How Taskmaster took over television | The Observer
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Taskmaster is about to air its 20th UK series and has spawned versions the world over. So what is its secret?
  • PronellEnglish
    32·
    29 days ago

    Its made by smallish groups of people and isn’t focus-grouped to death.

    As such its not always perfect and its full of little details to enjoy, like Joe Lycett deciding to ‘steal’ something in each task, Rhod Gilbert’s solution to tying himself up, or Jason Mantzoukas… being Jason Mantzoukas.

    It isn’t that these things can’t be pre-planned or written, it’s that they’re more enjoyable because the audience knows these came from the pressure of being given an unknown task.

    It’s genuine.

    It’s an absolute casserole.

    • CameronDev@programming.devEnglish
      10·
      29 days ago

      The Australian version felt focus grouped to death. It felt very scripted, and the contestants seemed to be trying super hard to be quirky/funny.

      • PronellEnglish
        9·
        29 days ago

        That’s true, I don’t enjoy the Australian one nearly as much as the New Zealand one.

      • glimseEnglish
        7·
        29 days ago

        The original is undoubtedly the best and Australia’s is worse than NZ’s but I still enjoy it. Tom Cashman’s inability to keep a straight face sometimes is a funny “twist” on the assistant and theyvet had some really great contestants (Nina Oyama is an all-timer for me across any country).

        There’s also never been a contestant I’ve outright disliked watching which I can’t say about the other countries lol

        • CameronDev@programming.devEnglish
          5·
          29 days ago

          Nina was the one I felt was trying a bit too hard to be funny at times. If she had chilled just a bit she would have been a lot funnier (personal opinion of course).

          Tom C was good, but I really didn’t like Tom G. His “banter” felt more like bullying.

          I’ve only seen the first season for Aus, maybe they fell into a better rhythm later?

          • glimseEnglish
            3·
            29 days ago

            He’s a bit more relaxed as the seasons go on but I’m mostly with you on Tom G. They have the weakest chemistry of any pair, too, which doesn’t help. They definitely do not spend any time together outside of work