The Jacob Wysocki Effect: A Dropout Video Essay

[@blinkfilms1]

Anyone who loves jacob should listen to his podcast where he forces himself to watch fight club 31 times in a row edit: it's real it's called "I don't want to talk about fight club anymore" and it features zac oyama in an episode

[@ruleofthree99]

please tell me what it’s called as a fan of death blart and worst idea of all time this sounds right up my alley

[@blinkfilms1]

@@ruleofthree99 it's called "I don't wanna watch fight club anymore", it's a phenomenal fever dream

[@jordanmacavoy4089]

@@ruleofthree99 til death do us blart gets me through the holidays every year

[@TheUnofficialNinja]

for the record it's called "I don't want to talk about fight club anymore" ! easy mistake to make, i just couldn't find it under the other name and ended up googling "jacob wysocki podcast" lmao ^^;

[@pilotlee4463]

WHAT?????

[@aleeysaurasrex]

"Seeing him feel happy, makes you happy." The most accurate Jacob Wysocki take.

[@DeadmenInk]

why thank you!

[@annalevi4399]

Seriously his honesty about what it means to him to be in the dropout family made me fall in love with him immediately

[@twilightprotige6166]

i was like #420. rashab just told me to tell you dang

[@aleeysaurasrex]

@@DeadmenInk Looping back to say this is an incredibly well made video with very poignant points, great examinations of how fatphobia and fat-ideology has existed but how to be amazing not because you're a bigger person but because you're a GOOD person and GOOD at what you do and who you are (you know, like it should be done.)

[@DeadmenInk]

@@twilightprotige6166 dang

[@linsonas]

Jacob Wysocki has made me feel represented in a way that I didn't realize that I was missing. It's not specifically his weight or chill attitude, but some amalgamation of his vibe that resonates with me.

[@ari8417]

His energy is truly hard to put words into because he’s so special

[@DeadmenInk]

vibes for days

[@corinneamani8823]

KZbin cut out the “video essay” in the title so I was like “yay!! Jacob funny clips my favorite!” And then got this masterpiece

[@DeadmenInk]

i'm glad you enjoyed it! yeah titles are tricky and there really is only so much you can shrink it down before it loses all meaning.

[@birdfurnace]

i'm so happy to hear that Wysocki is just a universally loved figure, because i fell for him right away

[@DeadmenInk]

same here

[@_zurr]

Jacob was, for me, bar none, the best part of NSBU. Of course he's surrounded by an incredible cast and has Brennan as the DM, but seeing him flourish as such a surprisingly restrained and yet emotionally resonant character was such a leg sweep in the best way.

[@hamoiq908]

Yeah like everyone else I sorta expected to pop off like they did. But he fit right in the dome, and as you best described truly flourished.

[@DeadmenInk]

I expected Jacob to be funny. it was how deep he got that took me by surprise.

[@lyndonwesthaven6623]

I knew he was going to make me laugh, but damn if Dang didn't make me cry at points

[@luna732]

His storytelling and the way he so perfectly contained it within the timeframe as well, I don't think anyone truly hit emotional beats the way Jacob managed to in NSBU while also being absolutely hilarious and insane, and that's not to say the others weren't excellent (Alex' played Liv's arc particularly movingly imo), it's just that Jacob was THAT good - absolutely crushed it and felt so at home in the dome.

[@emilysmith2965]

Dang.

[@beansfebreeze]

People really underestimate how important college humor has been for comedy and comedic actors

[@DeadmenInk]

College humor/Dropout is to Internet comedy what SNL was to hollywood in it's glory days.

[@aleeysaurasrex]

@@DeadmenInk now that's so accurate it hurts

[@DuncanDisordely]

I wonder in small part of Dropouts success was people in their teens who grew up watching college humor following the comedians they loved when they (audience) were in 20s and could afford the subscription.

[@aster1760]

​@@DeadmenInk Hell I'd just argue Dropout largely now is JUST SNL in its glory days. A number of its members including just recently Trapp himself have entered into Hollywood writing careers, and professional stand up and improv routines. Dropout in all ways kinda became an internet born and borne successor.

[@WeAreAllRidiculous]

I think it’s hugely significant that Dropout has created a space where people can be themselves safely, and as far as I can tell, every single person involved actively works against racism, transphobia, sexism, fatphobia, etc. I don’t think a lot of their performers could reach the levels they get to in their performances without that safety to explore without fear, and without getting typecast or shut down.

[@DeadmenInk]

I think that safety is the foundation of what makes Dropout so great.

[@Cass63450]

Came here to write something to that effect and am glad someone already did it. I got onto Dropout during the pandemic, so Brennan could teach me how to use the D&D mechanics for storytelling and they slowly won me over for the rest of the program. The diversity is one of the main reasons for this - being fat, discovering that I own an ADHD brain relatively late in life as well as being on a long and winding journey to get to know "queer Me" has made me gradually more aware about the - sometimes open, sometimes hidden - battles I have been fighting all my life. Dropouts continuous and authentic way of creating an environment that cares for the people who work there - while taking risks with the content ideas they pursue - has made me feel safe there. I think, they are giving me some sort of blueprint for what an inclusive and mindful and nurturing (aka sustainable) creative work environment could look like. Seeing Jacob, as well as the other larger bodied performers - shout-out to Lou, Danielle, Rashawn, to name my other darlings - being embraced for their talents while there bodies are just there (as with any thin person) is such a breath of fresh air. I love your video and the nuanced and holistic way you portray the phenomenon. Will leave a follow and am looking forward to your other essays!

[@sentientbeans]

Agreed. It’s like an oasis for comedians and artists. Sam Reich has created something incredible where everyone else is putting profit instead of creativity first.

[@ZaKKsQuaTcH1]

Jake has such a great mind for bits. Every time he shows up on a Dropout show, I know he's about to pick his spot and keep a weird, but unbelievably funny but going within it.

[@DeadmenInk]

it truly is a magic trick what he does

[@ashleyhoughton8592]

I loved how much Jake in particulars choices when it came to going super saiyan of having a AT-Walker appear totally leaned in to the premise of a player playing a game and hacking it. He was every skyrim modder fighting Macho Man Randy Savage, and Thomas the tank engine dragons armed with a lightsabre and a minigun in those moments.

[@BethanValerious]

my favorite part of NSBU by far was the pure delight and utter investment on Jacobs face CONSTANTLY, and how he indulged in the whole clusterfuck it was incredible and i feel very lucky that i got to see it

[@DeadmenInk]

you can never say the man doesn't know how to hard sell

[@SongForSaturday88]

Jacob is like every cool stoner buddy you either had, have, or wish you had.

[@DeadmenInk]

if you saw him on Smarty pants, this comment makes even more sense

[@TheAmazingAlyse]

As a fat person myself, this is a super important video. Thank you.

[@DeadmenInk]

Thank you for your kind words. it means so much to know this project resonated with you.

[@Jonbutter]

When I think about fat comedic actors I also think about the late great John Candy (1950 - 1994) he never really made his weight the forefront of his comedy, rather he just blew everyone away with his sweet and heartfelt personality, which you can also say about Jacob

[@DeadmenInk]

I love john candy I was only able to use the small clip, but man it was hard narrowing down which people. If I ever do a follow up, he'd likely be there.

[@panelsofDOOM]

Ya I've always felt Jacob gives off candy vibes. There's a sincerity to both of them I can't ignore.

[@_zurr]

TBH, I'm not entirely surprised the absolute shock it is for someone to realize how different life can be when you are not conventionally attractive (especially if you're conventionally unattractive) because it seems so absurd if you've never experienced it. People can talk about it, and even if you take them at face value, there's nothing like truly experiencing it and recognizing the depth of how things change. So much of what you take for granted when dealing with other people suddenly becomes a hurdle, and you can be mocked for even trying to overcome it. I say this about being fat in this case, but it also applies to other outward appearances (skin tone, accent, visible disability, etc.) that society can unconsciously react to.

[@DeadmenInk]

I will be clear, part of that did come from the disposition off the bat of it being Gwyneth Paltrow. this was an early moment in her career and had every opportunity to effect her going forward, but doesn't really seem to. she had those realizations, but even in her quotes, never seem to let that feeling extent past her own self. It's like the person who says their not fatphobic, but doesn't realize their actions subtly speak otherwise.

[@Gibbypastrami]

Yeah I have had conversations with thinner friends and for some of them it’s like a cognitive block Like, people would be rude to me and I would talk about it later and they would brush it off as a misunderstanding Like, no lol, they immediately dismissed me and labeled me as someone undeserving of respect before ever even speaking to me XD As someone who has been heavier and less noticeably heavy, I’ve experienced that As a white man I’ve had my own cognitive blocks revealed to me by friends of other race and gender

[@stuckinthebigtree]

this is incredible and you’ve impressively encapsulated how dropout and jacob in particular are a comedic safe space

[@DeadmenInk]

thank you for your kind words!

[@lyndonwesthaven6623]

You really hit the nail on the head with Dropout neatly leveraging that parasocial bond to get people to try new things: if you just described the premise of Dirty Laundry or Make Some Noise to me a couple of years ago, I would never have given them five minutes. But hey, if it's these guys....

[@DeadmenInk]

I don't necessarily know if parasocial is the term i'd use, but it there's a definite comfort in familiar faces. it's a way to not have to start at square 1 every time you want to take a chance

[@makesmewee]

I do think they play on para social relationships, we feel like we get to see inside their lives through the shows. If we didn't, the don't cry episode of Game Changer wouldn't work, because why would we care about Jess' friends making up for her covid wedding?

[@ezogh3826]

@@makesmeweethis is true… I also think that given the nature of Drop out though, how would you not see them do such a thing on an episode?

[@Jmcinally94]

7:56 - "Happy to be here" - Jacob in the comments, hopefully

[@DeadmenInk]

the more popular this video gets, the more likely it is that Jacob or Dropout will see this... and that scares me lol

[@misterthegeoff9767]

If you want another example of a large actress and comedian who has had a strong career that focused on her comedic skills not her weight check out Dawn French. SHe may not be well known in the US but she is a household name in the UK for her sit coms The Vicalr of Dibley and Absolutely Fabulous and her comedy sketch show with Jennifer Saunders (French and Sunders). Americans probably only know her from her voice acting in Coraline or as "Fat lady In Painting" in one of the Harry potter movies (because if you think the mouldy TERF who wrote those books was only transphobic those books are dripping with fatphobia as well) but she has an incredible body of work outside of one short scene in a children's movie.

[@DeadmenInk]

@@misterthegeoff9767 thanks for the heads up. Yeah I know there's a lot of this topic I didn't have time to discuss, and branching out less mainstream or international gets a lot more vast.

[@SM-cs2my]

this is not especially related, but the vicar of dibley was formative for me. i love dawn french

[@thedreammweaver6274]

Oh yeah I saw her in Roger and Val Have Just Got In, I came to that show for Alfred Molina but she was wonderful

[@ArtsyRosie]

I think a lot of fat performers are way smarter than they present themselves and Jacob is allowing himself to make smart moves instead of the funniest move that's usually the safest option for fat people. As a fat trans man I had to consciously become a fat man as an adult, and that's made so much harder with the lack of representation so seeing Jacob thrive and get to play dynamic roles is so important.

[@EtamirTheDemiDeer]

Ayyy fellow trans guy. Hope you're doing well brother

[@DeadmenInk]

I'm glad people are finding the message i'm trying to portray about his approach. this dynamic that the better things get, the harder it is to appreciate subtle moves and changes. What Jacob is doing is revolutionary, even if its not as flashy or easily marketable as "inspirational".

[@Ramberta]

wow thanks @ArtsyRosie for sharing, I am also a fat trans man who just feels sometimes like I'm transitioning into "what society universally understands as ugly" instead of a man, lol. seeing dudes like jacob getting their flowers though gives me hope because he is killing it and looking great doing it.

[@luna732]

Not only that, he also gets to make genuinely emotional and sincere moves in a way I don't think I've seen allowed often. Like I feel how he played Dang really showcased how he got to play it smart, got to play it bold and got to play emotional (seriously, Dang's character arc was one of the most compelling bits and had me tearing up in a season I wasn't expecting to make me tear up at all). There's also just something to how unapologetically he gets to be himself, where the fun comes from his comedic abilities and how fun he's having with it rather than having to mock himself, and getting to take up space instead of having to make himself smaller to "make up" for being fat.

[@lazyfish7675]

Dropout has honestly expanded my interests and willingness to accept new interests so much, my life is genuinely better by dropout coming from college humor! I remember there was a point and time where we weren't 100% about wether or not we'd still get to see these people together and we got something so far beyond that

[@DeadmenInk]

I love it when a plan comes together.

[@josiethompson5739]

I'm convinced school of rock is one of the best movies of all time

[@DeadmenInk]

it holds up so well in almost every single way.

[@DuncanDisordely]

Made more impressive by the fact that on paper “wanna be rockstar teaches rich kids how to rock” is such an on-paper bad premise for a movie. But it’s such a great movie the fact it overcame that makes it even greater.

[@halcyonacoustic7366]

For fans of Jacob, YSK that he has written and starred in several short films!

[@DeadmenInk]

absolutely. i have a lot more of it to investigate myself, but the dude's got some projects worth checking out.

[@potatopotato2042]

my brain did not immediatly translate YSK as "you should know," so for a second there i thought YSK was the fun new abbreviation for (w)YS(oc)K(i)

[@IsisAlv]

I actually think 007 is right up his alley as something campy jacob would love wholeheartedly and shamelessly, and he played it exactly like that

[@DeadmenInk]

you know that's a fun way to look at it. i mean the aesthetic of James bond as a whole lines up more obviously than the specific role of James Bond, but I think also some of that comes down to me finding the choice to play off the "needle in a world of sledgehammers" thing.

[@TheUnofficialNinja]

i think the first thing wysocki was in on dropout was an episode of Dirty Laundry, and I remember coming out of that episode thinking "damn, that guy's really funny. i hope they put him in more stuff!" and then they did! \o/

[@DeadmenInk]

And thank goodness for that 😄

[@TheNinthGeneration1]

The oldest video from CH/DO I remember him in is the hospital scene from movies skit, he plays that so well

[@LonelyBotStudio]

When I tell you my mind was blown seeing the guy from pitch perfect and unfriended show up on dropout three years ago

[@DeadmenInk]

so glad to see him find success!

[@kev_whatev]

I know that that opening music is probably open source, but it will always be SummoningSalt to me

[@DeadmenInk]

no it absolutely is the Summoning salt song lol

[@alexmrocks10]

Fyi this song is "We're Finally Landing - HOME"

[@illusorygentleman1718]

I actually loved Spy, but less for McCarthy's role and more Jason Statham playing the parody version of his major roles. I truly believe that character has bled into how he plays action characters from that point on.

[@DeadmenInk]

It really is such a great meta joke. The movie is not flawless, but more its lack of direct competition is more the notable feature.

[@heeeyyy2947]

love to see this!!! been a big fan of Jacob’s for years- from his brief time on Super Beard Bros to having my life changed watching Terri- I’ve even had the pleasure of chatting with him a few times- just such a genuine guy that absolutely deserves all the love he’s been getting!

[@DeadmenInk]

when did he feature on beard bros?

[@heeeyyy2947]

@@DeadmenInk he’s in a few episodes of their Subspace Emissary series! him, Alex, and Jirard go way back!

[@hamoiq908]

This is exactly what I’ve been waiting for. Dropout content is never enough, but a whole video essay. Utter Gas. Keep it up

[@r.hyacimp2518]

Heel yeahhh, I’m a huge fan of both dropout and videos essays and have been looking forward to this video since your announcement! This is SO wonderfully done!! Your observations are delightful and the content breathes beautifully with the pacing and transitions. Thank you for sharing with us! 💞✨

[@HillVlogs-wh4ip]

Ken, such an awesome, thoughtful, brilliant video. I'm a new Dropout fan and just happened upon this. You blew my mind. Thank you!

[@DeadmenInk]

Glad you are enjoying it. I do other dropout content if u wanna check it out

[@GringoPatrick]

Dropout TVs shining value is that it gives a platform for such insanely funny people to emshow there brilliance. The entire cast is an example of absurdly talanted and funny people that I would not have discovered if Dropout didn't exist. Jacob is one of those additions that makes you go, "oh they are just going to KEEP finding uniquely hilarious individuals!

[@DeadmenInk]

They're ability to attract the absolute right crop of people is astounding.

[@TheSkuvnar]

A really good example of a body positive action movie is the world's end. Nick Frost was a complete badass in it and not once was his weight joked about. I don't think they even mention it.

[@DeadmenInk]

just the simple matter of Nick and simon changed archetypes for that movie made such a huge difference. very good call out!

[@charlottehollingsworth9125]

I just started watching Dropout over the last couple of months and like, it makes me so happy. I love hearing that a lot of people feel the same way about the way the people involved leave room for each performer to be funny in whatever way they want, not just the way they are generally allowed to be. Also you are completely correct about Kung Fu Panda, its clearly an action comedy (fight scenes and jokes!) and I always felt that Po's weight was never hidden much in subtext, its clearly a defining part of his experience of otherness and the way the world treats him. His parents are fricken birds, like, the skinniest creatures can be. I think the fact that he's voiced by Jack Black supports this reading. Ah, I never say this much in comments, great video!!

[@DeadmenInk]

Im so glad you saw what i was going for with Kung Fu Panda.

[@TheWarChief929]

Someone go let jacob know! He needs to see this!

[@Littlestraincloud]

I wanna smoke big doinks and play Starfox 64 with Jacob Wysocki.

[@DeadmenInk]

I barely even smoke and i'd still be down for that.

[@briandanger8165]

I was so disappointed McCarthy didn't show up in your numbered list, but was SO SO SO happy when you brought up Spy Movie. I ABSOLUTELY agree that this movie is so underrated and wish more people would see it. She also breaks a lot of conventions in THE BOSS... where in her love inerest is a Little Person who isn't treated as a joke for being a little person. Seriously, her filmography is taken for granted. Kudos to you for recognizing it!

[@DeadmenInk]

McCarthy was on the short list. I think one of the harder things was balancing individual importance vs. what they bring to the essay discussion or dialogue. Lindsay Hollister is much less popular, but when talking about the blessing that is Dropout as a healthy environment, it was important to show an example of someone stuck in very toxic one.

[@DebaucheryandThings]

I'm actually really glad she wasn't on the list

[@AndrewJW]

Using "we're finally landing" isn't fair. You're pavloving me.

[@DeadmenInk]

I'll admit the format ended up a bit different than I intended, but we do have the chapter markers and I'm sure at some point I'll release the chapters separately and have a just Jacob cut.

[@TheUnofficialNinja]

the summoning salt effect

[@AndrewJW]

@@DeadmenInk did you mean to comment this on my comment? Doesn't seem to be related?

[@DeadmenInk]

​@@AndrewJW Omg. I forgot that was the name of the song!!!! 😮 I feel so silly 😅

[@MyogaSama]

So I love pretty much all of the Dropout Cast, but Wysocki is as close to a spirit animal as I'm ever gonna have

[@DeadmenInk]

He truly is an icon

[@user-zl9vh2xr6b]

The Apollo 13 story seems to be a merge of two stories from her life, because Jack Black was born before Apollo 13 incident. She apparently did take some work with her to the hospital when going into labour, and she was critical to saving the astronauts in Apollo 13, but those two things did not happen at the same time.

[@halcyonacoustic7366]

It's a better story this way lol but it's good to know the real facts.

[@user-zl9vh2xr6b]

@@halcyonacoustic7366 yeah, it sounded so amazing that I had to learn more, because that is the kind of story you tell at parties just to make sure that wonderful person is remembered

[@DeadmenInk]

I'm just glad to find out it's not just me that can get it mixed up. didn't expect my sources to be incorrect lol

[@ErikaCartet]

yeah, it's an easy fact check if you look at the dates - since jack black was born 1969 and apollo 13 was 1970. she was still said to be working when she went into labor with him - from her other son's memorial tribute: "She actually went to her office on the day that Jack was born. When it was time to go to the hospital, she took with her a computer printout of the problem she was working on. Later that day, she called her boss and told him that she had solved the problem. And . . . oh, yes, the baby was born, too." her wikipedia paraphrases this as "she was troubleshooting problems with schematics on the day she went into labor" even though it doesn't specify that it was schematics in the tribute (maybe it's a given since she was an engineer so the problem would necessarily be related to schematics she was working on?), so maybe that got extrapolated further by people as "she was working on schematics for the ags in the apollo lunar module" but there definitely wouldn't have been the high stakes context of the apollo 15 mission actually being in progress and her making the choice to work while in labor being critical in the moment to getting the astronauts home also didn't see anything about her stating that giving birth to jack was the "greatest accomplishment of her personal life," but it would be pretty funny if she did say that about him specifically after already having two sons and a daughter haha

[@erincraig11]

What a great video on a great actor! The more I see of Jacob on Dropout the more he becomes one of my absolute favourite performers. Thanks so much for this deep examination - jeez Brennan sometimes you GOTTA examine it!!!!

[@DeadmenInk]

making that into a running gag was so much fun!

[@archerrosetv9940]

28:06 “If I had a nickel for every time a director cast themselves as Hitler - I’d have two nickels which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice.”

[@DeadmenInk]

well, you may actually have 3. you have taika waititi in JoJo Rabbit and then Charlie Chaplin in The Great Dictator. although to be fair, Chaplin's was slightly more separated, despite being made when Hitler was still alive.

[@Siennarchist]

​@@DeadmenInk I would argue "Dictator who isn't explicitly Hitler but definitely is Hitler" is less removed than "Unicorn-eating imaginary friend Hitler"

[@hayliejoy2053]

I started watching this as a huge fan of Jacob and half way through I’m crying I love this style of video and how you touch on important topics in a way that makes you see the many different driving forces of a lot of this topic and of Hollywood and it’s fatphobia and discrimination for the sake of laughs. Can’t wait to finish this. Thank you KZbin for showing me this creator, this is everything I could ask for and more in a video essay. You rock dude, I love your mind so far

[@DeadmenInk]

Thank you so much for your kind words. they made my day. I hope you come to enjoy what I have in store next.

[@sillyclownlady]

Jacob is 100% my favourite cast member from Dropout. His range and improv style is so uniquely hilarious, and his contributions to episodes elevate them an insane amount. Never Stop Blowing Up has absolutely become my favourite Dimension 20 season, Jacob being a huge part of it. He is genuinely so talented and I adore him so much!

[@SalvationKH]

Phenomenal video on fatphobia and large body acceptance. Online, theres a lot of discourse that "Being fat is okay, STAYING fat is bad." I get the idea people are going for, but one of your biggest points is that being fat isn't who you are. People are mutlifaceted.

[@DeadmenInk]

yeah. there was soooo much I didn't have time to talk about as far as Hollywood vs. normal world representation, but I hope at least this video is a conversations starter for some.

[@sci7zo]

I always adjust that sentiment to the approach of "Being fat is okay, staying OUT of people's business is even better." Like, does being overweight suck? For me, yes. I hate it. But feeling like everyone hates me and no one takes me seriously because I ate way too much in highschool and college and im struggling to get back to where I was before that isn't going to help me. I've made my choices and I live with them. It's psychotic that people think they have any authority to judge me on this alone. But it's their loss. I will lose my weight one way or another. the ones who are rude to me will probably spend their entire life bitter. I make people laugh. I make good food for those I care about. I tell amazing stories. I brighten every room I enter. If someone can't see past my waist size to see that, then they don't deserve to have people like me in their life. It feels like so many people see fat acceptance and somehow feel it is a threat or something and it makes no sense. It just means stop bullying people for minding their business.

[@ashenrose2262]

Yeah, I eat small, healthy portions and exercise when I can but I'm fat because of the medication I'm on. I will be fat for the rest of my life because I need this medication. I'm still trying to come to grips with that as someone who, before this, had always been thin.

[@manicpixiecremegirl]

i've often said that the thing that makes jacob wysoki so special is his earnestness. hes so funny, while also being so raw...it's impossible to not want to support his dreams.

[@nickkelly1485]

I legitimately, almost cried when you started breaking down that Chris Farley Chippendales sketch I had never thought about it that way, but hearing Bob Odenkirk's words on it I never realize how much of that I internalized

[@DeadmenInk]

if you get a chance, watch Bob talk about it on the Howard Stern show. he talks about it a bit more even tempered and detailed. and while i couldn't justify the run time including it, I absolutely recommend it.

[@kpeckham1]

Pitfall!!! Jack Black in that commercial!!!!! My life's space-time gravity rippling...

[@DeadmenInk]

@@kpeckham1 ADHD is great for remembering weird random stuff like that 😂

[@ajb1884]

REALLY cool video, thank you for putting so much work into this. Clicked on the video cause I saw Jacob and got excited about somebody singing his praises (I adore him he's super cool), but stuck around for the whole video for your incredibly insightful breakdown of fatphobia in media and culture over the years - and how it has influenced and been influenced by public opinion. Really eye opening stuff, I've really enjoyed this super thoughtful video! ❤️

[@DeadmenInk]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@SeifellAlmancht]

Jacob instantly became my favourite cast memeber when he first showed up on MSN. I love, like, all the cast memebers on Dropout but Jacob and Vic are the ones i always get excited to see show up.

[@DeadmenInk]

they both absolutely bring it every time.

[@dclarkmusic]

That story about Jack Black's mother blew my mind! You couldn't make that up.

[@DeadmenInk]

full disclosure, my research sources had the timeline slightly off, but the bones of it are all 100% true.

[@emmakane6848]

I remember learning that both of his parents were Nasa scientists/engineers on Tumblr and thinking that was crazy. Learning about the fact that his birth coincided with with his mother needing to do such critical work is insane. She is a hero who deserves so much more credit and recognition.

[@huggab.6720]

This is the first time I'm seeing one of your videos and thank you algorithm for serving this because: 1. I love video essays and I am blown away by how much effort you've put into making this, walking us through the nuance and connectivity of each of the points. At one point I was thinking, "man, we are way off topic here but im just happy to be along for the ride" and then you brought it all home with very thoughtful commentary. And 2. I am fat. I've been fat for my entire life. I have dealt with fluctuating levels of self-acceptance of my size but I never let it be the forefront of my personality. It's not something I'm even conscious of most times. But, it doesn't change the fact that the discrimination, the way I have to fight to be taken seriously, it can wear on you. I wish there was a bit more discussion about gendered challenges in relation to size. Anyhow, as a new subscriber, thank you for all the work that went into this. It's good shit.

[@DeadmenInk]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video! to address the gender issue. the best way i could put it is I think that aspect is super important, and I'm glad I was able to include Lindsay Hollister's story to have some level of female representation in action movies, but the discussion of gender (primarily female in this case) in relation to fatness in entertainment would need to be it's own essay. the topic is so vast and nuanced, I honestly feared trying to abridge it down so much would be a disservice. I joke about wanting to keep this video at about an hour, but there is SO MUCH i could and wanted to include. enough i may have to make a follow up essay to get to all of it. if i do, i can safely say that topic will be addressed there.

[@huggab.6720]

@DeadmenInk oh! I think my tone may have implied I wished more of it was covered by you in this video, but I meant as a culture. That being said, I would absolutely be down to hear your thoughts on the subject and if you do end up releasing a follow-up, I'll be watching it start to finish. You did an amazing job in this video. You're right, there is so much that could be said but still you managed to condense without forgoing topics that are deep dives on their own- while also managing to consistently keep my attention on these paths that I'd personally never made the connections between. Excellent work.

[@hexonyou]

fantastic video and I appreciate the breakdown that acknowledges the wholesomeness that is Jacob Wysocki. He's very relatable balancing the big energy and hilarity with his true emotions and gratefulness at finding a home with dropout. And that resonates with me as someone who, even as a viewer, feels they also have found a home with dropout's media.

[@DeadmenInk]

thanks for your kind words

[@rozirendevous3073]

Until now, my experience with Dropout has been suggested reels and fan cams on insta. I had no knowledge of Jacob Wysocki, and I'm not even sure how KZbin suggested this to me. But now I have a new channel to sub, a comedian to watch, and a streaming service to consider. Thanks!!

[@DeadmenInk]

I honestly think you can't go wrong with their content. And I'll have even more stuff about them in future. glad to have you aboard.

[@dipperdawn]

I loved Spy, and all I ever hear about it is men telling me it was awful. I'm just happy to know someone else liked it.

[@DeadmenInk]

I legit may have to one day go back and make a video about spy... I feel like it was such a good change of pace.

[@pbandmj]

i loved the iasip transition to danny devito!! jacob truly shows so many sides of himself. i just listened to the artists on artists on artists on artists podcast from when he was guest starring, and one of his recurring jokes is that he's cast as only the fat characters (despite him being a voice actor for an animated show). something about that really made me lose it, but also kind of encapsulated what i love about him. he's able to poke fun at the issues fat people face in a way that makes them not necessarily lighthearted, but maybe easier to talk about. you're laughing with him at the absurdity of it all

[@DeadmenInk]

he's just such a fun guy to talk about

[@kingroosta]

I bet waking up to find his whole own video essay was the light of his day.

[@DeadmenInk]

i don't know if he's seen this yet. but i hope he does

[@margaretgalicia6367]

I just wanted to add Melissa McCarthy in "The Heat" 2013 for fat action main character.

[@DeadmenInk]

It's definitely on my list to check out. Spy also felt like the best shoutout in this video because of the "spy" of it all.

[@laracroft003]

I’m not super far into the video yet, only about ten minutes, but I just want to say that Jacob became my favorite Dropout cast member recently and you perfectly described why I felt that way. Thanks for putting that feeling into words! Can’t wait to finish the video : )

[@laracroft003]

Update: Just finished it! Absolutely amazing commentary, loved it all the way through. Some thoughts: - I was wondering where your face stand-in came from, especially since it didn’t look exactly like you when you had the irl face reveal part way through, but then when you started talking about how he was the main character from your comic book series and how this character faces all the things people have said to you before, I was blown away! Of course you would chose this character’s facial expressions to represent you, it all makes sense. Very cool reveal. -Your thoughts on how Dropout’s diversity allows all kinds of people and identities to shine in spite of traditional Hollywood really resonated with me, and I think you (and everyone else who loves this streaming service for that reason) should watch Chris Grace as Scarlet Johansson if you haven’t already. I won’t spoil anything, but Chris Grace also wrestled with Hollywood and identity in that Dropout Original in an amazing way. It would serve as a good chaser to this video (or potentially as a source for another video essay if you’re interested). Anyway, keep up the good work sir!

[@caffeinegg]

Damn, when I saw this essay in the morning it was at 1k views, now it's 8k at night. Proof that you cooked up a good video and I'm glad it's getting more attention

[@DeadmenInk]

I'm so happy to see it take off. By far the hardest video project I've ever done.

[@caffeinegg]

@@DeadmenInkNever stop blowing up bro

[@PrettyLittlePicture7]

Jacob Wysocki is unironically and objectively sexy. I will not be taking criticisms at this time.

[@DeadmenInk]

you will hear no disagreement here.

[@nilus2k]

Okay this settles it. Jacob should be the next James Bond

[@DeadmenInk]

i'm down

[@caroletarussa]

The "I'm just happy to be here" episode was the first one I saw him in and since then every time I see he is casted I feel happy before watching because I KNOW I'm gonna feel happy watching it, you know? He's so charming and exudes a huge nice person energy, it's impossible not to love him!

[@DeadmenInk]

quite literally impossible.

[@DavidJohnson83]

As much as I love Dropout and Jacob, That Summoning Salt intro music isn't fair. It makes me want to watch 2 hours of content about a extremely obscure topic that none of my friends or family have ever heard of. I guess I'm strapping in.

[@DeadmenInk]

I am also a fan of a ridiculous nerdy rabbit hole lol. I hope you enjoyed the video.

[@ratwizard101]

This was such an incredibly sweet & well done video. Proud of you for making videos again!

[@DeadmenInk]

thank you so much for your kind words!

[@mokithepepe2454]

one thing of note in nsbu is when greg stocks says to andy litefoot "even the best of us shit mate" that moment is so underrated but i love it so much

[@DeadmenInk]

@@mokithepepe2454 solid line for sure

[@excrubulent]

I'm just here to reminisce about my personal favourite Jacob Wysocki moment: "I was kidding! I was saying your name under my breath as a bit!" What an absolutely wild moment to have happened, and we get to witness it.

[@DeadmenInk]

it was indeed a good bit.

[@kirksabio2382]

I genuinely love Icehockey Idk what else to say, i just love jacob Icehockey

[@DeadmenInk]

what a way to run away with such a no sell prompt.

[@Jedipimpster]

An extremely hard video essay to watch. It just popped up in my feed and for once I thank the algorithm. I'm fat and have been almost my entire life. I've got ADHD. I feel this video in my heart. Thank you for producing this.

[@DeadmenInk]

I'm so glad the vid resonated with you!

[@wiggletonthewise2141]

i always thought he improvised his buzzer noises, i never knew they were refrences, thats so cool!

[@DeadmenInk]

that particular bit they were. I am not sure if they all are refferences.

[@HiImNoahMiguel]

Dude this is easily one of the best video essays I've watched this year, great stuff!

[@DeadmenInk]

you're too kind!

[@huismands]

You keep this quality up and this channel will blow up. Instant sub.

[@DeadmenInk]

Thank you so much! hope to keep it up. more fun stuff coming soon!

[@theninjab0b]

commenting so i dont forget. This is awesome! thanks for making this! im halfway though and enjoying it so much!

[@DeadmenInk]

Glad to hear you are enjoying it.

[@cv6013]

Bro, you have less than 600 subs?! This is such amazing work; the editing and writing is so much more deserving than your current sub count. My fiance got me into make some noise which introduced me to Jacob and somehow you showed up on my feed. Here’s some love!

[@EtamirTheDemiDeer]

Crazy quality for such a small channel! I subbed for the journey

[@DeadmenInk]

Thank you so much! I've been on KZbin in some form or another a long time, but only started working on it hard core with any kind of success about 2 months ago. I'm a film school grad who absolutely loves editing so that's where a lot of those skills come in. I also have written several books, most of which media analysis.

[@tiffanydurden]

i'm tangentially a dropout fan but i don't know much about them past game changers and half a season of d20. this was an absolute delight to be recommended!! jacob has always been so fucking funny to me and i'm so happy to have a deeper appreciation of him. thank you for your hard work on this!!

[@DeadmenInk]

I"m so glad you enjoyed it!

[@andy2069]

I listened to this whole thing. I had a suspicion that it was a silly take about 8 minutes in. After finishing it, like okay you can have any take you want, but there's so much more to Jake than having anything to do with his size. This all felt pointless to connect to him or his d20 character.

[@DeadmenInk]

Sorry to hear you didn't like it

[@papercutsunset]

I really, really love this video. I feel that there isn't enough of a focus on fat actors, sometimes; and, when there is, there are far too many people in the comments who just don't *get* it. You could be the most confident actor in the world and still be maligned for your body's sake. I certainly was; and, out of frustration with being typecast as a grandma, I quit everything, including improv, and focused on music. I wasn't going to go where I wasn't wanted. Which is stupid. How many brilliant actors never get their moment to shine? How many Lindsay Hollisters are there, stuck in subpar productions? How many stage actors are forced to make their own costumes when **they're playing the lead**? How many roles "for fat actors" are solely made to be comic relief-- not on merits of humor, but of their supposed undesirability? How many times have fat artists of all stripes been reduced to their weight rather than taken in the context of their work? It's cruel. It's not fair. I know I'm essayposting in your comments a little, and pausing the video to write this just after the Danny Devito chapter may be a little soon. I just think about fatness and art (in all its forms) a lot. I have a lot to say about it. I swear to god, the tiny text box I'm writing this in makes my ability to *not* over-talk (over-write?) so much worse. I have to say, though, I do also think you're right about Dropout; I ended up going back and watching Pitch Perfect (a bad idea for me. It took over my life) **just** because I knew Jacob Wysocki was in it. He has been one of my favorite cast members, by far, for a while now, and seeing him in the dome was a delight. Thank you so much for putting this together. I really, really liked listening to and watching it while I was doing Important Household Things.

[@EtamirTheDemiDeer]

For what it's worth, I love it when people essaypost in the comment section. I love getting little glimpses into the lives and thoughts of others. I'm currently making some grilled cheese and tomato soup as I scroll and watch. It's nice to live in parallel with people

[@DeadmenInk]

thank you for this response. I'm happy this video resonated with you and thank you for adding your story.

[@DeadmenInk]

well said... although now i want a grilled cheese lol

[@papercutsunset]

@@EtamirTheDemiDeer i thought of you both when my youngest brother taught our middle brother to make grilled cheese yesterday. and now im thinking about jacob wysocki again, lol. i think i'll put this on at work tomorrow if i have any non-customer-facing downtime while im making the damn pizzas.

[@baileylaverdure7927]

As a fat woman and a Dropout fan, I really appreciate this! As a Shrek fanatic, I'm subbing in hopes of a Shrek video essay Ken 👀

[@DeadmenInk]

For what it's worth, you're not the first person to unironically ask for the shrek video....so some day it may in fact happen

[@groofay]

Damn, this is my first time seeing one of your videos, and it's a perfect dissection of what makes Jacob Wysocki one of my favorite Dropout cast members. Looking forward to seeing what you do next! Also, the way my mouth fell open with the line "that baby boy...was Jack Black." To crib a Brennan-ism: Incredible.

[@DeadmenInk]

the apollo 13 bit may be my favorite joke in the whole video lol

[@bridgingthegap6705]

"Danny Devito burned the system to the fucking ground and made himself king of the ashes." Fucking. Brilliant.

[@DeadmenInk]

I do love me some fun with language lol

[@halcyonacoustic7366]

That scene with Tamika is so nice 😭

[@MeganT-pb5wo]

I fucking love jacob wysocki he is my favorite dropout cast member despite so many incredible talents up there he rly shines brightest in all his earnestness and incredible wit and timing and versatility

[@DeadmenInk]

such a superb talent

[@calcreatesthings]

I also turned 33 this year, and the relevance of that, to this video is hitting really hard in a bummer way.. R.I.P

[@DeadmenInk]

sorry to bum you out. but yeah.. that was a reality check in the gut.

[@alexalbaugh6972]

Been seeing you posting about this in the group! Glad to finally watch it

[@DeadmenInk]

I hope you enjoy it!

[@Charlie-nr6vd]

Jacob fans, please go check out Fat Kid Rules the World. It was Matthew Lillards directorial debut and Jacob stars in it. Its not exactly a comedy though, but its kind of cool to see a young Jacob's acting chops!

[@DeadmenInk]

it's on my list!

[@brittabutter]

Yesss I'm so excited to see how this turns out!

[@Alex-fi2co]

This was a great video and I hope you feel up to making more like it in the future. You really touched on what makes Dropout and, of course, Jacob special to so many of us. Thank you.

[@DeadmenInk]

Thank you for your kind words

[@finnhunter974]

So gladddd you mentioned SPY! I was going to leave a comment about it because i wanted to hear your thoughts

[@DeadmenInk]

I very much enjoyed spy. I thought that seeing playing against part in that way was so fun. admittedly a hard movie to advertise as it's humor is a lot more baked in, but I think it's surprisingly lost on people that even for women, so much athleticism can still be accomplished even at a larger size and Spy showed that off so well.

[@spoonstruck]

Dang. I loved this! I'm personally always extra excited when Jacob is in a Make Some Noise lineup, I know I'm in for a treat. As a fat person myself, I sometimes worry when I see fat people on screen that they're going to be misrepresented, typecast, made fun of, etc, and I feel hyper vigilant and critical until a property earns my trust with representation. With dropout I know that the fat performers are in a safe place, and I feel free to relax and enjoy everyone's performances, especially with Lou and Jacob who are probably the bigger performers I've seen most on there. Both exceptional talents and, dare I say it, certified hotties.

[@DeadmenInk]

glad you liked the video! Lou or Jacob, you can't go wrong.

[@zilchopincho1]

Jacob Wysocki has a video called tunnel rave on his own channel that is very heartwarming and sweet.

[@travelingemilies7820]

I hope he sees this one day and know how much of an impact he has been on us. What a talented, hilarious and beautiful person. Good job Jacob, thanks for everything

[@DeadmenInk]

I've started my campaign of getting him to notice this. we'll see if it ends up happening lol.

[@MrSendninjas]

I watched the whole thing. It was well done. I've always enjoyed how much of a team player Jacob seems to be

[@DeadmenInk]

yes absolutely that.

[@Thebrooky12]

This is a cool video. Thanks for thinking it up, making it, and sharing it with the world.

[@DeadmenInk]

and thank you so much for watching it!

[@Epocseer]

Jacob is amazing! When I saw his latest short film on his channel it showed me how creative he is

[@DeadmenInk]

he's such a true talent

[@Connie.T.]

I thought I'd give this video 5 minutes to catch the thesis then dip, but I couldn't help but spend the entire hour glued to my screen, followed by another hour buying and reading the first issue of your comic. Oh my goodness, do you write with a refreshing and novel perspective! You've got a lot of potential that I can't wait to see fulfilled. Thank you for sharing your talents with us ✌️

[@DeadmenInk]

thank you so much! there will be a video up soon ish about my writing so keep an eye out!

[@listerjne]

28:00 dude im so in. ur going on so many tangents and im so interested in all of them. love ur work

[@listerjne]

OH OKAY SO UR HANDSOME TOO HUH????

[@DeadmenInk]

questions I didn't expect to ask myself when making this: "Am I being too hard on Gwenyth Paltrow?"......no... the answer is no.

[@DeadmenInk]

oh stoppppp lol

[@listerjne]

@@DeadmenInk gwen has her weird skiing enemies and no other source of drama, u gotta talk that shit!!! her statements in the fat suit made me think of emily ratajkowski modelling in plus sized jeans for her body positivity book...... it gives "raiding an ancient temple and wearing the jewels" energy, aka Empty Brain Behaviour, its probably just as rare of an event that these models remember there are Other Sizes

[@user-zl9vh2xr6b]

Finished the video, amazing stuff. You perfectly explain Jacob's appeal.

[@DeadmenInk]

Much appreciated!

[@kimd7835]

Halfway through the essay and I just wanted to shine a light on Harvey Guillen as well, as a fat actor who as Guillermo on What We Do In The Shadows has done a ton of action work for that show and gotten to play a huge range of scenes off that part alone. (Although he's doing a lot of voicework now as well, which is where I see people who are less 'marketable' appearance-wise sometimes going.) His challenges and the perception he gets have some differences, though, since he's also brown and queer so he has to carve out a unique space for himself in those ways too.

[@DeadmenInk]

I'll add him to my list

[@hostofwords]

Love Jacob, so fun and fearless. His talk on Smartypants is something i search on the regular, and one of his short films made me cry. This is a good video, and dropout analysis vids might be a rich vein for content, and I'm here for it!

[@DeadmenInk]

Thanks for sharing!

[@deesrose6003]

Honestly pop off king, this was great and I'm here for you!

[@DeadmenInk]

thanks for the support! glad to see the video is still getting to knew people.