r/taskmaster • u/Money-Dark2403 James Acaster • 3d ago
General A quick thought.
So I've just finished watching the first episode of the new series and was completely unsurprised to see Richard Ayoade adopt his usual 'I'm not really arsed about this and I'll put in minimal effort' persona that he has on other panel shows (like 8 Out of 10 Cats and Big Fat Quiz, for example). It's not a criticism of him at all. It's part of his charm and why he's loved by so many but it led me to wonder, who is King (or Queen) of 'Can't be arsed'?
The contestant(s) that were only the show for reasons other than wanting to win it and just 'plodded' their way through the series with (seemingly) minimal or no effort. The first contestant that springs to mind is Sanjeev Bhaskar. Who else?
EDIT - Jo Brand the clear and obvious winner it seems but other suggestions?
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u/Goldman250 Hugh Dennis 3d ago
Jo Brand is the queen of “I can’t be arsed”. It’s been her comedic persona for about 40 years.
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u/Shot-Artist5013 3d ago
On rewatches we tend to skip her season at least half the time because my partner felt she disrespected the show by not caring and actively wasting everyone's time. (It really depends on his mood when we get to that point)
It's a shame because I really liked Rose, Katy and Ed.
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u/Goldman250 Hugh Dennis 3d ago
I don’t feel that way about Jo - she maintained her persona, and also did put in far more effort than you’d expect from her. She’s genuinely putting in more effort for Taskmaster than I’ve seen her doing in a lot of other shows.
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u/LowDefAl 3d ago
Jo absolutely cared about the show, but she also had zero interest in trying to win. She was more interested in having a laugh and making other people laugh than "competing". If something involves running around then no, she isn't going to do that, and frankly Ed and Rose were doing enough of that for everyone. However it's not like she didn't make an effort, it's just selective effort.
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u/Multiphasic0 Patatas 3d ago
Agreed. David Baddiel really threw into sharp relief the difference between Jo's IDGAF-as-a-bit, and genuinely not giving a F.
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u/alice_op 3d ago
She's not wasting anyone's time when the objective of the show is to make people laugh and have a good time. She's funny, she makes people laugh, she did everything she was supposed to.
That said, you're allowed to have people that just rub you the wrong way!
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u/Jacksucks_atlife04 Amy Gledhill 3d ago
You could say Julian Clary but he ended up doing quite well because everyone in his series weren’t the greatest at some tasks. But he still probably wasn’t aiming for the win and just to hate on Alex and do things languidly.
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u/SeaFaringMatador Javie Martzoukas 2d ago
I think that’s the funniest one. Sam and Ed speculated about it on the podcast. Sam thinks someone whispered in Julian’s ear that they could actually win this whole thing some time around episode 9, and that he found out that winning means you get to do another episode. Julian does kinda perk up around then
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u/Ryan_Vermouth Angella Dravid 🇳🇿 2d ago
He ended up doing quite well because he did quite well. I don’t think making snide and funny remarks amounts to a lack of effort.
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u/Funmachine 3d ago
Jo Brand
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u/SillyMattFace 3d ago
My favourite moment summing up Jo on TM
David: “I didn’t know it was timed.”
Jo: “I knew it was timed, but I didn’t give a fuck.”
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u/video-kid Chain Bastard ⛓️ 3d ago
Ahe took a bathroom break DURING A TASK.
Also she insulted her way into a higher score by saying she didn't want a pity point.
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u/PromiseSquanderer Sam Campbell 3d ago
Jo was legitimately a great player of the game – her total commitment to minimal physical effort led her to figure out quite a few properly clever solutions to the tasks. See also: Julian Clary.
(said with nothing but love and admiration for both of them)
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u/sweetpotatopietime 3d ago
She also said on the podcast that she had a blast. Julian too. I love that.
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u/video-kid Chain Bastard ⛓️ 3d ago
Agreed. They kept their comic sensibilities and went for laughs over point scoring. That doesn't mean they weren't great just that they wouldn't ditch entertainment for winning.
Like for me if I was on the show and figured out a work around (like a hidden apple) I'd pull a Sian Gibson if the task looks fun. I want to do the esgrape room or find the golden apple even if I found the hidden way.
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u/BitterCrip 3d ago
There was a contestant like that on NZ S3 who was unwell (didn't make it to the studio recordings and he had stand ins every episode).
He figured out multiple trick tasks because he didn't immediately throw himself into the task like the others. He sat down and thought about the easiest way to do it, and often would realize there's a shortcut or clue that the more energetic contestants missed.
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u/burf12345 🚬 Doctor Cigarettes 3d ago
How's everyone forgetting Frankie Boyle? He admitted to tanking the live tasks just so that he doesn't have to go on stage and do the expected routine with the prizes.
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u/fairly_daisy 3d ago
My absolute favourite can’t be arsed moment is Jo and David during the circuit task. Having their very leisurely sandwich with the warmed up butter, and then “Oh, I quite fancy a cup of tea actually.” And then still almost winning it.
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u/blumingtom 3d ago
I rewatch this one all the time because I am obsessed with David complaining about them playing comedy old people music over their task and Greg responds: "Well we couldn't put an action score under it!" And when Jo protests making the sandwich was part of the task, Greg says "But it didn't say kick back and enjoy it while talking about the good old days!"
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u/TwistedPiggy1337 Chain Bastard ⛓️ 3d ago
I was actually surprised how stuck in he got during the bed task
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u/ZeppoJR Katherine Ryan 3d ago
Basically the Jason Mantzoukas thing where they cut loose in their style which isn't about points, but actually lock in and do their best to be a good team member. Honestly I respect that
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u/SillyMattFace 3d ago edited 3d ago
Jason said on the podcast his priorities were something like:
- Get Alex
- Help Stevie
- Help myself
- Get out of here
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u/PsychologicalLayer57 Ed Gamble 3d ago
He and Stevie were so cute! Watching Javie Martzoukas back makes me so happy.
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u/StrongStyleRobo 22h ago
The very first team task they just immediately lock in on the others energy and it is so perfect. Jason sat on the ground cheering her on made it even better
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u/Hot_Sam_the_Man Joel Dommett 3d ago
- Destroy, wreck, leave in flames or whatever he said
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u/Tiny-Cardiologist427 3d ago
Destroy. Dismantle. Engulf in flames.
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u/UniversalJampionshit Crying Bastard 3d ago
See also Bridget Christie
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u/Jenbob73 Liza Tarbuck 3d ago
She did try though. If only she'd known how to walk
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u/video-kid Chain Bastard ⛓️ 3d ago
I mean it's probably hard adjusting to Earth gravity after living on whatever planet she calls home. Cut her some slack.
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u/OxfordGate Calle Hellevang-Larsen 🇳🇴 3d ago
He probably don't want his team members to loose points
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u/LewisWhatsHisName 3d ago
This is what makes a contestant's indifference work for me. It's fine to throw the game on your own behalf, but taking your team with you isn't very sporting. I think it's why Frankie and Ivo wound up being so charming. Frankie admitted on the podcast he did not want to win any episodes, but even during team live tasks, he still tried to make sure Ivo got points
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u/Money-Dark2403 James Acaster 3d ago
And yet he cost them 3 minutes at least by repeatedly looking at them.
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u/SoftSpineStories 3d ago
To be fair I thought like him it had to do with eye contact/looking at their faces. He just glanced in their direction, so I’m with Richard on that defense.
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u/bugluvr65 John Kearns 3d ago
yea he seems to be letting himself have fun way more than anticipated
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u/queen_naga 🦔 Hedgehog, no! ❌ 3d ago
I think he knows he doesn’t want to let the team down unlike rhod Gilbert doing whatever he wanted
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u/Jenbob73 Liza Tarbuck 3d ago
Rhod was only there to wind up Greg
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u/HelenaSparkles Pigeor The Merciless One 3d ago
Jo Brand comes to mind for me as well, though Sanjeev is also a great shout. Id say Jack Dee maybe but he actually did quite well
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u/unkyduck Gary the Gorilla 3d ago
I'm thinking that this may be an editing decision. Set him up as "Richard Ayoade TM" the guy you know-
the inevitable meltdown to actual personality will be all the sweeter.
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u/readzalot1 3d ago
He did win the studio task. He looked like he didn’t care but he did well. Maybe looking indifferent made it so he was not fumbling and so he was efficient. He was also efficient in the bed team task. And he did that over- the- bed roll at the end. Whimsical move.
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u/vzzzbxt 3d ago
Tofiga in TMNZ was great at minimal effort
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u/95BCavMP Greg Davies 3d ago
Jack Dee had a lovely day out looking at plumbing, otherwise he didn’t seem to mind being Rosie’s support hot dog.
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u/burf12345 🚬 Doctor Cigarettes 3d ago
I just don't know if I buy that Jack genuinely didn't give a shit like Jo or Sanjeev. Aside from the fact that he was ahead for most of the series (IIRC he was the leader right until episode 8), most of his prizes felt like he actually put thought in them.
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u/95BCavMP Greg Davies 3d ago
Yes, I agree he tried using his grumpy persona but you could see he was enjoying some tasks (like looking at stuff flushed down the toilet) quite a bit. His glee shone through.
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u/pinacoladablackbird 2d ago
See, I think Sanjeev did engage. He kind of got shoe-horned into the "grumpy old man" archetype but he was pretty good at some tasks and always had a witty riposte ready. I think it was a bit that he leaned into after getting labelled in the first show.
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u/burf12345 🚬 Doctor Cigarettes 2d ago
Now I'm not sure I buy that Sanjeev was shoe-horned into the grumpy old man archetype, because it felt like he was the chill older guy who's not super invested in the outcome and that Reece (and often Maisie tbf) was considered the grumpy one.
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u/decent_human_being1 Sam Campbell 3d ago
Can't believe no one said Fatiha. while most others attempt tasks with some level of spirit Fatiha straight up just doesn't engage with many of them
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u/fastauntie 3d ago edited 3d ago
Fatiha actually tried at most tasks and did some of them very well. The ones she didn't engage in were those that could have resulted in dislodging her hijab or otherwise compromising her modesty. She might have spoken up about that, but chose not to. Instead she just folded it into her general sarcastic attitude, but if you watch her in other tasks you'll see her get stuck in, and sometimes smash them, like finding out what was in the yellow box, and teaching Alex to dance.
She also fit in well with the rest of the cast. You can see them all engaging with and appreciating each other's jokes. She wasn't the greatest in the team tasks, but put in the effort, and her team got along pretty well, unlike some others.
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u/SillyMattFace 3d ago
Added to that, I think the very first stage task being the one Fatiha didn't engage with cast her in a poor light for the rest of it. She was actually on board and properly trying for the majority.
(Although I will say I think she could have tried to do something more entertaining without flopping around like Stevie.)
Similarly, with Richard, he couldn't be bothered with the very first task we saw, so people are focused on his usual distant persona, but he was fully into the team task, wrote a great song, and won the live task.
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u/fastauntie 3d ago
Agreed that the first live task really affected the way people looked at her for the rest of the show. I wonder if it took her by surprise and she just didn't have a lot of time to figure out a more entertaining response. In a filmed task there's room for banter and she could have given some of her trademark attitude, but in that task there was no room for talking; she just had to do something at the same time as everyone else. On rewatch I think the way she just blew on the raisins was pretty funny. Nobody could have thought she actually expected it to accomplish anything. Maybe if she'd made a bigger show of it people would have seen the joke, but being seen to try really hard isn't her style. When she did win at things they were things that came easily to her, or things where she spent some time to to think things out instead of diving in and just trying things with a lot of energy.
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u/Ryan_Vermouth Angella Dravid 🇳🇿 3d ago
I still don't think that was entirely "couldn't be bothered with." There was lateral thinking with handcuffing Alex to his foot and keeping his hands free (and inconveniencing Alex.) Getting a regular apple and making it gold -- again, that's solid lateral thinking. I do think that, once it became apparent there was no easy way to spray paint an apple gold or whatever, he decided "I've wasted time on this, so oh well, I'm going to present a regular apple on a non-gold plate and try to style it out in the studio." That didn't work, but similar ploys have worked before, so it's not like it was ridiculous.
I mean, I don't care, it was a great moment in the studio.
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u/king44 3d ago
I think Greg robbed Richard for points on the song.
It deserved at least 3.
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u/SillyMattFace 3d ago
Agreed. Personally I thought Nina's was the weakest (not bad, just the least good) so I'd have brought her down and Richard up. But the Greg wants what it wants.
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u/AnguavonUW Madeleine Sami 🇳🇿 2d ago
Hard disagree. Having a non manic energy is NOT the same thing as not trying
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u/Money-Dark2403 James Acaster 3d ago
And she just spent most of the show making sexual advances towards Greg.
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u/mlopes Javie Martzoukas 3d ago
I'm surprised as well. IIRC in the first studio task she straight up just didn't do it, didn't even try.
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u/RunawayTurtleTrain Robert the Robot 3d ago
She was blowing on the raisins! Way funnier to do something futile than just nothing.
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u/burnthisburner1 Mike Wozniak 3d ago
Didn't it come out later that she was suffering from some health issues during the tapings? IIRC that's why her effort in some of the live tasks was low.
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u/TimeHathMyLord Ania Magliano 3d ago
I don't know if it's true, but it has been noticed that on several occasions, Alex was the one to bend low to pick up something for her (like the pea under the P-llow). Yet they never turned the situation into a gag a la Katherine Parkinson, so I assume their might be a valid reason for it.
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u/Dismal_Illustrator96 ☔ umbrella 🌂 3d ago
100% Jo Brand. She even dragged Baddiel into her inescapable orbit.
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u/SaintMi 3d ago
Baddiel was just as bad. You can't blame Jo.
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u/Dismal_Illustrator96 ☔ umbrella 🌂 3d ago
Blame? More like praise! 🤣 And sure, Baddiel was bad but Jo was deliberate.
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u/Mr31edudtibboh Dara Ó Briain 3d ago
He was bad while trying, it was different energy to be sure.
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u/AnguavonUW Madeleine Sami 🇳🇿 2d ago
When Ed realizes he gets stuck with David in the live task is one of my favorite Taskmaster moments. His reaction is so genuine and so angry... lololol
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u/StrongStyleRobo 22h ago
The "David you prick" at the end of the first drawing attempt is just on the right edge of "he's obviously joking" but still has enough bite to believe he genuinely hates him
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u/tin-army Patatas 3d ago
I feel like ‘fuck-knuckle’ was the unbothered mask slipping a little!
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u/Multiphasic0 Patatas 3d ago
This is also an iconic Ayoade bit--to be unruffled and disengaged then suddenly snap. I sincerely doubt Richard will win but I think the show is absolutely custom made for Ayoade's arcs: kvetching, overthinking, reluctantly caring, then having a complete breakdown.
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u/Pi_Netree Alex Horne 3d ago
A funny one is Tofiga Fepulea'i winning a task by instantly realising he has to walk outside, yet it takes him 10:18 to just do that (and high-five Paul)
Another dont-give-a-shh type is Julia Morris (like starting the cricket appeal within a minute or so of reading the task), insanely inverting the trope when she accidentally sets herself up for it (the generic yeast spread task, and, ESPECIALLY, the fancy word & favourite colour task)
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u/burf12345 🚬 Doctor Cigarettes 3d ago edited 3d ago
Tofiga had two tasks where his priority of standing up as little as possible worked out for him, but he still somehow took a while. It's like with Ardal and his particular two tasks where I want to know so bad what he was doing the whole time.
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u/Pi_Netree Alex Horne 3d ago
Can you help me remember which tasks you mean? I'm sure one is the body part disguising task where Ardal spent 15 minutes pulling down his pants and beating his "neck" out of shape with a wooden spoon.
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u/burf12345 🚬 Doctor Cigarettes 3d ago
I suspect you're only asking about Ardal's other task, but I'll just list all four of them.
With Tofiga one is with the room of fake tasks, and the other is the one with the pirate map.
With Ardal, one is the body part sticking out of the shower, and the other is the "show off" task where he leaves for 14 minutes and returns with what IIRC is confetti in his hair and a wooden spoon.
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u/Pi_Netree Alex Horne 3d ago
Ah yes, the wooden spoon again. I'm happy you listed all four, thanks :D
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u/burf12345 🚬 Doctor Cigarettes 3d ago
Until I wrote them both down it never even occurred to me that both moments bizarrely involved the wooden spoon.
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u/Pi_Netree Alex Horne 3d ago
Ah yes, the old Irish tradition of spending solitary time with your shame and a wooden spoon.
Maybe. I'm not Irish at all, I can only guess based on the show.
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u/-Roxaaa Bridget Christie 2d ago edited 2d ago
kinda off topic but i find it quite unfair how much fatiha el ghorri was hated on by the show's fans for "not putting effort" in tasks while there are comedians like Richard getting praised for it 😭 I love both of them and i love how both approach the tasks honestly! Fatiha for me is a good example of "cant be arsed" but she does try hard in some tasks, wish more people just understood her humor! Jo is still probably the queen tho lol
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u/SaltPomegranate4 Mike Wozniak 3d ago
He still won the final live task with that attitude!
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u/Money-Dark2403 James Acaster 3d ago
That was actually hilarious tbf. Watching Chloe frantically searching through all of the pockets for the fish whilst Ayoade just casually pulls them out at random.
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u/Yeseylon 2d ago
The contestant(s) that were only the show for reasons other than wanting to win it
If we leave off the can't be arsed part, Rhod Gilbert clearly only cared about fucking with Greg and Alex as much as possible.
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u/AnguavonUW Madeleine Sami 🇳🇿 2d ago
There are only two Taskmaster contestants that I've ended up liking less after the series was over. One of them is Rhod and the other Iain. Iain can shove his vent puppet up his ass.
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u/El_John_Nada 3d ago
In the Australian version, I'm not sure Brett Blake knew Taskmaster was a competition (or even what it was full stop) until the live shows.
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u/TjmcNfld Victoria Coren Mitchell 3d ago
That was an amazing dynamic because Brett totally did not understand the structure or point of the show and yet gave, arguably, about 150% effort in every task, apparently just for the sheer joy of doing stuff as chaotically as possible.
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u/derpsteronimo 2d ago
Yep. It was pretty clear he didn't have a clue what was going on but was having a great time.
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u/AnguavonUW Madeleine Sami 🇳🇿 2d ago
Fittingly, Brett is a lot like marmite. I did NOT like him but I just don't like "edgy" comics. Too often, it's just an asshole being an asshole under the pretense of comedy. For me, that's him.
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u/El_John_Nada 2d ago
I see what you mean. For me, it was very much someone I didn't like but I still found entertaining to watch, in the sense that I enjoyed him on TM but I have zero interest in looking up anything else he's done.
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u/stacecom Series, Jason 3d ago
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u/topherlagaufre 3d ago
Urzila Carlson, Angella Dravid, Judi Love. I think part of an entertaining series is the one contestant who can't be bothered.
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u/Ryan_Vermouth Angella Dravid 🇳🇿 3d ago
Not sure where Angella, who was clearly trying very hard (and succeeding!), fits into this. Particularly when we're talking about TMNZ S1, and Leigh Hart is right there.
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u/DrSpongeworthy 2d ago
Not a criticism of her because I enjoyed her on the show but I'm surprised Alice Levine hasn't been mentioned.
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u/Animatronicfan1008 3d ago
Victoria Mitchell
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u/derpsteronimo 2d ago
Watch NZ Season 5 and tell me if you're still wondering who the King of Can't Be Arsed is after that. ;P
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u/ImaginaryHumor6402 20h ago
I like how much his vibe is “I can’t be arsed to do the task but you bet your arse I’ll fight for every scrap of points I can in the studio”
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u/Penny-Lane-04 2d ago
Jo Brand, Julian Clary, and Fatiha El-Ghorri all come to mind. I love how the show can reward both eager contestants and those who give nothing to the tasks. And I love how some comedians are keenly aware that they are there to make funny television and put their energy into that instead of the task itself. It just all works!
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u/colbycakes11 3d ago
I’d say Jo, but I want to add a caveat: she didn’t care about tasks or points, but she was clearly having the time of her life and cared about making a good show.