When it comes to television, the Brits have frequently been one step ahead of the Americans. Black Mirror, Doctor Who, Bake Off, and Downton Abbey – not only have UK showrunners proven to be wildly successful in their own spheres, they have also captured the hearts and minds of viewers across the globe. In particular, the best British TV shows have given us Americans certain things we didn’t even know we wanted.

Americans might not be so aware that one of the realms in which the Brits excel is in the genre of panel shows. “Panel” is a catch-all term for any show that involves a talk element, usually featuring a mix of comedians, TV presenters, and other public figures; some of the most entertaining versions of these programs also have a “game” element. (Shows such as Would I Lie To You? and The Chase have become so beloved that they have even been adapted for American television.) These British comics have a certain je ne sais quoi that the Americans don’t: a gift for endless, improvised banter and the chemistry of camaraderie. It’s all part of what makes these shows so unique and lovable.

Taskmaster: Jackass Lite

The current king of British television is a beast of a show called Taskmaster, which explodes the panel format into a raucous, riotous exercise in humiliation, hubris, and joy. Having just entered its 13th season in eight years, Taskmaster is a game show that is effectively “Jackass Lite:” a panel of five comedians compete through a series of “tasks” which range from perversely creative to hilariously mundane. These tasks are pre-recorded and then compiled for the comedians to view in front of a live studio audience while awaiting the harsh judgment of the titular Taskmaster (Greg Davies of The Inbetweeners). The format is the brain-child of another British comic, Alex Horne, who plays the role of the Taskmaster’s assistant; he based it off a live show he created for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

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Tasks include, but are not limited to: hiding an entire watermelon on your person, making a cocktail at no louder than 60 decibels (spoiler: it’s really difficult!), and playing a brand-new parlor game called “Horse or Laminator.” Taskmaster’s Assistant Alex Horne serves as proctor for (and co-creator of) all the tasks, wielding a clipboard and whistle, and remaining completely stone-faced as comedians attempt all the bonkers things he has set out for them to do.

Why You Should Watch Taskmaster

Why Taskmaster succeeds has partly to do with the fact that the show is terrifically funny, but that it also seems to go along at a leisurely pace – it’s got the good-natured, relaxed tone of Bake Off, while also somehow carrying the intensity and pure creativity of something like Brooklyn Nine Nine.

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The core of its success, however, comes from the featured talent. The show is populated with numerous, distinct personalities, all of whom take different approaches to creatively solving their tasks. (Both Mel Giedroyc and Noel Fielding of Bake Off appear in the same season, along with an endless roster of the best in British comic talent.)

The show gets a lot of mileage from those contestants who prove to be way less competent than they first appear, and some of the program’s most memorable bits come from moments of embarrassment and failure. But unlike, say, American Idol auditions, it is rarely ever pure “cringe” and it never feels exploitative; that is because, in the case of Taskmaster, everyone is in on the joke, and anybody who threatens to take themselves too seriously will inevitably be knocked down a few pegs.

All in all, Taskmaster represents an assertion that the viewing public is no longer satisfied with comedians simply “being funny” or “making jokes;” no, what we want to see is natural and improvisatory, even if it means comedians are forced to endure ridiculous, humiliating exercises in futility, and succeed or fail based purely on their ability to adapt and improvise. It is basically a long form Whose Line Is It Anyway for the 21st century mixed with some Jackass, and its most devoted fans follow it like it’s the Olympics.

More than anything else, it is a reassuring reminder that nobody’s perfect and that even those who try their hardest still end up falling flat on their faces. (Okay, maybe that last part isn’t so reassuring.)

Who Will Enjoy Taskmaster and Where to Watch

Taskmaster is a show geared to anyone who enjoys comedy. It is effectively a new subgenre: not quite sketch, not quite improv, not quite panel, and certainly not stand-up. If your idea of a good time is going out to see a comedy show of any variety, then Taskmaster is guaranteed to scratch that itch.

The first eight seasons of Taskmaster are available for free via the show’s YouTube channel. You can also watch these seasons ad-free through the show’s exclusive streaming service. The show is currently airing its 13th season in the U.K. and seasons 9-12 are not yet available in the U.S.