A Love Letter to Dropout.tv
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- čas přidán 7. 01. 2024
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Sources:
www.polygon.com/23889773/drop...
variety.com/2023/streaming/ne...
www.vulture.com/article/watch....
9to5google.com/2023/06/21/you...
dropout.fandom.com/wiki/A_Mes...
www.polygon.com/23797617/dime... - Komedie
Thank you for the kind words brother! Very well-researched video. 🥰
There he is! Thanks for this despite the couple inaccuracies that slipped by. I was too confident about how many seasons I remembered the intrepid heroes appearing in.
Very well-researched or very well done?
@@harlandspinks he was here the whole time.
While you are here.
Why can't nonamericans use paypal to watch dropout?
You are missing out on money.
@@book5ter I think you can pay for it on CZcams now? Not sure if there's a difference in the content that's uploaded
Here's the best part of Dropout that they don't advertise : they pay their whole staff above industry standards. Significantly. Performers and crew. They go out of their way to create the best work environment. They even pay people to audition. This year they did some generous profit sharing with everyone who was paid even just once by them (even people who auditioned and didn't get a gig got a share of the profits). They don't advertise this because they don't want to turn doing the right thing into a marketing gimmick, but that's REALLY the kind of company I have no problem paying a subscription to.
AND they were given the go-ahead to produce during all the writer/actor strikes because they actually talk to the union and treat their employees above standards! I don't really do brand loyalty, but learning that got me as close as I can possibly get!
This is somewhat misleading tbh. They use youtube as a free advertising platform, which is an interesting concept. In essence, make a bunch of shorts on multiple channels, people will interact with content, learn what it is and get to their sub service. As someone who aggressively uses ad blocking, seeing their shorts is the same as getting an ad, annoying.
@@ivankrizanic507 Sorry but I think maybe you misunderstood the comment, how is it misleading ? Also, you can block their channels if you don't like their shorts.
@@archiloque I understand that you meant that they don't have a marketing budget and pay their employees well. that's because they use youtube as a marketing tool, which is smart. their content on YT is pure ads for their streaming platform and nothing else. I actually do block these channels but there are so many that I need to block new ones on a weekly basis.
@@ivankrizanic507 Oh I see, there's a misunderstanding. That's not what my comment meant. I meant to say : one of the best things about Dropout is the fact that a lot of the subscription money goes to their employees and not a few shareholders and people at the top. AND YET, they don't communicate about that fact, they don't do ads to tell people "hey, if you subscribe to our service, know that your money will mostly go towards the people who make our shows". And I find that really nice, the fact that they just do the right thing, without even using that to market themselves (although they market their shows in many other ways, including the shorts like you mentioned).
seeing the queer rep on the dropout shows is so refreshing and realistic. the truth is most queer people have nerdy interests, and having a good sense of humor is a great way to become accepted in hostile environments
i remember being a gay little 13 year old in a homophobic school and realizing "man ive gotta learn to make some jokes or this isnt gonna go well"
Not to compare the two at all, but being a frail, all knees and elbows kid with glasses and braces on my big buck teeth (plus acne), I had to do the same as a way to avoid the relentless bullying. Or at least have a solid comeback to the classic "four eyes" or "brace face". I'm glad you made it through the worst years of most of our lives!
Hope everyone doing good. Sending support and hearts! ❤️❤️❤️ Stay safe. Always remember that people care. Sending support and even more hearts!❤️❤️❤️ Stay safe❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
honestly its not a bad compairason, comedy is for the outcast and its such a gift@@harlandspinks
@@harlandspinks i was in both categories. Queer (was in denial) and a nerdy adhd social outcast. The experiences are very close together. Dropout has done an excellent job of finding a bunch of loveable dorks
Yet it never feels forced. I never ever ever get the impression that Ally and Grant got hired because they’re queer. It never feels like they’re trying to meet a “corporate diversity quota”, but that they are a bunch of great comedians who happen to be queer. And when they do make more queer content, like say, that drag queen dnd, it feels like something they genuinely wanted to do and not a line item in their diversity credit. It feels genuine.
i decided i will always be subbed to dropout when jacob told sam’s mom that sam (the ceo) paid jacob’s rent for a while no questions asked when he was going through a hard time
What episode/show was that? I remember it happening but not when
@@Xepherya game changer s5 ep 12 or 13 i can’t remember which
@@cilantrho i think during one of the Battle Royale episodes when they had to woo Sam's mom?
season 5, battle royal pt 4 Jake's part starts at 33:51 @@Xepherya
Wow
Would also love to point out Dropout not only supported the WGA strike but actively participated in it, even going so far as giving speeches and possibly even playing D&D at a protest? Love them
Best part is (iirc) they realized after already striking for some time that they didn’t actually HAVE TO, and then decided “fuck that, we’re going to keep striking”
@@Skidoodle18 Right?? God, I love those guys
I saw clips from their D&D protest game, you'll never guess who the bad guy was... It was capitalism
@@Skidoodle18You are remembering correct! They were given the go ahead to post and promote their content due to how well they treat their actors and writers, (and how much above industry standard they pay them) there's a good comment going into more detail by archiloque in this comment section. but despite being given the goahead to break strike bc of how good they are, decided to support others in their industry and continue the strike. Even going as far as offering paying subscribers to dropout refunds as they were paying for content they weren't actively receiving, but thanking anyone who chose to stay as those people helped make supporting their actors and writers possible!
It's kind of funny for a service that has so much improv to support a WGA protest. It's funny to pretend they did it to get an edge over scripted content. It's obviously not true, but it's a fun conspiracy.
Another important point: Droupout does put A LOT of stuff on CZcams for free, to the extend where I, personally, don't HAVE to pay for subscription, but I WANT to pay for it.
And I just can't get over how great "Burrow's End" was... everyone played the perfect role, from momma Brennan to juvenile Izzy and DM Aabria.
I was doing the same, working through their YT catalogue before eventually getting a sub once I could afford it. It's so worth it, I'm genuinely proud to give them my money and I can't name another subscription or company that I can say that about.
Maybe once you get through all the videos on YT a friend or family can get you a sub for a present 🎉
And Karate Boy Siobhan was INCREDIBLE!
We're in the same situation, I wish to pay for all the content, but I am already well enjoyed without.
Burrow's End was an absolute masterpiece, Aabria Iyengar is a Bulb among vegetables,
@xdtjv2843 it's worth mentioning that despite being absurdly affordable, they understand not everyone can pay every month, and they don't feel that that means you should be walled out of the house. Dropout ENCOURAGES account sharing, so if you can't make payments, it really takes very little to hop in their discord and make a friend that's more than happy to share their account.
I hope Dropout won't do the mistake and think that bigger productions are automatically better. they can stay affordable as long as they remember that the talented cast is what makes the shows good.
I get the feeling they're smart enough to not just assume this. So far the "bigger" element to their new shows like VIP is that they bought a bunch of prosthetics for the make-up crew lol
In Sam Reich we trust
@@harlandspinks I think you're right. I'm just saying that it has sadly happened before with other productions that forgot their core worth
After the CollegeHumor -> Dropout rebrand I listened to a bunch of business-focused interviews with Sam where he made it very clear that *sustainable growth* is a core tenet of Dropout's philosophy. Not giving private investors a seat at the table is probably a big part of how they've been able to pull this off so far.
@@Prof_Pangloss that's good to know
and yea it does often fail when imvestors want to make a quick buck and squeeze every drop out of a franchise
there’s this one recent game changer episode wherein the players have to get 2nd place, and one of the “challenges” is to give sam the best compliment they can, and Brennan just thanks him for having built and protect a safe space for his favorite people in the world to be creative and yeah. that’s sticking with me i think
that was a nice moment. i think about that a lot
That moment is one of my favorites. On one hand, you could tell it was very sincere and how much Brennan loved being there.
On the other hand, Brennan was also pretty miffed at Sam, and engineered it to be more of a backhanded complement (I’m not going to complement you, I’m going to complement everyone else!).
To be clear, Brennan still clearly loves Sam. It just shows his amazing improv chops when one bit has so many layers to it!
Talking about how they are all friends and you didnt mention that Lou Wilson was the officiate of Brennan and Izzy's wedding?
I absolutely love these people. My two most used services are CZcams and DropOut.
I actually didn’t know this!
@@harlandspinks they also got married on April Fool's Day!
I should know less about these people 😅
@@jenolafsonwe should all know less about these people. But, we do. I think it just shows how relatable they are that we want to know the most about them. My parasocial relationship with the Dropout crew is stronger than any other. Not in a creepy way but in a way where I just like to know what the cool people I like are up to.
Right, and I have no problem throwing them a few bucks every month to produce great content@@carveylover
It's worth mentioning is that Game Changer also work to create spin-off content. Both Make Some Noise and Play It By Ear are spin-offs, having originally been Game Changer episodes. I've also seen some other episodes where I think "that could be its own show and I'd watch it." So it can serve as a breeding ground for new ideas, or a live-test of them.
dirty laundry is also a spinoff!! less people realize it bc it was during the zoom/lockdown game changer season (3 i think)
"the game so good we spun it off unchanged"
@@copperdragonofchaos1983yeah I was like dirty laundry wasn't a launch title
q@@ser_igel
To me, Dropout is so successful because you can tell these people are genuinely friends and like each other, having such comfortable energy. It's so much easier to watch because of the chemistry, mainstream media simply as actors doing acting things not a community like Dropout has
Right on brother
Dropout only has 17 full-time employees?? Judging by the quality of their content, I would not have expected a number that low. Massive props to everyone involved for creating so many fantastic shows.
I think they have recurring contractors who they hire over and over again to work on new seasons when they make them.
Grant recently mentioned that he's a contractor, so I'm guessing that the only actual employees are mangement and the people who are absolutely necessary for Dropout to exist as a company (HR, finance, etc), and everyone else works on a contracted basis.
@@matesafranka6110 I know Brennan is one of them. He was the only camera facing person they kept as a full time employee when they laid everyone off because D20 is so time consuming to create.
Mike Trapp I believe is also a contractor!
It's actually a great model for an internet streaming focused company. The reality is you have to be able to adapt quickly once ideas get stale etc. Similarly the creators should have the flexibility to do other projects if the chance comes along. This way they don't trap themselves or the talent into long contracts that can be hard to move away from if things aren't working for either party
I'm so glad you put this out. I remember having to defend Sam Reich during the Sag-Aftra strike. There were some people saying Dropout was behaving the worst of the streaming programs because they kept making new content, but Dropout was the great exception. Their workers were well-paid and felt repected. It's run by a man who would much rather be a game show host than a money grubbing fat cat.
Nothing Sam Reich does seem to be exploitative of his workers, and hearing that he's behaved even better than I knew has honestly made me very happy. I didn't even know about the profits sharing.
Thanks for this beautiful love letter.❤
I remember hearing about them having shut down for the strike, before being told that they were already following the new guidelines and could just sign a contract to keep working. It was also interesting to see them briefly talk about having to shut down in the documentary with Rick Perry. So definitely great to hear about everyone being well treated!
I don't think they were even making new content at the time, they were just releasing content that was already done or in post-production.
@@ziwuriI remember their statement being that they were not actively shooting anything during the strike, but already had enough content that had been recorded and edited, which is what was being uploaded at that time.
exactly @@herefishyfishy13
it honestly blows my mind, because, altough they did continue releasing content, they only did so after having the approval of the SAG-AFTRA, because they went on strike at first, and also most of their cast and crew actually spend a lot of time picketing and you know, actually helping the effort etc
I'm nonbinary, and I'm always pleasantly surprised (and relieved) to see how effortlessly Dropout is inclusive to gender nonconformity, without making it feel performative and not defining those cast memebers by their LGBTQ identities alone.
Incredible video, so happy the algorithm brought me here. I have since subscribed, sent my friends this video, and watched a few more of your videos. I can't wait to see more from you, keep up the great work!
When you feel safe enough to drop a few masks, people tend to be multifaceted and wonderful.
Heck, Ally Beardsly helped me fully forgo finding out what gender people are and get me started on just looking at them for their character
Hell yeah, same here! What feels especially refreshing is that they never go "ok, we've filled the inclusivity quota, time to hire a bunch of white guys." They just get the best performers they can find and put them all in the same episode regardless of gender, sexuality or ethnicity.
I wholeheartedly agree. As a nonbinary person as well, seeing people just like me be on Dropout all the time feels very heartwarming.
@@ziwuri Yup! Sometimes it feels forced in one direction or the other. On Dropout, it feels like they picked the most interesting and/or best suited for the bit.
One of my favorite moments of excellent equality is the reveal of the Arthur Auegfort mini far into season 1 and Lou going “he’s black?” And Brennan being like yeah! And then Lou’s face holding the same sort of impressed satisfaction to see representation and not have it be performative as the audience was a special tiny interaction that set a tone for me and my love of this group.
What's especially great is that we the audience knew that since episode one, because of the splash art for him. But the players don't see that stuff until after or perhaps during a later episode. So Lou's reaction is fully authentic and it felt like watching a friend open a gift from someone else who had told you prior what the gift was.
It happened again on A Crown of Candy with Caramelinda
To add to the inclusivity conversation: i work as a dungeon master for those living with disability, primarily autism. The modular/fluid nature of the game allows me to not only adapt to the sesibilities of my players but their capabilities. Ive done over 700 hours of Dnd past year and a half. I can confidently say, its more theatre than it is a game. Many people will try to claim ownership of dnd and the 'proper' way to play (as they do with almost anything nerdy). But the proper way to play, is whatever gives your table a fun experience.
This is fuckin rad
You sound like a really fun dm! As someone w autism I love the idea of someone who dms with experience handling ppl w autism.
Dropout is the ultimate disproval of the Conservative "Go woke Go broke"
As a consumer, it's so rewarding knowing that my $6 per month is going directly to the artists who make the entertainment I love. Dropout is a beacon of hope for the future of "content" and I hope that more creator-owned platforms emerge to build a democratized media landscape driven by passion and talent rather than profit.
I subscribed to Dropout for Dimension 20 for their fey regency series, and I accidentally ended up also loving all of their other shows. Play it by Ear is an all-time fave of mine that really deserves all the love and attention in the world. Full-length musical improv comedy is such a strange, niche intersection of my personal interests that I couldn’t not fall in love with it.
Lol I'm somewhat the opposite, I got Dropout for Play It By Ear (the pigeon fake out rhyme song is what made me get it) and then absolutely fell in love with ACOFAF which is probably my favourite thing they have lol (it is the niche intersection of me being fucking feral over regency/historical romances and also absolutely adoring fae/fey settings WHEN THEYRE DONE WELL)
Check out the Off Book podcast if you haven't already!
Jumping off from @@baugkelly's comment: I recommend (off the top of my head)
- The live filmed episode (LIVE from The Curious Comedy Theater) which is on CZcams
- Emo Knights
- Cowminal House ("I'M THE DEAN OF THIS SCHOOL" is a phrase used *often* in my household)
- Attorney at Love
- Movie Night
There are also a lot of compilations of Off Book/Jess and Zach on CZcams that give a good idea of the vibe
Aren't the Chaos Cousins in A Court of Fey and Flowers great? Every time Lou and Emily said, "Cousin?" it brought me joy.
@@Sabbathtage I have rewatched the animated clip of Chirp telling him that she's married like a dozen times, it's so beautiful
it's cool to see a streaming service, or ANY group, doing things in such a way that somebody basically gives them a free half hour promo sheerly out of appreciation
Riz Gukgak was the first time i saw a character being AroAce actually be part of their arc instead of just being trivia about the character or something that is explained in a PSA of sorts and then barely referenced. Also Adaine actively saying that shes Ace questioning was so cool!
Wait I feel like I should know this but I cannot remeber the exact details and episodes of these events. Im guessing fantasy high.
@@hamoiq908 Riz stuff is from fantasy high junior year Adaine stuff is from a live show
@@annawesometheflameingpikac3688sophomore year
@@hamoiq908 Riz Gukgak is from Fantasy High, and in Sophomore Year, embarassed about not really being interested in romance or sex (because he's canonically AroAce) he makes up a "romance partner." What's his name. Er...Baron. Where's he from? Uh... the Baronies? But the power of his lie creates this weird creepy mirror-fae creature "Baron from the Baronies" that has a "Stark Father" and basically goes after him until eventually he admits the truth about Baron being fake and defeats him. Or something along those lines. Baron also shows up again in Junior Year as an antagonist.
Wow, i'm actually so happy to hear that! I hadn't gotten around to watching that yet but now i'm def going to!
i subbed to dropout only less than a week ago after seeing so many incredible clips from “make some noise” and “game changer”. i was skeptical of dimension twenty, but i gave it a shot. i plowed through season one. i’m officially a huge fan of this streaming service. what a gift to humanity it is.
Haha same! Never into table top or DnD but got into Dropout from other shows, and D20 sucked me in 😊
I signed up to Dropout primarily for Game Changer and Play it By Ear and it is still a bit of a hard sell for ongoing content if you're not into D&D (I bounced off D20) but I'm finding plenty of other shows to watch on there too, some good some bad. The fact that they have almost all College Humor content going back years and years means there's pretty much always something to watch, especially if you only have 30 mins or less in your lunch break.
Their newest show "Very Important People" is incredible, and I appreciate that on alternate weeks they do a behind the scenes video with the folks behind making the outfit. I think if it came out alongside the main video, they may not get as many views and, as pointed out in the video, they value their crew just as much as the cast, so having their videos be promoted and scheduled at the same level as the main videos is super cool.
I love how much attention they give the crew. Especially Grant O’Brien. He LOVES the crew.
I highly recommend Total Forgiveness if you haven’t watched it yet
I’m sure everyone does this, but - which D20 seasons did you try? They actually have a pretty wide range of tone and style, so if Fantasy High wasn’t your thing maybe Burrow’s End could be!
Dirty Laundry is pretty good, my personal favorite non-d20 show of all time is Paranoia but that's because I'm fond of my greens. They have some pretty killer podcasts on there too, Ally and Grant had one I forget the title of, it was about the queer experience, the streams are always good rewatches, obviously all 13(?) seasons of hardly working. Kingpin Katie fell a bit flat for me, I'm sure there are people who would like it though. Game Changer and Make Some Noise are pretty fun too.
@@candyh4284 I wish Paranoia had a version where they didn’t tell you who was who at the beginning so we could play along.
Someone may have mentioned this so I'm sorry if it's repetitive but the main cast (Lou, Ally, Emily, Murph, Siobhan, Zac) are actually in five campaigns- excluding continuations in the same setting- Fantasy High, Unsleeping City, A Crown of Candy, Starstruck (based on a stage play/comic book made by Elaine Lee- Brennan's mom) and Never After!
They have and I’ve responded but you made me realize I forgot about NA as well! I’m quitting.
NA was soo good!
I’m sorry, but you didn’t say “Um, Actually.”
The Onion did predate CollegeHumor, bringing material from its Madison, WI alt-weekly newspaper onto the web by the mid 1990s, but CH could make the claim to be "the premier digital-first comedy brand" -- and often did, when pitching themselves to potential advertisers.
Interesting. I have a feeling I maybe put the wrong website/publication. Whatever research I did for similar comedy sites all said between 2003-2006 which I already thought was pretty wild. Thanks for the correction!
@@harlandspinks Michael is right. 1996.
@@harlandspinks Strongly recommend Mel Magazine's story 'An Oral History of The Onion's 9/11 Issue'. Has some good history on the paper, and also tells one of their greatest stories
Pretty sure Homestar Runner qualifies as a "digital-first comedy brand". Their debut was 1/1/2000.
Which was four weeks after CollegeHumor was founded ;)
I almost exclusively watch dropout now because the content just makes me feel better? Everyone's friends and nice?? Everyone is cool to each other???? I am so happy it's here, affordable, and so entertaining
Same ❤
Just recently got into their stuff and it's been such a joy to discover. What really sold me was seeing an episode of Game Changer (I won't spoil which one) where the game wound up being an elaborate rouse to celebrate one cast member who had gone through a particularly difficult year. It was genuinely moving and heartfelt, but in the most chaotic way imaginable, and that's pretty much their content in a nutshell.
and its balanced by brennan's unending torment on game changer /pos
@looney1023 I would actually appreciate it if you spoiled which episode that was 😅
That episode was the first time i’d ever heard of that person, and i still cried cause it was so sweet.
@@ljmarchan146 I think it was Season 4, Episode 7, titled Don't Cry. And FYI, you will cry watching this episode. :D
@@ljmarchan146its called Don’t Cry and its in i think season 4 or 5. def not 1 or 3
Good to see that my friends and I aren't the only ones to appreciate Dropout.
Love dropout soo much. Like one of my favorite little notes that really tickled me was in any show when someone is introduced at the top of the show their pronouns are part of their quick onscreen nametag, its soo effortless how inclusive they made that. Also with how absolutely dope as shit D20 is because it very much feels like the players have worked out with the DM what they want their arcs to be so that the stories for minority players doesn't feel like its rehashed by people that arent part of community with those people. Like it feels like the gm and the team has put in a decent amount of effort in story and world crafting to research as much as possible to add stuff that isn't part of the straight white hegemony without making it fetishistic
Yeah, like "where the white women at"...?
@@kevinbissinger That was certainly an interesting take on Pinocchio, wasn't it...
(yes, this is an actual real Dropout show)
a big part of this is that in a way, D20 almost HAS to be railroaded, to an extent. they don't have the options of other real-play shows to, say, take an extra episode if they need to, or spend almost an entire episode meandering around with no real story. the characters have to have established background and the gm has to know what the players want because they only have so many episodes, so much time to record, and so much time to prep and come up with story, and D20 does it in a wonderful way.
Always memorable to me, in Grant's Bachelor Game Changer episode, how effortlessly Sam made the room aware of one of the contestants pronouns. Such a small detail but very appreciated.
Really wanna sell Total Forgiveness to people who haven't watched it. It's gut-wrenching at times, but the end makes it all worth it, and honestly, it had me in tears from laughter, awkward pain, and ultimately wholesome joy.
the best part of it for me wasn't the things they came up with to test each other, but literally the way that Grant and Ally knew each other so well and just continued to grow and reinforce their friendship. Truly one of the biggest parts of Droupout that pulls me in is the endearing connection everyone actually shares; it's something that makes you feel like you're just another friend at game night when you're watching a lot of the time
Total Forgiveness is hands down one of the best experiences, it made me feel so damn much. It was funny, sad, beautiful, cathartic. And it showed how actual friends actually love each other. That's so rare to see on any show.
YES! That’s actually what got me into subscribing to Drop Out in the first place. They had the first episode of TF for free on CZcams and after watching it, I was like “You know what, screw it. It’s only $6”. It’s honestly the only streaming service I pay for because it has WAY better original content than services like Netflix or Hulu.
I'm at the point where Grant just annoys me and Ally is getting there too. @@Pingviinimursu
@@NoThankUBeQuiet Why comment this? That's just so rude and unnecessary, you could've kept it to yourself
Back when Sam Reich bought the company, he had to let a lot of people go. I remember seeing a compilation of tweets by (ex-) staffers with a tone like "I just got let go. Yay :-)". Sam Reich seems to be really well respected and trusted by the employees, which is a refreshing site to see. Also reminds me a bit of what just happened with Second Wind a few months ago, although they apparently couldn't get the rights to the name "Escapist".
In the latest episode of Breaking News it's revealed that after Sam announced the mass layoff, Grant O'Brien took him out for a drink to cheer him up -- despite Grant being one of the people who had just been laid off. Anyone who can foster that kind of loyalty has to be a good boss.
i think its a testament to dropout current practices and the old college humor days tht people who were let go by sam reich are coming back and working with him again.
i think because it was so evidently a case of college humor being on its deathbed, that people understood that sam had to tackle it so radically or it would perish. for once, it wasn't just a case of unnecessary layoffs to save some money and pay the ceo an even bigger bonus - it was saving the company then so there could be work in the future. and it looks like he's made good on that sacrifice because they seem to be a staff team that are taken care of pretty well.
@@matesafranka6110spoiler! ;)
Honestly, Second Wind should've happened a decade ago. In like 2014/2015, The Escapist came under new management, got rid of basically ALL of its old writers who weren't named Yahtzee, and bought into gamergate. As I understand, the old editor got rehired a few years ago (after the site's numbers plummeted) and tried to bring the old writers back and restore the site to its former glory, but that always seemed like a lost cause to me.
I really appreciate how, I living in a third world country with a very devalued currency, can perfectly well afford it as it becomes the actual equivalent of what 5/6 dollars represents instead of the actual amount. I pay what in usd is 3 dollars and I’m pretty sure they loose money in other countries but they don’t geoblock content because of it
Same. I'm from SE Asia and I pay less than the equivalent of 3 USD monthly. Appreciate that, considering the minimum wage here is 125 USD PER MONTH.
For me it still comes off as more expensive compared to what 5 USD represents in the US. You can pay off the subscription with an hour of work of minimum wage and still have some left. I need to half a day of minimum wage to afford it.
Still, not many companies make their services affordable and make such adjustments, still appreciate them
I'd been on Dropout watching Gamechanger and then Dirty Laundry for a while; my friends introduced it to me one time when I was at their house and I kept popping on and off the service because... literally where can you watch game shows today! LITERALLY WHERE. NOTHING SCRATCHES THAT ITCH. It was Dungeons & Drag Queens that made me finally peek over into the massive and intimidating backlog of D&D content. A man cannot be expected to resist Bob the Drag Queen. I was surprised and relieved to realize it was mostly split up into different campaigns and I could pretty much pick anything without having to start at the beginning.
Rick Perry and the rest of the production crew absolutely deserve ever ounce of praise. The bear, guys. The bear.
I’m new to dropout, I stumbled over a couple of shorts of Brennan being “competitive” and I was sold. It’s the only streaming service I’m happy to pay for.
As a person who is not American and had no idea what college humor was, ı was introduced to dropout with game changer short videos. I have never seen such an amazing advertisement.
When I subscibed the platform I only did it for game changer alone . İts still my favorite but I also like um actually and dirty laundry. I still have absolutely no idea what are they doing on dimension 20 but I wanna watch it because some of my favorite.. Crew? Are there. Brennan especially 😅
But I think the big part of their sucess comes from the fact that most of the crew are so lovable. Trapp, jess, brennan, izzy, lou, zac... Watching them feels like they are my friends 😂
Instead of crew "cast" or "talent" would be more accurate. I am assuming english isn't your first language though so apologies if I am wrong on that.
@@EbyKat yeah thanks! English is not my native language and I'm still learning 😅I was aware "crew" Wasn't the correct word but at the time I couldnt remember "cast "!
The moment I knew dropout was the real deal was the writer and actor strikes. They posted publicly about how they were technically already compliant and could have kept running their projects but instead they encouraged their staff to strike in solidarity and paid them during the strike! It was a huge deal to me
Recently, there was a behind-the-scenes clip floating around of Brennan talking about how it was an honor to come to work. When I saw it I felt like I could burst into tears. Most everyone I know has a terrible job. Most folks have jobs that don't treat them with any dignity or respect. To know that things don't have to be that way is both hopeful and depressing. So much of Dropout's business model and content is like a guidebook for a better world a utopian proof of concept and while I'm sure that things at Dropout are by no means perfect, it's so encouraging (and entertaining!) to see funny, creative people acting thoughtfully together.
The “Hilda Hilda” bit on first watch actually made me suffocate
Ive been meaning to get DropOutTV but never committed since im very on and off with TV lately but you sold me.
In the words of Brennan Lee Mulligan, “hell yeah”.
Hell yeah
@@harlandspinks but which of the hell yeahs are you using?!
I don't do subscription services both because of the nature of it and I'm forgetful and often expensive
Dropout is the one outlier and everyones right, every show is a banger! And they should be! They are all chock full of talented writers, production, engineering, direction, design, and actors who are all born and raised in the improv!
Bro's got that extra Monsters Inc. door in the background. (Loved this, love Dropout.)
I actually AM a monster. I scurry out of it once a week to make these videos then slink back into a netherworld of fear and horror.
they got dropout in the monster world? damn, another thing dropout does better than most.
I had really come to love what College Humor had become by the time it went under, especially the cast they had. When they first formed Dropout I subscribed just because I wanted to support those people and it was affordable. I actually didn't watch a lot of the early Dropout content (mostly D20). I had seen some of D20 before, but was never ready to commit to watching a couple hour long episode each week. I'd watch Game Changer and Um, Actually when new episodes, but that wasn't keeping me coming back each week so much as binging a few episodes at a time every few weeks. I did watch Escape from the Bloodkeep, and some of Fantassy High, and enjoyed it, but the season that really drew me in was Starstruck. Since then I've become a full on D20 fan, and I watch all the new Dropout content. I feel even better about paying the monthly fee than I did when I started. I'd gladly pay $10 for what they give us and how well they treat everyone who works there.
people don’t talk about just how out of this world (haha) starstruck was. imo it is maybe the best d20 season & the chemistry between each player is phenomenal. it’s the first intrepid heroes season i finished completely and i was glued to my seat. PHENOMENAL!
Starstruck was so good! It also warmed my cold black heart how it was not only a good story, but also Brennan going "look at my mom, she's INCREDIBLE" and everybody wholeheartedly agreeing. Also: I didn't know I needed Combat Banking in my scifi stories, but it was an absolute delight!
So proud to be associated with this really cool company. (They have cool merch, too 😉)
Sometimes I go months without watching but I always stay subscribed. I love dropout and I want to support them.
Ive been paying for dropout since they thought they might have to shut down in 6 months and its the best I've ever felt about spending money, let alone on a streaming service
Dropout is one of the only subscriptions I pay for just because I genuinely love the cast and crew behind the company and want to support them. It has been a joy to see them get better and better each year and I can't wait to see what is coming in the future!
I have been watching college humor/dropout for a little over a decade, and I'm glad to see love for them! Brennan is one of my fav comedians period, and watching Dimension 20 helped me appreciate and get back into D&D after some bad experiences in high school.
Great video. Actually just went and subscribed at about the 12 minute mark. I'd been on the fence about it for like a week, leaning towards doing it. But with this glowing recommendation, I'm in baby.
a quick thing, the intrepid heroes (emily, murph, zac, ally, siobhan, and lou) feature in 5 campaigns spanning (including the now premiering junior year) 8 Dimension 20 seasons. Fantasy High Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior Years, Unsleeping City 1 & 2, Crown of Candy, A Starstruck Odyssey, and Neverafter. I have no idea where the "3 campaigns" thing came from
It's 8 campaigns
also, heroes*
@@McBehrer I literally said 8 tho? (Edited for grammar)
Excellent video. Glad to see the Dropout folk getting the praise they deserve. I don't often laugh outloud to myself to stuff online but Dropout consitently gets me cracking me up.
I'm ridiculously happy that they spent a little on advertising, because it was advertising that made me aware they existed, and now it's my favorite streaming service. Winning out, barely, over Nebula, only because I genuinely watch more Dropout.
Knowing all of this makes it even better.
My favorite value of dropout is the freedom to explore and embrace what comedy and improv brings out : drama, anger, sadness, complexity. Vic's ex step grandmother? Absolutely stunning, riveting, terrifying. I'm so glad that a production made and let this happen, to me it speaks of the trust and freedom given to the artists (actors, makeup artist, editors, crew)
The whole cast and crew are so endearing that I'm so happy to support them and will watch literally anything they make even if it's not particularly my thing because I fully support who they are and what they're doing.
great vid!! a lot has happened with college humor-you did a good job condensing it and making the info digestible.
i’ve been addicted to game changer & make some noise ever since they started because the improv is just unbelievably good!!! Dropout is doing everything right so far. it’s awesome to have seen their transformation.
Thank you! There was a lot that I cut just to get it to a length that didn't feel like I was just listing names and reading a chronological biography of the company lol
I fucking love drop out and thank you for the full break down of their history!
don't you mean herstory?
Dropout is the most used streaming service here in our house. It's so much fun for all. Also the values are very important.
i’m fairly new to dropout, i’m a huge drag race fan so i joined to watch dungeons and drag queens and had every intention cancelling my subscription when it ended, but i got hooked and started watching other seasons of d20 and then exploring the rest of their content, now i never want to leave. so glad i decided to check them out
Dropout was the best part of 2023 for me. Discovering the Intrepid Heros was like finding a gang of friends I didn't know i was missing. Peppermint Preston and both Boggies now live happily in our home.
Can't wait to see your take on Watcher.
I love seeing other people appreciate my favorite things, dropout is truly one of a kind. Thank you for sharing that and researching the subject so well!
my badge of honour is being part of the dropout pre-registry
great video!! dungeons and drag queens was my gateway drug into a dropout subscription and ive been obsessed ever since, thank you for vocalizing the praise I and so many others have felt over the years!!
Awesome video. I algorithmically got recommended this video due to watching a good amount of content related to Dropout, and I gotta say this was a real treat. The content and message itself I totally agree with, but your presentation of it, the editing, all of it really was really nice and enjoyable. I'm excited to watch your other content now, too. Keep up the solid work my man.
In the words of Brennan Lee Mulligan I’m glad that I pay for a “really big dumpling” every month to be subscribed to Dropout.
I subscribed for the Dimension 20, and to be honest that is my main focus. But shows like Game Changer and Um Actually make my nerdy little heart happy. Not to mention Im a queer marxist with ADHD so I feel seen. Its nice to see the pronouns mentioned, and the super casual way they just have queer characters in dnd, and just queer people in general in the cast. It never feels like theres a token POC character or actor, or a token Queer character/actor. They’re all relatable people that I would want to be friends with irl. The community is positive and the jokes are constant. Out of all the things I’ve subscribed to in my short time on this earth I love Dropout the most.
I genuinely love this streaming service. It's affordable, comforting, funny, and just overall something amazing to have in a world that's as weird as the one we live in. I hope they understand what they've made and how important it is to just exist the way it does.
I just love that Dropout make it so easy to subscribe for people on global scale. No region restriction, pricing stay the same for so many years, and I can watch on any device I want without any limit (unlike Netflix now control how many screen I'm allow to have). And I have to travel across country for work a lot, it's such a blessing that I can access my account anywhere.
But mostly bc the casts and content are just lovely and very entertaining. Literally grow up with the Collegehumor casts and seeing them still active and having fun bring me joy everytime
What I love about Dropout is that their whole team cares about what they’re making. There’s so much love and joy in the content.
Reasons I like dropout:
a) The chemistry among the cast is off the charts, everyone gets along well and bounce off each other, and most guests are able to mesh in beautifully
b) They put a lot of effort in representation in a way that doesn't feel like pandering or like they're just gonna magically forget after June ends
c) Brennan
d) They actually pay their talents well
e) They don't actively make the platform worse by locking things into more expensive tiers, and post content on CZcams for free along with encouraging stuff like password sharing
this is such a great video essay! you pointed out all the things i love about dropout in such great detail. Thank you for putting this together - I'll definitely be using this video to convince my friends to get dropout
I’ve been subbed to Dropout since 2021. Other streaming services have come and gone in that time but dropout always remains. It’s my favorite and I love supporting them.
Hilda! Hilda!
All the D&D podcasts you mentioned are my favorites. If anyone is looking for a new one I just got hooked on sitcom D&D. I love it.
thank you, you just convinced me to sign up! about to start watching as soon as the video is done
I just need Dropout to like. Upgrade their damn website and app. The content is amazing, but the website and app are so clunky (no autoplay, the website doesn't maintain my watch list, the hecking captions option doesn't carry over between videos lmao)
Unfortunately they have pretty much zero control over that. They use an out-of-the-box platform (I think it's a whitelabel version of Vimeo) that basically only allows them to apply their own branding and color scheme, but the actual features and bugfixes are up to a completely different company who has little motivation to improve their product.
@@matesafranka6110 point still stands, I'd pay for them to get a better platform.
Hey, I don't know if you solved this yet, but a while ago I actually found a fix for the website's watch list online! For some reason, adblocks seem to mess with whatever Dropout uses to track the watch list.
It won't entirely fix the lack of autoplay or the captions not carrying over, but it made the website much more usable for me since it meant i wasn't discouraged from watching on my computer instead of the app.
The various fan animatics got me to finally subscribe last year. It is definitely the best source for improve comedy with how little the CW cared about the WLIIA revival. Its also insane how much CH permeates the comedy landscape. Almost every alumni has worked on something you've heard about in the mainstream.
great video! at the core of dropout’s ethos is care. that’s really all it boils down to. care for the cast and crew, care for the consumer, care for the art they’re creating, for the cultures and communities they foster, i could go on. and unsurprisingly, their care is what makes the company work. it’s what keeps the same cast and crew coming back, the community thriving, and the company viable for years to come. a beautiful and exemplary experiment 💛💛
A much deserved video essay. Love Dropout and what they’re doing. So glad their platform is getting the support it deserves
Great video! I love ur points definitely gonna check out your other stuff
I stumbled across dropout with Game Changer. The whole crew was so funny I decided to check it out, then I found Dimension 20, with my favorite DMs being Brennan and Abría, “Um… Actually” which is the closest thing I’ve seen to Jeopardy for nerds. It’s genuinely so refreshing to see a cast and crew where legitimately everyone is bouncing off of each other at the top of their game. Everyone is hilarious, and no one is the same. They all have their own style and it keeps every show super refreshing!
Thank you for this video! I was on the fence about dropout, but now im on my way to get a subscription!
Soo worth it 😊
A Game Most Changed is one of the very best episodes of TV i've literally ever seen. absolutely my fave game changer episode
brennan lee mulligan is god i will not be taking questions
EXCELLENT video, but would’ve loved you to show the connection of D20 and NADDPod
I had a bit in there originally but didn’t want it to turn into just listing off all the various connections because there are just so many to speak of and I wanted to stay focused on the dropout productions.
@@harlandspinks yeah that’s fair. FH junior year starts tonight baybayyyy!!!
I see a lot of people in here praising Dropout but.... Eh there is no but, they seem pretty great from what i've seen. I hope they keep making good stuff and having fun while doing it without losing themselves in the process
I just got this video recommended again, I watched it when it first came out which inspired me to get Dropout and I've been loving it ever since!
Absolutelt amazing video my dude! Came across my feed as a Collegehumor OG fan, and now you've got a new subscriber!
Your script writing and delivery is awesome! Can't wait to see more.
so glad u made this. so well said and i didn't know some of that stuff including the new financial situation. so exciting.
For me i subscribed as soon as i found out it exists after watching fantasy high and excape from the bloodkeep on youtube and immediately knew it was a legendary financial decission for me
Liked as soon as you mentioned that internet usage should be free since we already pay so much for internet and data usage anyways lol
I've always been a huge fan of college humor. Even today I still watch their old videos over and over again. And now I'm ready to subscribe to Dropout. Thank you for this video.
I’m not even much of a musical theatre guy but play it by ear and the Karaoke night episodes of game changer and make some noise are some of the most impressive performances I’ve ever seen. I don’t even know how a person can learn to be that good at that.
Incredible video, as a fellow Dropout lover. Keep spreading the joy. Hope that the cast + crew from Dropout get to see this
I also enjoy that it's a return to an acting ensemble/troupe format. Quite literally The Dream as a performer but SO few companies do it
The vibes are awesome from these guys ive never seen a streaming service where it feels like a labor of love not profits, collage humor walked so dropout could run, and sam seems to be a very genuine person, the moment everyone started talking about how sam no questions asked helpped them is so heart warming
This is the only workplace I'd belive actually feels like a family
i love dropout too
I'm so glad you mentioned Hallmark movies because it reminded me that Vic was in one!! I work in a clinic and it's on in the waiting area, one day I was passing by and stopped in my tracks!
youtube has been suggesting me this video for a couple days and im glad to have watched it! ive been a college humor fan for a long time and its so nice to see everyone thriving and receiving the love they deserve
I don't know why I waited so long to sign up for dropout.
I have always laughed and loved clips i get on TikTok for the game changers and watched Dungeons & Drag Queens.
I finally got it last month and have been loving it. Finished the dungeon and drag queens, watched so much of Game Changers,Um Actually, and Play It By Ear. Getting into Demension 20 now that I kinda know whats going on.
Been loving everyone and everything I've seen. Best subscription I'm paying for
There are so many things to say about Dropout -- all of them good -- but I'll leave it at two:
1. They've figured out that the best talent isn't found within the small group of lucky people who have made it in Hollywood. Sure, they may be better entertainers than the average person, but most of the funny people of this world are not working on the next blockbuster. Way more of them are minor CZcamsrs, improv class goers or simply that one hilarious person in your friend group.
2. They've figured out that you don't need a highfaluting script endlessly doctored by clueless execs to create an intriguing scene. After all, you can have a lot of fun with your non-comedian friends playing a simple roleplaying game. Dropout's taken that idea and that feeling and simply put some very funny people in a room with mics and cameras. 90% of the output you get from that is better than 90% of what you'll find on lineal television.
Amazing video! You really put my feelings for Dropout into words
such a well written video! i’ve been a massive fan of collegehumor/dropout’s videos for almost half of my life now, and it’s nice to see more people giving them the recognition i think they’ve deserved for a while now. from the talented and diverse cast to the more human approach to the business and finance end, i cannot second your recommendation to subscribe to dropout enough
I was thinking of getting dropout and then CZcams recommended this video. I think it's a sign 😂
I used to be a huge College Humor fan but I feel off for a bit, so I mean it when I say this, your video got me interested again. I always heard great things about dropout but never pulled the trigger. You convinced me other wise. Thanks Harland and amazing video!