Pretty decent episode. Desiree on the balloon task 
Television Taskmaster | Series 18 starts tonight
- Thread starter prateik
- Start date
Yeah that bin manoeuvre was pretty clever.
Just been listening to an Alex Horne interview on the Hawksbee & Jacobs podcast.
I'm not sure how spoilers work on here but he as good as confirmed something about what Victoria Coren Mitchell's been wearing on some Only Connect episodes being connected to Taskmaster.
He also said Desiree Burch is 'enthusiastic and her volume is high but is also very funny'. She's not my type of humour so I'm not optimistic about the latter, but not surprising to have the former confirmed that I'm likely to find her overly loud and OTT for my liking - similar to Lou Sanders and Iain Stirling.
I'm not sure how spoilers work on here but he as good as confirmed something about what Victoria Coren Mitchell's been wearing on some Only Connect episodes being connected to Taskmaster.
He also said Desiree Burch is 'enthusiastic and her volume is high but is also very funny'. She's not my type of humour so I'm not optimistic about the latter, but not surprising to have the former confirmed that I'm likely to find her overly loud and OTT for my liking - similar to Lou Sanders and Iain Stirling.
Good to have it back. So far VCM hasn't irritated me @RedSky and I like Alan Davies' dignity hoodie. Called it that he'd be the one to pick the scissors straight off. Desiree knew that the scissors was the way to go but also knew that going for everything else first would be more entertaining which is good.
Series 10 and 11 were filmed partly in the pandemic restrictions and partly not, with there being some moments where you're like "this was definitely filmed after". This was filmed fully in the restrictions and the tasks have actually seemed more natural, probably as they've had more time to think out the tasks to fit rather than having existing tasks and having to modify them.
Series 10 and 11 were filmed partly in the pandemic restrictions and partly not, with there being some moments where you're like "this was definitely filmed after". This was filmed fully in the restrictions and the tasks have actually seemed more natural, probably as they've had more time to think out the tasks to fit rather than having existing tasks and having to modify them.
That was pretty great, I thought.
I really enjoyed the first episode. Some laugh out moments and I enjoyed all of the guests. There already seems to be a good chemistry between them as well - maybe because the producers have got a much better handle of how to manage the show with regards to Covid restrictions.
Really strong start to the season. Desiree had me in stitches with the shop task. How can someone's aim to THAT bad?
Enjoyed that. I expected VCM to be irritating but she was actually quite endearing.
I've never heard of Desiree but she seems alright. It's encouraging that she picked entertainment over winning in the balloon task.
Too early to say whether Alan Davies will perk up though. He seemed a bit flat.
I've never heard of Desiree but she seems alright. It's encouraging that she picked entertainment over winning in the balloon task.
Too early to say whether Alan Davies will perk up though. He seemed a bit flat.
Him and Richard Herring are entirely interchangeable. Don’t know why they still keep having that type on. So dull.
They always have a middle aged contestant. But when you're last one was Wozniak it's a hard act to follow.
If Wozniak was the middle aged contestant, what was Lee Mack? Mack is 11 years older than Wozniac and a year younger than Herring.
I'm touchy about this given Wozniak is only a year older than me. I'm not ready to be compared to Richard Herring age-wise!
I forgot about Mack, but he was far more lively than Alan Davies.
Wozniak is definitely middle-aged, you old bastird.
Bob Mortimer is the benchmark for the "old-bloke" contestant.
He looks more middle aged than he is. And thankfully so far I've still not had any first had experiences like he had during that fart task.
I don't think that Mortimer fits into that category, he transcends it. The category itself is more of an old and lazy-ish git who just doesn't do things in the similar tempo and prefers easier options — not a crazy chaotic entity like Mortimer or Wozniak.
Hugh Dennis was probably the best contestant who still somehow fitted into that role. Baddiel, Herring (
), Mack.
Hugh Dennis was probably the best contestant who still somehow fitted into that role. Baddiel, Herring (
), Mack.Good point. I wouldn't have really said Richard Herring fitted that group either, tbh - age wise, yeah, but he seemed really enthusiastic and keen to win. From that group I'd say Daisy May Cooper was the lazy, uninterested one (her pregnancy explains the lack of mobility - but not her seeming lack of interest or humour in the tasks and studio part). I'd also include Jo Brand and Paul Sinha - although Paul was more incompetent than uninterested).I don't think that Mortimer fits into that category, he transcends it. The category itself is more of an old and lazy-ish git who just doesn't do things in the similar tempo and prefers easier options — not a crazy chaotic entity like Mortimer or Wozniak.
Hugh Dennis was probably the best contestant who still somehow fitted into that role. Baddiel, Herring (
As for a regular 'type' in the group, it's the loud, OTT ones who are usually my least favourite. It worked well with James Acaster, as he was loud for funny reasons that generated good scenarios. But the loud for loud sakes, whose main 'humour' is loudness, I soon find hard work - like Lou Sanders, Iain Stirling, Aisling Bea, Johnny Vegas, Desiree Burch...
Paul Sinha was diagnosed with Parkinson's and it more than likely affected his performances during Taskmaster.
That’s sad to hear. I didn’t know that. That series was difficult. It followed one of the best series and had two of the least likeable contestants (Lou sanders and Ian sterling) but by the end of it I enjoyed Paul. The trouble with that series was paul and the guy from the inbetweeners would have been good with different line ups but together they kinda sat on each other as the slightly awkward, quiet but genuinely funny kinda person.
I didn’t dislike Phil wang but I feel like you could have changed him with Paul or joe Thomas and it would have been as successful. I think the dynamics of the five is as important as how funny they are individually.
Quite enjoyable first episode.
I was fully expecting to find Victoria my favourite and Desiree loud and annoying and my least favourite - and I did.
Alan Davies was OK but a bit meh in the first episode and maybe being set up to be the Hugh Dennis of the series? I didn't know much about Morgana or Guz - they seem OK, but not really my type of humour.
I'm not expecting any of them to be hilarious or standout contestants, but it should hopefully be a solid series.
Alright man we get it
Bertie needs a tagline declaring his love for Desiree Burch.
Might I humbly suggest "Sniffs Desiree Burch's farts"
I hadn't realised I'd mentioned her as much as that (although highlighting just one use of her name in a couple of long posts that covered so much more is a bit of a stretch
).He's just mad because she gave him up as a client when she became a comedian.
She wasn't even particularly loud either.
FFS!
Look, it's just my opinion based on seeing her (I won't mention her name this time) on many other shows as well. And my preference - based on the kind of humour I like and the kind I find loud and irritating.
Yes, I've seen her much louder, and there is a precedent of people toning it down a bit on shows like Taskmaster and House of Games compared to panel shows, so hopefully that's going to happen here (though not according to the Alex Horne comment I quoted). But, still, a toned down 'loud' comedian is still generally louder than a more subtle, dry one, so they're my favourites and the ones I enjoy the most rather than those who rely on constant OTT cries of 'oh nooo! Aaahhh! You've gotta be kidding meee!' as their attempt at humour (see Lou Sanders, Iain Stirling, and D...)
Despite comedy being very subjective, and many comedians falling into the 'like them / dislike them; find them funny / not funny' categories based on personal preference, it does feel like some comedians are deemed more 'fair game' to criticism while others get an amazed reaction that anyone could have anything negative to say about them. With that noticeable pattern in mind, I was expecting this to be one of those that wasn't seen as particularly valid compared to, say, criticising Iain Stirling for his loud humour. And so it seems. But that's my view, and it's as valid as people finding any other comedian funny / unfunny, likeable / irritating, etc.
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I thought she was fine. Was expecting much worse going by this thread.
Really enjoyable opener. Loved the balloon task.
Really enjoyable opener. Loved the balloon task.
Me too. Never heard of her. I was expecting Kathryn Ryan levels of annoying, but she seemed genuinely nice and seemed to understand the show is about entertainment, not winning the tasks at any cost.
I'm absolutely amazed at how loud she wasn't.
I had to mute the tv and stand out in the garden.
Blown away personally by how un-loud she was
Had to turn my TV up to full volume and still couldn’t hear her.
This is getting ridiculous.
If you've never seen her before, and are judging it on one episode, then I'd say give it a few before deciding the validity of the point.
Alex Horne himself, when describing how the guests were in an interview, said something along the lines of 'Desiree she's... very American. Very enthusiastic and her volume is loud. But she's also very funny'. Why would he make reference to her loudness if she wasn't at all loud?
His comments suggest, over the series, she is her usual loud self and was just quieter by her standards in the first episode. Unless he's talking rubbish as well. That's what I was saying - she's usually loud and OTT and, according to Alex, she's loud on Taskmaster as well. Hopefully she remains the level she was in episode 1 but I'd be surprised and, going off Alex's comment, I'm not expecting it.
But let's see.
Anyone know why they changed the format and only have four contestants this season instead of five?
I've seen her in a few things, and heard her on some of my favourite podcasts. As I said a couple of months back on here, I'm not seeing (or hearing, in this case) the issue you have with her.
They have five?
Looks like this is a you problem.
It's easy to miss the really quiet black lady.
I watched it on my phone with headphones, if you go past the volume warning message then you can just about hear the fifth contestant.
I was referring to those I responded to, who implied they'd never seen her before. I'm sure there's plenty who have seen her and like her. As I've said, humour is subjective and there's people who like / dislike all kinds of it. That's the way it is, and why comedians can be loved / loathed, seen as hilarious / unfunny by different people. I'm not seeing why there's such amazed reaction and mocking at my finding a comedian loud and unfunny just because some others don't. That's how comedy works.