Pop 99 red balloons
Task types:
Solo
Filmed
Physical
Objective
Multiple brief
OriginalMastertasks:
Locations:
Task briefs
The first task brief is received in the garage. The second task brief is received once they have selected and entered their preferred location. The briefs for the task are as follows:
Choose a room and a weapon, then await further instructions.
Pop 99 red balloons.
You must use your weapon to pop your 99 red balloons.
Shout 'Stop it!' when you think you've popped precisely 99 red balloons.
Fastest wins.
Your time starts now.
Task notes
- A desk has been set up in the garage with a reading lamp, typewriter, magnifying glass, and a mysterious bottle.
- Also on the desk is a game board, in the style of a Cluedo board, showing a simplified plan of the Taskmaster house and its main rooms and locations: the lab, the shed, the living room, the kitchen, the loo, and the caravan.
- A limited deck of Cluedo-style playing cards is also provided, giving the contestants a choice of the following weapons: a frying pan, a staple gun, a cactus, a high heel shoe, and a belt.
- After the contestants enter the garage, the door swings shut behind them, until they have made their location and weapon choices.
- They are then given their selected weapon, and allowed to enter their chosen room, at which point they discover that the room is full of inflated red balloons.
- The choice of '99 balloons' is a reference to the German pop song 99 Luftballons / 99 Red Balloons by the band Nena.
Official task video
Task stats
Points
9
Disquals
3
Attempts
Here's a brief description of the contestants' attempts. Someone's probably working on writing up some additional detail, though!
- Dara chose the frying pan and the living room. He initially tried squashing the balloons with the pan, before using the handle to pierce the balloons. He popped exactly 99 red balloons in 3 minutes and 20 seconds, earning second place.
- Munya chose the frying pan and the living room. He initially tried squashing the balloons with the pan, before using the handle to pierce the balloons. He popped all of the balloons in the room in 9 minutes and 25 seconds, so received no points.
- Sarah chose the frying pan and the living room. She initially tried squashing the balloons with the pan, before using the handle to pierce the balloons as she sat on the sofa. She also asked Alex to keep a bar and gate tally to help her keep track of how many balloons she had popped, but accidentally said '88' twice, and Alex did not correct her. She popped 100 balloons in 5 minutes and 2 seconds, so received no points.
- Fern chose the cactus and the kitchen. She initially moved the cactus to the balloons, before switching to moving the balloons to the cactus. However, as she continually lost count, Fern ended up popping way too many balloons, so received no points.
- John chose the belt and the caravan. He initially tried whipping the balloons with the belt, before using the buckle's prong to pierce the balloons in a ferocious manner. He popped exactly 99 red balloons in 2 minutes and 29 seconds, earning first place.
(Source credit: Taskmaster Wiki contributors)
Similar tasks
