Taskmaster nonsense

Do I still need to pick my 2021 films? Yup. But not today... 

Anyhoo - I am obsessed with Taskmaster, which has gotten me through the various surges starting with omicron. It is the most joyful thing on. It's absolutely genius. 

Now I watch it mainly for these two idiots:

But someone over on Reddit asked the good question of favorite contestant from each series (excluding champion of champions.) (am I continuing to have a pandemic breakdown? Probably.) So here we go. Also, I've found in many of the series, I often have what I think of as a 'fan favorite' and then the contestant I want to win, so if there are two, that's why. 

Season 1 - I was definitely rooting for Josh Widdicome, but in rewatching, I really love Tim Key. What a maniac. 

Season 2 - I love Richard Osman (can't wait for his third book!) And I love that he started the grand tradition of loopholes. I love Jon Richardson, but he would just get SO embarrassed. In the end I was rooting for Katherine (even after her meltdown - because, let's be honest, I'd've been the same in her shoes.)

Also, just because you can't not mention it in season 2:

Season 3 - Definitely Rob Beckett since he was in the midst of a breakdown. (Love Sara Pascoe, too, particularly when Alex thought she maybe murdered someone.)

Season 4 - I love Noel a lot, and I loved seeing so many of his talents come out on the show, but I was rooting for Joe Lycett. 

Season 5 - This one is SO tough. I went into it rooting for Aisling, because I love her. Sally was madness, Bob's a national treasure (although my favorite moment from him comes from CoC), but I think Mark's heron-ness really won me over, as did his friendship with Nish. (With both Mark and Tim, I'm sure I've grown to appreciate them even more as I watch No More Jockeys to tide me over between Taskmaster seasons.)

 

Season 6 - I loved Alice a lot and was rooting for her, and I always enjoy Russell, but it was always going to be Liza, who was responsible for the single greatest moment in the show (albeit on par with what's about to come in S7.)

Season 7 - I rooted for Jessica Knappett, I love her, I love that she's been immortalized in the studio, but it has to be Rhod. His prize tasks, his insistence on trying to humiliate Alex (which you have to wonder if it's even possible) (well - possible for a man?), his complete breakdown in the team tasks - he's probably my favorite contestant ever. His creepiest thing in every way deserves the spot of honor in taskmaster stats/spreadsheet guy Jack's list of the top 124 moments from seasons 1-10. 

[Update 10/12/22: I was talking to some other Taskmaster fan a few months ago, and I said I didn't really understand why James won all-time favorite contestant a couple of years in a row (I liked him just fine, but all-time best?). However, I've just been rewatching series 7, and I definitely get it now. I don't think I can pick between James, Jessica and Rhod, so series 7 is my favorite series.]

Season 8 - Iain Stirling. (Bless Sian's do a horrible thing and seductive ventriloquist tasks though.)

Season 9 - This one is so close. I love Ed so much and am really enjoying the podcast also tiding me over between seasons, and I went back and forth rooting for him and for Rose. I'm not sure I can call it between the two of them. (Katy also really won me over though - her little under-her-breath asides were so funny. And Jo and David's tea break is an all-time classic.)

Season 10 - This season is funny! I really enjoyed them all, but I never really picked anyone to root for. I loved watching Katherine Parkinson having a slow breakdown, I loved Mawaan Rizwan's cheekiness (and excellent nails), and Johnny Vegas' pathos. I think I might pick Johnny for this one. (I appreciate that Richard, like Ed, is a TM superfan.)

Season 11 - My first season! I watched it for Lee Mack, who turned out to be pretty terrible at it (although his hedgehog outtake displays that quick wit of his I love so much) (and I did love his rough northern farmer dynamic with Alex), but Mike Wozniak quickly stole my heart. I was rooting for Sarah Kendall to win, but Mike is definitely my fan favorite for the series:

Season 12 - Another tough one! I love them all in their own ways, it's a brilliant cast, and a brilliantly put-together cast, but I was rooting for Morgana to win. Definite props to Desiree though - I love her so much. 

Season 13 - What complete and utter madness. I was disappointed when I saw this cast, because I didn't know any of them aside from Judi (who I had not enjoyed on big fat quiz) (also it turns out I did know Ardal from Father Ted I just hadn't recognized him), but I was so wrong. WHAT a group. They are insanity run amok. The casting directors should win all the awards. I loved each and every one of them in their own way. I cried laughing every week. 

I loved Chris Ramsey's big teacher's pet golden retriever energy:

I love how often Ardal made Alex break with his madness:

I loved Judi's banter with Greg, her 'for fucks' sake', and her reaction shots:

I especially loved when she broke Alex during the shoe task:

But it was really between Bridget and Sophie for me this series. I loved Bridget's outfits, her bonkers approach to things, the way she threatened Greg (really more than any other contestant, even Jamali!), the way she genuinely irritated Alex for the first time in thirteen series. If she hadn't lost her mind quite so often, I'd say I'd want to be her when I grow up:

In the end, I was rooting for Sophie to win. She's a (house) queen:

I can't wait for series 14. This Fern person looks promising. 

In conclusion: