By Robbie McKinstry. Last updated 12/20/24
Dropout is an independent online streaming service. At a time when most Americans are suffering subscription fatigue from too many useless streaming sites, Dropout offers a fresh, affordable departure from the fragmented corporate streaming ecosystem. First, Dropout doesn’t syndicate content from other networks. Almost everything on Dropout is media developed, produced, and owned by Dropout. Second, there are very few shows in active development. Dropout had about six shows in production in 2023, all of which are worth watching. Despite this tiny number of originals, each is spectacular in its own right. In 2024, the number of Dropout originals is set to grow, and the first of which, Very Important People, has started to be released. Finally, most of the content is improv. At the risk of generalizing, Hollywood doesn’t believe improv comedy can have a high enough bar to maintain an audience. This is Dropout’s biggest innovation: the regular cast who appear on the various Dropout improv shows are consistently funny and demonstrate that, indeed, improv content can have a high bar.
This guide describes some of my favorite Dropout shows and includes recommended episodes to whet your appetite and give you a feel for the show’s vibe.
Hailed by Polygon as “one of the funniest, nicest, cleverest pieces of TV,” Game Changer is a game show with an ever-changing ruleset. The game’s rules are different in every episode, and the contestants are in the dark until they start gaining or losing points. Sam Reich, the CEO of Dropout, writes, directs, and hosts this unbelievable show.
Laughter is contagious in this show, where four actors must read a surprise script from a teleprompter without laughing. Whoever laughs loses a point, and whoever has the lowest score at the end of the episode loses.
Dimension 20 is a flagship show of Dropout and a favorite with “Actual Play” D&D fans. It’s largely considered the #2 D&D Actual Play show, second only to Critical Role. It’s a much slower burn than the other shows, and it might not be your cup of tea if you’re not into podcasts.
There are a ton of Dimension 20 campaigns, and they’re all quite different. You can consult this chart for a breakdown by genre and tone.
The Unsleeping City is the second season of Dimension 20. It’s an unban fantasy making place in the city that never sleeps. As a longtime D&D player, I was really skeptical of an urban fantasy setting, but the Unsleeping City really delivers.
I chose to watch Escape from the Blood Keep first because Brennen Lee Mulligan is an excellent DM, and Matt Mercer of Critical Role fame is a player.
Gastronauts is a show for the all the Food Network afficianados out there – a side-splitting pastiche to chef challenge shows like Chopped and Beat Bobby Flay, this show delivers on creative, funny challenges while still managing to make every dish look delicatable. I expect Gastronauts to be renewed without much hesitation. This season had a fairly short order due to its larger budget relative to other shows on Dropout.
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A simple Game Changer spin-off, this show resembles Who’s Line Is It Anyway. Contestants are given prompts and have to improv a scene, sometimes with partners and sometimes by themselves.
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A show with a simple premise: how would you spend $1,000 to entertain yourself and your friends? A group of four friends are given the chance to indulge in frivilous consumerism, a rare moment to blow more cash then would ever be responsible. Three friends entertain, while one friend judges, with a $1,000 prize gifted at the end of each episode.
In the Smartypants Society, intellectual hangers-on present comical (though sometimes, accidentally educational) presentations on a topic of interest or thought experiment. A Powerpoint Party with the vibe of a French salon. Each talk is between five and ten minutes, with three per episode on average. Reka Shankar hosts, whom Axios has called an “up-and-coming comedian you should know.”
This brand-new show gives a comedian a complete makeover. They have no idea what they look like until after the makeup is done, and moments before the interview starts. They’ll have to quickly come up with a character and give a totally improvised interview with host Vic Michaelis, who plays a “straight man” journalist with varying professionalism.
Admittedly, this show is a bit of an acquired taste. The humor is a lot dryer than other Dropout shows, and the episodes are a slow burn. I love Vic Michaelis’ other work and I’m glad the show has been renewed for a second season, but I won’t be offended if you tell me this show didn’t land for you.
Total Forgiveness asks a simple question: to what lengths would you go to remove your college debt? Faced with the opportunity to make a life-changing amount of money, two friends challenge each other to increasingly difficult challenges to tackle their overwhelming student debt. This show is comedic, heartbreaking, and incredibly wholesome all at once.
Another good background show, Dirty Laundry has guests spill their deepest secrets and most embarrassing stories. Each episode features a mixed drink and instructions on how to make it. You can pick just about any one of these episodes, but the titles might catch your eye.
Um, Actually is a nerd trivia show where the host states a subtly incorrect fact about a fandom or pop culture touchstone, and the guests must determine where the error is. This is a fun show to keep on in the background.
For this show, I’d check out the titles for familiar series, like My Hero Academia or Star Wars, and pick episodes to watch based on that. Start looking through the later seasons and work your way backward. This is the longest-running show on Dropout TV, and has been fine-tuned over the years.
Starting with Season 9, Ify Nwadiwe took over as host from the series creator and College Humor head-writer Mike Trapp, and polymath content creator Brian David Gilbert took over the fact-checking booth.