Ep 13. End of Year Special

Mock the Week is a British television show that features a panel of comedians who discuss and satirize current events in the news. In the show's 20th season, episode 13, titled "End of Year Special," the panelists take a humorous look back at the events of the past year.

The show begins with the host, Dara Ó Briain, introducing the panelists for the evening. These include regulars Hugh Dennis, Ed Gamble, and Rhys James, as well as guests Jess Fostekew, Angela Barnes, and Tez Ilyas. The panelists are each given a chance to introduce themselves and crack a few jokes before the real fun begins.

The first round of the show is "Headliners." In this segment, the panelists are shown a news headline with blanks where certain words should be. It is their job to come up with a witty and relevant phrase to fill in the blanks. Some of the headlines they tackle include "________ challenged by university students over gendered language," and "_________ announced as Time Magazine's Person of the Year."

The second round, "Year in Review," is the main event of the show. In this segment, the panelists are asked to reflect on the major news events of the past year and provide their own humorous takes on them. This includes everything from Brexit and the US Presidential election to the coronavirus pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests. The panelists do not shy away from controversial topics, but always manage to find the funny side of even the most serious issues.

The third round, "If This Is the Answer, What Is the Question?" is a game of reverse trivia. The panelists are given an answer, and must come up with a question that fits it. For example, if the answer is "SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule," the question might be "What was successfully launched into space in May 2020, marking the first time a private company had sent humans into orbit?"

The fourth round, "Scenes We'd Like to See," is a fan favorite. In this segment, the panelists are shown a setup for a comedic skit, and must improvise the scene on the spot. Topics for this round include "Unlikely TV Shows to Help You Sleep," and "Things You Wouldn't Want to Hear on a First Date."

The final round of the show, "Quickfire Round," is a rapid-fire game where the panelists are given a series of questions and must answer them as quickly as possible. The questions range from the silly (e.g. "What would be a good name for a vegan chicken nugget?"), to the absurd (e.g. "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?").

Overall, "Mock the Week" season 20 episode 13 is an entertaining and irreverent look back at some of the major news events of the past year. The panelists are skilled comedians who are able to find humor in even the most serious issues, and their quick wit and sharp tongues keep the jokes coming fast and furious throughout the show. If you're looking for a good laugh and some light-hearted fun, this is definitely an episode to check out.