Changing the game kicked off Season 8 on May 18 with an “officially spicy” episode called “Don’t Upset Standards and Manners,” which dared to poke fun at Disney, Star Wars, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Blueyand much more, copyrighted intellectual property. But how do Dropout producers decide what’s too far?
Mashable reached out to Changing the game manager and Dropout CEO Sam Reich for answers to your burning “Don’t Raise Standards and Practices” questions.
In this Season 8 premiere, Reich welcomed Lou Wilson, Ally Beardsley, and Jeremy Culhane to the show. Changing the game set like a board game Don’t wake him up, Father – and a standards and procedures attorney from Daddy’s position.
Because, as Reich puts it in the piece, “We’re all grown up, and we’re not afraid of father anymore. We’re afraid of the legal consequences of our actions.”
Each time, the players were trying to push the envelope in search of comedy, without going into legal danger that would trigger Standards and Practices, and send them back to square one. To determine how extravagant their words were, Reich welcomed three “legal eagles” to take the stage. In this episode, real-life lawyers Devin Stone, Alexis Noel, and Iya Baclagan served as judges, handing out points and punishments. But after so many laughs and so many meltdowns with Disney properties, you might be wondering how Dropout can get away with showing all of this. Changing the game.
We went to Reich for answers. Via video call, he shared the ins and outs of “Don’t Raise Standards and Practices.”
How Game changers’ “Don’t raise Standards and Practices” in the air?
Ally Beardsley laughs while Jeremy Culhane pulls up his pants in “Game Changer: Don’t Raise Standards and Habits.”
Credit: Kate Elliott / Dropout
“With [making this episode]we’re presented with this puzzle,” Reich said, “We’re creating an episode where we’re basically asking players to be officially spicy. What if they do something so bitter we can’t show it? Aren’t we shooting ourselves in the foot? We said to roll the dice on that. Although we have had a little advice from our lawyers, it is clear. ”
Reich also acknowledged that Fair Use, a US legal doctrine, is at play here, which allows copyrighted material to be used without permission for criticism, news reporting, educational purposes, or comedy.
Are there any cuts Game changer’s Season 8 officially premiered?
Ally Beardsley, Lou Wilson, and Jeremy Culhane compete in “Game Changer: Don’t Revoke Standards and Practices.”
Credit: Kate Elliott / Dropout
No. Reich told Mashable, “It’s coming out [making the episode]Our lawyers looked into it, and they let us keep everything. And the reason is that in the world of legal entertainment, commentary and context are everything. And this context of pushing the boundaries of the law works for us so well they don’t care that there are people who might be confused as to ‘why’ we say any of this.”
Are those really Dropout lawyers?
Alexis Noel, Devin Stone, and Iya Baclagan are the official “Game Changer” champions of “Don’t Raise Standards and Habits.”
Credit: Kate Elliott / Dropout
No.
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Reich shared, “Devin [Stone, known on YouTube as] Eagle of the LawI have known for a few years. You are obviously an internet person; he is a fan of Dropout. We’ve always wanted an opportunity to work with him on something, and this was like a perfect case of A and B meeting.”
Reich continued, “Alexis [Noel]we found out by acting. It goes [Baclagan]we found out by acting. Alexis has a bit of a corporate law experience, as I understand it. Iya is a true advocate of Standards and Practices; that’s what he does. So, the fun that was there was that the three of them came from different backgrounds….It was fun to see when they coincided and when they diverged. But they are all good for the cameras and good for the clown lawyers. “
How is Ally’s video about Disney and McDonald’s allowed?
Ally Beardsley sings on “Game Changer.”
Credit: Kate Elliott / Dropout
After Culhane and Wilson played with the sexual innuendo, Beardsley was given the old game Changing the game immediately with “Raise Visual Effect to Go Here.” Beardsley is the first to evoke Standards and Manners by suggesting an animation featuring a pierced nipple Mickey Mouse and a “perfectly accurate Death Star” depicting the McDonald’s logo.
Reich is surprised they didn’t need to cut any of Ally’s pitch. “I, in a million years, never thought we’d be able to really explain that. I was like the best situation, a few sketches, maybe.” However, he added, “It helps that our version of Mickey Mouse looks like nightmare fuel,” noting, “The fact that we’re not backed by advertisers means we can be rated R, which is very helpful.”
Has the creator of Bluey signed his appearance here?
Sam Reich, Lou Wilson and Phil in “Game Changer.”
Credit: Kate Elliott / Dropout
Later in the episode, Wilson is challenged to “threaten Bluey.” And as he does, a cute little cartoon dog like Bluey frolics on screen, and a little more accurately. Bluey letters, indicating Wilson’s ignorance of that IP.
Reich also quoted this reporter’s description of the incident in his description, saying, “‘Pretty much’ is the operative word there. [Plus]it’s obvious that Lou doesn’t really know what’s going on with Bluey. He has Bluey as a father. He says, ‘Mrs. Yellow.’ I think that helps us a little bit here.”
Did Dropout reach Bluey creator Joe Brumm, for permission? Reich laughed, “Good Lord, we didn’t ask. This is one of those situations where it’s like, maybe it’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission.”
However, Reich has a past working relationship with Brumm, which convinced him that the Australian cartoonist would be fine with this. He added, “All I can say is, Joe, please don’t follow us.”
Bluey has an unexpected connection to Dropout beyond Game Changer shock
What is the difference between broadcasting and streaming in terms of what can be legally shown?
Jeremy Culhane of ‘Saturday Night Live’ shows his “game” in “Game Changer: Don’t Raise Standards and Habits.”
Credit: Kate Elliott / Dropout
There are points in “Do not disturb Standards and Practices,” where legal eagles refer to Broadcasting Standards, such as the Safe Harbor rule, which basically says that offensive material is allowed to be shown on television after 10 pm However, as a broadcaster, Stopping must not follow those rules.
Reich explained how Changing the gameThe producers decided what would work best for this episode, saying, “We asked our lawyers to think a little more in terms of network broadcasting standards, or like cable broadcasting standards, rather than looking at streamers, because broadcasters can get away with a lot of things. At that time we put our solution in a paradox, as it were. As our lawyers were going to judge by cable broadcasting standards, and we saw when we were faced with cable broadcasting standards it was possible entertainment.”
Legally, does Jeremy have a game?
Jeremy Culhane is beaten by Phoenix Askani in “The Game Changer: Don’t Raise Standards and Habits.”
Credit: Kate Elliott / Dropout
Over the course of the episode, Jeremy Culhane is beaten, literally beaten by Phoenix Askani and dragged by Stone for his lack of “game.” But in the end, he wins the episode and plans to be approved. So, the premiere ends with a funny cut where Stone announces, “More points for Jeremy’s well-written and unusual performance.”
So, does Reich think Culhane has a game? He told Mashable, “I think I should say, legally, Jeremy has game, because I believe that’s the truth. Is it incredibly fun to say he doesn’t? Oh boy, yeah. It’s funny, Jeremy is now like a little star Saturday Night Live“, now that sounds like punching.”
Changing the game Season 8, episode 1, “Don’t Raise Standards and Habits,” is now streaming on Dropout.
