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?"

Pre-covid era Richard? I would have loved him, but nowadays I don't know...I feel like he is just going to bicker and contest every single little thing and absolutely not in an endearing way.

I'm disappointed they casted Matt Lucas considering all the rumours going on about him. I don't like him, he makes my skin crawl for some reason and gives off bad vibes.

I have no idea who Nina Conti is, so I've no opinion on her.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Михаил Шайдоров Mikhail Shaidorov (KAZ)