As Alex Horne tells it, Taskmaster was born out of professional jealousy. In 2009, he became a parent and so broke with almost a decade of tradition by not taking a show to the Edinburgh Fringe. That same year, his friend and former flatmate Tim Key won the festival’s top comedy award, for which Horne had been nominated in 2003.
At home and envious, Horne sent out emails inviting 20 comedians – including Key – to take part in a new competition in which he would set them a different task each month for a year. The results would be shared in a live performance at the 2010 Edinburgh Fringe called The Taskmaster.
The result was organised chaos. An overdraft of comedians (a Fringe-specific collective noun) plus a pianist joined Horne on stage to reveal the results, set tie-break tasks, and eventually crown a winner.
“So this is The Taskmaster,” Horne told the crowd, “It...
At home and envious, Horne sent out emails inviting 20 comedians – including Key – to take part in a new competition in which he would set them a different task each month for a year. The results would be shared in a live performance at the 2010 Edinburgh Fringe called The Taskmaster.
The result was organised chaos. An overdraft of comedians (a Fringe-specific collective noun) plus a pianist joined Horne on stage to reveal the results, set tie-break tasks, and eventually crown a winner.
“So this is The Taskmaster,” Horne told the crowd, “It...
- 4/11/2024
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
“Better Call Saul” actor Bob Odenkirk, “Pitch Perfect” star Anna Kendrick and acclaimed comedians Chelsea Handler and Eric André are among the lineup South by Southwest (SXSW) announced for its upcoming comedy festival.
The comedy festival will include improv, stand-up showcases, live podcast recordings and conversations.
In addition to Odenkirk, Kenrick, André and Handler, the comedy lineup features Abbi Jacobson, Adrienne Iapalucci, Andre Hyland, Anthony Atamanuik, Anthony DeVito, Aristotle Athari, Beth Stelling, Brian Moses, Caitlin Peluffo, Caleb Hearon, Christina Catherine Martinez, Doug Benson, Eddie Pepitone, Emma Willmann, Felipe Esparza, Godfrey, Greg Proops, Ismael Loutfi, Jackie Fabulous, Jake Johnson, James Adomian, Jessica McKenna, Joe DeRosa, John Gemberling, Josh Johnson, Joyelle Johnson, Katherine Blanford, Leonard Maltin, Matt Besser, Mike Lawrence, Natalie Palamides, Nick Thune, Patton Oswalt, Pete Lee, Phoebe Robinson, Rachel Sennott, Reggie Watts, Sabrina Jalees, Sam Jay, Sam Tallent, Sandy Honig, Steve Agee, Steph Tolev, Stuart Goldsmith, Tim Robinson, Todd Barry,...
The comedy festival will include improv, stand-up showcases, live podcast recordings and conversations.
In addition to Odenkirk, Kenrick, André and Handler, the comedy lineup features Abbi Jacobson, Adrienne Iapalucci, Andre Hyland, Anthony Atamanuik, Anthony DeVito, Aristotle Athari, Beth Stelling, Brian Moses, Caitlin Peluffo, Caleb Hearon, Christina Catherine Martinez, Doug Benson, Eddie Pepitone, Emma Willmann, Felipe Esparza, Godfrey, Greg Proops, Ismael Loutfi, Jackie Fabulous, Jake Johnson, James Adomian, Jessica McKenna, Joe DeRosa, John Gemberling, Josh Johnson, Joyelle Johnson, Katherine Blanford, Leonard Maltin, Matt Besser, Mike Lawrence, Natalie Palamides, Nick Thune, Patton Oswalt, Pete Lee, Phoebe Robinson, Rachel Sennott, Reggie Watts, Sabrina Jalees, Sam Jay, Sam Tallent, Sandy Honig, Steve Agee, Steph Tolev, Stuart Goldsmith, Tim Robinson, Todd Barry,...
- 2/27/2023
- by Julia MacCary
- Variety Film + TV
There will be plenty of laughs next week when the SXSW Comedy Festival kicks off on March 13 after the opening night film and world premiere of Judd Apatow’s The King of Staten Island starring Pete Davidson. He is set to host a standup revue that will feature the Saturday Night Live star, Bill Burr and others that will benefit the Friends of Firefighters foundation.
In addition, the Austin-based fest which runs March 13-22 will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the iconic National Lampoon. They will bring two nights of its National Lampoon Radio Hour: The Podcast to the fest. Meanwhile Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (Ucb) co-founder, Matt Besser is set to return with a slate of shows including the podcast improv4humans, The 420 Show, and the legendary improv show Asssscat. This year the theatre’s flagship show will feature Horatio Sanz, Gil Ozeri, the cast of Golden Arm,...
In addition, the Austin-based fest which runs March 13-22 will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the iconic National Lampoon. They will bring two nights of its National Lampoon Radio Hour: The Podcast to the fest. Meanwhile Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (Ucb) co-founder, Matt Besser is set to return with a slate of shows including the podcast improv4humans, The 420 Show, and the legendary improv show Asssscat. This year the theatre’s flagship show will feature Horatio Sanz, Gil Ozeri, the cast of Golden Arm,...
- 3/4/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
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