Acclaimed and award-winning British comedy panel game show task master It's back for its 17th season. Nearly a decade after airing, how do the hit-making duo stay fresh?
“I think there are some lucky things,” said Horne, the show's creator and co-host. “One is that each series has completely different panels and casts, five of whom have never appeared before and never will, so everything automatically becomes fresh from that perspective. It's like starting a sitcom with two old characters you know and five new ones. ”
“we, white lotus entertainment world,” added co-host and stand-up comedian Greg Davis, a renowned taskmaster. white lotus You fooled us (lol).”
Horn added, “Also, the tasks are different every time. We've set this up as a stupid rule: You can't repeat the same task. Everything stays the same except for these two things. We're getting older little by little,” he continued.
task masteris a show that pits five comedians against each other in several brain challenges and is available in the US through the official Taskmaster YouTube channel and SVOD service Taskmaster SuperMax+. He has been a huge success in the US, where in the last 12 months he has gained 130,000 subscribers, has 200 million views on YouTube and 60 million hours of views. did.
Davis believes that rotating panelists each season allows the audience to form a connection with the panelists, but at the same time means they don't receive too much of the same and the responses are genuine. It's the same for him and Horn.
“Having a new cast of characters means they're always disrupting our expectations. We have an idea of what they'll bring to the show, and they're always working with it. We bring a lot of other weird and wonderful things,” Davis said. “I think about the well-laid plans of mice and men, when we put together a group of people that we think will interact in a certain way, they never do. I don't think it will work.'' “
Horn further added, “I'm always surprised because some of them have never seen the show before, but they agree to be on the show. I like that they don't have to do it because they're not trying to imitate anyone else,” he added.
Davies interjected: “There was a contestant in series 15 or something, but I don't think he knew who I was.”
Horne also revealed that it's “awkward sometimes” when it comes to panel picks. “There are people who we think would be great and want to join, but the slots are limited. It can get a little tricky. We were just talking this morning about who would be great.” he said.
Davis added, “I think the reason people want to do it is because it gives them a slightly different showcase. Speaking as a stand-up guy, I think after a while you start to think about your own creations, even if it makes sense. Perhaps only a therapist can shed light on the various limitations you place on yourself as a performer. task master, cannot hide in creation. You have to reveal at least something about yourself. The performers who appear on the show often reveal interesting things that I wasn't aware of, and that's one of the great joys of the show for me. ”
The panels are carefully curated, but the tasks are less tailored.
“Thinking in terms of a dinner party is definitely correct, but I don't rely on members to select tasks,” Horne revealed. “There are 10 episodes, so there's always one that involves music, one that involves art, and one that involves sports, but if there's someone we know who can sing, we're like, 'Oh, we have to make this. ” Surely they will sing someday. ' That would be better, but I'm a cynic and I want the funniest rather than the best.
Many incarnations already exist task master, which began as a show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival around the world. But would the two consider bringing the British show to the US?
“We're in New York right now, tweeting about it. I think it might work,” Mr. Horne mused.
“I’d love to do it, I’ll tell you that,” Davis laughed. “I would love to have it done, but I think it has to be a replication of what we do on our own terms. If you follow the rules, I think it will work, and I would love to do it.'' “
Horn continued, “Americans have always loved British shows. office And back to Monty Python. I don't know why, but I think they take this as their problem. There is no answer. Maybe it's because it's quintessentially British, but it's very different from American television. People tend to say it makes them happy and if they're sad they can turn to it and escape. ”
So who do they want on the panel task master we?
“Schwarzenegger,” they said almost in unison.
“And Danny DeVito, too,” Horn added. “Let's get both Twins. We want to get Kamala Harris.”
“Who's doing the chat show? Was she on ET? Drew Barrymore,” Davis continued.
What I've seen over the past few years is task masteris growing in popularity in the United States, as evidenced by Horn setting fans tasks to complete and submitting their results during the pandemic.
“We loved it,” Davis recalled. “Escapism is a word we use a lot on our show. The appeal for me, even as Taskmaster, is to escape from real life and exist within the limitations and rules of this universe. People. would prefer it. task master The universe has things you have to do to survive in it, so perhaps you can forget about other stresses. I don't know if it's because we're particularly British, or if it's more because it appeals to most people's desire to forget. ”
Have fans of the show ever tried to suggest tasks for the show?
“I always wrestle them to the floor,” Davis joked. “You should take that as a warning. Now, if you come up to me and try to sell me your work, you will be criticized. I will show you how to do it safely. “I'm not like that.'' “I'd rather suffocate them or do something awful to them. I'd rather put them on the ground and walk away.''
Horne added, “Often they haven't started talking yet, but you can see the expression in their eyes. My system is to write down their ideas and then burn the paper.”
The pair said the season will take about six months to film. The 17th role is out, so I already started work on the 18th.
“It's early days, the studio part isn't until September. We started shooting about a month ago,” Horne admitted. “It's so fun for the kids to look back six months ago and see what they were like. Sometimes kids forget. It's a long process, but we love it. Kids We have invested so much of our lives into it.”
“The panelists do one day a week later and another day two weeks later. We try to spread out the days. Otherwise they'll think a little bit in their head and make predictions. We write it in their diary, we do it wherever they are.''Freedom.'' ”
Due to the popularity of the program, task master The house has become iconic and a character on the show in its own right. But they managed to stop fans from flocking to the venue, which has a different theme each season.
“I think it solves the mystery of why people don't rush in. It's because it's scary. It's pretty dirty,” Davis said. “It’s a scary, cold, awful little place, but I’m glad I don’t have to spend too much time there.”
“Anyone who comes there will go. I can't believe I spent money on a plane ticket to see this.”
Horne added: “It's charming and nice here as well. We're there all year round because we're filming almost all the time, but we also treat it as an office. We're here with the team in the summer. We will hold a party there for the children,” he added. ”
Do Davis and Horn have a favorite job this season?
“To be honest, I don't remember any of it, but that's not about the show. That's my personal problem,” Davis confessed with a laugh.
“We won't do that because there are too many,” Horne clarified. “There was one running around outside on a big farm, which was really fun. There was a giant dot-and-dot thing that tickled me so much.”
Davis added, “Yes, it was fun because the horses felt like a danger that none of us counted on.”
“And Nick Mohammed was dressed up as Dracula,” Horn concluded. “Let's just say there was a lot going on.”
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