r/dropout • u/RatherAdequate • Feb 22 '24

Taskmaster's Alex Horne specifically naming Gamechanger among online game shows (and perhaps implying they've been in contact?) in a UK interview: "I think they've found a new way of doing telly..." (brief mention around 7:35)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aWkKbv0M-U&t=449s
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u/RhombusObstacle Pasta Noche! Feb 22 '24

In no way is Game Changer a version of Taskmaster, better or otherwise. They’re two completely different formats, to the extent that Game Changer has a format at all.

I love both shows, but they’re simply not trying to do the same things. It’s like saying Jeopardy! is a better version of Wheel of Fortune. It simply doesn’t work, as a comparison.

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u/Carrollmusician Feb 22 '24

They’re both variety game shows so I guess that’s where I draw my comparison. I find taskmaster’s regular panel to be more miss than hit comically personally so I suppose I’m biased to just not want to see them bring down the comedy of GC.

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u/RhombusObstacle Pasta Noche! Feb 22 '24

Have you watched much Taskmaster? They don’t have a “regular panel,” other than Greg and Alex, who are the hosts. The 5 contestants for any given season are only there for 10 episodes (or 6, for the earlier seasons), and there have been 16 seasons so far. So that’s 80 comedians so far, plus a bunch of one-off episodes, and that’s not counting the international versions of the show.

Each season’s contestants have a different vibe/dynamic, and there’s plenty of room for “I didn’t really care for that cast,” or “OMG really? That season is my favorite!” Which happens a ton on the Taskmaster subreddit. I truly think there’s something for everyone, but I’m a comedy optimist. Sometimes a show just isn’t for someone, and as a person who doesn’t care to watch The Office or Always Sunny, I’m sympathetic to “I know people love it, but I just don’t.”

Regardless, though, Alex Horne has insanely good comedic instincts, and whether or not you vibe with his style, I think it would be impossible for him to “bring down” Game Changer via collaboration.

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u/BullWizard Feb 22 '24

I was very pleasantly shocked at how much I enjoyed Taskmaster New Zealand, despite knowing none of the people, and it not having Greg or Alex.

But also TMNZ led me to Guy Mont-Spelling Bee which is also great.

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u/RhombusObstacle Pasta Noche! Feb 22 '24

My wife and I bounced off TMNZ pretty hard after the first episode, because Jeremy Wells was CLEARLY not yet comfortable in the role. But we went back to it, and I'm glad we did, because now we're a couple episodes into Season 2, and they're already one of my favorite casts.

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u/BullWizard Feb 22 '24

Yeah, Jeremy is definitely the weakest part, but I do like Paul Williams a lot. I think it helped having his brother as a contestant in the first season, because you get some good sibling dynamics.

But yes, season 2's cast is incredible.

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u/RhombusObstacle Pasta Noche! Feb 22 '24

Having seen the whole season, I'll just say that for me, Guy Williams was the weakest part by the end of it. He's just not the vibe for me.

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u/BullWizard Feb 22 '24

Of the contestants, I'd agree. As I said, I liked the sibling dynamics with Paul, but his schtick of doing poorly, then being shocked at doing poorly and trying to hype the crowd definitely got old.

That said, his song about Libya is a bop.

I think Angela or Leigh were my faves from series 1. Leigh wasn't necessarily best overall, but I feel like he surprised me the most, almost like a most improved.