Taskmaster

[pledge]

I've really got in to Taskmaster AU. The fourth episode was a really good one, and so was five. The set of contestants are all really enjoying it themselves which makes a huge difference.

[Halo]

Deadline: Channel 4 Expands ‘Taskmaster’ Universe With Six-Season Renewal & Junior Version

 

I was half convinced they were going to cancel it, I guess not!

 

Edit: Official press release - https://www.channel4.com/press/news/channel-4-launch-junior-taskmaster-taskmaster-renewed-three-years

 

Edit 2: New series starts Thursday 30 March

[Exidor]

Kind of disappointed that it's not going to be Greg berating a bunch of kids and making them cry.

[PK]

On 05/03/2023 at 20:04, pledge said:

I've really got in to Taskmaster AU. The fourth episode was a really good one, and so was five. The set of contestants are all really enjoying it themselves which makes a huge difference.

 

I gave it a miss initially because the trailer really put me off for some reason, but I'm really enjoying it now. I like Tom Gleeson's take on the Taskmaster character, he's like an uncle who affectionately takes the piss

[Fry Crayola]

55 minutes ago, Exidor said:

Kind of disappointed that it's not going to be Greg berating a bunch of kids and making them cry.

 

Maybe we'll get Harry Hill completely flipping his Bake Off personality.

[BitterToad]

4 hours ago, Halo said:

Deadline: Channel 4 Expands ‘Taskmaster’ Universe With Six-Season Renewal & Junior Version

 

I was half convinced they were going to cancel it, I guess not!

 

Edit: Official press release - https://www.channel4.com/press/news/channel-4-launch-junior-taskmaster-taskmaster-renewed-three-years

Why would they cancel it? It's one of the biggest shows on channel 4. 

[Halo]

11 hours ago, BitterToad said:

Why would they cancel it? It's one of the biggest shows on channel 4. 

Dunno, it’s hard to get a read on what’s a success these days, especially for a channel like C4, but it’s old (so presumably expensive) and the C4 viewing figures always felt closer to “OK” rather than amazing.

[El Pibe]

Really pleased to hear there's a junior version coming. Our kids will love that.

[thesnwmn]

In case people are interested Alex Horne did an AMA yesterday:

 

 

[PK]

Next series lineup has been announced:

 

Not familiar with Mae Martin or Ivo Graham really. Frankie Boyle will be  interesting!

 

[Stoppy2000]

Jenny Eclair is super annoying. 

[Sidewaysbob]

More than Frankie .. is that even possible ??!

[Fry Crayola]

2 hours ago, PK said:

Next series lineup has been announced:

 

It was announced at the end of the last series!

[PK]

Just now, Fry Crayola said:

 

It was announced at the end of the last series!

 

Ah sorry, didn't realise. Maybe they're just announcing the date then?

[Fry Crayola]

Aye, date announcement. And also an announcement as to the likely growth of Frankie's beard during the show.

[Gabe]

3 hours ago, PK said:

 

Not familiar with Mae Martin or Ivo Graham really. Frankie Boyle will be  interesting!

 

Ivo Graham, from what I gather, is a posh boy who says posh boy things (well, from the very limited bits of him I've seen on panel shows).

[Welrain]

Mae Martin, seen them a couple of times on things.  Joked mainly about their sexuality and romantic experiences but they were pretty funny. I recognise all of them but can’t say I’m looking forward to seeing them in action.

[Gabe]

4 hours ago, BubbleDragon said:

Mae Martin, seen them a couple of times on things.  Joked mainly about their sexuality and romantic experiences but they were pretty funny. I recognise all of them but can’t say I’m looking forward to seeing them in action.

Yeah, nobody on there appeals to me either, though I have thought that on some of previous series and they have surprised me so I'll give it a chance.

 

Not sure I can watch it weekly though, I've only ever seen it via streaming (and bingeing) so I may wait a few weeks and see the reaction in here and then watch a few in one go.

[pledge]

On 16/03/2023 at 08:45, Halo said:

Dunno, it’s hard to get a read on what’s a success these days, especially for a channel like C4, but it’s old (so presumably expensive) and the C4 viewing figures always felt closer to “OK” rather than amazing.

 

Alex does an AMA here, and talks briefly about the budget. Doesn't sound like it is that huge and most of the people they have on won't be high appearance fees.

 

 

[pledge]

On 15/03/2023 at 18:08, PK said:

 

I gave it a miss initially because the trailer really put me off for some reason, but I'm really enjoying it now. I like Tom Gleeson's take on the Taskmaster character, he's like an uncle who affectionately takes the piss

 

I've never really been a fan of Greg Davies and like him less so over time. Enjoyed watching Tom Gleeson more than Greg now that UK version is back.

 

I thought the first episode of season 15 was pretty weak. Normally they start out with a strong task but the dancing thing did nothing for me.

[El Pibe]

Yes, I quite liked the cast but thought the tasks were disappointing.

[Danster]

Dancing wasn't great, but the rest was fun. 6 laughs out of 10 I'd say.

[wev]

Jenny Eclair leaving two mental images I really didn't need though (the trench vagina comment and her gyrating).

 

I'm incredibly surprised the barge task wasn't an utter catastrophe

[wev]

One on a barge pole, for me

[JamesC]

The dancing thing was rubbish. Would have been better with the music. 

I think the bloke from Ghosts will be good and I liked Frankie Boyle who just seemed bemused throughout. Jenny Éclair (the mirror universe evil Su Polard) was annoying. The other two haven't made much of an impression so far. 

[Gabe]

16 hours ago, El Pibe said:

Yes, I quite liked the cast but thought the tasks were disappointing.

I've been watching a lot of the previous series and think this could be a comment levelled at probably 50% or more of the tasks, being either too short/simple/boring or unfunny. The heartbeat of the show, for me, has always been the studio chatter and analysis, which is why the best seasons are those where everyone gets involved in those bits. And, personally, why I have skipped a number of series, as I just don't like the people involved - and why I'm undecided as to whether I will bother with this series too.

[spork]

38 minutes ago, Gabe said:

And, personally, why I have skipped a number of series, as I just don't like the people involved - and why I'm undecided as to whether I will bother with this series too.

 

You're missing out on so much great TV! One of the best things about Taskmaster is making you like comedians you either didn't really know before hand or didn't like. I think there have been very few seasons where they've ended and I've not ended up liking the whole cast at least a little bit. I think Urzila from NZ Taskmaster is one of the few I can remember disliking throughout an entire series.

[pledge]

2 hours ago, JamesC said:

Jenny Éclair (the mirror universe evil Su Polard) was annoying. The other two haven't made much of an impression so far. 

Ahhhh. Su Polard is who I thought Jenny Eclair was, and had been expecting being in this season. I think I'd actually have preferred Su Polard..

[pledge]

8 minutes ago, spork said:

think Urzila from NZ Taskmaster is one of the few I can remember disliking throughout an entire series.

 

Lisa Lampanelli from US version

[Gabe]

57 minutes ago, spork said:

 

You're missing out on so much great TV! One of the best things about Taskmaster is making you like comedians you either didn't really know before hand or didn't like. I think there have been very few seasons where they've ended and I've not ended up liking the whole cast at least a little bit. I think Urzila from NZ Taskmaster is one of the few I can remember disliking throughout an entire series.

I originally was much more militant about which series I didn't intend to watch, but having had a quick look on Wikipedia, it seems I've actually seen most of them. That's partly because it is on Dave every single night and partly because it's easy to have on whilst eating my dinner.

 

The only ones I haven't are series 6, 10 and 13. Series 6 was due to Russell Howard and Tim Vine, but I will probably watch that now because I caught an episode and neither of them were as annoying as I thought they might be. Series 13 I intend to watch (even though none of that cast appeal to me) but it isn't available through Sky yet, only the actual All4 website (though I haven't checked in the last few days, perhaps now s15 is on that exclusivity period has expired?)

 

Series 10 is the only one now that I have no interest in. I did try watching a couple of episodes, but Daisy May Cooper really irritated me and whilst I liked Mawaan Rizwan's almost childlike innocence, I don't like any of the other people either.

 

I expect Ivo Graham and Jenny Eclair to irritate me in this series, I don't know anything about Mae Martin or Kiell Smith-Bynoe and Frankie Boyle I just imagine would be quite restrained - so I'll probably wait until the end and perhaps binge it then (and see what the general feedback in here is like.)