Game shows have never really been my thing. I’ll watch “Survivor” or “Jeopardy” if they’re on, but I’ve never kept up with a weekly game show until I came across “Taskmaster” online. On the U.K. based show, five comedians compete by finishing many different, absurd tasks for points given out by the Taskmaster Greg Davies. The contestants solve the different tasks under the watch of the Taskmaster’s assistant and show’s creator, Alex Horne.
From there, the show consists of the comedians, Davies and Horne, watching the prerecorded tasks and awarding points in front of a live studio audience. The show is currently in its 20th season with current contestants including Maisie Adam, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Phil Ellis, Ania Magliano and Reece Shearsmith. Since there are no correct answers to the tasks, points are awarded for humor and creativity. The fun comes from seeing the different methods the comedians use and thinking about how you would’ve solved it.
At least once per episode, one of the tasks leaves me crying from laughter. In the third episode of this current season, one of those tasks was a giant game of snakes and ladders. The contestants had to put their own snakes and ladders on the board before playing in a giant game derived from their combined placements. Some contestants placed theirs strategically to ruin other competitors’ runs, ultimately ruining their own. At the same time, others had forgotten where they placed their pieces, leaving them wondering why the board was so confusing.
In episode four, another task that had me sobbing was when, individually, players had to become halves of a heart shape using their bodies and any other objects around. In only 10 seconds, the first partner had to explain what part of the heart they’d become in a voice recording. Hearing that, their team member then tried to complete the other half of the heart. One team, Magliano and Shearsmith, managed to create a heart with lots of detail — including writing “Mum” in the center — as well as making the heart beat with their bodies. The other team with the remaining players was less successful, barely managing to create a heart, let alone any additional features.
Given the hilarious and ever-changing content of the show, it’s no wonder “Taskmaster” has been airing for so long. With 20 seasons and more on the way, the show is a rarity in today’s media landscape. This backlog of content is one of “Taskmaster’s” best qualities, allowing the viewer to see how the show has continued to top itself and its ridiculousness. Besides jumping into the current season, some others I’d recommend are seasons seven, 15 and 19.
In 2018, there was a failed attempt to create a version of “Taskmaster” for American audiences. The U.S. version only ran for one season on Comedy Central. The company then cancelled the show due to low ratings that likely stemmed from only having a 22 minute timeslot compared to the U.K. version’s 45 minutes. Despite that, the show doesn’t shy away from an international audience. Many other countries have successfully adapted their own “Taskmaster” spin-offs, my favorite being the New Zealand version. All of the original UK “Taskmaster” episodes, as well as many of the spin-off seasons, are available for free on YouTube. This only continues to broaden their audience and find viewership in the United States even without a cable spin-off.
And “Taskmaster” makes sure it’s for everyone, with each season featuring comedians from diverse backgrounds. Through watching the show, I’m exposed to a bunch of new, funny people I would’ve never otherwise known. In a time where news and television are often gritty and dark, it’s nice to watch a show that’s purely meant for laughs. For the players and the audience, it doesn’t matter who wins or loses. All that counts is having a good time.
Rating: 4.5/5
