This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Asa Conroy. Find them on Instagram at @asakayconroy. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
There are so many subscription services out there that it’s almost impossible to find one that is actually worth the cost. Thanks to the folks at what was formerly known as CollegeHumor, we have Dropout. Really, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Partially because there are no ads, and you don’t get punished for password sharing. But mostly for the amazing content they put out every weekday. If you are looking for a good time, check out some of the best Dropout shows!
Game Changer
Game Changer is a panel game show created and hosted by Dropout’s owner, Sam Reich. The only thing that stays the same is the premise of the name. The game changes every episode. Except for a few fan favorites who come back for a game samer. Yes, that’s a word.
Typically, three contestants play against one another attempting to fulfill the unknown tasks and prompts presented to them for the first time. Games include solving a murder mystery, bidding for awful (and hilarious) opportunities, coming up with the best innuendos, and more. Occasionally, Game Changer will parody classics like Jeopardy! or Survivor. But my personal favorite is a good old-fashioned game of Simon Says or in this case, Sam Says.
Dirty Laundry
Originally featured on Game Changer, Dirty Laundry is a twist on the sporadically popular party game “Never Have I Ever.” The host, Lily Du, has a collection of cards with the amusing secrets of the four guests. But there also can be a secret or two from Du or the show’s bartender, Grant O’Brien. Players test how well they know each other and guess whose secret is whose. The goal is to catch everyone’s bluffs.
If the players guess the correct person, they get a point. If the secret holder goes unguessed, they get three points. Either way, after the votes are in, the secret holder reveals themselves. This player drinks and then tells their most unbelievable, most embarrassing, or most unbelievably embarrassing stories. The winner with the most points in the end gets a prize. Additionally, the bartender teaches the recipe for each episodes drink. So whether it’s learning who hid $20,000 Inside a Bowflex or how to make a Mai Tai, you learn something new every episode!
Make Some Noise
Yet another game samer that became its own show, Make Some Noise challenges comedians to improvise scenes. The three contestants receive a prompt from Reich they have never seen before. Which they won’t know if they’ve never seen them before until they see them.
In Make Some Noise, there are three rounds with two minigames. In the first, the players buzz in their responses. Round two, players work in pairs. Lastly, all three players work together in the last round. In the end, the “golden ear” goes to the winning player. Based on what? Whatever Sam wants. They do get points, but in the end the points don’t matter. Sound familiar?
Um, Actually
Um, Actually is a game show for nerds who love to correct people. Contestants are presented with incorrect pop culture facts about subjects they know too much about. Their job is to explain exactly why that “fact” is wrong. Every correction must begin with “Um, Actually” or they don’t get the point.
Um, Actually hosts are Mike Trapp (seasons 1 – 8) and Ify Nwadiwe (season 9). It is a fun way to learn about media you’d like to know more about with people you would never want to argue with. Every fact is checked by resident experts (who can also use an internet search if need be) who don’t get any points. But we love hearing from Michael Saltzman and Brian David Gilbert anyway.
Gastronauts
One of the newest shows on Dropout, and it’s already a hit. Gastronauts is a cooking show where comedians task professional chefs to create meals based on their stomach’s desires. Maybe their heart too. But mostly their stomachs.
Gastronauts‘ host is Jordan Myrick who leads the chefs through three rounds. Like every cooking show, there’s a break to eat and judge between each round. However, there is a twist. The judges are not only voting for their favorite dish but, the chefs vote for their favorite prompt. The most enjoyable and accurate of each receives a prize. Bon appétit et bon jugement!
Smartypants
If you’ve ever heard of having a PowerPoint Night but never had one yourself, Smartypants might be the show for you! Rekha Shankar introduces her peers (and the audience) to many unusual subjects. Each episode three of our greatest thinkers (comedians) create a PowerPoint presentation on the questions no one else has asked before. They then present their topics to the group for profound discussion. Unlike some of the other shows, there is no winner because the real winner is all of us.
In Smartypants, the topics can range from truly anything. One may attempt to find the truly happiest birthday while another compare wrestling to drag queens. If you’ve ever wondered how real-life presidents have affected fictional ones, you can find an answer here. If you hate the ocean and have strong feelings about charcuterie boards, you’re in good company. Truly, anything can be discussed, but the data presented isn’t verifiable for anything other than a good time.
Very Important People
For fans who watched CollegeHumor videos, Very Important People may sound very familiar. This show is a reboot of Hi, My Name Is.. If you don’t know what that is, don’t worry. I didn’t either. But the premise goes as follows: Surprise makeovers for each comedian before they meet with their interviewer.
Each episode someone is given a whole new look, and they need to create a character based on it. Once they have decided they are then interviewed by the show’s host Vic Michaelis. Each interview is fully improvised. You’ll find fun characters like a pair of French dolls who have come to life, a former child beauty queen, and Pig #2 after facing an encounter with the Big Bad Wolf. By the end, hopefully you’ll figure out why they’re Very Important People.
Dimension 20
The most well-known show on the platform is Dimension 20. This actual play ttrpg show has been running for over twenty seasons. Primarily hosted by Brennan Lee Mulligan, each season is a new campaign taking place. Dimension 20 is inspired by the Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition but has also used additional tabletop roleplaying games such as Kids on Bikes/Brooms and Dropout’s home-brewed system Never Stop Blowing up. Just as there have been guest game masters such as Aabria Iyengar, Jasmine Bhullar, and Matthew Mercer.
Dimension 20’s campaigns aren’t the typical DnD stories people usually picture. The first and most famous campaigns is Fantasy High, which continued into multiple seasons and spin-off “side quests.” Fantasy High combines high school with high fantasy, this coming-of-age story features a group of intrepid heroes finding their way in a school made for adventurers. Mulligan also takes us to a truly magical version of New York City, the combination of Candy Land and Game of Thrones, a sci-fi world based on his mother’s comic book series, and so much more.
There’s romance, mystery, horror, and plenty of adventure. Dimension 20 is perfect for both long-time players and interested individuals who wish they had a group to play with. Which is also a lot of long-time players.
And More!
These aren’t the only shows on Dropout. There are plenty more that I’m sure someone will say is the best over some of these. But that’s only because there is something for everyone. Whatever your interest is, you’ll find your best Dropout show.
What series do you think are the best Dropout shows? Do you have a favorite? Let us know in the comment section below!
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