Taskmaster #2 Are you a child of divorce?

[Pontiac_Bandit]

As a fan of their podcast, John played Taskmaster exactly as I would have expected him to. He is hyper competitive, very heavy on preparing for things and has often had times where his bad showmanship makes him look very childish and petty.

I thought he came across fine on the show, but he was clearly in it to win it and had studied the show in depth before his tasks. Which ultimately made him a little too boring and smug.

I think if he'd leaned more into mocking how competitive he was, and had fun OTT reactions to winning tasks/episodes it would have been fine, but his quiet fake-humble "oh yes, I guess I've done well" expressions really bothered me he clearly takes himself very seriously and doesn't have the ability to reflect and realise how he comes across! You can do well and still be fun, John!! Dara managed it, Morgana managed it! He's so overly earnest.

 

[runningbutnotinfluencing]

He just made it boring.

 

[Pontiac_Bandit]

I've just googled John and found this clip from a few months ago about how he feels being just over a year into sobriety. He makes some brilliant, insightful comments about how the longer he's sober, the more he has to remind himself of why drinking was so bad (recovery's such a difficult, ongoing process) but for some reason I just found the way he made those comments really irritating I think he just lacks the ability to be really engaging when he talks, like he thinks what he's saying is so important that it speaks for itself and he doesn't need to be warm or self-depricating to make the audience feel he's talking to them.



(Side note, but I've just realised who Elis James is and I loved him in Josh - I hope he does Taskmaster one day!)

 

[Jelly Bean]

Sigh.
Is it going to be like this for the entire series?

 

[SwishSwing]

Yes, and they both wrote shows about their break-up.

Separately, I find them both insufferable. If I was unfortunate enough to encounter them as a couple, I’d likely commit a crime.

His show about their break up is frankly excellent.

John is an acquired taste but once you *get him*, you're in!

An in to understanding him is to search for Tick Tock Robins on Spotify. It's a podcast from his xfm days with Elis and its actually such a good show. Definitely recommend it to change your opinion!

 

[mee43]

Sigh.
Is it going to be like this for the entire series?

For goodness sake!
Why are you a “ham”, whatever the bloody hell that is, because you don’t find someone funny?!

 

[ButtonDownTheHutches]

For goodness sake!
Why are you a “ham”, whatever the bloody hell that is, because you don’t find someone funny?!

RJ doesn’t take kindly to anyone having the temerity to hold a different opinion to her - her ‘mad angry cry’ being a prime case in point.

Clearly, it is obligatory to find RJ funny because RJ finds RJ funny, and if you don’t think she’s funny, you are ‘angry’.

I didn’t find John or Joanne especially funny or entertaining on the most recent series. Does that make me an ‘angry ham’, or is it ok to have not been a fan of either of them?

 

[Meowsy]

Sigh.
Is it going to be like this for the entire series?

I was going to give her (or rather the creators) the benefit of the doubt, but this clinches the deal for me. Hope someone does "The best of Jack Dee on Taskmaster" compilation on youtube.

 

[adviseplz]

(Side note, but I've just realised who Elis James is and I loved him in Josh - I hope he does Taskmaster one day!)

I’ve been putting Elis-And-Isy-As-The-First-Couple-Competing-Against-Each-Other-(I think)-On-Taskmaster out into the universe ever since I realised how great it would be a couple of weeks ago

 

[panda_eyes]

I like Andy Zaltzman and Jack Dee - so I will begrudgingly watch. Might just mute the bits with RJ on and play on my phone.

 

[LilacLady53]

I was in two minds about the next series as I love Jack Dee but can’t stand Rosie Jones. She’s just not funny. What an immature response from her. I watched this last series purely for Nick & Steve but John made it intolerably boring! No, one person shouldn’t make that much of a difference but he did, sadly

 

[Libertine1975]

I found Joanne too try hard in the recent series. I love Steve Pembertond work and the cinematic tasks I knew he would ace. I loved Nick he grew on me over the series as did Sophie. I didn't hate John he just felt too competitive with all the tasks rather than just enjoying it.

 

[mindlessness]

I’ve been putting Elis-And-Isy-As-The-First-Couple-Competing-Against-Each-Other-(I think)-On-Taskmaster out into the universe ever since I realised how great it would be a couple of weeks ago

Oh they'd be lots of fun on the show I think! A great call.
They'd be the second couple now Elis' fellow Welshman Lloyd Langford is on the Aus one with his partner Anne Edmonds. I believe also on one of the European versions there's been a couple where one was the taskmasters assistant? But I forget which version.
(and in S1 of NZ, the taskmaster's assistant Paul Williams is the brother of Guy Williams, one of the contestants).

 

[Jelly Bean]

Has Lucy Porter been on? I've just watched her on Pointless and she seems good fun and witty. I think she'd be good.

 

[mee43]

Would love Richard Ayeoade or David Mitchell. I think Maisie Adam would be fun, too. Jennifer Saunders seems game for a laugh, if they could afford her

 

[Libertine1975]

Would love Richard Ayeoade or David Mitchell. I think Maisie Adam would be fun, too. Jennifer Saunders seems game for a laugh, if they could afford her

The first two in one series would be amazing. I still want Reece Shearsmith to be in it, wish he had been in the same series as Steve Pemeberton.

 

[DontQuoteMe]

I think David Mitchell has already said no chance, but then hadn’t Jack Dee said that too?

 

[mee43]

The first two in one series would be amazing. I still want Reece Shearsmith to be in it, wish he had been in the same series as Steve Pemeberton.

Ah that would have been great!

I think David Mitchell has already said no chance, but then hadn’t Jack Dee said that too?

Hopefully he’ll change his mind

 

[Willow9999]

I think David Mitchell has already said no chance, but then hadn’t Jack Dee said that too?

He did. Alex Horne said in an interview ( can’t remember who with) that they basically tried every year as he was at the top of their most wanted contestants but he always said no. Still hoping for Diane Morgan and Richard Ayeoade.

 

[panda_eyes]

I'd quite like to see Ross Noble on it (although I can't remember if he lives in the UK or Australia now).