Taskmaster Retrospective: UK Series 14

"Can I say it's actually kind of a relief, because at the time I thought he was AN IDIOT!"- you'll have to watch episode 3 to understand this quote.  It's worth it.

Taskmaster:  UK Series 14

Year:  2022

Channel:  Channel 4

Contestants:  

Dara O'Briain

Fern Brady

John Kearns

Munya Chawawa

Sarah Millican

Number of Episodes:  10

Notes:

Taskmaster has a basic formula that works.  What separates the good seasons from the great seasons are two things- the quality of the tasks, and the interaction of the five contestants with themselves and with Alex and Greg.

And season 14 has an abundance of both.

The tasks are outstanding- there's some unexpected twists and turns, some absolutely great performances and some utterlu amusing debacles.  

And as good as the tasks are, the are matched with a great cast.  All five are funny in different ways.  Dara O'Briain and Sarah Millican are funny and competent.  John Kearns, at times, is an utter trainwreck.  Fern Brady is wonderfully weird.  Munya Chawawa manages to be overly confident in his ability of every single task, even when he has no reason to think he'll do well.  The cast snipe at each other and at Greg and Alex throughout the series.  It's brilliant.

Portrait Decor:  

Series 14 went with a circus theme, and the portrait of the Greg Davies had him as the ringmaster of the Circus of Tasks....

Best task of the season:

"Team: With your hands on those hips at all times, put the most sand in the shopping trolley. You may only move the shopping trolley when there is one minute left on the clock."  Sounds like a simple task, but wait...

There are dozens of great tasks in this series.  Three of them were copied from season 2 of Taskmaster New Zealand.  

Worst task of the season:

I don't have any- this season knocks it out of the park with the tasks.

Trivia:

* The location tasks were at the Gatwick Airport

* Dara O'Briain may have had the most dominate performance in a single episode 

*  Munya keeps complaining about a smell in the lab.  In episode 6, you find out the source of that smell...

Contestant Rankings:

1. Dara O'Briain (season 14)
2. Mel Giedroyc (Season 4)
3. Rhod Gilbert (Season 7)
4. Ed Gamble (Season 9)
5. James Acaster (Season 7)
6. Sarah Millican (season 14)
7. Mike Wozniak (Season 11)
8. Rose Matefeo (Season 9)
9. Sophie Duker (Season 13)
10. Fern Brady (Season 14)

Season Ranking:

1. Season 14
2. Season 9
3. Season 7
4. Season 13
5. Season 12
6. Season 4
7. Season 11
8. Season 5
9. Season 10
10. Season 8
11. Season 6
12. Season 2
13. Season 1
14. Season 3

Taskmaster Retrospective: UK Series 13

"[Chris Ramsey] was the only person not to leave that room hating you..."  Greg Davies to Alex Horne in Series 13.  That's the sign of a good task...

Taskmaster:  UK Series 13

Year:  2022

Channel:  Channel 4

Contestants:  

Ardal O'Hanlon

Bridget Christie

Chris Ramsey

Judi Love

Sophie Duker

Number of Episodes:  10

Notes:

Series 13 is the first series since Series 9 that had a live studio audience and the COVID guidelines removed.  

It's a good series- there's several clever tasks, and the sniping between the contestants hit the right balance between enjoyable sniping without being too bitter or angry.  But it's a combination of two contestants who were competent and three who were... not.  But seeing Bridget Christie (a longtime friend of Greg Davies, who enjoyed tormenting her) freak out, or Ardal O'Hanlon (charming and constantly critquing the others), or Judi Love (terrible at tasks, but a brilliant bullshitter) do as little as possible in a task, is entertaining. But Chris Ramsey and Sophie Duker are great contestants, and it comes down to the final couple of tasks to determine the winner. 

One thing to note- in retrospect, episode 9 is low-key heartbreaking.  Spoilers below:

The show spends the entire episode reminding us that Judi Love hasn't won an episode, and is trying so hard to set her up for the win... and then she gets disqualified on the final task.

Portrait Decor:  

Series 13 went with an theme of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), and the portrait has Greg Davies in full skull makeup...

Best task of the season:

"Display the shoe Alex is thinking of. All the other shoes must be out of sight at the end of the attempt. You may only ask yes or no questions and you must say/do your given phrase/action after every answer. Fewest questions wins."  Four of the five contestants were visibly annoyed at Alex during this task, with hysterical results...

Worst task of the season:

"Stick your tongue out as far as it will go and keep it out until further notice. Every time Alex blows his whistle, you must lick the lemon, then the sherbet, then the ice lolly. Every time Alex honks his horn, you must hold your tongue in front of the fan for five seconds. The tongue that sticks out for the longest time wins."  I.  HATE.  Disgusting.  Tasks.  Thank goodness these are few and far between...

Trivia:

* The location tasks were at the Chiltern Open Air Museum

* In series 12, the contestants proposed to Alex Horne.  In series 13, the contestants were tasked to give Alex a Stag minute.  

* Ardal O'Hanlon brings in a leather jacket for the prize task of episode 5.  The winner of the episode wears the same jacket on the final episode.

Contestant Rankings:

1. Mel Giedroyc (Season 4)
2. Rhod Gilbert (Season 7)
3. Ed Gamble (Season 9)
4. James Acaster (Season 7)
5. Mike Wozniak (Season 11)
6. Rose Matefeo (Season 9)
7. Sophie Duker (Season 13)
8. Bob Mortimer (Season 5)
9. Hugh Dennis (Season 4)
10. Morgana Robinson (Season 12)

Season Ranking:

1. Season 9
2. Season 7
3. Season 13
4. Season 12
5. Season 4
6. Season 11
7. Season 5
8. Season 10
9. Season 8
10. Season 6
11. Season 2
12. Season 1
13. Season 3

Taskmaster Retrospective: UK Series 12

"What a magnificient and futile use of our mortal lifespan.", Victoria Coren Mitchell, episode 5.

Taskmaster:  UK Series 12

Year:  2021

Channel:  Channel 4

Contestants:  

Alan Davies

Desiree Burch

Guz Khan

Morgana Robinson

Victoria Coren Mitchell

Number of Episodes:  10

Notes:

Series 12 was the last under COVID guidelines, and is an excellent and underrated season

This was a fun cast- all of the contestants went full throttle at the tasks, sometimes brilliant, often weird.   They had fun interacting with each other and trading quips with Greg and Alex.  It's a good group- none of the vocal fighting of series 7 or 9, but great interactions and performances.  

One thing I noticed- the studio tasks were difficult this series.  There were some that either none of the contestants could do, or just a couple.  And this cast is not incompetent- some of the studio tasks were just that impossible to complete.

Portrait Decor:  

Series 12 went with an Steampunk theme, and the portrait has Greg Davies in full cogs and gears...

Best task of the season:

"Prize task:  Most desirable thing for the person below you in the alphabet, or the highest alphabetically if you're the lowest alphabetically."  Any task that has Greg screaming, "Stop being NICE!" is a good task.  And Greg can always count on Victoria to bring things back on track, with the "Most Passive-Aggressive, calculated personal attack, I've ever experienced..."

tied with....

"Live: One at a time, make a noise without the Taskmaster identifying you. The person who makes the most unidentifiable noises wins.".  Just.... WOW...

Worst task of the season:

"Team: Scale the mountain. Your attempt must last exactly five minutes and will be sped up by five times afterwards. Most thrilling ascent wins."  There wasn't a bad task in this season- this one was just a little boring

Trivia:

* The location tasks were at All Saints Pastoral Centre

* Desiree Burch is the first American to appear as a contestant 

* Episode 5 was the 100th episode of the show.

* This was the third (and final) series where the fans were separated due to COVID restrictions.

* This series is close.  Halfway through the last episode, four players are within five points of winning.

Contestant Rankings:

1. Mel Giedroyc (Season 4)
2. Rhod Gilbert (Season 7)
3. Ed Gamble (Season 9)
4. James Acaster (Season 7)
5. Mike Wozniak (Season 11)
6. Rose Matefeo (Season 9)
7. Bob Mortimer (Season 5)
8. Hugh Dennis (Season 4)
9. Morgana Robinson (Season 12)
10. Desiree Burch (Season 12)

Season Ranking:

1. Season 9
2. Season 7
3. Season 12
4. Season 4
5. Season 11
6. Season 5
7. Season 10
8. Season 8
9. Season 6
10. Season 2
11. Season 1
12. Season 3

Taskmaster Retrospective: UK Series 11

Taskmaster:  UK Series 11

Year:  2021

Channel:  Channel 4

Contestants:  

Charlotte Ritchie

Jamali Maddix

Lee Mack

Mike Wozniak

Sarah Kendall

Number of Episodes:  10

Notes:

Much like series 10, series 11 was under COVID guidelines.  This time, the producers had time to prepare (in series 10, social distance guidelines were created halfway through the team tasks). 

Series 11 is better than 10, and sometimes it's as simple as having the right comedians.  Both Lee Mack and (especially) Mike Wozniak are hysterical, and fit right in with the mentality of the show.  There's a reason Mike Wozniak was chosen as the Taskmaster's Assistant for the Junior Taskmaster show. Sarah Kendall also shines in her tasks.  Jamali Maddox alternates- he has a lot of lateral thinking, but there are times he just doesn't seem to care.  Charlotte Ritchie is charming, which is not the same thing as being good at the game.

 

Portrait Decor:  

Series 11 went with an Russian theme, and the portrait has Greg Davies looking like Lenin...

CCCP Davies....

Best task of the season:

"Prize task:  The thing that makes you look the toughest"  Four of the five are excellent, ranging from fuuny and good to hysterically bad.  But then Mike Wozniak steps up to the plate...

Worst task of the season:

"Fart."  I normally really enjoy the tasks assigned to just one person- but I can't stand scatological humor.

Trivia:

* The location tasks were at White Waltham Airport

Contestant Rankings:

1. Mel Giedroyc (Season 4)
2. Rhod Gilbert (Season 7)
3. Ed Gamble (Season 9)
4. James Acaster (Season 7)
5. Mike Wozniak (Season 11)
6. Rose Matefeo (Season 9)
7. Bob Mortimer (Season 5)
8. Hugh Dennis (Season 4)
9. Noel Fielding (Season 4)
10. Lee Mack (Season 11)

Season Ranking:

1. Season 9
2. Season 7
3. Season 4
4. Season 11
5. Season 5
6. Season 10
7. Season 8
8. Season 6
9. Season 2
10. Season 1
11. Season 3

Eating the seed oil

Below is a chart that, in retrospect, I really wish I had included in my posts about yearly economic markers.  It's a chart showing the US Strategic Oil Reserves:

Today, since October of 2022 we have been below 400,000 thousand barrels (occasionally buying up enough oil to get to 415,000.  Before 2022, you have to go back to 1984 to get below 400,000 barrels.

The purpose of the Strategic Oil Reserves if to prevent another Oil Embargo like the OPEC Oil Crisis of 1973-4.  It's the nation's emergency energy fund if a crisis cuts off our supply of oil.

And we've been tapping into it- we're currently about 357,000 thousand barrels of oil.

Now, we're tapping into it before the gas prices are high, because of the War with Iran.  Iran has cut off the Strait of Hormuz, which is preventing oil (and other supplies) from the Middle East to the rest of the world.  The prices are rising, and gas prices going higher is always a politics problem.  So the solution is to tap into the reserves to give the country a greater supply of oil, which lowers the price of gas and reduces the political pressure.

The problem is threefold.

1)  This does nothing to solve the source of the problem

2)  We should replace the barrels to bring back the Reservers.  In theory, this will take place in the future when oil is cheaper.  But what if the price of oil doesn't drop anytime soon?  

3)  The key problem.  Once we use these reserves, until they are replaced, we cannot use them again.  So it's causing a temporary fix- but at some point, we'll stop tapping into reserves (or run out).  At that point, the prices will jump, and if there is another crisis, we won't have the reserves to use.

This isn't a party problem- Biden tapped the reserves for millions of barrels of oil because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and he didn't come close to replenshing the reserves when he left office.  It's the equivalent of throwing an expensive party and sticking the next guy with the bill.  And Trump not only hasn't restored the oil, he's tapping it even further.

Much like us National Debt, we're making a mess and demanding our children clean it up.  

Taskmaster Retrospective: UK Series 10

So a pandemic happened...

Taskmaster:  UK Series 10

Year:  2020

Channel:  Channel 4

Contestants:  

Daisy May Cooper

Johnny Vegas

Katherine Parkinson

Mawaan Rizwan

Richard Herring

Number of Episodes:  10

Notes:

In 2020, COVID struck the world.  As a result of the social distancing guidelines, the contestants all sat far away from each other, and there was no studio audience.  The guidelines started in mid-recording;  when one pair recorded their team tasks, they were together.  When the team of three recorded their tasks, they stood far apart.

I think COVID affected this season- it's hard to be funny in the middle of a pandemic.  The group tries, and there are moments.  Johnny Vegas in particular brings out laughs, and the rivalry between Daisy and Richard can be hysterical.  But the attitude feels a little somber and the chaos of series 9 is muted by comparison

It's hardly the worst series- some of the tasks are excellent, and the five contestants are working hard.  But it's largely forgettable, and I suspect one that the show would have loved to have done a do-over when not in a pandemic.

 

Portrait Decor:  

Series 10 went with an American Western theme, and the portrait has Greg Davies looking like Buffalo Bill Cody.

Wild Greg Davies..

Best task of the season:

"Team Live: Draw the animal named on your card. Each artist may draw three straight lines in their turn. The artist's teammates may have one guess after these three lines. If the guess is incorrect, the other team's artist can draw their straight lines. You may not speak or communicate with your teammates in any way."  Putting Daisy and Richard on the same team was very serendipitous.  Both were excellent players, and they clashed throughout the series.  This task had Daisy exclaim in frustration, "I actually hate you more than my husband." to Richard.

Worst task of the season:

"Learn your lines."  The idea is clever- have everyone read lines, but they are filmed separately.  Given the COVID restrictions, it makes sense.  But the task takes forever, and it's not worth the time spent. 

Trivia:

* The location tasks were at London Printworks

* This is the first season moving from Dave to Channel 4

* The opening is reworked, now showing Greg with facial hair

* Daisy May Cooper was pregnant during the taping of the show

* Daisy dressed up as a superhero (Achievement woman) for the house tasks

* Episode 1 probably goes down as the lowest scoring episode in Taskmaster history...

Contestant Rankings:

1. Mel Giedroyc (Season 4)
2. Rhod Gilbert (Season 7)
3. Ed Gamble (Season 9)
4. James Acaster (Season 7)
5. Rose Matefeo (Season 9)
6. Bob Mortimer (Season 5)
7. Hugh Dennis (Season 4)
8. Noel Fielding (Season 4)
9. Katy Wix (Season 9)
10. Lou Sanders (Season 8)

Season Ranking:

1. Season 9
2. Season 7
3. Season 4
4. Season 5
5. Season 10
6. Season 8
7. Season 6
8. Season 2
9. Season 1
10. Season 3

Taskmaster Retrospective: UK Series 09

Series 9- maybe the perfect cast

Taskmaster:  UK Series 9

Year:  2019

Channel:  Dave

Contestants:  

David Baddiel

Ed Gamble

Jo Brand

Katy Wix

Rose Matefeo

Number of Episodes:  10

Notes:

I love, love, LOVE the cast for season 9.

You have two funny, clever people who are really trying to win the tasks and it shows (Ed Gamble and Rose Matefeo).  Bonus points because Ed is a longtime friend of Greg Davies and the back-and-forth between New Zealander Matefeo and the Taskmaster.  Ed later hosts the official Taskmaster Podcast and Rose takes the Taskmaster title for Taskmaster Junior; you can tell they are both having a blast on the show.

You have a quiet, weird, creative contestant in Katy Wix.  The tasks that involve her building something are where she really shines.

You have an older comedienne in Jo Brand, delivering snark and with an attitude of not wanting to deal with this nonsense.  

And you have one contestant who appears absolutely hopeless at every task and seems to just be the series scapegoat in David Baddiel.  It's neck-and-neck with Nish Kumar in the "so bad it's good" terms of performance.  But where Nish was utterly enthusiastic, David just seems confused by the whole game. 

Portrait Decor:  

Series 9 went with a Mannerism artistic theme, and the Portrait of the Taskmaster is inspired by Giuseppe Arcimboldo, with his face made out vegetables

Best task of the season:

"Complete the seven tasks. When you touch a task in any way, you must complete it before looking inside another task."  There are a bunch of great tasks this series- everything from doing a preposterous thing with a chickpea, to inventing an egg timer (showing off Katy Wix's sadistic side), to making the most dramatic entrance.  The task I've chosen (the last task in the house for the series) is clever and backfires in so many ways that it wins out, but there are many great tasks this year.

Worst task of the season:

"Make either a knee and an elbow, a knee and a knee or an elbow or an elbow look like a famous couple. You must only use your knees and elbows."  It's not that amusing, or creative, and Katy is the only one with any artistic sense.

Trivia:

* The location tasks were at Living Props

Contestant Rankings:

1. Mel Giedroyc (Season 4)
2. Rhod Gilbert (Season 7)
3. Ed Gamble (Season 9)
4. James Acaster (Season 7)
5. Rose Matefeo (Season 9)
6. Bob Mortimer (Season 5)
7. Hugh Dennis (Season 4)
8. Noel Fielding (Season 4)
9. Katy Wix (Season 9)
10. Lou Sanders (Season 8)

Season Ranking:

1. Season 9
2. Season 7
3. Season 4
4. Season 5
5. Season 8
6. Season 6
7. Season 2
8. Season 1
9. Season 3