Network 10’s hit improv comedy show Taskmaster Australia returned last night for a second season. Joining Tom Gleeson and his sidekick Tom Cashman were a slew of new comedic talent including Josh Thomas, Jenny Tian, Lloyd Langford, Anne Edmonds and Wil Anderson.
The unscripted comedy show in which comedians are tasked with a random task is known for putting its contestants under stress (which is why masochistic viewers love it) . Despite the nerves of the contestants, presenter and sidekick Cashman said he is less nervous this year than last year.
“Going into the second season, I was definitely more relaxed. I was happy with watching the first one back – it worked and I had fun.”
In terms of what we can expect to stay from the first season of the show, Cashman said audience members can continue to expect contestants to deliver the unexpected.
“We had a huge variety of different contestants in the first season and viewers can definitely expect that again. We’ve got Josh Thomas for example who is definitely one of the most chaotic people that I have ever worked with.”
The good thing about Taskmasters, Cashman says, is that whether the contestants do well or don’t do well, laughs are guaranteed because even failing can be funny.
Cashman is very clear about what his job is in the proceedings: “part of my job is just reacting to the comedian.”
“It’s rare that you’ll be able to predict what each contestant does,” he continued.
For Cashman, comedians love appearing on the show because the high-pressured tasks can help them find their voice, which (deep down) is what most comedians crave.
“The thing comedians are always chasing is (well people call it) ‘finding your voice,’ “he said.
“Taskmasters is a shortcut to that because you are under pressure. There’s no one to be, other than yourself.”
Taskmasters is on every Thursday at 19:30 on Network 10
