It’s time for a new feature here at Boogie Writes: It’s The Best Thing For You! I will offer my expert recommendation of things you should watch, listen to, eat, fuck, and/or generally consume to make your otherwise pallid life finally worth living! Trust me - as your physician, I know the best thing for you.
We begin with the finest thing to come out of Britain since any era Hellen Mirren: Taskmaster!
Taskmaster is not new. They are rolling into their fifteenth season (or series as the Brits say) with no sign of slowing. It is a juggernaut of popularity in England and all seasons are available for free on Youtube here in the US. So I am shocked how many people I talk to who have not heard of it. Shocked, I say! Because - and I say this without any fear of hyperbole - Taskmaster is the greatest thing in the history of everything.
Here’s the concept of the show: five comedians spend the entire season doing “tasks” at the Taskmaster house. These challenges vary from the creative (“make the best upside down film”) to the logistical (“throw this toilet paper into a toilet two stories down”) to the absurd (“do the most preposterous thing with a chickpea.”) During the live show, the Taskmaster comments on these pre-recorded challenges and awards the contestants points for their performances.
The first beautiful part of the show: the stakes couldn’t be lower. There is no cash prize, no recording contract, no reason to try whatsoever. The winner gets a prop statue of the Taskmaster’s head… and that’s it. Unlike most American competition shows, there is no drama. Winning isn’t the point. The tasks are an excuse to show off their cleverness, improv comedy, or general absurdity. Some of the more competitive contestants fall into taking it seriously which makes it that much funnier. It is the perfect platform to allow a diverse set of comic voices to show their stuff in their own unique ways.
Taskmaster is the brainchild of Alex Horne, who plays the Taskmaster’s groveling assistant. Behind the scenes, Horne creates all the challenges, most of which have a clever twist or loophole snuck somewhere inside them. While overseeing the tasks, he is a perfect straight man/foil to the comedians, often getting pulled into their various harebrained problem-solving. He is the show’s dry-witted Willy Wonka, overseeing a world of wild childlike imagination combined with high level puzzle play.
And then there is the Taskmaster himself: Greg Davies. It actually makes me angry how funny he is. In the fine British comedy tradition of John Cleese, Davies is at his sharpest when he’s being nasty, particularly to his poor beleaguered “assistant” Alex. But what makes Davies so brilliant is how often he switches gears, playing along with a contestant’s bit in surprisingly gently, silly, and bizarre ways. He is one of the quickest improvisers I’ve ever seen and his quips almost always go in an delightfully unexpected direction. As a comedy fan, it is exhilarating to watch him work.
Due to its wild success in England, Taskmaster has been franchised out across several countries, many of which are also available on Youtube. The Australia and New Zealand ones are worth a look, but only after you have completed all the seasons of the original and are still jonesing for more. They attempted an American version with the mellow absurdist Reggie Watts as the Taskmaster - a wild miscasting of a role better suited for a Nick Offerman or a Jane Lynch or a Conan O’Brien. But you can’t blame the spinoffs for not capturing the alchemy of the original.
Taskmaster is a reality competition show for people (like me) who hate reality competition shows. It is accessible for all ages (there are bleeped versions if cursing bothers you) and has something for everyone. It sits at the intersection of stupid and clever - my favorite crossroads. The show was absolutely crucial in getting me through the pandemic. There is a juvenile joy and playfulness that doesn’t sacrifice brains that soothed my lockdown-ing soul like few other things. So check out Taskmaster and thank me later. Trust me - it’s the best thing for you!
Boogie Writes is a completely independent endeavor by one hard-working funnyman trying to make his way in the world today (which takes everything you’ve got.) If you like what you read, please subscribe, support, and tell a friend! Also - do you need advice? Of course you do! Send your queries to brendan@brendanboogie.com with “Dear Boogie” in the subject and get some solid or at least passable advice!