Lasso Alex | Full Task | Taskmaster

From series 9… Lasso Alex. You must remain behind the line at all times.
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In this Broadcast Award-winning, BAFTA and Emmy Award-nominated entertainment show, Taskmaster tyrant Greg Davies (Man Down, Cuckoo), with the help of his loyal assistant Alex Horne (The Horne Section and the show’s creator), sets out to test the wiles, wit and wisdom of five hyper-competitive comedians.
Comedians that have risked life, limb, and dignity in the hope of making the Taskmaster proud so far include: Frank Skinner (The Frank Skinner Show), Mel Giedroyc (The Great British Bake Off), Romesh Ranganathan (Asian Provocateur), Hugh Dennis (Outnumbered), Sally Phillips (Bridget Jones’ Diary), Rose Matafeo (Edinburgh Comedy Award Winner 2018), and Russell Howard (The Russell Howard Hour). Unaware of what awaits them in each wax-sealed envelope, only one competitor can become the victorious owner of His Royal Task-ness’ golden head and be crowned the next Taskmaster Champion.

[@breakinggreens]

On the podcast Ed revealed that they were told that this was a tie breaker task... Then David happened.

[@capacitatedflux]

When I saw this comment, I had not seen David's attempt, and thought it would be because he somehow is a pro cowpoke and lassoed in one attempt. I should have known better.

[@iliketrains3495]

Alex: "You took slightly longer than all 4 of the others combined." Ed: *maniacal laughter* Also Ed: *Champion of Champions II*

[@ncitshubham]

*Spoilers* . . . He is not the Champion of Champions II. It is Richard Herring from season 10.

[@Rona44]

@@ncitshubhamI wish I listened to the spoiler alert 😭

[@iliketrains3495]

@@ncitshubham I never said he was, in fact what I was referring to was pretty much the opposite lol

[@barneymetcalfe8896]

No, he’s not saying he has the title, he’s referring to that special where Ed… breaks

[@rizkyanandita8227]

What duck?

[@Harvey1211]

This seems to be the first appearance of a task that was intended as a tiebreaker but ended up being a task proper. And what a treat it was. To think we almost never got to see the madness of ‘I’m gonna put another spoon on it’

[@lisahenry20]

If it had remained a tie breaker task, we would have seen it if David had tied with someone. So basically never.

[@MontyMonferno]

yeah! they mentioned on the podcast that it was originally intended to be a tiebreaker, but because of how awful David’s attempt was, they kept it in haha

[@iliketrains3495]

@@lisahenry20 Unless he and Ed were only awarded 1 point for the drawings on backs, I think he would tied with Rose then

[@Smyleypan]

If it had stayed a tie breaker than it might’ve meant Rose could have won the series given that the reason Ed won was because he beat Rose in every single tie break

[@VaellinTheBard]

​@@Smyleypan tiebreakers dont give points, so Ed Gamble still wouldve won the series. She just mightve won an episode that she died in

[@MelinaPaez]

How does David function on a daily basis? What’s his home like? How does he exist? He’s so frustrating to watch and I love it.

[@nielsunnerup7099]

Given that his job is to make people laugh, he's probably not quite so chaotic when nobody is watching.

[@erwinchan6077]

@@nielsunnerup7099 or he could be worse :)

[@kewlwarez]

He's tweeted more than once about microwaving his glasses...

[@lisahenry20]

I don't think the spoons were that crazy of an idea. If he'd attached enough if them in a certain way, they could have kept the end of the rope in a more rigid way to keep it open as he threw, and so it would be easier to get it over Alex. It was an okay idea (I probably would have looked for a hoola hoop instead) with terrible execution.

[@Renzsu]

you know what, the football taped to the rope wasn't that bad of an idea really, it sure makes it easier to throw/aim for someone who doesn't know how to lasso. The spoons though.. absolutely mental.

[@Irfanhill]

Joe Wilkinson would have wondered for 5 seconds about the rules, then lassoed Alex on the first try and celebrated it alongside everyone in the audience and on the panel... and then... when watching his glorious lasso throw a second time... you all know what would have been.

[@Romial34]

The look on Ed's face at 4:00 when he deduced that he could just move the tape killed me.

[@ryanquek5841]

8:08 Alex is so brutal saying "So it's the usual" for David's 1 point! This task was just vintage, and peak David Baddiel

[@gregorydillon9167]

My first instinct was to ask Alex to walk closer. Clearly, that idea didn't have enough spoons

[@NivMizzet89]

Ask Alex to get some spoons, then lasso him as he walks past?

[@somethingelse9176]

I bet this was the first time Alex had to ask someone to read the top line rather than the last!

[@obesus787]

Ed’s absolute glee at hearings Davids time gives me life

[@josemaria8177]

David Baddiel's greatest moment in his entire comedy career

[@saoirsedeltufo7436]

Not a high bar in fairness

[@fibrown444]

@@saoirsedeltufo7436 The Mary Whitehouse Experience was good back in the day.

[@goldytwatus1674]

Those standards don't work out too well for the other contestants

[@RickeGnool]

Ed has mentioned on the podcast several times that he was quite bitter about this Task because he was told it was a Tiebreaker, so he thought it didn’t matter that he didn’t do well in it.

[@SennaAugustus]

Wouldn't tiebreakers be just as important?

[@1violalass]

@@SennaAugustus Presumably he was planning to get enough points from other tasks that he wouldn't need a tiebreaker at all.

[@mss11235]

@@SennaAugustus Do you not know how game theory works?

[@benzaiten933]

Ed can be so petty and I love it!

[@axolotllan]

@@SennaAugustus nah because if the points won't matter then it's just a great excuse to possibly get some schadenfreude on Alex for all the frustration and suffering he gave them.

[@strawberrylemonadelioness]

I'm glad Alex has face protection, I couldn't imagine how many times he'd get smacked in the face otherwise.

[@Alakaizer]

Especially when the spoons came out

[@blackdragoncyrus]

Remember next time you don't know what to do: Just add more wooden spoons.

[@TheFinalSmash]

Halfway through the video, four out of five contestants have been shown... wait.

[@135chelmer]

The task said they had to stay behind the line but it didn’t say Alex had to. “Alex please walk to me”…put lasso over Alex…Task done 😎

There was a line in front of Alex, but the task never mentions it… :D And those moments, when you notice who has and who hasn't watched previous series, are the bits I absolutely love the most. "Wait, the task says…"

[@Taolan8472]

I mean, Ed was technically correct. It wasn't "proper" cowboy rope because it was fresh. Brand new. Unbroken. New rope is stiff, and new waxed rope is tacky. Need to run it through your hands end to end a couple times to break it in.

[@Pagliacci_Rex]

That was a specific type of rope used for lassoing.

[@verrufen2642]

​@@Pagliacci_Rex try to display your lack of attention span in one sentence

[@motodog242]

@@Pagliacci_RexCorrect… but, again, the newness of the wax is counterproductive. You want it to get off your fingers… not stay on it.

[@zoeloutay4734]

The nonchalant way Alex says 'so it's the usual' is brutal 😂🤣

[@hwood8001]

Honestly thought this was a pretty mid task…and then spoons happened. Actual tears of laughter.

[@Whisdom]

nearly died choking on water at "the usual"

[@Xerdoz]

You hold the loop, not the rope itself. Then you spin it above your head.

[@RosaCanina15]

Here after listening to the podcast, I don't know how I never noticed how seriously pissed off he looks while they discuss how you were allowed to move the line

[@Moxiecore]

I did not know why Alex was praying until David's time was announced: he just wanted it to end!

[@rachelstechman5959]

Truly one of the greatest tasks of all time

[@TheRealLeesyKate]

Jo Brand is a Commonwealth treasure

[@0860888080]

0:33 : "You must stand behind this line at all times". I'm not sure the caravan is behind the line. Seems like someone should have been straight out disqualified for getting supplies in the caravan

Everything behind the line is also in front of the line, if you want to go that direction ;-)

[@jonaslarsson5279]

Russell Howard would've just walked in, thrown the lasso as usual, got it on his first try, and left.

[@lawrencecalablaster568]

Joe Wilkinson would’ve done it but gotten disqualified, & Nish Kumar would’ve done it for an hour.

[@TheVoitel]

It only said "you must stand behind this line", but not "Alex must stand behind the other line". So I suppose the fastest way would have been to simply ask Alex to come over to your side ...

[@Spaxcore]

Or just throw the loop to Alex and tell him to lasso himself.

[@TheVoitel]

@@Spaxcore Or do it the mathematical way. Put the lasso around yourself and define: I’m on the outside ...

[@leeks1408]

I’m surprised David didn’t get disqualified because he stepped over the line but good for him for at least getting a point

[@lisahenry20]

One point wasn't going to do anything for David. Might as well just give it to him

[@rachelstechman5959]

The ol' Baddiel pity point

[@tinkerer3399]

If people were disqualified for stepping over the line I suspect everybody would have been disqualified.

[@Qrail]

Always fun to see something entirely different.

[@juliabachmann2682]

This was the funniest thing I’ve watch in months

[@ianitor]

nice these are lining up with the podcast episode just released...

[@Tibbyrevolution]

He built a bloody weapon.

[@auntlynnie]

“Lassoo.”

[@UnitSe7en]

Does this show have Top Gear's old cameraman? The low angles, deep DoF and heavy use of filters...

[@mbuhler6892]

The spoons 😂

[@Zubiila]

My first thought was to move the carpet, like Rose ended up doing, but Jo's idea was brilliant!

[@dorissaclaire]

What am I missing here why is Kerry Godliman standing in for Katy??

[@AydenCard]

Katy Wix was ill during the studio segments of this episode, so Kerry Godliman stood in for her while Katy was absent at the time.

[@jwagsftw]

I saw how long the video was and figured "surely there must be more to it than lasso Alex." But no. That's all they had to do.

[@littleolliebenjy]

So good!

[@Susan_-yt1re]

I laughed way too hard at this. I think I know the theory behind the spoons but probably wouldn't be my go-to option.

[@bcaye]

What no one considered is that it didn't say where Alex had to be.

[@EngineerLume]

I was literally looking for this the other day, lol

[@idkwhat2dowithmyhands]

This hurt watching as a Mexican American living in Texas

I agree, it hurt… my sides, from laughing at Jo moving the bloody line. :D

[@teazer7057]

Didn’t look like to me that David stayed behind the line at all times! He went to the caravan!

[@PixelGamer91]

Now that's a loop hole

[@Verity58]

That's... that's not a lasso, that's a flail...

[@johncameron4194]

Yup move the line

[@dubious6718]

Just move the line.

[@deepinthought2329]

I'd just ask Alex to come to me.

[@wishiwerespecial]

This is the first task I can say as an American I'd have the advantage.

[@Animalshikeforfun]

Also I'm not sure any of these people actually completed the task as it was written. The process of lassoing something involves getting the rope over it and then cinching it down on the thing being lassoed. They mostly just threw a loop over someone and let it fall right to the ground without pulling the loop closed.

[@somethingelse9176]

By that argument, David is the only one to successfully lasso Alex.

[@Animalshikeforfun]

@@somethingelse9176 ya. it's funny but I think that might actually be true. apart from him not actually getting the loop over Alex's head.

[@hiiistrex2838]

Why didn't any of them think to ask Alex to move closer

[@notalostnumber8660]

Nobody asked Alex to move closer

[@syev6070]

lasooo

[@blondsquirrel4739]

As someone who knows how to lasso this was hilarious to me

[@FirstNameLastName-gh9iw]

Hold on that not Katy Wik…

[@mattkennedy9308]

Apparently she was ill for the live component that's filmed later

[@nadger1337]

Dsvid is off his rcoker. Im surprised hes allowed out on his own.

[@AsbestosMuffins]

I genuinely thought someone would actually do this one as written. it can't be THAT HARD to throw a line, they all just kept using either too large or too small of a loop

[@degiguess]

This task would be so easy if they stopped trying to spin the lasso around like a cartoon those ropes are pretty rigid so like you can just make the loop bigger then through it like a hula hoop

[@joshuaclark9366]

Cool. Huge fan

[@odd_shoes]

Can someone tell me which episode the drawing on backs is in?

[@iliketrains3495]

Episode 9, 'Don't Like Them Go Bang'

[@odd_shoes]

@@iliketrains3495 Thanks.

[@mrbenoit5018]

Stick em up youu dodgers I’m a cowwdoy

[@motodog242]

As a Texan… yea… this task is still hard… if the line wasn’t movable/Alex wasn’t movable.

[@nothanks9174]

Usually I concede the British pronunciation of English words is correct but lasso comes from Spanish lazo which sounds like the American (and I guess Kiwi) pronunciation.

[@hunbi1875]

i dont mean to be that guy but actually generally speaking the american pronounciation 9specifically southern) of words is actually more similar to how they were pronounced back in the day

[@nothanks9174]

@@hunbi1875 It’s perfectly fine to be that guy, I started it lol

[@georgio101]

Lass-oo used to be the favoured pronunciation in America. Cowboys in the Old West would've called it a lass-oo, which is where British folk got the pronunciation. Consider also 'buckaroo', which comes from 'vaquero' for a similar treatment of a Spanish loanword. British folk used to pronounce it lass-oh based on spelling, but there's actually dictionaries from the period complaining about this as a mistake! In the intervening century, British people picked up the 'correct' lass-oo pronunciation, but Americans meanwhile shifted back towards 'lass-oh'.

[@michaelcullen5308]

Where is Kerry's attempt?

[@arandombard1197]

Credit to David, he actually did the task without cheating.

[@Alakaizer]

They all did, that's why there were no disqualifications.

[@serendipitousprincess6142]

Lassoo? 😂

[@__eivy__5391]

I thought David is John Oliver

[@Twentydragon]

"Lassoo"?

[@alphaelectricx6753]

Could someone tell me why the one woman had a replacement?

[@iliketrains3495]

Katy Wix was ill during one of the studio tapings (they film two a session) so she was subbed in by Kerry and Katherine Ryan

[@randyastle3301]

Why are all the English folks saying this Spanish word wrong? Lasso comes from lazar, to link or bind together, right? So as a noun it’s lazo, or lasso, from the first-person singular yo lazo, and there’s no such word as lassoo. Los lazos familiares son muy importantes, etc. But saying lassoo is like saying, “I want to eat a tacoo.” Man, I feel as pedantic as Jordan Schlansky now, but this has been driving me mad since I first saw this task a couple years ago. Kudos to Rose, not from England, for being the only one who can speak English correctly. Ha

[@mat_tamarin]

Kerry Godliman's attempt is missing, whoops! Edit; ahh she was a sub in the studio for Katy Wix, forgot about that!

[@iliketrains3495]

I don't know if you're joking or not, but Kerry was only a sub-in for Katy Wix in the studio for two episodes, all the recorded tasks were still done by Katy

[@MikeDCWeld]

@I Like Trains they probably should have popped a clip or annotation explaining that at the beginning. Not everyone watching has seen the full episode and some that have may not remember everything that happened in it. I've certainly seen things in the shorter videos that I didn't remember from the full episode.

[@andrewjolly319]

I got so confused by this. I went back and forwards...

[@mat_tamarin]

@@iliketrains3495 ahhh cheers, forgot about that 👍

[@davidallen111]

As an American, I feel that I should point out that none of the contestants did anything that even hinted at proper technique.

[@RD-js3uo]

I wasn't aware that only Americans were able to use a lasso, that's a pretty cool and strange fact.

[@davidallen111]

@@RD-js3uo It is not that only Americans can use a lasso. It is a Mexican invention, and many Canadians have used one. It is just that here in America using a lasso is a popular form of entertainment and has been for over a hundred years. American children learn how to stretch a rope, shape a loop, and snag a fence post at ten paces at a young age. Some of them go on to compete at snagging sheep and goats, then calves, cows, and horses. Some Americans even do it for a living. And many Americans, even old men, still like to snag a fence post once in a while.

[@RD-js3uo]

@@davidallen111 cool! Thankyou for the knowledge drop. (This sounds sarcastic but I do appreciate it)

[@diogenesoliveira6473]

@@davidallen111 I really doubt it's even the majority of American children

[@THE_CDN]

Watching people who've clearly never worked on a farm, or ridden a horse, is hilarious!

[@Spaxcore]

Even if they'd all worked on a farm in the UK, we don't use lassoing in the UK on farms.

[@THE_CDN]

@@Spaxcore Not even to lasso young livestock that need to be reigned in? Interesting.

[@Spaxcore]

@@THE_CDN we tend to work in much smaller scale in the UK so we'll round animals into barns using dogs and quad bikes then seperate the animal once they're confined. Things might be different on various farms but I grew up farm handing in Scotland and never once saw a lasso. We don't really use horses much either. Some farmers will ride for pleasure and I know a guy who uses draft horses for remote area logging, but that's pretty unusual.

[@THE_CDN]

@@Spaxcore No horses, but quads are the way to go, I guess. I haven't worked on a farm in decades, so I guess I'm behind the times. Lol!

[@arandombard1197]

So the vast majority of humans?

[@StercusAcciditMedia]

Is is missing Kerris go?

[@chiptovar]

Katy Wix was not feeling well and missed two of the live episodes.Kerri replaced her for one and Katherine Ryan came in for the other.

[@hopemccalley6955]

There are so many ways to cheat this task…..I think. The task never said that Alex/Carpet couldn’t move. So, move Alex closer to you. Also, no where was it said that any spot of Alex was off limits or you had to loop a specific spot (i.e top of head). And, you have to stay behind the line but, the rules didn’t say that the line had to stay where it was originally placed. Btw, I’m commenting before the task officially starts so, maybe others will have better ideas. *omg the spoons

"cheat". If you think they're in any way cheating, you haven't understood Taskmaster yet. Hint: the only rules are _in the task_ There are no "ground rules".

[@hopemccalley6955]

@ I just meant “cheat the task” like, find the loopholes to solve the task besides, just going straight to the most obvious answer/attempting to complete without messing up a simple “unspoken rule”. Like, this show has said, “all instructions are written on the task”. It just is interesting that humans have so many ways to complete a simple problem. Sorry, if this sounded rude, I just wanted to try to explain my self better.

[@mericaman9660]

Darn British people this is why we left, and taxes

You left because you hated fun?