they try to force that relationship. Jeremy doesn't lean into the "bullying" relationship with assistant and just has a positive one - which works for him.
It's not that there has to be a bullying relationship between the taskmaster and assistant, and I agree that it would be worse if they tried to mimic Greg and Alex directly.
What I find jarring is that Jeremy often just plows forward ungracefully through the show, without really engaging with any other cast members. At most, he'll make a surface level observation on a task and then quickly move on. I often get the feeling that a moment has potential to become a really funny interaction between contestants and the taskmaster, but it just goes completely unacknowledged by Jeremy. It just feels very unnatural and forced to me, in general.
It seems like an editing/general production issue. Gossip says that most of the studio banter is cut out for time, and it's hard not to notice a real lack of care given to those cuts, personally. Jeremy says one thing, a contestant responds, and then there's an obvious cut where now everyone is out of breath from laughter and there's clearly been a whole conversation. The UK version really spoils us with production value, but it's a shame how little banter seems to make it past the cut in NZ.
I didn't like Jeremy for all the same reasons too.
To me, the Taskmaster's job is to banter and facilitate banter among the contestants. And he doesn't do that.
But I've watched their 4th season recently and I don't know if it's wishful thinking, but it feels like he's bantering a little more in that one.
So maybe he just needs time.
I didn't think Jeremy was very well suited to the role at first, but he's definitely grown on me with time and I rather like his take on Taskmaster now.
I do wonder, and perhaps some Kiwi tilderinos can weigh in on this, whether there's some cultural context I'm missing by being outside of NZ. Greg Davies is a fairly well known comedian and actor in the UK, he's playing himself on TM, just turned up a couple of notches - but isn't Jeremy Wells a slightly more serious journalist/presenter?
I haven't watched Taskmaster, but I know Jeremy for his satirical current affairs show, Eating Media Lunch (which is around 20 years old). He was always very good at playing straight while dealing with ridiculous subjects. Here's some clips from that if you're interested:
For context, Pakeha are white New Zealanders, and MΔori and the indigenous people.
https://youtu.be/ZItZMMw6sBs
https://youtu.be/_Wv5oA-VQqk
https://youtu.be/wxrAvDF5UEE
He started doing actual legit current affairs a few years back, so he's more serious than he used to be, but still has that very dry humor.
IMO it works, because Paul Williams is outdoing even Little Alex Horne in the crazy department =) Jeremy being a bit more stoic works in context.
Decided to post this since all the episodes of Taskmaster NZ Series 2 are now available on YouTube.
If, like me, Taskmaster NZ was your first exposure to quite a lot of NZ comedians and you'd like to see more, I can recommend seeking out Guy Montgomery's Guy-Mont Spelling Bee which is.. a spelling contest. With about 75% of the various seasons of Taskmaster contestants on. It's funny.
Also Madeleine Sami is amazing in Deadloch but Deadloch is just solid gold from start to finish anyway (also features Nina Oyama from Taskmaster AU).
I really don't know why we don't get more New Zealand and Australian TV over here in the UK, there's such great stuff being made in both countries and it's all in - broadly speaking at least ;) - English so no need for subs or dubs..
Yeah, it's actually kinda weird. A lot of Australian comedians seem to come to the UK and do reasonably well, but Kiwi comedians in the UK are a lot lot rarer. The only ones I can think of are Rose Matafeo, who coincidentally enough was on a season of Taskmaster UK, and a handful of others, like Eli Matthewson and Sully O'Sullivan who have also performed at Edinburgh Fringe a few times.
Outside of stand-up, the only NZ comedy shows that I'd been exposed to prior to Taskmaster NZ was Flight of the Conchords, and all Taika Waititi's stuff (What We Do In The Shadows, Our Flag Means Death, etc).
So thanks for the recommendations! I'll be sure to check out the Guy-Mont Spelling Bee, since he has also been one of my favorite contestants on Taskmaster NZ so far... the others being David Correos and Angella Dravid. :P Madeleine Sami didn't really click with me, but I'll probably still check out Deadloch too.
p.s. Have you seen 7 Days? When I was looking up David Correos that was his only credit listed on IMDB. And it apparently also had a bunch of the other Taskmaster NZ contestants on it too, like Angella Dravid, Urzila Carlson, Madeleine Sami, Guy Williams, Laura Daniel, etc.
Probably because all Kiwi comedians think you should spend less time with the kids, and generally hate the kids?
https://www.tiktok.com/@bwblondon/video/7223756041060748550
duh keds. :P
I love the kiwi accent. :)
Wellington Paranomal isn't in your list of Taiki Waititi stuff although could be covered by the "etc" I'm just making sure because if you haven't seen it, it's the funniest of all of them. Karen O'Leary was one of my favourite Taskmaster contestants and she's just as great in Wellington Paranormal (which also has one of the all-time best jokes on TV)
I'll keep an eye out for 7 Days, thanks.
I actually haven't seen Wellington Paranomal yet! It looks great, like What We Do In The Shadows but from the police's perspective... mixed with a bit of Reno 911. :P So I've added it up my watch-list now. Thanks for the heads up about it!
Edit: It's available here in Canada on Crave, so I can watch it right away. Nice! :P
I've found clips but not been able to find the Spelling Bee in full anywhere yet. It looks hilarious but I need more.