Fans of the Dropout comedy show Game Changer have expressed a strong desire for more of the game "Rulette," even calling for a dedicated spinoff series. However, Dropout CEO Sam Reich remains unconvinced that the concept is sustainable beyond its current appearances.
"Rulette," first introduced in season 7 and revisited in season 8, involves players wearing velcro suits that are adorned with randomly spun rules. Participants must adhere to these rules to avoid losing points, leading to unpredictable and humorous situations. The season 8 iteration, "Rulette 2," featured returning player Anna Garcia alongside Demi Adejuyigbe and Josh Ruben, and was considered one of the season's highlights.
Online communities, particularly on Reddit's r/Dropout and r/GameChangerTV subreddits, have seen numerous posts advocating for an expansion of "Rulette." Some users have even suggested that the game's inherent chaos and comedic potential are ideal for a standalone show.
Despite the enthusiastic fan reception, Reich voiced his reservations in a recent interview. "I'm not convinced that ‘Rulette’ doesn't become repetitive once you've seen 10 episodes,” he stated. He acknowledged the game's inherent fun but questioned its scalability for a full series, citing concerns about potential repetitiveness. Reich also mused on the specific criteria he and his production team consider when evaluating games for potential expansion. Key questions include whether a game is scalable, if it remains exciting across multiple iterations, and if it offers enough variety to avoid becoming monotonous.
Reich also emphasized the concept of "alchemy" in comedy – that is, whether a particular game's success was a unique instance of comedic magic or something that can be reliably replicated. He pointed to Make Some Noise as an example of a game that works well as a spinoff because its appeal lies in the ever-changing cast dynamics, making each installment feel fresh. For "Rulette," Reich questioned whether it offers a unique enough proposition that isn't already covered by existing Dropout formats.
He further explained that another crucial factor is whether a potential new show fills a gap in Dropout's current offerings. While "Rulette" has generated significant buzz, Reich suggested it might overlap too closely with the established formats of Game Changer and Make Some Noise if produced as a separate series.
Reich confirmed that new show concepts are always in development at Dropout, with a desire to produce "terrifyingly unique" content. He stated his overall goal for Dropout is for the platform to be "really all over the place in terms of what it's trying," indicating a commitment to exploring diverse and unconventional programming.
