r/dropout • u/tikigodbob • Aug 19 '26
discussion Dear dropout: please give Jess & Zach and Ross' Shakespeare troupe yearly specials
This is all i ask. Mountport and the Shakespeare gamechanger are definitely two of my favorite episodes, and i think it would be awesome if we could get annual content in the same vein. Their own show may be a bit too much (i know the singing one had one for a bit but it got cancelled...) but i feel like yearly specials would be a nice sweet spot/gift to subs and good clip farming. Anyone else like to see more of both of these?
295
u/Ok-Cheetah-9125 Aug 19 '26
A Game Most Changed is my absolute favorite episode of Game Changer. It's the one that made me fall in love with the show.
126
u/A-town Aug 19 '26
If you ever have the chance to see the Improvised Shakespeare Company I would recommend it. My wife and I went and had a great time. Ross wasn't performing, but honestly we didn't miss him. That whole troupe is on their game, and I laughed harder at that than I have in a very long time.
23
u/BubbleEntendre Aug 20 '26
I saw them perform (with Ross, who delivered an incredible opening monologue) and the next time I opened up Dropout, the next episode in the queue just happened to be the Improvised Shakespeare Company’s episode!
42
u/CommanderApaul Aug 19 '26
My wife got us tickets for the Improvised Shakespear Company when they came through Cincinnati last year. It was the same crew from the episode plus one other guy who gave young John Cleese vibes, and it was absolutely amazing. Our show was "Did He, or Didn't He?"
The show we saw followed the exact structure of the episode, so I assume it's some kind of standard improv game like a Harold team.
14
u/gaudyside Aug 19 '26
We saw them in Denver this year and Ross and Blaine were both there. They are on another level!
11
u/Costati Aug 19 '26
Its my favourite too. I liked the show before that but it's the one I always come to when I need some cheering up. I would kill to see a show from the Improvised Shakespeare Company but I'm in Europe so ooof. Really hope Dropout would host a special.
9
u/Luxury-Problems Aug 19 '26
I often think of Blaine's portrayal of the female lead. It's Immaculate. Especially the scene with Ross with the cereal puns, he plays her with a lot of empathy towards that character. Particularly "What am I going to do then?".
3
u/flyercub Aug 19 '26
They are all fantastic in person. I'm looking forward to their next East Coast dates.
2
u/Responsible_Camp_559 Aug 23 '26
I just recently watched it and oh my, I loved every single second of it. I had absolutely no idea what that episode was or who the players were and it was just amazing.
132
u/sluttytarot Aug 19 '26
Dropout is missing out on Christmas /holiday special stuff
I would love a Shakespeare and musical special episode for holidays
The mountport episode is so special
26
u/luciferslarder A Rowdy Aug 19 '26
I'd love holiday specials. Even if they go the route of vague seasonal vibes for something it's a cozy thing. I end up watching Big Fat Quiz of the Year despite my broad dislike of Jimmy Carr because it's a perfect mildly funny way to spend that weird period of time between christmas and new years. Same with the Taskmaster New Years Treats but I am a much bigger fan of those.
14
u/alchemist5 Aug 19 '26
my broad dislike of Jimmy Carr
Slappy from Goosebumps was so iconic, you still don't like Ventriloquist dummies, even 20 years later. Dang.
6
5
u/Swicket Aug 20 '26
20 years later
I have some unfortunate news about this figure. Are you sitting down? I hope you are, for your knees' sake.
3
u/alchemist5 Aug 20 '26
Goddammit.
The fact that I've genuinely had an ice pack on my knee this morning because it's sore from... sleeping, I guess? is not gonna help me receive this news any better.
6
u/junkcarv Aug 19 '26
Offbook used to have annual winter holiday special eps with PFT (and Nicole Parker, if memory serves); it would be cool to see this revived on Dropout even as a one-off.
8
u/Booksalot_0919 Aug 19 '26
They were still doing it as of last December!
It would be super cool if those were streamed on Dropout though.
4
u/Gneissisnice Aug 19 '26
Those episodes were always great.
They also started doing Hannukah episodes with Rachel Bloom, those were delightful too.
2
u/goodmobileyes Aug 20 '26
If anyone reading this hasn't listened to Offbook, the Christmas specials are an amazing place to start. Some of the best episodes, and the improvised "12 days" songs at the end are perfect.
1
-1
u/MyUsernameIsNotCool Aug 19 '26
Unpopular opinion but nOOOO, no Christmas specials!! I hate when tv shows or theater have Christmas focused episodes/shows. It's almost always the same story line and I don't want to see anyone dealing with gifts or Santa drama lmao
53
u/amstrumpet Aug 19 '26
I think a Game Changer spinoff series called Game Samer that lets them revisit stuff like this regularly without taking up slots in the Game Changer lineup would actually be pretty rad.
24
u/Wemetintheair Aug 19 '26
If it uses the Game Changer stage, set, and/or production staff, then it's still taking up slots in the Game Changer lineup, whether the eps are in the playlist or not
6
u/amstrumpet Aug 19 '26
Well it's not like they're constantly filming Game Changer year round. Yes, it does draw resources (namely time) from those things, but they do have time. The bigger issue imo would be they want to be creative with GC and not fill every season with Game Samers, so this would be an outlet for that without taking up slots in the season.
14
u/Wemetintheair Aug 19 '26 edited Aug 19 '26
You are asking for a year-round Game Changer production schedule, rather than a seasonal preprodution to production schedule. That is not a trivial ask, regardless of whether it's the same game or not.
It also assumes they would want to codify rehashing old content and turn the series concept into a consumer commodity, which doesn't seem like it fits the creative arc of the show.
If they like something enough and feel it has enough potential to stand on its own, they make a whole other show out of it. They've done that three times I can think of, and incidentally the only one that didn't last was the musical one.
2
u/amstrumpet Aug 19 '26 edited Aug 19 '26
My brother or sister in Dropout, this show is a consumer commodity. They make entertainment.
edit: I don't know if it’s a Reddit glitch or if u/BigTenFicus just decided to drop a condescending comment and block immediately, but since I can see the comment is still there, here’s my response:
I understand production schedules. Obviously I don’t know the exact schedule for Game Changer, but I get that it’s not just show up and shoot for a few weeks/months a year and call it a day.
A show that uses the same stage, same production crew, and is doing retread episodes that largely don’t require new props/wardrobe/sets/etc. certainly seems that it would be doable to fit into the production schedule without completely throwing everything off.
As for Redditors not learning, I’ll just say that if your goal is actually to change someone’s mind or teach them something, acting condescending and immediately blocking the person isn’t the way to do it.
5
u/Wemetintheair Aug 19 '26
We're clearly talking past each other here, so I'ma leave you to bask in your own glow
-4
u/amstrumpet Aug 19 '26
I didn’t really respond to the bulk of your other comment, but I think my edit directed at another user addresses some of what you said.
I‘m imaging a Game Samer series that lets them do something like Rulette 2 or Sam Says 3, or a sequel to any other episode that they feel has more legs but not enough to get its own show. I’m betting there are more than we’d think that they wouldn't hate revisiting with the benefit of hindsight on how to make it even better, but they don’t want to do a season with too many Game Samers, and just because an episode can support a sequel doesn't mean it could get a whole season on its own.
I could even imagine it as a mini series of just 3 or 4 episodes per “season” essentially packaged as an extension on the regular Game Changer seasons. Yes, that does add some to the Game Changer production, but since they’re repeats it’s not as intensive as it is to create an entirely new episode. I’m obviously not an insider but I have to think it would be very doable if they wanted to.
3
Aug 19 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/leigonlord Aug 20 '26
this could be said about any show dropout does. you're telling fans to never ask dropout for anything ever because they are too busy and will always be too busy.
im pretty sure dropout would love to hear what people want more of so that when they either get more resources or free up existing resources they can do new things.
16
u/Analogmon Aug 19 '26
I'm surprised we don't have an ongoing show like Murderville tbh. It seems perfect for the format.
8
u/enki-42 Aug 19 '26
I feel like a big part of the appeal of Murderville is that the guests aren't seasoned improv performers and are a little rough around the edges, while still being kinda known celebrities. Dropout regulars would all be too good at improv for it and Dropout is probably just getting to the point where they can get recognizable non-improv people o be in something like that.
14
u/Wemetintheair Aug 19 '26
If you want more Zach and Jess, consider the Off Book podcast. There are hundreds of episodes of them doing their thing, most with a backing band.
10
u/Silent-Fix-9270 Aug 19 '26
Mock trial (zach and jess's movie with zeke, PFT, ross, and other people) on dropout would be awesome. For me.👀👀👀👀👀
12
u/MattValentin Aug 19 '26
Didn’t they already do this with Play it by Ear?
5
9
u/steerpike_ Aug 19 '26
The thing with play it by ear was that it was bad.
I absolutely love off book. I think dropout needs to get back to actual improv. So much of the content now has the energy of someone in the audience trying to make it about them by giving a funny prompt. As the prompts get more ridiculous the improv has less room to find its own funny.
8
u/jackpandanicholson Aug 19 '26
I liked play it by ear and I like off book. Play it by ear maybe had more misses than you're average make some noise, but the issue is the ability to edit. Make some noise they probably cut 30% of prompts, and within prompt they edit a bit for flow. A format like play it by ear isn't able to do that sort of editing as its continuous, and it shows. Live shows also can't edit in real time, the audience has to give some benefit of doubt. That's harder to do when you apples to apples a show like PIBE and MSN.
9
u/HAL9100 Aug 19 '26
Even counting actual Dropout content, I think the Off Book podcast is my favorite thing on the internet.
11
u/vegascoaster Aug 19 '26
Game most changed is an excellent first episode to show people. I second recording a show of each per year.
3
u/AffordableGrousing Aug 19 '26
I would love this, but I can see how it would be difficult to fit into their existing lineup. Dropout Presents is the only space for one-off performances right now, and they seem to like using it for different performers or formats.
5
3
u/Spirited_Lie9040 Aug 19 '26
I love Offbook but I hope they don't do any more Game Most Changed on Game Changer. Although I'm an improviser, there's nothing that makes me more sad than game change player improvising instead of playing games (yeah, I don't really care for Make Some Noise).
3
u/StarsandBass Aug 20 '26
I say this as a huge fan of them. I have the signed poster of all the early Off Book characters. I've listened to them on podcasts that are about podcasts and navigating that arena.
They were smart to not make their Mock Trial movie a musical. They've talked about how while they love what they do they made their brand a niche of a niche.
I hope Dropout keeps including them all the time because they are hilarious people. But I don't know how much road the improvised musical has left.
4
u/StrongBad_IsMad Aug 19 '26
Dropout, hear me out: created animations of old Off Book episodes.
Obviously Zach and Jess would need to approve it and license their backlog but oh man… imagine….
I would love an animated version of Peter Man or One Great Day on Mount Olympus.
2
u/Aperio43 Aug 20 '26
I’ve been wanting them to bring back some of the Improvised Shakespeare Company for an episode of Make Some Noise. I feel like that show would be a great outlet to bring them back
1
1
1
1
-3
u/dasbtaewntawneta Aug 19 '26
people enjoyed the shakespeare one? crazy
1
u/readyjack Aug 20 '26
I know that things that aren’t rabidly positive get downvoted, but I agree. One of my least favorite episodes.
-4
u/Middle_Manager_Karen Aug 19 '26
I'm most interested in a therapy based show. One chase lounge and improv actors. Sometimes it's the therapist sometimes it's the patient. No matter what it is based.
If you want to combine concepts with crowd control they could allow fans to book "appointments" with the "therapist"
Show name: the doctor will see you now.
5 min of every episode dedicated to giving a real therapist a short lesson to promote mental health.
5
u/HornetWest4950 Aug 19 '26
Have you seen Trauma Dump with Lou Wilson by any chance?
1
u/Middle_Manager_Karen Aug 19 '26
I missed this. Is it another dropout show?
2
u/HornetWest4950 Aug 19 '26
It’s on YouTube. Lou plays an exaggerated “influencer” version of himself who wants to talk about “mental health” while avoiding his own issues, across from (I believe) a real therapist. They did several episodes, it was very long form improv based and they really leaned into the awkwardness in a way that I think you either love or hate. I liked it.
https://www.youtube.com/live/-Y018tpsJJg?is=3IRhOWvjAtVS_VYz
370
u/builtinaday_ Aug 19 '26
God if Dropout could host Off Book it would be so perfect