priest greggy

haven't read any other reactions to the taskmaster s22 lineup reveal yet, but i guess i'll throw in my two cents? i think it's disappointing...

to start with the biggest name, i don't think richard ayoade is fit for this show. i've talked about this before in a post i cannot easily locate at the minute, and he is way past his prime in terms of what he brings to a points-based, improv-based panel show production. i think he's a waste on cats does countdown and he's been mid on big fat quiz for years — because he doesn't care. he doesn't try. his entire schtick these days is "i don't want to be here and don't care about the format", which is frankly not that fun to watch after 100 times. taskmaster has lots of different types of challenges — strategy, artistry, improv, music, math, you name it — and it's not to say he'll flop at them all, but the general approach being a shrug and a "yeah whatever" and never hustling...it only works for so many people. i think it worked for jo brand, for example, but there's a reason she is so divisive amongst taskmaster fans. and taskmaster feels these days that it's more about effort and the points race and "well he tried so hard so let's at least give him 3 points" than ever. and that's so not richard? with all due respect to the subjectivity of comedy, i do think people who are big fans of richard are big fans of ~pre-2018 richard. he's been checked out for a long time. "but bad dong!!" babe that was 11 years ago...... all that aside, casting richard alongside queer nb chloe petts? iykyk idk

matt lucas where to begin... well i don't trust him, to put it simply lol there are so many rumours that he is a groomer, had multiple inappropriate relationships with teen boys, one man informally accused matt lucas of drugging and abusing him—mostly contained to the london and manchester queer scenes. he's still besties and career partners with david walliams, who most recently was let go by his book publisher for consistent harassment of junior female staff. i get that matt has tried to set himself apart by interjecting himself into the wholesome, unproblematic world of bake off and the woke era of doctor who, but i'm not buying it. i don't trust him

nina is fine i just wouldn't pick her over 50 other comedians

i LOVE isy of course (and how fun would it have been to have her and elis together? or her and [shakes fist] david mitchell or robert webb or matt king?) and chloe petts was an expected but great casting choice

but overall i'm extremely whelmed, it feels like "phew we got isy but at what cost?"

my dearest (dearest dearest dearest) russell dash crowe dot tumblr dot com, i am pleased to answer this…

(in no particular order)

1. LOOKING FOR KES

i am sickeningly obsessed with teacher greg and i think this is the closest we get to him authentically revisiting his teacher persona (aside from mr gilbert who is nothing like him lol… dan davies is def closer). i especially love the part where he actually goes back to the classroom and you can tell he finds it daunting but he’s still so sweet and good w the pupils 😭 i love this little novel as well as his passion for it, and i think it’s so neat that he got to do this!! also the jarvis cocker cameo is the collab i never knew i needed.

2. WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

this is probably the most popular and obvious choice, but i absolutely love his episode of who do you think you are. watching greg explore his heritage is such a joy. the moment he finds out he’s related to royalty (even while the historian is trying to explain that basically everyone from that area probably is), all he hears is “i’m descended from royalty”, and that is… so greg. throughout the whole thing he’s so kind, respectful, and genuinely curious to learn whatever he can from everyone he meets, and it makes his excitement completely infectious! you really feel like you’re discovering these things alongside him.

3. WORLD’S MOST DANGEROUS ROADS

possibly my favourite bit of rhod + greg content out there. i remember walking through soho with gilles and drunkenly asking him if he’s seen it (which of course he had) and him saying something along the lines of “you’re asking me if i’ve seen The Main Thing about The Thing we’re talking about?” …. So much to say about this one.

4. DESERT ISLAND DISCS

this is one of my favourite greg podcasts ‘cause this man’s taste in music is just *chef’s kiss* so fucking random yet bang on. i loooove this interview and have my own greg playlist that features all these tracks + more he likes :]

5. DVD EXTRAS: FIRING CHEESEBALLS, BOMMH

i feel like greg takes a pretty neurotic approach to his comedy, especially in his early shows (back of my mum’s head is my favourite to date and it has quite an existential theme about what it means to be normal!), and these backstage bonus docs are such a fascinating insight into his state of mind as he copes with his gradual rise to Actual Fame and the joys and hardships of touring. the ed gamble bits are so fun and it’s beautiful to see their friendship evolve in these early years gigging together. my favourite part is the interview with his mum :,) i have so much to say about these but i really recommend just watching them if you haven’t already seen them (and a rewatch wouldn’t hurt either!)

there are so many other things i’d like to include because i think pretty much anything greg has ever done is amazing and worthwhile. man down is my favourite show ever (bold claim, i know, but my gf and i quote it almost daily), his hosting gig on NMTB is right up my alley, pantsdrunk with russell howard never fails to make me laugh, we are klang is fucking crazy, and i really loved the recent we’re not really strangers interview he did with alex and all their interviews in the US (especially both the SEARED parts!)