I've started listening to Armando's podcast, STRONG MESSAGE HERE, beginning with an episode from the new year where he briefly talked about TASKMASTER! Fairly sure the task he mentioned in particular was the "Be brave" task:
Transcript below, courtesy of this thread on the TM sub (which is where I found out about the ep itself):
ARMANDO: Interesting thing happened this week. I've been sitting on it for quite some time. But, I was announced in the new series of Taskmaster.
NATALIE: The trailer's very pleasing.
ARMANDO: Oh, good.
NATALIE: The trailer is very pleasing. You look very good armed with a weapon.
ARMANDO: Thank you. Yes. Look up Taskmaster, those of you who don't know it. It's comedians doing silly things. It's a very joyous programme. It's always been one of my favourite shows.
NATALIE: Did you have fun doing it?
ARMANDO: I leapt at the chance, when asked. Although, online, people were going, 'What's he doing on it? Oh my god.' It's weird the kind of perception you encounter of yourself, online. For the sake of those who do know Taskmaster – we've done, a lot of the tasks have been recorded – I will be playing the part of the elderly.
NATALIE: Okay.
ARMANDO: There's always someone on it who looks a little bit bemused and confused by what's going on.
NATALIE: See, I feel like I could work towards that.
ARMANDO: Yes. Although someone posted, 'I hope everyone is kind to that old man,' when the news was announced. So, thank you.
NATALIE: So he managed to patronise you and simultaneously care about you.
ARMANDO: That's nice, yes. I'll take one.
NATALIE: It's better than nothing. Marginally.
ARMANDO: But, I think – there was a task – I can't really go into, you know, it hasn't been out yet, so I won't be discussing it – I can just say that there was one task I did, which I volunteered to do something quite physical, and I'm glad I did it, but I think that's why I now have a bad back and a bad knee. I think that's – I'm not gonna sue, but I think –
NATALIE: No, but you were broken by Taskmaster.
ARMANDO: Hah, yes. I think – I just need my hip to go and I will have the triple lock, basically. Knee, back, and hip. I'm working towards that.
NATALIE: And we'll have to carry you around on one of those delivery trolleys.
ARMANDO: Yes.
NATALIE: Like Hannibal Lecter.
ARMANDO: I thought you were gonna say like the old Papal chair that they used to carry popes around in. But, no, Hannibal Lecter.
NATALIE: I mean I think that says a lot about your self image. That's very healthy.
ARMANDO: Which company delivers Hannibal Lecter to addresses?
NATALIE: I mean, I guess it depends on whether you want him to arrive?
Visited some Taskmaster filming locations a few months back
⇒ Photos in a steppingthroughfilm / filmtourismus style
I had some more photos I wanted to do but couldn't get into the locations. For example, the closed off sports field with the trees for S6 and S8, where the wardrobe was dropped, score a goal etc. The North bank of the Thames where Tim Key launched his block of ice was too overgrown to get through like he did and the tide was rising. I couldn't go down either to the proper spot for Doc Brown's nursery rhyme, way too muddy, slippery and I did not have the right footwear.
Originally commissioned for a French entertainer, this ornate boat bed has spent decades drifting through the history of cinema. It is a rare piece of craftsmanship that transcended its functional purpose to become a recurring visual icon on the silver screen.
Thanks for the tag, @easterndelights! <3 I actually recognised this as an ask game I played a few months ago lol!
Cautiously tagging first - definitely no pressure because it's a long one: @dangerliesbeforeyou (<- I know you've played this before lol) @tealviscaria @featherbrayn @kookaburrito & anyone who wants to do it!
Feel free to use this as a template (or rb the ask game, if you prefer)!
My answers under the cut - some are repeats, I'm sure:
1. What's your blog title from?
It's an album title from the band PER SE.
2. What movie have you watched most recently? What did you think of it?
Last movie watched was VALENTINO (1977). I've never seen a Valentino film before and didn't really know anything about him, so this was...certainly an introduction, of sorts.
Overall, mixed feelings. Really liked Felicity Kendal's performance, as well as the visuals (especially the costumes & production design). However, halfway through, I realised that this was probably where BABYLON (2022) got its inspiration from, and I was unfortunately reminded of what an unpleasant viewing experience that film was and sort of applied it to this film.
I dunno, maybe I'm just not good with films that satirise Hollywood?
3. What are you looking forward to right now?
Going out for weekly yum cha + mahjong sessions starting next month!
Also, watching THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD (2019) at some point!!! Hopefully soon!
4. If you could do anything at all today, what would it be?
Oh hm, I'm writing this at 21:32 right now...I guess going to bed? Or see above lol
5. What's your drink of choice?
奶茶 ☕️ specifically 絲襪奶茶 > Earl Grey or Breakfast tea with milk > 凍檸茶 => water lol => any strong Chinese tea
6. What's your hair routine like? Anything special?
Nothing special tbh! Just the usual shampoo + conditioner.
7. What's your favourite way to travel? Is there a mode of travel you haven't done that you want to experience?
Favourite way to travel is by train! At least, when it's not super crowded, but I suppose you can say that about any mode of transport lol
In terms of what I haven't done, the main one is by cruise, but tbh that's not something I'm interested in rn...so I suppose none would be the answer lol
8. Favourite month of the year and why?
September, I think, because the weather's a bit more pleasant - not too hot and not too cold.
9. Favourite time of day and why?
Late afternoon/early evening after dinner, because I'm off work and I can do whatever I want lol
10. Do you play or follow any sports? & elaborate on that?
I don't play any sports, other than being forced by my parents to take badminton lessons when I was in high school lol. I used to follow basketball with my dad when I was a kid, and then followed tennis for a while (around the time of the '08 Olympics until...maybe 7 or 8 years ago?). It's kinda hard to keep up with either sport when the cable channels don't air it anymore though, not even the finals.
11. What kind of music is stuck in your head a lot lately?
The song 不像 | ONE AND ONLY by Gordon Flanders:
12. Dishes or laundry?
Oh, laundry! There's more of a system to doing that than the dishes - I take way too long doing the latter lol
13. What's something you learned recently?
Nothing in terms of life stuff tbh!
Generally speaking, the last thing I learned/found out was that Armando's original prize task for TM s21 - ep 9 was gonna be the Corpse of Jar Jar Binks??? But he had to change it because of copyright problems lmao
14. If you could give a TED talk on anything, what would you talk about?
Especially after seeing 寒戰1994 | COLD WAR 1994 (2026) and hearing the mixed reactions to it, something about the HK Film Industry (especially the financial backers) not willing to invest in up-and-coming actors. I love the older/established actors but we gotta pay attention to the younger actors too!
15. What's a piece of advice you find yourself giving a lot?
Health + family are #1, work is #2. I say this to my team, anyway.
Also, don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it!
16. What's a piece of advice you would give to yourself five years ago?
Set boundaries! Learn when to clock off of work and don't respond to emails/messages unless it warrants a quick reply back!!
Also: APPLY SUNSCREEN!!!! Pay attention to the UV index and stay out of direct sunlight!!!!!
17. Do you believe in luck or superstition? Do you carry any lucky items or follow any lucky rules?
I generally don't, although when I travel with my mum, she follows "三娘煞", which...is there even an English term for this? Basically, she looks at the Chinese calendar and avoids certain days that are supposedly "unlucky" for major activities (typically this means getting married or moving house, or even being outdoors), so we don't fly or travel on any of those days.
If we run into a string of unlucky incidences on a particular day, we sometimes joke whether it's "三娘煞" or not lol
18. Are you musical? Play any instruments or sing? Would you ever perform for an audience?
I took piano lessons from ~6-15 years old and have done recitals. Don't really remember what was going on in my life at the time but I dropped out of that and also Mandarin lessons - I think I just wasn't interested or didn't want to keep up with them anymore. Semi-regret it but...oh well.
19. Write, type, or speak?
Oh man, I'm terrible at all three...I'll go with write, just because I should be doing more of that. I keep a notebook for work and scribble everything down so I don't forget. It's faster than figuring out where on the computer (or on my phone) to jot things down lol!
20. What do you wish someone would ask you?
Hm. I dunno? I think that's why numbered ask games are easier than the open-ended "send me an ask about something" ones tbh
jbbartram-illu
gummygunk
romaincrisis
stormborns
titsay
