One thing that I feel is unique to game shows where the contestants come from a known pool like this (whose line, mogul money, and even celebrity family feud) is that the contestants have a natural stage presence. They aren’t nervous or awkward or anything. And because the people in those shows are usually fairly wealthy (or in game changers case the prizes are few and far between) the contestants are less desperate to win because the stakes aren’t as high for them. This is also the case in a lot of British panel shows that are frequented entirely by comedians. Out of those shows I think the one with the closest vibe is probably Taskmaster but even that creates a less relaxed atmosphere through its set design.
The comparison to British panel shows is so apt and, despite being a Brit, I honestly prefer Dropout for having that added friendliess. It's just a lot of fun.
Also dont forget how they actually care for and about each other. Like in the one series where we find out that Sam paid for Jakobs rent when he was having trouble. Or all the people that made soup for Ally after their surgery. Or any of the many other moments
@@Marethyu5285 not sure which ep number it is but it was for a finale that was to talk with sam's mom and i remember had jacob, tao, and lily, and maybe izzy?
One thing a lot of people don't talk about is the fact that Dropout has innovated on the marketing front here too. The game itself is DESIGNED to create clippable moments, which can easily be shared to RUclips, TikTok, Instagram, and more, driving people to the paid content. (Which, by the way, having it behind a paywall on a platform they control is a far more effective money maker than relying on ad revenue on the platforms themselves.)
I found out that dropout existed from RUclips shorts surprisingly enough, recognized Brennan and Zac and went "hey aren't those the two guys from college humor?" And binged all the shorts and free episodes of their shows
Not only that, but they can test many types of shows and ideas and if it wasn't as big as they wanted they don't have to go through with the idea. But we've gotten. "Make some noise" and the musical improve shows from Game Changer. It's insane how well it works all around
what i think sets it apart is the fact that it is designed as a comedy show rather than a competition. the contestants are established actors and comedians and have a good stage presence, and the comedy is not overshadowed by the competitive nature so commonly found in game shows (with the exception of brennan). that plus the changing rules each show just makes it so interesting and fun to watch. i really love the low stakes, mildly competitive, fun having, knee slapping vibe from game changer, and i really do think it should win some awards soon.
Yes! it's very reminiscent of something like who's line is it anyway where there isn't really a competitive element unless the players choose to reinforce it.
@@MaraFey345in a recent Adventuring Academy Brennan basically said that the version of him that appears on GC is a “character” that is more over the top competitive because he realized quickly that’s what Sam was looking for in his reactions on the show. He’s competitive, but hams it up for the camera because it’s more fun and engaging.
Honestly, as a brit, I get such a british panel/game show vibe from Dropout. The focus on familiar comedians and less competitive nature is the closest I've found from an american show
@@geniusdesires turns out Sam only started watching Taskmaster after hearing comments like this. There are a lot of "points don't matter" British panel shows though.
I 100% feel this as an Aussie in love with the British comedy cast, it feels like the familiarity you see in 8 out of 10 Cats, Would I Lie to You, etc. Totally out of league from most American comedy
@@geniusdesires There are a way more UK comedy shows using a similar format. Taskmaster is a creation of having decades of those sort of shows behind it. It's not the only comedy game show in the UK and it's certainly not the first.
I got a dropout subscription almost _solely_ for Game Changer, and I am not disappointed in the slightest. It was worth every single penny. Game Changer _alone_ is worth the price of a subscription.
@@Someguyonline7732 I think it just depends on what you're looking for in a D&D webseries. If you want something longer-form and with deep characters and a massive, sprawling world, then you'd probably like Critical Role more. If you want a show where a gaggle of chucklefuck teenagers beat the shit out of their football coach because he's part of a religious cult that wants to bring about the supposed end of the world, then you'd like Dimension 20 more.
I love how its more framed as the contestants vs the host as opposed to the contestants vs eachother. Even if at first they are pitted against eachother they almost always come together against Sam A couple of my favorite examples are in the 1 dollar episode where the contestants unionize and thats how they win (which is incredible because the show is run by their CEO) And the sequal where they unionize early on so Sam sends in a scab to drive down prices, but she ends up joining the contestants in unionizing because she wasnt getting the money she wanted
Sam "Nepo-Baby" Reich is Robert's son through and through--if they HADN'T unionized he would have been disappointed in them! XD You think Sam "chastises" Brennan when he goes all in on one of his anarcho-syndicalist rants? He's the target demo!
I think the focus on the contestants as opposed to the show itself is also shown in the fact that points don't matter. In a regular game show they're everything that matters at the end of the day. That one point could be the one thing separating this person from a million dollars or whatever. In game changer, sure there is sometimes a prize for the winner but that's not why they play it. The points are there pretty much just to be a driving vehicle for the episode to go along and deciding a winner is there just so there is resolution. The real thing that matters is if an episode is entertaining or not, which is also why you occasionally see other contestants joining in on improv prompts they weren't assigned if they think it'd improve it
On GameChanger the winner is still determined by the points earned (in most cases, sorry Brennan), but it totally feels like who wins or loses really matters (again, sorry Brennan). Perhaps you are thinking of Make Some Noise, where the points don't matter (no matter how angry Brennan gets)
@@cathacker13 yeah you're absolutely right, the spirit of it really is like that, especially since that when there are prizes Sam almost always also gives them to everybody else who didn't win.
The ideas of individual episodes don’t even have to be complex or super unique. Sam Says has happened three separate times, but the contestants are all comedians, so the chaos of Sam Says, mixed with the funniness of the contestants, and the joint effort they can all have for bits, makes it so much more than a new complex game each episode, which is only enjoyable because of the game
Whiel all the Sam Says episodes do have the same game in principle, their actual vibe is completely different, mostly due to the prompts being more and more "out there" as time went on.
i feel like a big part of normal game shows like jeopardy or who wants to be a millionaire is also the "shotgun effect" you get as a casual watcher, where you as the audience can guess on the prompts and questions yourself. game changer innovates on this in making the prompts oftentimes "unguessable" and funneling the joy into trying to figure out the rule of the game before the contestants do, and if you do delighting in watching them do so
Game Changer reminds me of a D&D game. The way the DM plans the whole adventure and then you just let the players loose on it as they try to figure out what is going on.
So good to see this show get more love. Fortunately the youtube algorithm loves it, because I got a dropout subscription earlier this year and it was a real, ahem, *gamechanger* in terms of entertainment value.
Task Master follows a similar format where it's different tasks every time and you can really come to learn and love the comedians. The contestants also see the hosts as antagonists and I think part of sticking it to the man is what makes it so funny
And then you've got the spin off Make Some Noise, where Sam gives "an infinity number of points" or "points as far as the eye can see" and we're right back to Whose Line.
Game Changer challenges your expectations about what the format can do. Make Some Noise is, relatively speaking, the comfort food of Dropout. We get to, basically, both eat our cake and still have it.
honestly, game changer feels a lot like the british gameshow/improv comedy show "Taskmaster". where its more about the unique personalities of its comedians and actors brought on for the show as they tackle specific obstacles that are unique every time
great video!! i love the fact that dropout is becoming popular enough to have a little corner of the internet dedicated to genuine analytical commentary and discussion. the editing and pacing here is top notch. excited to check out more of your stuff !!
Very happy to see a video essay on Game Changer and how it's changing the game of game shows! I've been a Dropout subscriber for about a year now. I only watch Dropout and RUclips these days :)
Imo Game Changer is closer to something like 8 out of 10 cats does countdown than most US gameshows (in the best way)... It's something that US TV is severely lacking (wait wait don't tell me is the closest we have that's on air)
I've always loved Game Changer, but you've done a great job explaining WHY it's great. I always thought about how I like that it's a different game every time, but really it's about the great personalities that you know over time being put into funny situations that work to their strengths
I love Game Changer, it's definitely my favorite game show and possibly (?) my favorite show in general. I also think that I would be remiss not to mention the meta nature of the show, with the contestants and Sam constantly referencing the crew who help the show run, as well as the occasional laugh or comment from those crew members. Of course, sometimes the crew and their jobs are the entire point of certain prompts or even episodes, with the murder mystery episode starting with a sound check person calling Josh over to fix his mic, only for it to go wrong, and the various prompts in the Sam Says episodes such as "Upset a Producer" or "Suggest a Visual Effect to Go Here". All of these add to the organic and natural feel of the show a lot. Also, the various twists and turns within the episodes are delightful to watch, and these kinds of tricks would be entirely impossible in traditional game shows, because the show needs to be predictable to maintain its viewer base. But Dropout, and Game Changer specifically, has built up a viewer base that is open to trying new things and based its success and appeal on its creative ideas and even more creative people. Therefore we get iconic moments like the bingo-ception twist where it was revealed that the game of bingo was rigged and just a vessel for three other contestants to play bingo where each bingo square had one of a main contestant's idiosyncrasies, or the lie detector episode where the 'lie detector' was just played by the contestant's partners. TL;DR: Game Changer is a really good, creative and unique show that you should watch.
Game Changer has what might be the best writers in comedy despite appearing like it relies more on improv. I am awed by the prompts in 'Sam Says'. I can't begin to imagine the process that goes into creating them. This show is so far removed from your typical improv it never even occurred to me that it's technically in the same category as 'Whose Line Is It Anyway?' but I would be shocked if Ryan or Colin could work at this level. Wayne Brady was on but they did tailor that episode of 'Make Some Noise' to his strength. Funnily enough it's probably because I don't really know Ryan or Colin all that well that I don't see them on the show. As soon as Brennan or Josh walk out I know exactly what to expect. I do think it'd be interesting to have them.
Game Changer reminds of basically every UK quiz show (would i lie to you, 8/10 cats, QI) where the points are arbitrary and you're all really there for the banter.
I'll be surprised if they ever get nominated for anything prestigious. Awards like the Emmy's are controlled by the industry. They're dominated by the titans of the genre, backed by money, and money talks at these award shows, I swear.
I think the best parallel for GameChangers is Taskmaster - it's about the people, and the wackiness that the tasks/challenges result in that is entertaining, and the host is there to"adjudicate" (but really to just ramp up the humor).
Sorry, man. The prompt was just "make the best gameshow video Essay on RUclips" He didn't say "Sam says" so even though this an amazing video essay, we're going to have to give that point to Erika.
The fact that THE WAYNE BRADY of Whose Line came on Make Some Noise (spinoff from gamechangers) and resulted in one of the shows' best episodes should be enough to warrant them a nomination.
Game changer is the best game show I watched, very underrated tho. Love your vids btw, started watching like two days ago, and I'm in love with the way of teaching you endure.
British panel comedy has been constructed in this way since 2010. Watch nevermind the buzzcocks, eight of ten cats does countdown, lie to me, hell even QI and taskmaster to a similar extent. These are all shows that have a very similar rotating pool of british comedians/actors where the shows are about the contestants more than anything else, the stakes aren't terribly high, the host both is very adversarial but also a huge fan, and there's tons of cut content. All of your points applies almost entirely to these shows and their rotating contestants.
Just from the youtube clips I've seen, it seems very "whose line is it anyway" for the modern era. Which is quite possibly the highest compliment I can think to give it.
Holy shit, i just realized something. There's long been talk about how the very fun and good Taskmaster (the british game show) somehow doesn't translate well to american audiences, how the attempt to bring it overseas failed, and the like. But Game Changer, in its essence of a game where points don't matter as much as being entertaining, breaking the rules is encouraged, and every single round is something completely new, with banter inbetween and a charismatic host... IS an american Taskmaster, just with less contestant, less season-wide continuity, and more bite-sized challenges.
So excited to see game changer and dropout itself receive its well deserved praise of late (know this is a 1 year old video but it’s also by now *not* one of few videos singing their praises but a bunch)
There is an argument to be made though that Game Changer isn't a game show, but an improv show wearing a game show theme as a hat. The prizes are rarely ever significant. The contestants are generally the same cast of professional, paid actors instead of contestants pooled through some unknown screening method like in Family Feud, Jeopardy, or Wheel of Fortune or pulled seemingly at random from a live studio audience like with The Price is Right. It's like every episode is celebrity Jeopardy except the winnings aren't often donated to charity to justify having paid actors as contestants. Which is largely fine, because the prizes aren't significant and the show is entertaining regardless. It's like Whose Line is it Anyway, everything's made up and the points don't matter. You watch it because the contestants are clever, entertaining, and hilarious people with acting and improv experience. You watch a game show because the contestants are everyday people like the viewers, ostensibly they are not paid to be there, and you can get wrapped up in the vicarious excitement of competing for fabulous prizes. Granted, Game Changer is far closer to a game show than Whose Line but it's definitely more improv show with a game show hat than pure game show. But maybe I just have a more limited concept of what a game show is.
I think something important here, is that it’s NOT a game show: It’s a panel show. It’s a tried-and-true format here in the UK where you bring a group of comedians together, put them in a set that looks and acts like a game show, then set them up with a bunch of rules and scoring systems that feel arbitrary, subjective and sometimes unfair: because it leads to funny answers and banters between the already well known comedians. Admittedly some panel shows are more set in stone than other, but they’re still exactly what makes Game Changer “unique”. Examples of this are 8 out of 10 cats, Taskmaster, and QI, all favourite shows of the nation. That isn’t to say that Game Changer is just a copy of a UK thing but made american, it’s unique and much more of an extreme concept that those relatively down to earth panel shows, but it’s still just a Panel Show ultimately. I’m glad it got so big, because we might see some more panel shows elsewhere
I think the same argument can be made for Taskmaster. It's a very good subversion on the genre of game shows. The participants are able to express themselves and their ways of thinking and problem solving. The contestants also play against the host, the eponymous "Taskmaster", who assigns the tasks and judges their execution.
Game Changer stands out and looks really unique in the American game show landscape, wheb you compare it to show like Jeopardy. But maybe it makes more sense when held up against the British panel show tradition. There you almost have a convergent evolution going on, where out of British panel shows comes Taskmaster, a show which I would argue shares all the qualities you highlighted about Game Changer
Don't know how I haven't seen this video before. You made some solid points, but as a lot of other people have pointed out, Taskmaster and other British panel shows did a lot of this before Game Changer. As a big Taskmaster and Dropout fan, I certainly want to see the two crossover, whether it be the odd Dropout member appearing in a UK series, or more likely Sam getting permission to do a Taskmaster US series (we do not speak of the first TM US attempt). I'd probably want Katie or Grant in the assistant role to Sam, as either offer a different flavour to Alex Horne.
I feel like the main reason is this is less a show and more "Let's throw these comedians and improv experts under random circumstances and just see what happens"
I think a lot of it is the people and the community they foster as well as the fact they are paid employees so they don’t have to compete seriously to, like, live. For gods sake, I watched Zach Oyama drive his competitors to the airport so Allie could go to NY as a bit. They won a roomba. At the very least even if Sam paid for the ticket, Allie still spent a whole fucking day of their life on a “Sam says leave” joke and most people wouldn’t do that.
dropout is probably one of the best sources of entertainment out there, with dimension 20s incredible campaigns, game changer being one of the best gameshows out there, and very important people being one of the funniest shows ive watched. its worth every penny
I love game changers for the same reasons I love Jackbox with friends. For most Jackbox games is a game to figure out your friends. To put the most ridiculous thing down.
Never really put the connection together, but it has a lot in common with Taskmaster, which probably explains why i like it so much because Taskmaster is probably my favorite game show ever
One nitpick is that Game Changer is far more like a panel game (perhaps the closest the US has to one, at least on video) than a proper game show. The contestants are mostly from the same rotating lineup, with the occasional guest contestant, but not people off the street or who apply to qualify. Meanwhile the contestants on WOF etc. are mostly regular random people (aside from the occasional budding actor/actress looking for screen time).
Idk if its exactly a game show or not, but taskmaster is kind of similar to game shows, theres a selected cast of comedians and the game changes every episode. Both of these shows are so great and i hope this becomes more common!
Game Changer can’t be replicated on a studio level because they’re corporately owned and those institutes refuse to allow investment in people over IP. It just won’t happen, support Dropout.
I wish I could even watch a single episode instead of just clips. I think it could win if it was more giving with an episode or two to show how good the whole format is.
Dropout has free trials, and they've explicitly said they want people to share their accounts with friends (as a response to Netflix taking actions to stop that). There are even some full episodes on RUclips. If you want to watch one episode for free, it's definitely possible.
A lot of British shows have conedians compete and it's more about the banter than the actual game. Taskmaster also plays on the idea of unpredictable challenges.
I think Game Changer is more akin to British panel shows, Taskmaster in particular, which is also about the contestants, and the quality of each seasons really just depends on how funny and entertaining the contestants are. That show also has an anarchic and surprising quality to it, so you get moments like an contestant bringing in pants he stole from the host for the opening segment where they are asked to bring in a specific type of item.
Taskmaster is a gameshow around the contestants where the task "game" changes every round. Granted majority of the tasks are prerecorded due to the nature of the tasks. Not shitting on this show, or saying they ripped the idea, just thats not the only show messing with the boundaries
"...except for *Ellen's Game of Games, Taskmaster,* and a few others that have come to light since I wrote that." -Sam Reich Game Changer Season 4, Episode 1 "Sam Says"
I think maybe it's most standout feature is it's personal aspect. Most of the cast have worked together for over a decade, and everyone is a genuine friend of each other. The comedy from that can feel more genuine at times, which is very nice!
Everybody do the Weenis!
The Weenis is a dance!
Everybody is a genius!
Who knows it in advance!
*kicks camera*
Oh, shit!
Loved grant o’brians performance in that
@@PhineasFerb001he was carb loading for a marathon!
@@dariodisisto2484he had to run a marathon tomorrow
@@toystoryteletubbyism9722 A Turner Classic Movie Marathon.
One thing that I feel is unique to game shows where the contestants come from a known pool like this (whose line, mogul money, and even celebrity family feud) is that the contestants have a natural stage presence. They aren’t nervous or awkward or anything. And because the people in those shows are usually fairly wealthy (or in game changers case the prizes are few and far between) the contestants are less desperate to win because the stakes aren’t as high for them. This is also the case in a lot of British panel shows that are frequented entirely by comedians. Out of those shows I think the one with the closest vibe is probably Taskmaster but even that creates a less relaxed atmosphere through its set design.
The comparison to British panel shows is so apt and, despite being a Brit, I honestly prefer Dropout for having that added friendliess. It's just a lot of fun.
"Less desperate to win" Brennan Lee Mulligan would like a word
I mean. Taskmaster had a man talk about his hemorrhoids in detail
Richard Osman's House of Games also comes to mind
@RandomDude647 Way to get in the comments.
Also dont forget how they actually care for and about each other.
Like in the one series where we find out that Sam paid for Jakobs rent when he was having trouble. Or all the people that made soup for Ally after their surgery. Or any of the many other moments
Oh dang I did not know that about Sam. Do you have a source on the Jakobs rent thing?
@@Marethyu5285 battle royal, season 5, episode 13 about 34 minutes in.
Its powerful stuff.
@@Marethyu5285 not sure which ep number it is but it was for a finale that was to talk with sam's mom and i remember had jacob, tao, and lily, and maybe izzy?
@@yaynaymaybay finale of which show?
@@Marethyu5285 game changer, idk which season
One thing a lot of people don't talk about is the fact that Dropout has innovated on the marketing front here too. The game itself is DESIGNED to create clippable moments, which can easily be shared to RUclips, TikTok, Instagram, and more, driving people to the paid content. (Which, by the way, having it behind a paywall on a platform they control is a far more effective money maker than relying on ad revenue on the platforms themselves.)
straight up worked. Game Changer clips are what caused me to subscribe
@@GrapplingHookJonessame here!
I found out that dropout existed from RUclips shorts surprisingly enough, recognized Brennan and Zac and went "hey aren't those the two guys from college humor?" And binged all the shorts and free episodes of their shows
Also that it serves as a FANTASTIC way to "Back-Door Pilot" future shows, like "Noise Boys".
Not only that, but they can test many types of shows and ideas and if it wasn't as big as they wanted they don't have to go through with the idea. But we've gotten. "Make some noise" and the musical improve shows from Game Changer. It's insane how well it works all around
what i think sets it apart is the fact that it is designed as a comedy show rather than a competition. the contestants are established actors and comedians and have a good stage presence, and the comedy is not overshadowed by the competitive nature so commonly found in game shows (with the exception of brennan). that plus the changing rules each show just makes it so interesting and fun to watch. i really love the low stakes, mildly competitive, fun having, knee slapping vibe from game changer, and i really do think it should win some awards soon.
Well, with Brennan, his humour is partly his very competitive nature, so it evens out
Yes! it's very reminiscent of something like who's line is it anyway where there isn't really a competitive element unless the players choose to reinforce it.
@@MaraFey345in a recent Adventuring Academy Brennan basically said that the version of him that appears on GC is a “character” that is more over the top competitive because he realized quickly that’s what Sam was looking for in his reactions on the show. He’s competitive, but hams it up for the camera because it’s more fun and engaging.
@@ghrayfahxamazing, I love this guy
yeah its kinda reminiscent of taskmaster in that sense...
Honestly, as a brit, I get such a british panel/game show vibe from Dropout. The focus on familiar comedians and less competitive nature is the closest I've found from an american show
It takes a lot of cues from Taskmaster while still being its own thing, which is great because I love Taskmaster.
@@geniusdesires turns out Sam only started watching Taskmaster after hearing comments like this. There are a lot of "points don't matter" British panel shows though.
I 100% feel this as an Aussie in love with the British comedy cast, it feels like the familiarity you see in 8 out of 10 Cats, Would I Lie to You, etc. Totally out of league from most American comedy
@@geniusdesires There are a way more UK comedy shows using a similar format. Taskmaster is a creation of having decades of those sort of shows behind it. It's not the only comedy game show in the UK and it's certainly not the first.
i probably like gamechanger for the same reason i watch the big fat quiz every year huh
Game changer has in the last few months renewed my child like enjoyment of not just the game show format, but life & entertainment itself...
virtue signalling
@@TheEvilCheesecakeI sincerely hope that one day you find the same kind of happiness in enjoying things as billepperson2662
@@TheEvilCheesecake even he who despises himself, admires himself as one who despises.
I got a dropout subscription almost _solely_ for Game Changer, and I am not disappointed in the slightest. It was worth every single penny. Game Changer _alone_ is worth the price of a subscription.
I did the same and now I'm hooked on Dimension 20!
Dimension 20 > critical role and it’s NOT close.
@@Someguyonline7732 I think it just depends on what you're looking for in a D&D webseries. If you want something longer-form and with deep characters and a massive, sprawling world, then you'd probably like Critical Role more. If you want a show where a gaggle of chucklefuck teenagers beat the shit out of their football coach because he's part of a religious cult that wants to bring about the supposed end of the world, then you'd like Dimension 20 more.
@@grumboflipflorp5688HOOT GROWL
Same here. Game Changer got me hooked and now I watch several other shows. Dimension 20 is amazing.
I love how its more framed as the contestants vs the host as opposed to the contestants vs eachother. Even if at first they are pitted against eachother they almost always come together against Sam
A couple of my favorite examples are in the 1 dollar episode where the contestants unionize and thats how they win (which is incredible because the show is run by their CEO)
And the sequal where they unionize early on so Sam sends in a scab to drive down prices, but she ends up joining the contestants in unionizing because she wasnt getting the money she wanted
Sam "Nepo-Baby" Reich is Robert's son through and through--if they HADN'T unionized he would have been disappointed in them! XD
You think Sam "chastises" Brennan when he goes all in on one of his anarcho-syndicalist rants? He's the target demo!
My favorite thing about the show is it seems like the contestants and host are genuinely having fun
Bro missed the best title
“Why Game Changer is a Game Changer”
0:33 you could say it’s… changing the game.
I genuinely believe Escape the Greenroom should’ve gotten an award of some description
I think the focus on the contestants as opposed to the show itself is also shown in the fact that points don't matter. In a regular game show they're everything that matters at the end of the day. That one point could be the one thing separating this person from a million dollars or whatever. In game changer, sure there is sometimes a prize for the winner but that's not why they play it. The points are there pretty much just to be a driving vehicle for the episode to go along and deciding a winner is there just so there is resolution. The real thing that matters is if an episode is entertaining or not, which is also why you occasionally see other contestants joining in on improv prompts they weren't assigned if they think it'd improve it
On GameChanger the winner is still determined by the points earned (in most cases, sorry Brennan), but it totally feels like who wins or loses really matters (again, sorry Brennan). Perhaps you are thinking of Make Some Noise, where the points don't matter (no matter how angry Brennan gets)
@@lukasspindeldreher7743 I don't think it _really_ matters in either show but I do think that make some noise takes this idea even further
@@cathacker13 yeah you're absolutely right, the spirit of it really is like that, especially since that when there are prizes Sam almost always also gives them to everybody else who didn't win.
The points don't matter unless you're Brennan "You shall not have my points" Lee "I will turn over any any corner of my heart for 5 points" Mulligan
@@thelightgeektastic it's totally his legal name
The ideas of individual episodes don’t even have to be complex or super unique. Sam Says has happened three separate times, but the contestants are all comedians, so the chaos of Sam Says, mixed with the funniness of the contestants, and the joint effort they can all have for bits, makes it so much more than a new complex game each episode, which is only enjoyable because of the game
Whiel all the Sam Says episodes do have the same game in principle, their actual vibe is completely different, mostly due to the prompts being more and more "out there" as time went on.
Sam says Party was CRUEL.
i feel like a big part of normal game shows like jeopardy or who wants to be a millionaire is also the "shotgun effect" you get as a casual watcher, where you as the audience can guess on the prompts and questions yourself. game changer innovates on this in making the prompts oftentimes "unguessable" and funneling the joy into trying to figure out the rule of the game before the contestants do, and if you do delighting in watching them do so
Game Changer reminds me of a D&D game. The way the DM plans the whole adventure and then you just let the players loose on it as they try to figure out what is going on.
Well, I think Brennan is a DM on one of Dropouts other shows Dimension 20
@nvkba ...because its the same platform that hosts Game Changer, seems like a pretty relevant reference to me
So good to see this show get more love. Fortunately the youtube algorithm loves it, because I got a dropout subscription earlier this year and it was a real, ahem, *gamechanger* in terms of entertainment value.
Task Master follows a similar format where it's different tasks every time and you can really come to learn and love the comedians. The contestants also see the hosts as antagonists and I think part of sticking it to the man is what makes it so funny
Funny how Brennan's entire career was kickstarted by the money he made on a conventional game show: Who Wants To Be a Millionaire.
Why does knowing Brennan is a game show winner make everything about him make sense
Another fun thing about game changer is that it’s a great way to make pilots for new concepts like “Make Some Noise” and “Play It By Ear”
I'm eagerly awaiting the episode that almost happened with "second place" after Ally guessed Brennan could make the loudest noise on the gong
Love this show. Seems to be basically a more structured Whose Line Is It Anyway where the points actually do matter.
And then you've got the spin off Make Some Noise, where Sam gives "an infinity number of points" or "points as far as the eye can see" and we're right back to Whose Line.
Game Changer challenges your expectations about what the format can do. Make Some Noise is, relatively speaking, the comfort food of Dropout. We get to, basically, both eat our cake and still have it.
honestly, game changer feels a lot like the british gameshow/improv comedy show "Taskmaster". where its more about the unique personalities of its comedians and actors brought on for the show as they tackle specific obstacles that are unique every time
great video!! i love the fact that dropout is becoming popular enough to have a little corner of the internet dedicated to genuine analytical commentary and discussion. the editing and pacing here is top notch. excited to check out more of your stuff !!
Very happy to see a video essay on Game Changer and how it's changing the game of game shows! I've been a Dropout subscriber for about a year now. I only watch Dropout and RUclips these days :)
Imo Game Changer is closer to something like 8 out of 10 cats does countdown than most US gameshows (in the best way)... It's something that US TV is severely lacking (wait wait don't tell me is the closest we have that's on air)
Making the game about it's contestants...
Brennan: "UUUAAAAAEEEHHHAAAAAEEEE!"
calling grant ally and lily "unburdened by shame" WAS SO REAL
I've always loved Game Changer, but you've done a great job explaining WHY it's great. I always thought about how I like that it's a different game every time, but really it's about the great personalities that you know over time being put into funny situations that work to their strengths
haven't watched the show yet, only the snippets on yt and tiktok, but even so I can say the show deserved an emmy nomination (and a win) for sure.
Its 5 a month and loads of content, worth at least getting the month and binging!
I love Game Changer, it's definitely my favorite game show and possibly (?) my favorite show in general.
I also think that I would be remiss not to mention the meta nature of the show, with the contestants and Sam constantly referencing the crew who help the show run, as well as the occasional laugh or comment from those crew members. Of course, sometimes the crew and their jobs are the entire point of certain prompts or even episodes, with the murder mystery episode starting with a sound check person calling Josh over to fix his mic, only for it to go wrong, and the various prompts in the Sam Says episodes such as "Upset a Producer" or "Suggest a Visual Effect to Go Here". All of these add to the organic and natural feel of the show a lot.
Also, the various twists and turns within the episodes are delightful to watch, and these kinds of tricks would be entirely impossible in traditional game shows, because the show needs to be predictable to maintain its viewer base. But Dropout, and Game Changer specifically, has built up a viewer base that is open to trying new things and based its success and appeal on its creative ideas and even more creative people. Therefore we get iconic moments like the bingo-ception twist where it was revealed that the game of bingo was rigged and just a vessel for three other contestants to play bingo where each bingo square had one of a main contestant's idiosyncrasies, or the lie detector episode where the 'lie detector' was just played by the contestant's partners.
TL;DR: Game Changer is a really good, creative and unique show that you should watch.
6 days and we’ll get the Emmy nominations this year!!
Hell yeah Game Changer for an Emmy!
Game Changer has what might be the best writers in comedy despite appearing like it relies more on improv. I am awed by the prompts in 'Sam Says'. I can't begin to imagine the process that goes into creating them. This show is so far removed from your typical improv it never even occurred to me that it's technically in the same category as 'Whose Line Is It Anyway?' but I would be shocked if Ryan or Colin could work at this level. Wayne Brady was on but they did tailor that episode of 'Make Some Noise' to his strength. Funnily enough it's probably because I don't really know Ryan or Colin all that well that I don't see them on the show. As soon as Brennan or Josh walk out I know exactly what to expect. I do think it'd be interesting to have them.
"Make it about its contestants."
Brennan: "AEEAEGUAEGGGH"
Game Changer reminds of basically every UK quiz show (would i lie to you, 8/10 cats, QI) where the points are arbitrary and you're all really there for the banter.
I'll be surprised if they ever get nominated for anything prestigious. Awards like the Emmy's are controlled by the industry. They're dominated by the titans of the genre, backed by money, and money talks at these award shows, I swear.
I think the best parallel for GameChangers is Taskmaster - it's about the people, and the wackiness that the tasks/challenges result in that is entertaining, and the host is there to"adjudicate" (but really to just ramp up the humor).
Sorry, man.
The prompt was just "make the best gameshow video Essay on RUclips" He didn't say "Sam says" so even though this an amazing video essay, we're going to have to give that point to Erika.
Lol
(ding)
Game Changer not being nominated is a CRIME.
Dropout is the best subscription service in the market right now.
Game Changers _and_ a video essay? Sign me up!
shame to get the video a year later on the day when game changer has once again not been nominated for an emmy
The fact that THE WAYNE BRADY of Whose Line came on Make Some Noise (spinoff from gamechangers) and resulted in one of the shows' best episodes should be enough to warrant them a nomination.
Game changer is the best game show I watched, very underrated tho.
Love your vids btw, started watching like two days ago, and I'm in love with the way of teaching you endure.
I was wondering why you did mention the crazier stuff they did this year... Didn't realize till the end that this was in 2023.
British panel comedy has been constructed in this way since 2010. Watch nevermind the buzzcocks, eight of ten cats does countdown, lie to me, hell even QI and taskmaster to a similar extent. These are all shows that have a very similar rotating pool of british comedians/actors where the shows are about the contestants more than anything else, the stakes aren't terribly high, the host both is very adversarial but also a huge fan, and there's tons of cut content. All of your points applies almost entirely to these shows and their rotating contestants.
7:02 nomniated
Was gonna comment this
yeah... nomniated...
Just from the youtube clips I've seen, it seems very "whose line is it anyway" for the modern era.
Which is quite possibly the highest compliment I can think to give it.
Holy shit, i just realized something.
There's long been talk about how the very fun and good Taskmaster (the british game show) somehow doesn't translate well to american audiences, how the attempt to bring it overseas failed, and the like.
But Game Changer, in its essence of a game where points don't matter as much as being entertaining, breaking the rules is encouraged, and every single round is something completely new, with banter inbetween and a charismatic host... IS an american Taskmaster, just with less contestant, less season-wide continuity, and more bite-sized challenges.
So excited to see game changer and dropout itself receive its well deserved praise of late (know this is a 1 year old video but it’s also by now *not* one of few videos singing their praises but a bunch)
Truly Game Changing!! I love this show so muchhh
There is an argument to be made though that Game Changer isn't a game show, but an improv show wearing a game show theme as a hat.
The prizes are rarely ever significant. The contestants are generally the same cast of professional, paid actors instead of contestants pooled through some unknown screening method like in Family Feud, Jeopardy, or Wheel of Fortune or pulled seemingly at random from a live studio audience like with The Price is Right. It's like every episode is celebrity Jeopardy except the winnings aren't often donated to charity to justify having paid actors as contestants. Which is largely fine, because the prizes aren't significant and the show is entertaining regardless.
It's like Whose Line is it Anyway, everything's made up and the points don't matter. You watch it because the contestants are clever, entertaining, and hilarious people with acting and improv experience.
You watch a game show because the contestants are everyday people like the viewers, ostensibly they are not paid to be there, and you can get wrapped up in the vicarious excitement of competing for fabulous prizes.
Granted, Game Changer is far closer to a game show than Whose Line but it's definitely more improv show with a game show hat than pure game show.
But maybe I just have a more limited concept of what a game show is.
I think something important here, is that it’s NOT a game show: It’s a panel show. It’s a tried-and-true format here in the UK where you bring a group of comedians together, put them in a set that looks and acts like a game show, then set them up with a bunch of rules and scoring systems that feel arbitrary, subjective and sometimes unfair: because it leads to funny answers and banters between the already well known comedians. Admittedly some panel shows are more set in stone than other, but they’re still exactly what makes Game Changer “unique”. Examples of this are 8 out of 10 cats, Taskmaster, and QI, all favourite shows of the nation. That isn’t to say that Game Changer is just a copy of a UK thing but made american, it’s unique and much more of an extreme concept that those relatively down to earth panel shows, but it’s still just a Panel Show ultimately. I’m glad it got so big, because we might see some more panel shows elsewhere
0:54 - 1:12 My theory is that this is why game shows are so popular among elderly folks.
I think the same argument can be made for Taskmaster. It's a very good subversion on the genre of game shows. The participants are able to express themselves and their ways of thinking and problem solving. The contestants also play against the host, the eponymous "Taskmaster", who assigns the tasks and judges their execution.
Game Changer stands out and looks really unique in the American game show landscape, wheb you compare it to show like Jeopardy.
But maybe it makes more sense when held up against the British panel show tradition. There you almost have a convergent evolution going on, where out of British panel shows comes Taskmaster, a show which I would argue shares all the qualities you highlighted about Game Changer
Don't know how I haven't seen this video before.
You made some solid points, but as a lot of other people have pointed out, Taskmaster and other British panel shows did a lot of this before Game Changer.
As a big Taskmaster and Dropout fan, I certainly want to see the two crossover, whether it be the odd Dropout member appearing in a UK series, or more likely Sam getting permission to do a Taskmaster US series (we do not speak of the first TM US attempt).
I'd probably want Katie or Grant in the assistant role to Sam, as either offer a different flavour to Alex Horne.
I feel like the main reason is this is less a show and more "Let's throw these comedians and improv experts under random circumstances and just see what happens"
I think a lot of it is the people and the community they foster as well as the fact they are paid employees so they don’t have to compete seriously to, like, live.
For gods sake, I watched Zach Oyama drive his competitors to the airport so Allie could go to NY as a bit. They won a roomba. At the very least even if Sam paid for the ticket, Allie still spent a whole fucking day of their life on a “Sam says leave” joke and most people wouldn’t do that.
dropout is probably one of the best sources of entertainment out there, with dimension 20s incredible campaigns, game changer being one of the best gameshows out there, and very important people being one of the funniest shows ive watched. its worth every penny
I love game changers for the same reasons I love Jackbox with friends.
For most Jackbox games is a game to figure out your friends. To put the most ridiculous thing down.
What a great video this is... enjoyed every second of it. Thanks!
Game changer isn't a quiz/game show though its basically "whos line is it anyway" with a twist.
Dropout is by far the best streaming service, in my opinion
It's the only one I feel actually proud to pay for, because I love every single person involved in it
Bro it literally says it's the only game show where the game chnages every time smh
I feel like Game Changer is Kind of a Spiritual successor of "Whos Line is it anyway?"
Brennan has HOF aura
Well you know what makes it unique is how the contestants don’t know the rules before every game? Like how they change the game?
Great analysis. You've earned a subscriber!
Never really put the connection together, but it has a lot in common with Taskmaster, which probably explains why i like it so much because Taskmaster is probably my favorite game show ever
It's because you know the contestants and form attachments to them.
Game Changer isn't a game show, it's an improv comedy show. It's basically Whose Line Is It Anyways? with a tad more freeform structure.
1000% agree! This format where the game changes every time is amazing!
One nitpick is that Game Changer is far more like a panel game (perhaps the closest the US has to one, at least on video) than a proper game show. The contestants are mostly from the same rotating lineup, with the occasional guest contestant, but not people off the street or who apply to qualify. Meanwhile the contestants on WOF etc. are mostly regular random people (aside from the occasional budding actor/actress looking for screen time).
Idk if its exactly a game show or not, but taskmaster is kind of similar to game shows, theres a selected cast of comedians and the game changes every episode. Both of these shows are so great and i hope this becomes more common!
it's the next year and the show wasn't nominated again. what a shame
Nahhhh “It’s not about how you win or lose; it’s about how you change the game” goes so hard tho
Game Changer can’t be replicated on a studio level because they’re corporately owned and those institutes refuse to allow investment in people over IP. It just won’t happen, support Dropout.
I wish I could even watch a single episode instead of just clips. I think it could win if it was more giving with an episode or two to show how good the whole format is.
Dropout has free trials, and they've explicitly said they want people to share their accounts with friends (as a response to Netflix taking actions to stop that). There are even some full episodes on RUclips. If you want to watch one episode for free, it's definitely possible.
They have a few episodes available on their youtube channel (college humor)
Dropout is the only streaming service i feel "bad" i cant purchase, i would love to watch Game Changer and maybe try to see what else is there
Give it an Emmy in 2024!
A lot of British shows have conedians compete and it's more about the banter than the actual game. Taskmaster also plays on the idea of unpredictable challenges.
I think Game Changer is more akin to British panel shows, Taskmaster in particular, which is also about the contestants, and the quality of each seasons really just depends on how funny and entertaining the contestants are. That show also has an anarchic and surprising quality to it, so you get moments like an contestant bringing in pants he stole from the host for the opening segment where they are asked to bring in a specific type of item.
I like that they post clips as shorts so my poor ass can watch it 😂
Game Changer, and Dropout as a whole, are so good
Never realized how similar gamechanger is to taskmaster.
Taskmaster is a gameshow around the contestants where the task "game" changes every round. Granted majority of the tasks are prerecorded due to the nature of the tasks. Not shitting on this show, or saying they ripped the idea, just thats not the only show messing with the boundaries
Awesome thumbnail ngl
It’s the only game show where the game changes every show, duh!
K but that last song…. What’s it called?
I joined dropout 80% for dimension 20, but game changer is every bit as fun.
Rosette spoonbill - that is what makes this show great
Game changer has been here THE WHOLE TIME!!!
It’s because it’s the only game show where the game changes every show.
yes yes yes - now lets show this to people who never heard of this show - go algorithm ✨go✨
Game Changer is the best show I've seen on TV in a long time
Take these folks into the stratosphere #20seasonsandanemmy
well it is the ONLY game show where the game changes every show
"...except for *Ellen's Game of Games, Taskmaster,* and a few others that have come to light since I wrote that."
-Sam Reich
Game Changer Season 4, Episode 1 "Sam Says"
I still love the one where the game is Brennan is always wrong.
It's a well executed addition to the Brits game show for comedians genre.
I think maybe it's most standout feature is it's personal aspect. Most of the cast have worked together for over a decade, and everyone is a genuine friend of each other. The comedy from that can feel more genuine at times, which is very nice!
Tragically, it will never be nomniated 😭