Why Game Changer is Different from Every Other Game Show 

Everybody do the Weenis! The Weenis is a dance! Everybody is a genius! Who knows it in advance!

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.

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 RU-vid, 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.)

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

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.

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.

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

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

My favorite thing about the show is it seems like the contestants and host are genuinely having fun

Game changer has in the last few months renewed my child like enjoyment of not just the game show format, but life & entertainment itself...

I genuinely believe Escape the Greenroom should’ve gotten an award of some description

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

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

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.

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

Funny how Brennan's entire career was kickstarted by the money he made on a conventional game show: Who Wants To Be a Millionaire.

Love this show. Seems to be basically a more structured Whose Line Is It Anyway where the points actually do matter.

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.

Bro missed the best title “Why Game Changer is a Game Changer”

0:33 you could say it’s… changing the game.

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.

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 !!

6 days and we’ll get the Emmy nominations this year!!

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'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

shame to get the video a year later on the day when game changer has once again not been nominated for an emmy

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 RU-vid these days :)

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.

Game Changers _and_ a video essay? Sign me up!

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).

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 was wondering why you did mention the crazier stuff they did this year... Didn't realize till the end that this was in 2023.

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.

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.

calling grant ally and lily "unburdened by shame" WAS SO REAL

This entire video can be summed up with, "Game Changer is different from every other game show because the game always changes."

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.

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.

Truly Game Changing!! I love this show so muchhh

Brennan has HOF aura

The contestants are brilliant! « The New McDonald MacBeth »

Dropout is by far the best streaming service, in my opinion

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

Game Changer not being nominated is a CRIME. Dropout is the best subscription service in the market right now.

Give it an Emmy in 2024!

What a great video this is... enjoyed every second of it. Thanks!

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.

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

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 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.

7:02 nomniated

Game Changer, and Dropout as a whole, are so good

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?

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

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.

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.

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).

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

yes yes yes - now lets show this to people who never heard of this show - go algorithm ✨go✨

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.

Rosette spoonbill - that is what makes this show great

Easy answer! Because it’s better than any other show.

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

1000% agree! This format where the game changes every time is amazing!

Great analysis. You've earned a subscriber!

I joined dropout 80% for dimension 20, but game changer is every bit as fun.

Task Master.

it's the next year and the show wasn't nominated again. what a shame

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"

It's because you know the contestants and form attachments to them.

It’s the only game show where the game changes every show, duh!

Indeed a really unique gameshow for American audiences. Should win.

Taskmaster is the only show that compares

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!

Awesome thumbnail ngl

I think you need to branch out of American only games shows. There's literally a clip online of Sam acknowledging that other game shows did a lot of this first (e.g. TaskMaster)

Not Nomniated :(

I feel like Game Changer is Kind of a Spiritual successor of "Whos Line is it anyway?"

very good analysis! really sucks seeing this after they once again were not nominated....but bill "you're not owed a living as a writer" maher and his stupid show was -_-

Agreed I can’t stop watching it. Give them an Emmy 😂😂

this some nice music

Game changer has been here THE WHOLE TIME!!!

I still love the one where the game is Brennan is always wrong.

It’s because it’s the only game show where the game changes every show.

I like that they post clips as shorts so my poor ass can watch it 😂

K but that last song…. What’s it called?

well it is the ONLY game show where the game changes every show

Before going in I'm going to be disappointed if there's no mention of British comedy challenge shows like 8 out of 10 cats does countdown and taskmaster, or American shows like Who's Line and On the Spot. On The Spot is probably the closest to what Dropput is doing, lets just hope Dropout doesn't go the way of RoosterTeeth. Edit: Well at least there was a Who's Line Acknowledgement.

Nahhhh “It’s not about how you win or lose; it’s about how you change the game” goes so hard tho

Because it basically isn't a gameshow. It's an improv game (with occasional scripted parts), and often doesn't have prizes (a necessity to being a game show).

Tragically, it will never be nomniated 😭

Never realized how similar gamechanger is to taskmaster.

me when my dropout subs ran out and just start watching video essay about them jk great video

Wait this was made a year ago Something something flat circle

Game Changer absolutely deserves an Emmy and you can tell the Emmy people I said that.

the emmy category for game shows must be so stagnant. like for america it’s what, jeopardy, family fortune, wheel of fortune, and like is that it? weird that a show fundamentally changing what a game show can be isn’t recognised at all. but maybe it just hasn’t gotten enough traction yet

Is it because Game Changer is the only game show where the game changes every show? I can't wait to find out.