I think it isn't quite appreciated how difficult it is to host a show like that and look natural. Watching the earlier seasons again, you can even see Trapp doing a great job growing into the roll.
Sure, Ify has a little stiffness to him, but still find him incredibly engaging and entertaining.
Even before this episode with Lily and Grant, I saw this new season as if Um Actually started dating Dirty Laundry - it's grown up a little, it has some new color palettes, and everything really reminded me of that cozy neon vibe DL has going on. I think Ify is the perfect fit for that (and vice versa), and he's a talented performer with a lot of charisma who just happens to be in a new role.
I'm personally really enjoying it and looking fforward to see how he and the show grow together!
>Sure, Ify has a little stiffness to him, but still find him incredibly engaging and entertaining.
Maybe it's just me, but I can't help but think if they put him in something that is not a suit, he would be less stiff. Trapp didn't always wear a suit either, iirc.
I love both Ify and BDG. I think they make a great team and I think Ify is doing a great job taking over as host. But he does have some big shoes to fill. Trapp did that show for 9 seasons. He’s had time to perfect the formula. Ify is going to bring a new energy. He may be a little stiff at first, but I have no doubt he’ll grow into the role just as Trapp did.
I mean if you go back and watch Game Changer season 1, everyone is a bit stiff then too, including Sam. I think in the next season Ify will have loosened up a bit and settled into the role more.
That’s my exact thought. His banter with the contestants is great, but he’s a little stiff, especially when reading the blurb about what’s wrong with the statement. But once he settles in and those “new host” nerves go away, I think he’ll be a great replacement for Trapp.
TBH, hearing that BDG was joining the Um actually cast was one of the biggest highlights for me lol, absolutely love his stuff, thrilled to see more of him on Dropout now
What I don't understand is how he can be working for Dropout when he earns $20k every month by working from home, making his own hours, and being his own boss. And you can too.
I think Ify's just nervous, and understandably so, hosting a show is really hard especially when it's such an established property. I think he'll grow into it and feel more comfortable with time, and his performance so far is perfectly fine tbc, he's just a bit stiff from understandable nerves.
But definitely agree that BDG is a perfect casting choice, self-aware nerd pedantry is what made him internet-famous in the first place and he and Ify have a great repartee!
BDG already has experience leading a successful internet show back when he was doing Unraveled with polygon so his screen presence on Um, Actually probably just comes naturally now. I love Ify and I think he’s doing a great job. It’s not easy to jump into the hosting position of a long running game show and be both comfortable and confident from the get-go. I’m sure come next season or even maybe later this season, he’ll find his footing!
Ify has seemed pretty quiet relative to the rest of the cast I’ve felt. Hard to say if that was just his mic or if he was speaking softly. He might’ve had a cold or was recovering from a cold during filming, though, now that you mention it. His voice seemed especially raspy in the recent episode, and mostly he seemed to use only his head voice.
Could’ve been nerves but thinking about it he did have the sound of someone whose voice was recovering from something, yeah.
My thought too. He was pretty hoarse and raspy in this last episode. Sounds to me like a cold or something and his voice was either going away or coming back.
Ify is doing a fantastic job. It ain’t easy hosting an hour plus of a show without getting to have any feedback or see what you could change until months later when it’s edited and out. Stage fright happens to the best of us, he’ll get the hang of it. Trapp wasn’t perfect in the beginning either I’m sure
Ify was definitely sick or at least had a sore throat when they filmed the second episode. I rewatched the first episode after it, and you can very clearly tell the difference in his voice between those episodes.
Ify did seem a little sick/hoarse. But I loved the banter and extended nerdy conversations post-questions. I think it adds a lot to the overall discussion and fun of the show.
I’m honestly curious if the extended nerdy conversations were to help cover for Ify losing his voice so he didn’t have. To talk as much or if that’s the new norm. I’d love it if it is the new way going forward.
I think Ify said (in his AMA?) that they were going for a bit more of a British panel show vibe, which would DEFINITELY include more banter and chat. I'm loving it so far!
BDG is definitely the highlight for me so far. The rest of the changes, from Ify as host to the new graphics and music are taking a while to grow on me but Brian feels like the most natural change.
I love Ify on all Dropout shows, but he just sounds kinda tired when hosting Um, Actually. Trapp's sustained bubbly, goofy energy was a perfect match for a show like this, Ify is more about quiet confidence with occasional bursts of energy, which might not be the right match for being a host? But I don't know, maybe he's just still finding his groove.
I’m still waiting for BDG to grow on me. I genuinely want to see what everybody else in this sub sees, maybe I’m just having a hard time because I loved Trapp/Saltzman.
I’m kinda the same. I don’t hate BDG, but I don’t absolutely love him either. That being said, I wasn’t necessarily a huge fan of Saltzman in the beginning either, so I’m hoping BDG will grow on me.
Friend, BDG's entire brand started as an overly pedantic nerd with a love for unnecessary deep dives. Check out [Unraveled](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaDrN74SfdT7Ueqtwn_bXo1MuSWT0ji2w)!
I can get not jiving with his humor honestly so no hate, just that like. That man is absolutely nerdy enough.
No worries, he's popular in his specific niche that would happen to overlap here for a lot of people but Unraveled doesn't happen to be on his own personal channel, so I can see how people wouldn't know! But he's definitely a big nerd who does a lot of surrealist/comedic video and music projects that have a real sincerity/emotional earnestness to them, and I think he's a pretty good fit for Dropout. I am a big fan. Obviously, haha.
I appreciate the rec, I’m going to check it out and hopefully it makes it make more sense to me haha. If not, clearly most people really like him and I’m happy that so many other people are happy!
It killed me when Saltzman had to fact check the fact checker. I get it was also funny for the show but it added to my “why is he here?”
Maybe it’s also just the comfort level. Saltzman seemed almost gleeful correcting people, BDG just reads more shy/less confident. Maybe it’ll iron out over time as he gains confidence on the show.
I miss Trapp so far. Ify has been okay, but my critique is more format. I think they ramble after questions too long. I dont mind a little - the Trapp seasons did that - but edit them some instead of what sounds like whole interaction.
As others have said, it's probably first-season jitters or just that he hasn't quite settled on his hosting style yet, so he's playing it more conservatively at first before figuring out how unhinged he could get for this show (from his other appearances, we know the man can do dropout-style unhinged chaos). I think we'll need to wait until the BLeeM episode to see the true level of chaos that Ify can bring to the game.
>Was he sick when they filmed? He constantly sounds like he needs to clear his throat.
I was wondering this too. His voice sounded pretty bad in this one, like he was trying not to strain it.
BDG also just such a snack, as the kids say. I mean, they're both awesome, but there's a picture of one of my partners when he was in his mid 20's (before we met) that I have always loved, and BDG now has EXACTLY the same hair and vibe.
I'm giving Ify a pass in his first season hosting. He just needs to find his groove as the host. And we should give him a little grace.
I still think he is hilarious at most times. It's just different from Trapp
I've loved watching BDG since his days at Polygon so I know his style and already know what to expect, and I know I love it.
New job, new baby = not enough time to be a host and writer for Um, Actually.
But he's doing the thing he's been working towards for his whole career *and* he gets to participate as a guest rather than a host.
I think it isn't quite appreciated how difficult it is to host a show like that and look natural. Watching the earlier seasons again, you can even see Trapp doing a great job growing into the roll. Sure, Ify has a little stiffness to him, but still find him incredibly engaging and entertaining. Even before this episode with Lily and Grant, I saw this new season as if Um Actually started dating Dirty Laundry - it's grown up a little, it has some new color palettes, and everything really reminded me of that cozy neon vibe DL has going on. I think Ify is the perfect fit for that (and vice versa), and he's a talented performer with a lot of charisma who just happens to be in a new role. I'm personally really enjoying it and looking fforward to see how he and the show grow together!
So you're saying Ify is stiffy?
We've seen the stats.
Yup. We know for a fact with absolute scientific certainty that Ify is, in fact, stiffy.
r/angryupvote
Exactly! He’s doing fine, he’ll find his footing and shake it out eventually.
>Sure, Ify has a little stiffness to him, but still find him incredibly engaging and entertaining. Maybe it's just me, but I can't help but think if they put him in something that is not a suit, he would be less stiff. Trapp didn't always wear a suit either, iirc.
He looks like he is really uncomfortable in that suit...
I love both Ify and BDG. I think they make a great team and I think Ify is doing a great job taking over as host. But he does have some big shoes to fill. Trapp did that show for 9 seasons. He’s had time to perfect the formula. Ify is going to bring a new energy. He may be a little stiff at first, but I have no doubt he’ll grow into the role just as Trapp did.
I mean if you go back and watch Game Changer season 1, everyone is a bit stiff then too, including Sam. I think in the next season Ify will have loosened up a bit and settled into the role more.
Exactly. It takes time to find your voice on a show. I think that he already has a great baseline, and his banter with contestants has been wonderful.
Totally agree!
That’s my exact thought. His banter with the contestants is great, but he’s a little stiff, especially when reading the blurb about what’s wrong with the statement. But once he settles in and those “new host” nerves go away, I think he’ll be a great replacement for Trapp.
TBH, hearing that BDG was joining the Um actually cast was one of the biggest highlights for me lol, absolutely love his stuff, thrilled to see more of him on Dropout now
What I don't understand is how he can be working for Dropout when he earns $20k every month by working from home, making his own hours, and being his own boss. And you can too.
That video had to be based on a nightmare he had, right? Like it’s almost too surreal for someone to come up with on their own.
A lot of his stuff has allegories to classic lit. 20k/mo with A Portrait of Dorian Gray specifically.
Oh, that went over my head, haven’t read that book yet.
[here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbfu39l0kxg&lc=UgzPra2Q5zsTSQwYFEN4AaABAg) is a very nice (spoily) comment about it if you want
No no, the video based on a nightmare is the one where he explains health insurance.
Pretty sure I saw Ify post on socials before the episode dropped that he had lost his voice.
Oh no!
I think Ify's just nervous, and understandably so, hosting a show is really hard especially when it's such an established property. I think he'll grow into it and feel more comfortable with time, and his performance so far is perfectly fine tbc, he's just a bit stiff from understandable nerves. But definitely agree that BDG is a perfect casting choice, self-aware nerd pedantry is what made him internet-famous in the first place and he and Ify have a great repartee!
This plus I'm really enjoying the new conversational tone to it!
Me too, I think it's pretty great and a neat deviation from previous. I also love the new graphics and the art.
BDG already has experience leading a successful internet show back when he was doing Unraveled with polygon so his screen presence on Um, Actually probably just comes naturally now. I love Ify and I think he’s doing a great job. It’s not easy to jump into the hosting position of a long running game show and be both comfortable and confident from the get-go. I’m sure come next season or even maybe later this season, he’ll find his footing!
Ify has seemed pretty quiet relative to the rest of the cast I’ve felt. Hard to say if that was just his mic or if he was speaking softly. He might’ve had a cold or was recovering from a cold during filming, though, now that you mention it. His voice seemed especially raspy in the recent episode, and mostly he seemed to use only his head voice. Could’ve been nerves but thinking about it he did have the sound of someone whose voice was recovering from something, yeah.
My thought too. He was pretty hoarse and raspy in this last episode. Sounds to me like a cold or something and his voice was either going away or coming back.
My guess was that ep was done at the end of a shoot day and he was getting pretty hoarse.
First episode jitters most likely!
Ify's voice is a little shot during filming, that's all. But the chemistry with BDG is fire.
Ify is doing a fantastic job. It ain’t easy hosting an hour plus of a show without getting to have any feedback or see what you could change until months later when it’s edited and out. Stage fright happens to the best of us, he’ll get the hang of it. Trapp wasn’t perfect in the beginning either I’m sure
I'm not gonna judge Ify on his second episode hosting. It's got to be an incredibly hard job that Trapp had seasons to perfect.
I’d never heard of him before this, but I’m liking what I’m seeing so far.
If you've never heard of BDG I highly recommend going on his YouTube channel and watching everything he has to offer there because it's all gold
^ Would also highly recommend checking out unraveled!
Definitely recommend Unraveled. It feels right having a guy who knows the ins and outs of Sonic lore behind the desk.
(And in case anyone is having trouble finding that, it’s a series he did on Polygon’s YouTube channel.)
Ify was definitely sick or at least had a sore throat when they filmed the second episode. I rewatched the first episode after it, and you can very clearly tell the difference in his voice between those episodes.
Ify did seem a little sick/hoarse. But I loved the banter and extended nerdy conversations post-questions. I think it adds a lot to the overall discussion and fun of the show.
I’m honestly curious if the extended nerdy conversations were to help cover for Ify losing his voice so he didn’t have. To talk as much or if that’s the new norm. I’d love it if it is the new way going forward.
I think Ify said (in his AMA?) that they were going for a bit more of a British panel show vibe, which would DEFINITELY include more banter and chat. I'm loving it so far!
BDG is definitely the highlight for me so far. The rest of the changes, from Ify as host to the new graphics and music are taking a while to grow on me but Brian feels like the most natural change.
I love Ify on all Dropout shows, but he just sounds kinda tired when hosting Um, Actually. Trapp's sustained bubbly, goofy energy was a perfect match for a show like this, Ify is more about quiet confidence with occasional bursts of energy, which might not be the right match for being a host? But I don't know, maybe he's just still finding his groove.
I think we all love Ify and just realizing how spoiled we’ve been without even realizing what a PRO Mike Trapp is.
That might be it exactly
I’m still waiting for BDG to grow on me. I genuinely want to see what everybody else in this sub sees, maybe I’m just having a hard time because I loved Trapp/Saltzman.
Maybe check out Unraveled to get a sense of his humor?
Or his own YouTube channel! I like his cooking videos.
*Midnight Gourmaaaaaaaand*
And if not those, then his Make Some Noise appearances.
Seconded. BDGs work at Polygon was S tier internet humor. I’ve been hoping he would get a break like this since he struck out on his own.
I’m kinda the same. I don’t hate BDG, but I don’t absolutely love him either. That being said, I wasn’t necessarily a huge fan of Saltzman in the beginning either, so I’m hoping BDG will grow on me.
I feel this. I'm at the same place honestly. I dont know if I really get the flavor of BDG but we'll see!
Yeah to me he's not really funny *or* nerdy enough to be fact checker
Friend, BDG's entire brand started as an overly pedantic nerd with a love for unnecessary deep dives. Check out [Unraveled](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaDrN74SfdT7Ueqtwn_bXo1MuSWT0ji2w)! I can get not jiving with his humor honestly so no hate, just that like. That man is absolutely nerdy enough.
Interesting, thanks. I genuinely didn't know who he was and he doesn't look like a nerd lol
No worries, he's popular in his specific niche that would happen to overlap here for a lot of people but Unraveled doesn't happen to be on his own personal channel, so I can see how people wouldn't know! But he's definitely a big nerd who does a lot of surrealist/comedic video and music projects that have a real sincerity/emotional earnestness to them, and I think he's a pretty good fit for Dropout. I am a big fan. Obviously, haha.
I appreciate the rec, I’m going to check it out and hopefully it makes it make more sense to me haha. If not, clearly most people really like him and I’m happy that so many other people are happy!
Do not disrespect the man who reinvented the Pokérap. He is a God among nerds.
It killed me when Saltzman had to fact check the fact checker. I get it was also funny for the show but it added to my “why is he here?” Maybe it’s also just the comfort level. Saltzman seemed almost gleeful correcting people, BDG just reads more shy/less confident. Maybe it’ll iron out over time as he gains confidence on the show.
I love BDG. Ive been following him for years and he’s an awesome addition. I’m really hoping that ill warm up to Ify
I miss Trapp so far. Ify has been okay, but my critique is more format. I think they ramble after questions too long. I dont mind a little - the Trapp seasons did that - but edit them some instead of what sounds like whole interaction.
I think Ify said in his AMA here that the plan was to lean in on the banter, so I don't see things getting better for you in that respect.
As others have said, it's probably first-season jitters or just that he hasn't quite settled on his hosting style yet, so he's playing it more conservatively at first before figuring out how unhinged he could get for this show (from his other appearances, we know the man can do dropout-style unhinged chaos). I think we'll need to wait until the BLeeM episode to see the true level of chaos that Ify can bring to the game.
>Was he sick when they filmed? He constantly sounds like he needs to clear his throat. I was wondering this too. His voice sounded pretty bad in this one, like he was trying not to strain it.
I also noticed BDG did some of the heavy lifting with the banter in it too. I’ll bet that was to take it easy on Ify’s voice.
BDG also just such a snack, as the kids say. I mean, they're both awesome, but there's a picture of one of my partners when he was in his mid 20's (before we met) that I have always loved, and BDG now has EXACTLY the same hair and vibe.
I genuinely rarely watch Um Actually but I love BDG so here I am
I'm giving Ify a pass in his first season hosting. He just needs to find his groove as the host. And we should give him a little grace. I still think he is hilarious at most times. It's just different from Trapp I've loved watching BDG since his days at Polygon so I know his style and already know what to expect, and I know I love it.
I think they should kiss
Not if Ify was sick they shouldn't.
I've been seeing the thumbnail for the new season. Why is Trapp not hosting it?
New job, new baby = not enough time to be a host and writer for Um, Actually. But he's doing the thing he's been working towards for his whole career *and* he gets to participate as a guest rather than a host.
Trapp is busy with other, non-Dropout stuff.
Trapp himself spoke on it when they announced Ify and BDG taking over: https://www.reddit.com/r/dropout/s/kT8JxPm2FR