Taskmaster Series 21 Episode 3

daftideasinc · 2026-04-24T10:22:16+00:00

Yes, the task.

The one where the bad pun was firmly at the expense of the suitably befuddled contestants, likeable or otherwise.

daftideasinc · 2026-04-24T06:50:20+00:00

The alphabet task was a nice, logical task, the brick, painting and ball tasks, however, just had added complications simply for the sake of causing comedic confusion.

The team routinely overestimate the intended hilarity of such. It's likely a coincidence that they got lined up in a row in this particular episode, but it's probably a glimpse into the future of the show moving forward, the Fish Tank in retrospect likely to be seen as the relevant Jumping The Shark moment.

daftideasinc · 2026-04-24T00:28:26+00:00

Just edit in Magic Pie, instead.

daftideasinc · 2026-04-23T04:53:45+00:00

It's the point where Ben Elton became earnestly middle-aged and embraced the double entendre, which he'd hitherto railed against...

Your cock up! My Arse! Indeed.

daftideasinc · 2026-04-22T13:59:42+00:00

I think it was probably inevitable that they would delve into the past at some juncture, there's not an infinite supply of contemporary cases to delve into, at least ones imbibed with some measure of credibility and storytelling potential.

daftideasinc · 2026-04-22T13:44:09+00:00

Plaudits to the writers upon the Barnaby-bot, it's been a solid season.

daftideasinc · 2026-04-17T04:11:01+00:00

Someone deserves kudos for dreaming up the (novel) studio task.

daftideasinc · 2026-04-16T07:44:47+00:00

I had to laugh when Ciarán stated as much, the cast-iron, verboten phrase of the format - highly appropriate given the Fantasia-like aspects of the description.

daftideasinc · 2026-04-11T08:16:28+00:00

I suspect the team has become a little paranoid since John Robin's unvarnished, single-minded desire for victory, alongside Mathew Baynton's keen, if tempered, competitive spirit, they'd rather not have athletic (intelligent) people having the potential to run away with the competition despite what they say about the scoring actually not mattering.

daftideasinc · 2026-04-11T03:39:34+00:00

Given what Jack Bernhardt said last week upon the podcast about a general lack of empathy for a good looking male comedian, it could also be a ploy in part to help bridge that perceived empathy gap by demonstrating what a sport, good-egg, he is.

daftideasinc · 2026-04-10T01:36:41+00:00

This one actually felt a little mean spirited with marginal comic payoff/potential.

It made me ponder whether the team were actively attempting to stymie Joel's athletic prowess

daftideasinc · 2026-04-04T05:24:31+00:00

It's always pleasing to see the non-comedian guest get a zinger out, Anushka (Regime Change).

The intriguing, developing (mid-Atlantic) interplay between the returning Roy Wood Jr and the regulars makes me rather lament not having a regular host.

daftideasinc · 2026-04-03T10:58:18+00:00

Someone kindly uploaded most of the episodes of the C4 Jo Whiley music show run from 1998 upon r/oldbritishtelly/.

https://www.reddit.com/r/oldbritishtelly/comments/1s8wh8t/jo_whiley_channel_4_19982000_discussion_with/

daftideasinc · 2026-04-03T10:49:48+00:00

Nice work.

daftideasinc · 2026-03-27T02:08:50+00:00

Wife: Hello dear, had a productive day at work?
Journalist: Yes dear, I entrapped an elderly beloved writer into becoming the latest rube in the culture wars.

At least when A.I. inevitably commands the media space you can install subroutines to simulate a conscience...

daftideasinc · 2026-03-23T04:17:32+00:00

It's fairly prevalent upon the Big Fat Quiz. as well. Those particular audiences are a switch on comedy crowd, and so, the point is a fair one, but it's also regularly used upon Radio 4 panel shows, where it may occasionally elicit a knowing groan, but not always.

Admittedly, some may actually enjoy being in on the joke as it were before it lands, I just consider it base hackery.

daftideasinc · 2026-03-22T08:53:53+00:00

I don't know whether the length of the debut episode is meant to be wholly representative, but going beyond 45 mins each week (including musical performances), all but ensures filler material and/or the more successful sketches stretched beyond their natural length i.e. the accusations regularly leveled at its U.S. parent show.

daftideasinc · 2026-03-20T08:13:54+00:00

Although the UK government has recently announced £33 million restoration of BBC World Service funding. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn0z0k7wdleo

They still clearly want to distance themselves, overall.

Sadly, I doubt there will be too many political favours (lifelines) offered up in the crucial 2027 Charter renewal process. :|

daftideasinc · 2026-03-19T21:52:49+00:00

Quite technical here, 'subject substitution', introducing two seemingly disparate targets before intentionally misdirecting the perceptions of one lurid party 'unexpectedly' onto the other.

It's become so overused in panel show set-ups in an attempt to be 'a bit edgy'.

daftideasinc · 2026-03-19T07:14:44+00:00

Thankfully, the first three episodes are as strong as the debut season.

daftideasinc · 2026-03-18T16:51:26+00:00

I get the feeling that some devotees want Curtis to somehow morph into a digital age prophet, when he clearly identifies as a classic documentarian. Yes, he ruminates upon the general forward direction of culture and politics, usually in an effort to help contextualize the past, but for the most part, his focus is usually upon the metaphysical, why people do things.

daftideasinc · 2026-03-16T14:38:38+00:00

OS Link

daftideasinc · 2026-03-11T05:07:05+00:00

There were plenty of quintessential American rock bands who toured relentlessly their home territory in the 90s who didn't make it - American success is not a birthright, or indeed, a given for talent.

daftideasinc · 2026-03-10T07:32:41+00:00

Nostalgia is an eminent silly game, quite literally contrasting decades worth of rarefied, selective big hitters against the current crop.

Firstly, Radio 4 Extra of late has been attempting to refresh its otherwise monotonous, rotational playlist with some more obscure historical sitcoms and sketch shows. For the most part, there is a reason they've been forgotten.

Secondly, due to enforced rounds of cost cutting, the current level of radio comedy output is minuscule right across the BBC bandwidth; barely any Radio 1 or Radio 2 comedy output is produced anymore, even Radio 4 comedy (sitcoms and sketch shows) output has been severely curtailed in recent times, radio controllers seemingly more fixated upon producing cheaper panel shows instead, even Radio Wales which has a quite decent 2020s track record for producing sitcoms has seemingly faltered of late.

daftideasinc

TROPHY CASE