#i watched matt play with one of the game grumps and it was the Best

[scrawnydutchman]

The Best Friends Zaibatsu: Where are they now?

Let me take you back to a simpler time in internet content. Before reaction channels oversaturated the market. Before the vine invasion after the infamous site imploded. around the time when the algorithm was JUST changing from click based to minutes watched. The video game content block Machinima was still around, and with it, many hit series including Sanity Not Included, Sonic for Hire . . . and Two Best Friends Play.

https://www.youtube.com/c/superbestfriendsplay

Two Best Friends Play (which would later be called SUPER Best Friends Play with the addition of Woolie and Liam to the cast) was a comedy let’s play/sketch series between the duo of Matthew Kowalewski and Patrick Boivin. They were pioneers of their genre: with a format of video game playing focused more on personality and banter than whatever it was they were playing, and it was a MASSIVE success. It inspired some of the most popular Let’s Play channels currently around like Game Grumps and Funhaus. It was largely responsible for the rise in popularity for many game franchises and indie titles including Yakuza, Skullgirls, Shovel Knight and Divekick. It lifted so many other insanely popular creators up like Maximillian Dood, Super Eyepatch Wolf and Mother’s Basement. Don’t let the current subscriber count of the channel fool you: despite sadly having never reached that one million subscribers milestone, these boys’ influence could be felt everywhere in the gaming sphere one way or another.

That said, all good things must come to an end. On December 16th, 2018, the trio of Matt, Pat and Woolie announced that the channel would be discontinuing . . .because sadly, the friendship that started the channel in the beginning between Matt and Pat had dwindled with time and finally broke.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8foDBekOYM

As of the typing of this post, we are approaching the 4 year anniversary of the Best Friend’s breakup. Luckily for us, all 4 of the former members still have SOME level of presence online. Which begs the question . . . .where are they now?

Matt McMuscles (Matt)

https://www.youtube.com/c/MattMcMuscles

Matt was, in many ways, the leader of the Zaibatsu. It was his idea from the beginning to start doing Let’s Plays and it was his channel, The Sw1tcher (eventually rebranded to Super Best Friends Play) on which most of the group’s content was featured.

Since their disbandment, Matt has been focusing full time on the steady growth of his solo youtube channel as well as other projects. Matt McMuscles is his own for many media examination videos, including his new cash cow “What Happened?”, a series covering the blunderous behind the scenes production cycles of many games and movies. He has a number of other channels including Flophouse Plays where he does more Let’s Play content (occasionally being co hosted by former Best Friends member Liam) and T.K.O, a fighting game podcast featuring him and his co hosts Maximillian Dood and Justin Wong.

Looking at the impressive growth of his content over a relatively short period of time, one quickly learns that of the former Zaibatsu members, MATT was the business brain. Nothing but love for Pat and Woolie, but I think Matt’s commitment to high production value content and his effective marketing have lead to him easily being the most successful of the former Zaibatsu members. Matt recently achieved over 500,000 subscribers on his main channel! Think about that: the original best friends channel capped off at 722,000 subs after the Zaibatsu disbanded. Matt managed to achieve steady growth that now almost rivals his original claim to fame in just 4 years. He’s reached an audience that now knows him primarily for his Matt McMuscles content rather than knowing him prior from the Zaibatsu. Way to go, Matt!!!

Pat Stares At (Pat)

https://www.youtube.com/c/PatStaresAt

When the Zaibatsu was first developing, Matt originally approached Woolie to start the channel with since at the time both Matt and Pat were mutual friends of Woolie rather than friends with each other. Woolie turned down this offer, so Matt turned to Pat instead to be his comedic partner and Pat agreed. The rest is history. I honestly can’t say whether the Zaibatsu would have seen the success it has had Woolie agreed to be Matt’s comedic partner first, but It’s not hard to see why the Matt and Pat combo was so popular. Even though they aren’t on good terms anymore (and haven’t been for a while) No one can deny they had amazing chemistry together. Pat’s sardonic and sarcastic brand of humor played very well with Matt’s persona of being the upbeat and hype loving guy.

While Matt focused dominantly on his youtube content after the breakup, Pat migrated more over to Twitch Streaming games with his new wife Paige (PeachSaliva). He also moved from Montreal to British Columbia with her and now streams from there. While he doesn’t live in the same province as the rest of the Zaibatsu anymore, he DOES still regularly collab with Woolie on the podcast that is the spiritual successor to the Best Friendcast, Castle Super Beast.

While Pat may not have the same view or subscriber counts as Matt or Woolie, I don’t think anyone can deny that he is living his best life. He’s in a beautiful province, playing the games he loves for a living, supported by a very dedicated and generous fanbase, married to the absolute catch that is Peach. Plus, it’s no surprise he delved so much into personality based entertainment considering he was easily the biggest personality of them all (despite being the smallest person of them all). Wishing you more happiness Pat!

WoolieVersus (Woolie)

https://www.youtube.com/c/WoolieVersus

While Woolie initially declined Matt’s proposal to start a let’s play channel together, he WOULD inevitably join Matt and Pat as the Zaibatsu’s third member and would add even more to the already great chemistry. Woolie was the perfect middle man between Matt and Pat: able to keep up with both the hype and the sass in his own right. He also initiated what would become many staples for the Zaibatsu’s content including the best Friendcast and one of their most popular ongoing series, Friday Night Fisticuffs, a show where every friday the guys would get together to play some rounds of a kickass fighting game. Woolie may have joined a bit later, but he played an instrumental role in the identity the Zaibatsu would eventually have.

Also Fighterpedia, but . . . . who even remembers that? (Just kidding, Woolie. I remember it and love it).

These days Woolie does both a little bit of Youtube content AND a little bit of twitch streaming, as well as the Castle Super Beast podcast which he co hosts with Pat. His channel, Woolieversus, specializes in let’s plays with co hosts like Minh and Reggie, as well as ongoing series like Get Into Fighting Games (a spiritual successor to Friday Night Fisticuffs). In many ways, Woolie is the one most responsible for keeping the old Zaibatsu spirit alive past the channel’s death with series that are direct spiritual sequels to the old days. Thanks for that, Woolie, and thank you for getting ME into fighting games!

Rising Superstar Liam (Liam)

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7zkWVkHBSMGpfHVgaFqr1A

Liam was the last to become a member of the Zaibatsu when it was active and he was the first to leave the group for mental health reasons. While his time with the Zaibatsu was relatively brief in comparison to the other three, he nevertheless made a great addition to the ensemble with his optimistic outlook on game design and his occasional zingers so good it causes the whole room to erupt in laughter. As a lifelong Zaibatsu fan, I can confidently say that in my opinion, Liam’s time on the channel was the GOLDEN AGE of the Super Best Friends.

Liam doesn’t have as much of a presence online as the other three and that’s out of his own preference. He still makes some appearances on Matt’s channels to watch Nintendo streams with him or to partake in Let’s plays, which ALSO incidentally capture the old Zaibatsu spirit to an extent. From what I can tell, Liam went back to school for 3D design and game development and I say more power to him! Thanks for making some prime content with the rest of the boys while you did, Liam, and I hope your life takes you in fulfilling places.

Looking Back

I’ve been a fan of these guys for a *very* long time. Almost since the beginning. I remember being a big time Best Friends fan before Game Grumps was even a thing. I quoted these dudes non stop in high school and watched their old Machinima videos RELIGIOUSLY. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed harder than that period in my life and for that I am grateful. These guys are why I associate the Kirby theme more with them than I do ACTUAL Kirby. A few of my friendships in high school were started over BONDING over our mutual love for these guys.

So like many others, it shook me to the core when I found out that not only was the old channel discontinuing, but the duo that started it all weren’t even friends anymore. Even now it still feels SO strange to think about. But nothing lasts forever. After all, all these guys who entertained me so much are still people with their own opinions and perceptions . . .and needs. It’s not my business to know exactly what went down. All I can do is support each of them as they continue on their paths.

It’s not all bad though. In fact, knowing that things were getting pretty contentious in the latter years of the Zaibatsu, if all of them are more happy and more successful doing what they’re doing anyway than I’m all for it. That comes before anything else. It really seems like all the guys are where they want to be now and I’m much more thankful for that than I am sad that a channel I grew up on is no longer active.

Much love and good fortune to Matt, Pat, Woolie, Liam and everyone you guys’ love. You all deserve nothing but happiness and . . . thank you for all the years of making me laugh, whatever form that came in.

R.I.P to the hypest channel on Youtube. Long live Matt McMuscles, Pat Stares At, WoolieVersus and the Rising SuperStream.

[lesferatu]

Mario Kart ends friendships, Monopoly ends families

[alesieben]

Watching Matt Mercer playing Pryzm on Game Grumps is fucking hilarious but I also just feel for him. It reminds me of myself playing.

And also, "I'd like to make a saving throw against unaliving myself," is one of the best phrases to ever be uttered in human history.

[max-out-of-ten]

Arin Hanson Appreciation Post

There’s a very vocal minority in the Game Grumps community that is just... really mean to Arin. For some bullshit reasons. So here’s some Arin positivity!

Even though a lot of people dislike that Arin stopped doing animation (himself included it seems) he’s done so much for a lot of people. He easily could have just stuck with Game Grumps, making money off of just playing games for a few hours every week, but instead he made a whole fuckin company out of it. People to edit (formerly Barry and Kevin, currently Matt and Ryan of SuperMega), people to produce live action stuff (Tucker and others I do not know the names of sadly) their manager Brent, the entire team for Dream Daddy, of which he and Brent were the producers of, helping Ross with his animated series Gameoverse. What started as a silly Let’s Play channel with jokes about butts and farts has thus far become a widely expanded company that just so happens to include a silly Let’s Play channel with jokes about butts and farts (and more wiener talk I’d say, compared to when it started.)

He’s grown a lot as a comedian as well. Taking improv classes with his friends and coworkers, and applying those things into Game Grumps. He doesn’t rely on “loud = funny” tropes very often, and when he does do it, Dan playing the straight man in those scenarios makes it work pretty well.

Love it or hate it, Sequelitis is a great series, and actually helpful. The Mega Man X episode especially. Back when I was in game design, I would re-watch it before designing the beginning levels. The project director gave me a (backhanded) compliment, which was quite unlike him it seems. He told me “you know, you don’t do a lot of work, but the work you do is very good.” This was before I really learned anything ABOUT game design (I only did game design for my freshman year of college but I was in game design club) so all my knowledge was based off of Arin. His influence is also present in my favorite game of all time, Shovel Knight. The first level, Plains of Passage, teaches you everything you need to know about the game, minus the optional power-up items, without saying it. That was the biggest point Arin made in that episode. The devs said they were fans of Sequelitis as well.

I found some really unjust hate towards Arin back in early November. People viciously complaining that there was no Ghoul Grumps. While I understand the disappointment of not having a tradition, their hate was overboard, and it led Arin to make an actual apology video as if he had done something wrong, as well as promise a “Nightmare Before Christmas” week. Meanwhile, the episodes that DID go up were of Ice Hockey, and if they had watched the episodes, they’d have known it was like, the happiest Arin had ever been playing a game on Game Grumps, at least in recent times. The genuine giddiness emanating from Arin was contagious, and just seeing (hearing?) him be so happy in those episodes made me happy as well. I know it was just a vocal minority of people giving him flak about it, but it was enough to affect him negatively. The negatives stick easier than the positives, and he didn’t deserve that.

He also just seems like a genuine, caring guy doing his best and trying to be a positive force in the world. He loves his wife, his friends, his coworkers and employees, and his fans. We can’t really ask more of anyone in this world, him included. 

So big shout out to Arin “Egoraptor” Hanson, the Video Game Boy. He’s the one who wins our hearts <3

[dotzines]

Artist Spotlights!

🎤 Mel / battydog 🥁 Mic Salmon 🎷 minteakat

🎺 MITY FRESH 🎸 Mooks

Interview below the cut!

Introduce yourself

🎤 Hi, I'm Mel! I'm a character artist and graphic designer! I also write fanfiction in my spare time and despair of my three cats... My art can be found on https://twitter.com/battydog_art and https://instagram.com/battydog art ! 🥁 I'm a nonbinary digital illustrator that talks too much about dnd!! You can find me  on twitter and instagram @weirdghostparty 🎷 I love animals, my ocs, and doing fanart. I work with mostly bright colors and love filling my canvas. I am mostly a digital artist, though I do traditional sometimes I just do not post them very often. https://twitter.com/minteakat?s=09 🎺 I'm MITY I enjoy making all kinds of art in many styles. I mostly do digital art! 🎸 I've been drawing since I was 8 years old. I started out drawing Sonic the Hedgehog characters and OCs, which kinda shows in how I draw hair, I think. Nowadays I mostly draw Haikyuu!! as it's my biggest obsession. You can see more of my art @mookzymooks on twitter!

Do you do commissions post? Where can we find the info?

🎤 https://twitter.com/battydog_art/status/1200598800785522688

🥁 https://micart.carrd.co/

🎷 https://twitter.com/minteakat/status/1138199147570499584

🎸 http://mooks.carrd.co/

Do you listen to music (or tv shows/films/anything else) when drawing?

🎤 I can't do much of anything in silence, but my go to is always music! I'll listen to a song to death on repeat for hours! 🥁 I love to listen to whatever spotify throws at me - sometimes I watch horror movie podcasts while I work but sometimes I get too distracted. 🎷 I listen to music or the Game Grumps when drawing. 🎺 I have a whole playlist of music that I listen to but I mostly watch something cuz it's the only time I can. 🎸 I usually listen to one song on repeat that best fits the piece I'm working on for inspiration. But if it's a general piece I'll listen to a playlist.

What’s your favorite music artist/band? If you could ask your favorite band/music artist one question, what would it be?

🎤 My fave music artist has to be... e ve on youtube! I enjoy the art that accompanies his music a lot, and sometimes that is the only reason I come to like a song... I guess I'd ask about his inspirations for the art and characters! 🥁 It would impossible for me to choose just one but I love the Dear Hunter, Matt Maeson, The Oh Hello's, Hozier and Barns Courtney just to name a few. 🎷 I do not have a favorite band I love more than others, though a band that I have been listening to for years now is called "Set it Off". If I could ask them a question it would be, what is the inspiration behind your music? 🎺 Ohhh picking favs is hard. I few I like is nanosounds, dressy bessy, the pillows, the zombie dandies, nujabes, casiopea to name a few but I just really pick random music and random genres. 🎸 I don't have a favorite artist/band.

Do you play an instrument? If not would you like to play one? Which one?

🎤 I used to play the violin, and I have a guitar, but playing either now is another story... 🥁 I play piano! 🎷 I used to play the violin when I was younger, and a little bit of piano. 🎺 I used to play the uke and trombone at different ages 🎸 Currently I play piano. In the past I've played violin, guitar, and drums. I can also sing.

Which song(s) are you going to draw?

🎤 Fabulous by Jaheim! 🥁 Interlude: I'm Not Angry anymore by Paramore / Like a Staring Contest by The Future Kings of Nowhere 🎷 "Wind in my Hair" from the Disney Tangled Series. 🎺 Bust a move by Young MC. 🎸 Hurting For A Very Hurtful Pain - EZFG

What do you expect from this zine?

🎤 A lot of fun and maybe some new friends! 🥁 Amazing art, great artists and just a good ol' time. 🎷 Just for everyone to make work they can be proud of. 🎺 I'm not sure and that what makes it wonderful cuz it could be anything! 🎸 I'm excited to see everyone's wonderful works and all the different songs they're doing works for and how they're interpreting them into art!

Anything else you want to add?

🎤 Frogs are great! 🎷 I look forward to everyone's finished pieces. 🎺 I hope everyone is having a nice day and enjoy the zine when it comes out. The person who makes these is really cool and put lots of effort in these zines!

[monokuroo]

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Or at least post-Valentine in my part of the world. I hoped you have a wonderful date with your significant other.

But if you’re like me who’d rather hang out with my 2D husbandos (yes I have a sad layf lol), then let the eligible dads of Dream Daddy be your date!

If you tell me 2 years ago that I’m going to play and love Dream Daddy, I would probably laugh my ass off.

Released in 2017 by Game Grumps, Dream Daddy is a dating sim where you can customize your ‘dadsona’ and as the name suggests, you can date different kinds of dads. There are 7 dads in total but let’s start by making the dadsona who will date these dads.

At the start of the game, you’d be prompted to customize a dad to your liking. Think of it as the simplified version of the Create-A-Sim menu in The Sims.

So here’s my dadsona, Bae Summers.

Isn’t he good-looking? I loved that egg nipz shirt! hehe

Once you meet all the dads, it’s time to date! You have to message them on the game’s version of Facebook, the Dadbook. Each dad has 3 dates that need to be passed. Aim for S or A rank to ensure a good ending.

Or, if you’re like me, you can turn to guides such as these https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1085165969 and https://allgamers.com/article/2932/dream-daddy—guide-to-unlocking-all-dad-endings.

You’ve done all the things above and now you’re ready to push that message button. So the next question would be…

Who is your Dream Daddy?

You’ll see mine at the end. 😉

Craig Cahn

The main reason I got this game! After watching Kelsey from this video I had the urge to get his end!

MC’s college buddy and partner-in-crime. But when they meet again, Craig is already a responsible father of three.

Wait, there’s more.

He’s also a businessman, running a sports business. Also, he’s a health junkie. He trains every day, jogging around the neighborhood with his baby strapped on his body. To top it all, he coaches his twins’ softball team. Such a busybody.

Bae: My ultimate sexual fantasy is you. 😏😏😏

Craig’s ending, his route, heck even his kids did not disappoint! I would play his route again and again just to see his daughter River. She’s, like, the cutest kid in this game!

Seriously, though, I’m shipping MC with Craig because their bond is something. I love the whole bromance to more-than-bros going on. The confession scene at the end is sweet and cute. Too bad the game’s pretty short. I would have liked to see more of these two.

That third date, though. 🤩

Another reason to love Craig’s route is that, unlike the other dads, he has none of those minigames. So you can just safely play through this route without worries of a failed date.

(There’s a mini-game where Craig invites you to do the treadmill. But in my game, it didn’t appear on his route. Rather, he invites you when you are in another dad’s route.)

Mat Sella

Mat is the owner of the coffee shop in the neighborhood. He loves music, coffee, and his daughter Carmensita.

After ogling at Craig, I’m not sure I’d like Mat. But there’s a certain charm to his awkward personality. Like how he looks flustered when meeting people, which, at first glance, is totally unlike him.

Bae is so thirsty I kennot. 😂

But Matt’s really sweet and thoughtful to everyone. Contrary to his belief that he doesn’t like crowds, he’s rather good at taking care of people. It’s nice to see him complimenting MC’s personality. Together, they look like cute awkward teens and that’s…adorable.

The last date and the scenes leading up to the ending are so sweet. I loved how they get so flirty with each other. Mat is just giggling and flirting with the MC. That’s the happiest I’ve seen him in the game.

Brian Harding

Brian is MC’s rival dad. From the first time Brian and MC meet, this dad keeps on one-upping our MC. So for the rest of the route, they work through their rivalry thing.

Hence, this route contains the most nerve-wracking minigames! Brian invites the MC in different activities such as playing golf and fishing. And since, MC is competitive as ever, you as the player have to win them all!

So if you’re planning to get all of Steam’s achievements, I can only wish you luck. I admire you for having the patience I can never have. Because you’ll need a lot of it to finish Brian’s minigames, especially the golf part.

As for Brian and MC as a couple, I find it hard to see any chemistry between them because of their constant rivalry. But once I realized what Brian is doing, I found it cute. It’s nice to see them sort out their differences in the end.

Also, his daughter, Daisy, is a bit of an uptight at first. She keeps on correcting Amanda’s jokes which had me rolling my eyes a lot of times. But Amanda’s really chill so she teaches Daisy to be a bit more laid-back. Then, the two of them makes an adorable pair of siblings.

Robert Small

Robert looks wild and gruff, someone giving off a dangerous vibe.

MC’s first encounter with him is when he and Amanda visit Mat’s coffee shop. There, Robert checks out MC, staring darkly from the corners of the shop. I admit, he gives off a creepy vibe on that scene.

If MC decides to go out at night, he’ll go to a pub where he’ll be properly introduced to Robert.

Anyway, the other characters call Robert as an enigma. He’s such a mystery to everyone due to the cryptic way he speaks. You can never EVER get a straight answer from him. I can’t help but roll my eyes every time he speaks like that…

One of those rare moments that get him to speak what he really thinks.

…I guess I really am no good with people like him because it feels like he’s belittling other people with the way he speaks.

Surprisingly, I loved the ending. Robert did have some baggage. But I think he has the most realistic ending. I appreciated his no kiss-and-tell personality because at least he’s really clear with what he wanted in his relationship with MC.

Another surprising part of this route is Mary. It is already weird to have her hitting on MC on his first night in the neighborhood. Being friends with Robert, she is not someone to be messed with.

But Mary’s actually a really good friend. She doesn’t look like it, but she cares for Robert. And I appreciate her for that.

Damien Bloodmarch

When I watch Let’s Plays of the game, whenever players meet Damien, they’ll all have the same reaction — “Vampire Dad? No way!” But whenever I scrolled through the comments, everyone says that Damien is just misunderstood.

Those mixed reactions are really intriguing.

Damien dresses and acts like a Goth and has a love for the Victorian Era. Because of this, he gives off a standoff-ish vibe.

Damien is a sweet and romantic guy. Underneath his classy look lies a cute cinnamon roll. He proves that you can’t judge a book by its cover.  His route is like watching a slow and old-school romance unfold. Like, how he prefers handwritten letters (with seals!) over Dadbook messaging.

And I loved how everyone could tell that they’re sooo in love with each other to the point of teasing them. I even love the part where Amanda saw them kissing in front of their door because that’s like a reversal of their position as dad and daughter.

Also, he’s a fudanshi. 😏

  He has a collection of SasuNaru fic? 😏

Hugo Vega

Hugo is Amanda’s teacher. Being a person of authority, he’s pretty uptight.

Hugo is, well, nerdy. Other than teaching middle and high schoolers, he writes scholarly stuff and he’s very knowledgable with high brow lit.

He’s knowledgable. Period.

But he has another hobby: wrestling. He’s got a room of wrestling things. And it goes without saying that he knows a lot about it, a huge fanboy. That and those teach-me-wrestling-moves had me 😏.

Thing is, I enjoyed Hugo and his son, Ernest moments more in Damien’s route. Unlike Damien’s son, Ernest didn’t really show his appreciation for Hugo in his dad’s route. Meanwhile, in Damien’s, due to certain events, the relationship between Hugo and Ernest have a big leap. They have a more familial atmosphere around them in the end.

Or maybe, Ernest is busy on other things…

Joseph Christiansen

I have mixed feelings about this dad.

Joseph freaking Christiansen is a youth minister at the church. He’s the husband of Mary and father to the freakishly looking kids, Chris, Christian, Christie, and Chrish.

My initial reaction when I meet him and his family: YOU’RE TELLING ME YOU CAN DATE HIM!?

Just look at their names. I feel like I’m committing a sin.

Also, he spends most of his route being extra sticky to MC, like being sweet and clingy. I could definitely picture him staring longingly to MC, giving off mixed signals.

It’s uncomfortable knowing Joseph is married to Mary. She’s not the nicest neighbor. But after playing Robert and Damien’s routes where she is a good friend, she’s grown on me.

AND NOW I’M SNATCHING HER HUSBAND.

You’re being such a good friend MC. 🙄

So other than the names and his wife’s existence, Joseph intrigues me in the previous routes. During Amanda’s graduation party where MC talks to each character, Joseph asks MC to hang out with him anytime he’s free. He’s not telling MC that in a casual way. It’s more of like this:

… which is like silently pleading MC to notice him.

When MC did, he so brilliantly dumped him.

Which brings me to another reason why this route brings me discomfort.

Joseph’s best end is in the opposite direction with the other dads. After flirting around, he’d tell you that he’ll go back to his wife. And that’s perfectly okay. That’s a good thing, mending a broken family.

But it feels like MC is subjected to a needless embarrassment and rejection for someone who’s only stringing him along. He’s just a rebound, a one-night stand.

I couldn’t help but compare Joseph with Robert, because of their internal issues and how they treat MC. Thanks to this, I ended up liking Robert more, mainly because he’s very clear with what he wants and puts a distance from MC as he fixes his life.

Now I kind of regretting leaving Joseph for last since it taints a charming game. It’s like Joseph lives in a different world, far from the sweet worlds of the other dads.

===

So to answer my question above:

Craig is the love of my life in this game. Though I loved everyone, in all fairness. I just especially loved him. Even MC agrees,

For my favorite in the game – Craig > Damien = Mat > Robert = Hugo > Brian > Joseph. Or it can actually be Craig = Damien = Mat = Robert = Hugo >Brian >>> Joseph.

Everyone is farrrr better than Joseph. lol

So who’s likely to be your date among the dads of Dream Daddy?

As of this writing, Steam is having its Daily Deals and Dream Daddy is included. Snag this game over there and have a fun post-Vday celebration!

Next post will be my one and only reason to play Dream Daddy.

The Eligible Dads of Dream Daddy #dreamdaddy Happy Valentine's Day! Or at least post-Valentine in my part of the world. I hoped you have a wonderful date with your significant other.

[gamegrumpiess]

Sleepwalk

I was listening to Sleepwalk by Renee Olstead, and I had this idea.

Grump: Danny (from now on, most will be Danny. Unless you request someone else, which I will be happy to do!)

Btw! I'm this plot, Renee didn't write the lyrics. You did! She isn't even a singer in this universe. Just a heads up.

-

Y/n's POV

I can't sleep tonight. It's been a month since me and Danny broke up, but I can't help but still mourn our relationship. It was mutual, at least that's what he thinks. I would've never called it off. I was so in love with him. I still am. We told the fans, and they were pretty supportive in what we did. A lot of them were really sad, as was I. Danny is a singer just like me. I do silly songs just like him. But he encouraged me to do a cover album or a cover song. I did one album, Cover Me Up was the name. It got a lot of love, which I am very proud of.

I turn on my phone to check the time. 4:23 am. The bold numbers shine at me in front of Danny's face. I couldn't bring it to myself to change my screensaver. It's not like anyone's gonna see. I miss him a lot, every night gets harder than the last. He was my world. I've known him since senior year of high school, he was a huge part of my life. And now... That's no more. He's probably living his best life. Being Danny Sexbang and all. He probably has girls flying at his feet, throwing him their panties and offering 'the night of his life'. I understand I might be over thinking, but I can't help it. He was mine, and now he's out there doing who knows what. I let a few stray tears fall down ontou pillow. It's so lonely here at night now. I love what I do, singing, dancing, having fun. It was just so much more amazing when I had someone to share it with.

I lay my head back a stare at the ceiling. I need to distract myself, so I reach for my headphones and plug them in, looking for my Oldies playlist. I click on it and the song that comes on is Sleepwalk by Santo and Johnny. Listening to the slow beat and light guitar, I cry even more. Just my luck, huh? I can't just lay here, I really should get up and something. Writing usually helps me calm down. That's when I get an idea for a song, it's a bit sad and people will know exactly who its about. But maybe that's what needs to happen. My feelings should be out there. And if something goes wrong, I'll accept the outcomes.

I pull up my pen and notebook and just start writing.

"Sleepwalk, instead of dreamin' I

Sleepwalk.

Cause' I lost you and now, what am I to do?

Can't believe that we're through.

Sleep talk. Cause' I miss you, I sleep talk.

While the memories of you wither like a soul.

Darling I was so low.

The night fills me with blame. I see your face, tears through my brain.

I know I miss you so. I still love you, drives me insane.

Sleepwalk. Every night I just sleepwalk. Please come back, and when you walk inside the door, I will sleepwalk no more."

I immediately went to my computer set up and staring out my own little version of Sleepwalk. More of like a piano and violin cover, rather than guitar and drum. Once I had it to where I wanted the beat and rhythm, I pulled up my microphone and started singing away.

Danny's POV

This morning was the worst. I couldn't sleep at all, I've been up since 3:30 am. I guess I haven't really gotten used to sleeping by myself. Without y/n's body near mine, it's hard to even get tired. I do miss her. A lot actually. I know it was my idea to call off the relationship, but I was scared of what would happen if I didn't have enough time for her. I have game grumps, starbomb, and ninja sex party. She deserves someone who has all the time in the world to give her all the attention she deserves. When we told the fans, I didn't expect them to be so sad. I even lost a handful of fans because of it. She agreed, but I knew her better. She was on the verge of tears when she left. She was trying to be strong so I wouldn't see that side of her, but I know better than that. When she left I broke down. Gripped and clawed at my hair, cried on the edge of the bed, wondering if I had made the right choice. I big-huge part of me was telling myself I didn't.

My phone buzzes, and I see its a text from Arin.

When you get here I need to show you something.

Oh what fresh hell does he have to subject my eyes to. Last time he said that, I had to watch 12 Days Of Elves... Don't ask.

I finally arrived at the Grump Space. I see everyone in their usual area. Ryan and Matt at the computers, Ross and Barry in the kitchen making coffee, and the only other people here this early is Arin and me. Everyone else usually is a little late. "Thank god you're finally here. You haven't felt your phone buzzing?" I give him a confused look. "Other than you texting me, no. You know I have notifications turned off for my social media. What's going on?" He turns on the computer in front of us. "You should hear this before anything. I promise you, it's important." I roll my eyes. "This better not be some stupid shit, Arin!" I say with a light laugh. He shook his head, and I knew from the look in his eyes that this was in fact important.

Once the computer was fully on, he went to YouTube. Looking up y/n's name, I felt my stomach turn. Did she have a new boyfriend? Was she sick? Did she die?! I understand that last one is a bit of a long shot, but I tend to over think a lot.

A video was uploaded at 7:00 am this morning? "' sleepwalk? ' isn't that an old song?" I say confused. But I'm not all that surprised. She always did love the oldies. He nods his head. "She added her own lyrics and tune to it. And I think you should hear it." I nodded and put on some earphones, pushing play on the video. Her voices comes on, and it feels so amazing to hear her voice again. Even if it is just an intro in a YouTube video.

"Hello everyone. I had this idea for a song at like 3 in the morning. I couldn't sleep, so I made this. I hope you like it..."

The video fades to black and then it shows her at her little office space she has in her room. The music starts up, and at this point I notice her eyes. They're a little red and slightly puffy. She did a good job covering it up, but I've known her since senior year. She can't hide that from me.

She sings softly yet with so much passion and emotion. The lyrics sink in, and I know why Arin wanted to hear this. Its about me. I scroll down to look at the description and comments, and they all say things along the lines of 'I fucken sad now.' 'Wow, Danny really did a number on her' 'DANNY YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS SHIT!' 'This makes me so sad because she literally couldn't sleep thinking about him... Danny get your girl back!' 'Damn that made me tear up... '

After the video ended, I look at my phone. Y/n's face still smiles at me from behind the screen. I didn't want to change it, I couldn't do it. I felt several tears hit my leg, I didn't even realize i was crying. "Hey Dan, are you okay?" Arin puts his hand on my shoulder comfortingly. "No... I'm not at all." I open up Twitter and see thousands of notifications to nsp and game grumps. All of which telling me to see what I just saw. I stood up slowly, feeling a little disappointed in myself. How could I let her walk out of my life so easily...?

Y/n's POV

After I posted the video, I decided I should really try to get some sleep. Especially since thousands of people will blow up my phone later on. Once in bed again, I tried to think of all the possibilities and outcomes of this. It could either go really well, or go really horribly bad. I guess we'll just have to see.

I wake up several hours later to my phone ringing. The sky is still a little bright to I assume it's not that late. 'Suzy <3' shines up at me. I smile, me and her always stayed quite close. "Hello?" I try to run the sleep out of my eyes. "Hey, are feeling okay? I heard your song, and I know it's about Dan. How are you, hun?"

It means a lot that she's not just calling about GET HIM BACK! She just wants to know if I'm okay. "Honestly? I feel so empty. Luckily today is just a lazy day so I don't have to adult today. But still.... I feel lost." I hear her sigh, "I know, y/n. It sucks. But you have me! And I'm way better than Danny!" She says jokingly. "Damn right you are! I'll call you a bit later when I'm more awake, okay?" We say our goodbyes and I sit up more in bed. I take a quick look at my notification bar and just as I expected, its blowin up. 'When will I stop being a pussy?' My thoughts we're interrupted by several rings of my doorbell.

Without looking through the peephole I open the door, only to see a certain curly haired man standing on my doorstep. "Danny? What are you doing here?" His eyes are glazed over and puffy as if he had just finished crying. He looked down. "I.... I heard your song. Was it... Was it about me? I'm sorry, I just need to know. I couldn't focus at all today during work. And on my way home, I just couldn't take it anymore. I have to know." My anxiety goes up a long shot. My eyes looking at everyone but him. "Y/n... I need to know." I slowly nod my head, still avoiding his eyes. "May I come in? I think we should talk.." I scoot to the side to let him in. "I'm sorry if I caused a lot of drama. I just thought... It would be better if I just made it into a song rather than.. Just telling you." I confessed. He grabbed my shoulders. "Don't be sorry, y/n. When we broke up, and you left. I broke down. I couldn't handle the fact that I just let you go.. I'm sorry."

"Then why did you do it? Why wait so fucking long to come to my house?! Why hurt me this bad, leaving me all alone when all I wanted was you! I hated knowing that YOU let me just walk out. And you looked like you... Like you didn't even give a shit..." I couldn't help it. I let all my emotions explode on him. "Why do you think I did?! Y/n, you deserve someone who has the time for you, who will give you all the attention in the world. Someone who will GIVE you the world! I want nothing more than to have you back again, but you don't deserve someone like me! I love with all my soul, hell, I'd give up everything for your dumbass! I didn't say anything till now because I thought you'd be mad, and I thought you'd moved on, hated me even!" He was standing pretty close to me by now. "Well no shit I'd be mad! You think I don't deserve you? Bullshit! You've already given me the world and more! Don't think that I don't understand about your job because I do the same fucking thing!!! I know it's hard, but I was willing to work even harder because I love you more than life itself! I deserve you just like you deserve me!" He rolled his eyes. "You're fucking gorgeous! You can have any man you want! What the hell is so special about me?" I got in his face once again, "because you are so much better than any other man I've met! We've known each other for YEARS and you think I'd just give all that up?! What kinda drugs are you on, Dan? Do you think I'm that fucken dumb? I haven't slept in weeks because it feels so horrible not having you next to me. That's some bullshit to say that I can have any man I want. I want YOU, dipshit!" I couldn't help it, I fell to my knees, shaking from trying to hold back tears. How he say that I didn't deserve him? He was my world, he still is my world. Nothing will change that.

He walks to me, and sits on the floor with me. I feel his arms wrap around me, and I lean into his chest. "I'm sorry.. I loved you more than anything. I still do. Can you please give me another chance..? Now, I won't ever think you don't deserve me. I won't think anything like that. You mean the world to me, y/n. Please don't forget that." I look up at him, seeing his eyes filled with new tears. "Well duh, how can i say no to this face?" I grab his cheeks and smush them together and laugh. "I love you too, Danny." He smiled and leaned in and gave me a much needed kiss.

[classic-rock-roller]

1. You’re in the Game Grumps studio and Bonham and Danny are singing a song together while you and Arin are reviewing the power hour in post. At one point Danny takes it up a few notes to try to harmonize. It sounds nice for a second, but then it sounds terrible. “Dammit Dan, I lost the note cause you tried to harmonize.” How does he respond and what do you and Arin say?

Dan: you should have kept it. Stick your finger in your ear. 

Arin: It sounded good for a second. 

Me: I can’t harmonize for shit. 

2. You’re in the car with Bonham and Arin and Danny on your way to get lunch. When you get to where you’re going, Bonham tries to get out of the back of the car, but her foot gets stuck between the seat and the door, and she falls out of the car and lands on her side. The three of you just watched it happen, but she springs up immediately, “That was fun, let’s go.” How do the three of you respond?

Me: Are you ok?

Dan: You’re something else.

Arin: Let’s not so that again 

3. You and Danny are talking in the Game Grumps studio one day, and Arin and Bonham are nowhere to be found. You’re having a nice time. Ross comes up to you at one point and says, “You guys should come see this, it’s crazy.” You and Danny follow him, and find Arin and Bonham taste testing weird shit that Matt and Ryan (Supermega, fellow Game Grumps) are mixing. How’s it going when you arrive? What are Matt and Ryan giving them? What do they all say when you and Danny arrive?

They’re gagging and Matt and Ryan are making different cocktails out of things like escargot, caviar, and calamari. They look at us and Matt and Ryan are like, “Wanna join?” While Bons and Arin scream, “DON’T!” 

4. You and your band are finally finished with a late night concert and meet and greet. Danny, Arin, Suzy, and Ross were there, and when you see them, Ross says, “Geez guys, you look like hell.” “Yeah, you look like something they serve at 2:30 in the morning at IHOP.” Danny says after hugging Bonham. How do you and Bonham respond, and what do the Grumps say in response?

He goes to hug me and after I’ve been hugging him for a bit he goes to move when Kevin goes, “Don’t move. She fell asleep.” 

Danny: Jesus she must have been tired. 

Suzy: Aww, she looks so sweet sleeping on your shoulder. 

Arin: Besides the fact that she’s drooling a bit. 

Bons: We’re all exhausted. She usually passes out on the tour bus about this time. 

5. Bonham is doing Danny’s makeup for the NSP one-night-only performance on a talk show. They’re in the room next to yours and at one point you hear her yell, “Dammit, just fucking hold still!” You go see what’s happening, and Danny is having none of the makeup thing. “It’s tickling my face!” How do they respond to you coming in, and does he ever get his makeup on?

Danny looks over to me and goes, “How can you do this on a daily basis for your concerts? Jesus.” 

Bons: Stop looking over at BabyCarrot and look at me.

He finally does get his makeup on. 

6. You’re eating lunch with the Grumps and Bonham one day, and out of nowhere Danny says, “Want to see a dumb trick?” “Sure,” Bonham says. He then proceeds to put a small piece of bread in his mouth, spit it into the air, and catch it in his mouth. “Ta da,” he says through his full mouth. How do you, Bonham, and Arin respond?

Me: You're a human canon!

Bons: That’s awesome!

Arin: No it’s not it’s gross. 

7. Danny is speculating on ideas for the next NSP album and he says, “It would be neat to use a melodica, but we don’t have one.” Instantly, Bonham says, “I have one.” Instead of gratitude, his initial response is, “Why do you have a melodica?” “If you need weird instruments, I’m your guy.” How do you and Danny respond?

Me: Where do you think we get all those awesome instruments for our albums?  

Danny: Awesome! I may have to hit you up for some. 

8. Bonham is in the studio working on her solo cover album, and one day you and Danny and Arin decide to surprise her by bringing her lunch. When you get there, you find her lying on the floor with her eyes closed and The Last Unicorn playing and she’s singing along. The song ends and she still hasn’t noticed that you’re there. Danny says, “You were singing my song.” She jumps a little and says, “When did you guys get here?” How do the three of you respond?

Me: We brought you lunch. We’ve been here for a majority of the song. 

Danny: You like it that much?

Arin: Why are you on the floor? 

9. You’re eating lunch with Bonham and Arin and Danny, and at one point Danny asks, “Hey Bonham, have you ever been in bed with somebody and called them the wrong name?” She’s taken off guard, and says, “Wha–no? How would that even work? Just like, ‘unh, Batman, take me…’ What even, man?” This for some reason makes him laugh uncontrollably. How do you and Arin respond and what does Danny say when he’s done laughing?

Me: I almost called Kevin Nikki once but caught myself before I did. 

Arin: How did that go over?

Danny: Batman? Seriously that’s the best name you could have used as an example. 

10. Danny and Arin discovered your band’s song “through the ages”, where each member of your band was dressed as a different stage of life (Sean was the baby, Bonham was the kid, Linus was the teenager, you were the adult, and Erik was the old man. I can’t find it looking back but I think you know the one). They’re admiring the different looks, but in the scene when Bonham and Sean are playing they start losing their shit. “What’s so funny?” you ask. Arin says, “She pretends to be so fuckin serious all the time but then this…” He trails off laughing and Dan says, “The emotions I feel inside from the cuteness is unbearable.” How do you respond, and what does Bonham say?

Me: Yep, Bons is a big cutie-pie. She’s always been since we first met and I love her for it. 

Bons: I AM NOT! I am serious and I can punch you if you wrong me. 

I come up behind her and hug her from behind, “You’re a Cutie-Pie!” Danny runs up and hugs her screaming, “Cuddle puddle!!” and then Arin joins in. 

11. Arin learned that Bonham likes guitar hero so he and Dan come to you two one day and suggests that you and her join them on guest grumps to play it. “We’re all musicians so it’ll be fun.” How do the two of you respond, and do you do it? If you do, how does it go?

Me: We can but be prepared to have your asses beat. 

Bons: Hell yeah! 

It goes well and of course Bonham beats all our asses. 

____________________

1) Your singer never hugs anyone unless he is really close to them or really likes them. One day, while you’re about to start a Power Hour, she comes up and hugs Danny from behind, “Hi, Danny.” Arin goes, “What the fuck? Where’s my hug?” Your singer looks under Danny’s arm (because he’s nine inches taller than her), “You don’t deserve a hug yet, Arin. Danny is just very huggable, kind of like Kevin.” How do you, Dan, and Arin respond?

2) You’re working on your album with NSP and your singer really wants to cover Same Old Situation by Mötley Crüe. You’re discussing it with Danny and your band members when Sean pipes up, “What is that song about anyway? I never got it.” How do you, your singer, Danny, Linus, and Erik respond?

3) Nikki and Tommy thought it’d be a great idea to have you and your singer dance as some of the strippers in Crüe’s music video for Girls Girls Girls. While filming parts, Vince or Tommy would either wolf whistle at you and your singer or scream, “Look like you’re having fun up there, dammit!” One time, your singer screams back, “I’m not a fucking stripper. I’d rather be the one placing the dollar bills in the girls’ panties.” How do you, Tommy, Nikki, Vince, and Mick respond?

4) Your singer made you swear to never tell Kevin that she dated Nikki before she dated him. One day, Kevin comes to you with a box and slams it down on the table so hard it makes you jump, “What’s this?” He slides it over to you and you open it to find...compromising pictures of Nikki and your singer when they were drunk on a tour before she met Kevin. How do you respond and what happens once your singer gets home? 

5) Your band has just started and you need to find stage outfits. One day, your band, Randy, Rudy, and Kevin are in the studio when you hear Sean ask, “What the fuck are you wearing?” And you turn around to see your singer in leather pants, thigh-high heeled leather boots, a long leather trench coat, a layered shirt and a black top hat on top of a black wig. “What? I wanted to experiment. Although on the walk here I got quite the looks.” Sean replies, “Yeah, because you look stupid.” How do you, Erik, Linus, Randy, Rudy, and Kevin respond?

6) You, your singer, Kevin, Rudy, and Nikki are all drinking at your singer and Kevin’s house. Dan and Arin are there too but are not drinking. Your singer gets really quiet and goes and stands out on the balcony. This would not be odd except its only 15 out and your singer doesn’t have a jacket. Soon the rest of you come out. You’re the first one to your singer and she goes to you, “What do you think would happen if something happened to me? Would anyone care?” she looks back over the balcony, “At least the criticism would stop.” How do you, Kevin, Rudy, Nikki, Danny, and Arin respond?

7) Your singer is still with Kevin onstage after she kissed him. And Rudy, Carlos, and Frankie are getting annoyed. The crowd keeps screaming, “Kiss your wife again!” And your singer won’t leave the stage. What do you do to get her off the stage?

8) You and Rudy are Mal, Eddie, and Roxanne’s godparents. One day, your singer pulls you and Rudy aside while the kids are playing and goes, “God forbid, if anything happens to Kevin and I. You’ll take care of our babies, right?” You can see the worry and fear behind her eyes as she goes from looking at you to looking at the three of them. How do you and Rudy respond?

9)  Your singer takes you, Rudy, and Kevin with her to her parents’ house to take care of their chicken while they’re on vacation. You, Rudy, and Kevin are upstairs watering the plants when you hear the door open and your singer scream, “No, Hei Hei!” The three of you turn around to see the chicken running up the stairs and your singer chasing after it, “Get back here you fucking chicken!” How do you, Rudy, and Kevin respond? Do you help her catch the chicken?

10) Sean is still being an ass to your singer while in the studio. She’s exhausted from taking care of her kids and one time, she just bursts into tears, “I can’t take this. I’m exhausted. I need sleep but we have to finish this. And Kevin is so great and he takes care of our kids but he’s so busy at work right now and I just...” How do you, Erik, Linus, and Sean respond?

11) You, Kevin, your singer, and your singer’s sister are all sitting on your singer and Kevin’s couch. Your singer is reading and the three of you are watching a movie. At one point, your singer’s sister looks at her and goes, “Can you stop breathing? It’s annoying.” Your singer closes her book and goes, “I’ll just go in my room since my very presence seems to piss you off when you’re already in a piss ass mood.” “Why don’t you disappear? It’ll make my life a hell of a lot easier.” Your singer leaves the room. What do you and Kevin say to her sister?

12) You’re on tour with War Angel and Rudy, Kevin, and Dan and Arin are with you. One day, you’re looking for your singer and Danny comes out to you, Arin, and Kevin and goes, “You have to see this.” He takes you to the back of the bus where you find Rudy and your singer cuddled together sleeping with your singer’s face in Rudy’s neck. How do you, Arin, and Kevin respond and what do your singer and Rudy say when they wake up?

@osbournebemydaddy your turn Bons :)

[drabbles-and-shit]

The Worst EgoBang Fic You’ve Ever Read

Once upon a time, not too long ago, there lived a funny man and a thin Jew with a fro...

“Aack! Dan!!” Arin threw his pillow across the floor in a fit of something akin to rage and romped his way over to his partner and friend, Daniel Avidan.

“What is it, Arin? Did you have a flashback Battle Kid? Or the Companion Spring? Or Sonic Boom? Or--”

“Nononononono,” Arin hastily interrupted. “I just realized that since Suzy is out of town doing something with her sister, I don’t have anyone to kiss when the ball drops tonight!”

Every year since he was born at age six, Arin had kissed someone as the new year turned, but this year it seemed he’d just be alone. He felt the tears rushing to his eyes, knowing full well that even Suzy could kiss her sister, but he had no one. Oh god, he was so alone!

“Hey big cat, it’s okay. We’ll figure something out!” Dan smiled warmly and put an arm around Arin’s shoulder’s. “Let’s find you someone to kiss!”

They searched all around for someone to kiss, but Arin’s mouth was gross and so were his lips

“I don’t know, Dan…” Arin looked very discouraged as they walked to Ross’ office.

“Don’t worry about it, bud!” Dan returned with a grin. “Ross is a good guy, even if he is an evil fucking sadist. C’mon!” He knocked on the door and waited for a second before walking in.

Ross was sitting at his desk, drawing or something. He looked up when they walked in, and Arin could see from where they stood that he had a milk mustache from probably about a week ago.

“Uhhhh, Danny,” Arin whispered. “Ross is nasty; I don’t want to kiss him.”

Dan just rolled his eyes and started to talk. He told Ross Arin’s predicament and waited as the Australian considered the proposal.

At last, Ross looked to Arin and said, “Look mate, I’m sorry, but I have to kiss Holly as the ball drops! And then we’re going to fry some shrimps on the barbee. You’re welcome to watch, but I don’t think she likes threeway kissing very much, so…”

Even though Arin didn’t want to kiss Ross’ gross face, he still felt dejected. If the most disgusting person at the office wouldn’t kiss him, then who would?

Around the office, the two boys did go. For someone to kiss, they searched high and low. Barry and Kevin and Jon were all gone, and Ninja Brian thought the whole thing was a yawn. They even asked Ryan and Matt, two college dropouts, but they just said, “We’re not gay,” and continued making out.

“Holy shit Dan,” Arin sobbed. “I’ve been married for years, but apparently I’ll never find love!!”

Daniel felt awful seeing his friend like this. He didn’t know what to do, what Arin would be okay with, what he might do if Dan suggested what had been in his heart from the very beginning. But he had to risk it. For Arin.

Just as it seemed his wish would never come true, and Arin was sulking in a pile of goo, Dan said, “Wait man, this can’t be the end. I’ll kiss your stupid face, because I’m your best friend.”

Arin’s head shot up at the words, and hope filled his once-dead eyes. “Y-you really me it?” his words warbled out, tears and snot everywhere.

Dan grinned, “Of course I do, silly. I’d do anything for you!”

Finally, Arin smiled too. He tentatively reached a hand out towards Dan’s, and Dan took it without hesitation, his ridiculously huge thumb rubbing circles in Arin’s palm.

They stood like that for a second, staring deeply into each others’ eyes until the moment was broken by a stupid Australian voice yelling, “It’s time!! It’s almost midnight!”

Together, they rushed to the room where the TV was playing the Time’s Square footage, and with their hands still clasped, they awaited the fateful moment.

“Five, four,” everyone was shouting in unison, “three, two, one!!!”

Suddenly, the world went white for both Arin and Dan. To Arin, it was something completely new and unheard of. Certainly, he’d made his jokes about him and Dan, but it had never crossed his mind that something could ever actually happen between them. But to Dan, this was something he had been imagining since he first met Arin. Oh, how had imagined those soft, supple lips. This was it, the culmination of all his sexual hopes and dreams, and Danny knew that now, his life was complete. He didn’t need any more, but he couldn’t have lived with any less.

“Dan,” Arin whispered softly as they pulled away. “What...what does this mean?” He looked so anxious and so unsure, and Danny couldn’t help but pull him into his arms and hold him tight.

“It only means what you want it to mean, my love,” he replied.

Arin couldn’t move. He couldn’t think. What did he want? What truly? At last, he figured it out. He knew. “Dan, what I want…” he paused. After a moment of deep thought, he went on. “What I want… IS FOR EVERYONE TO BUY OUR NEW GAME GRUMPS T-SHIRT!!!”

And so, just like that, all the relationships could stay strong, and all the greater grew their loving bonds. Arin and Suzy lived happily ever more, and Dan probably fell in love with Manticore.

~~THE END~~

[incorrect-stranger-things-quotes]

Ok this isn’t technically Stranger Things related, but I want to learn how to be a dungeon master for d&d and I was wondering if you have any tips for getting started? It’s a little overwhelming lol

I totally get what you mean, I’m pretty new to it and getting into it (I had never played the game at all before) was super intimidating and scary. First off if you’ve never played D&D before and don’t know if you’ll like it or have the time to play don’t spend any money, getting all the books is a huge investment and you don’t need to spend a cent to start playing or Dming.

The D&D official website has the basic player and dm rules for free here. It’s got everything you need to start as a player or dm barring some of the races and classes, but honestly it’s a little less intimidating not having to know about all of it. You don’t have to use a grid map, I do but it depends on you and your players, I use it just because I get pretty overwhelmed during combat especially with more than one enemy so I use miniatures I took out of a cluedo game (you can use print outs, stickers, whatever) and as a mat I use a piece of clear book contact with the grid backing still on, it’s like a dollar and works with dry erase markers so it’s pretty versatile depending on what you want. Dice can get pretty expensive since every player should have some but you can google a dice simulator or even get a phone app for it (there are tons of great apps for keeping track of spells and hp, even generating dungeons) so it’s really easy to play the game for free and decide if it’s for you. My Dm screen is a cardboard flap from a packaging box with these references stuck on, you can also use a folder and I’d also recommend the passive perceptions and armor classes of your players stuck on too.

I learnt the basic rules by splitting it into sections and taking some notes on the most important stuff e.g. half a page for combat, equipment, spellcasting, just the more specific rules like how to use range weapons and how to stabilise players, other stuff you’ll just remember with practise.

So when it comes to writing campaigns I’d start out with a super simple dungeon crawl to get the mechanics down. Write one or two NPC’s and just fill a dungeon with goblins or cultists or something and play out a kidnapping scenario. I know they sell starter campaigns but an entire campaign is pretty intimidating to read let alone write or run so a small oneshot adventure keeps the world building to a minimum and gets you straight to the meat of the game so you can get more comfortable with combat, exploration, writing and roleplaying while keeping the improv to a minimum. Also great are the oneshot campaigns you can find online, most people recommend pre-made for your first campaign and oneshots give you the best of both worlds with not having to write it yourself but not having to read a novel just to get started. I started of with these ones, they’re easy to follow and to the point (the second one is literally 6 pages) and you could easily incorporate them into a longer campaign. When it comes to world building there’s an insane amount of stuff online to help you but you can just start out with a small town and build out depending on what your players do, it means you don’t have to do it all in one go and as you get more confident with the way things work you can begin incorporating more complex towns, cities, enemies and governments. For NPCs I write a short paragraph on the important ones with their personality and motivation but keep it to a minimum.

When it comes to actually running the campaign I’d try not to have too many players, maybe between 2-4 just to make combat a little easier. The best tip I can give is make sure to collaborate with your players like the story is your job but knowing spells, race and class abilities and anything else character related is 100% on your players, you shouldn’t be expected to be an encyclopedia of D&D lore. It’s not fare for you to have to do all the preparation and players just show up so make sure they’re pulling their weight. Also make sure they know you’ve never done this before so they understand you might make some mistakes or the game might be a little slow. As long as everyone’s having fun your doing your job even if it’s not turning out how you want so don’t be too stressed about that.

I’m super new so this is just the stuff I’ve picked up so far but I’d recommend checking out the series by Matthew Colvile (intro to being DM), tabletop weekly (DM tips), Geek and Sundry (more general GM tips) and Don’t stop thinking (complete intro to playing the game), most of them have videos on specific aspects of the game so just watch the ones you think might be useful. Also if you have a question just google it, someone’s probably already asked reddit so just go exploring there. Also watching some D&D streams are super useful to just get your head around how to run the game, of course there’s critical role but Matt Mercer is like God tier and it’s a little intimidating, I prefer Dragons in places by game grumps, it’s way less intense on roleplaying and it’s got way shorter sessions.

I think that’s all I got but if you’ve got any specific questions just drop them in my ask, can’t promise I’ll know the answer but I’ll try my best.

[im-stupid-go-away]

My main problem with The G-Club

My main problem with the G-Club, as a podcast, is that it’s a little too focused on specific topics, which I feel makes it a little bit hard for people to access if they’re not already knowledgeable about the topic.

For example, recently they posted an episode about Shin Godzilla with Dan and Arin. I thought “hey, great! a podcast with my two favourite internet boys talking about a neat film” except the problem is that immediately, within the first 5 minutes, they said that if you’ve not seen the film you should go watch it first, then come back and listen to the podcast. Now I do agree, this is pretty logical, they just don’t want to ruin it for people, and that’s completely fair.

The big problem here though is that most of the episodes of the G-Club are like this. 

They’ve done episodes on Baby Driver, Spiderman Homecoming, Metal Gear, ARMS,  Splatoon 2, Game of Thrones, and a load of other stuff, that unless you’ve already seen the movies/played the games, kinda means that you have to go out of your way to go see a movie/play a game first to listen to the podcast without having anything ruined for yourself. This does effect some things more than others, some of them have fewer spoilers and such, and there’s generally less consequence to listening to some of the podcasts if you’ve not seen the film or game in question.

Let me compare it to another podcast, the SuperMegaCast. SuperMegaCast is a much simpler yet wider format where Matt and Ryan (from SuperMega, just in case anyone wasn’t quite sure) and occasionally a guest, just sit and talk about quite literally anything, from the news, to games, to films, to their own lives, and so on and so forth. SuperMegaCast is good in this sense because you don’t have to do a load of reading up on something to get what they’re talking about, its just listen to them talk for and discuss a range of things for about an hour, and if they do talk about something you don’t know about, chances are they won’t talk about it for long. I feel like this is a drastically more accessible format because its so much more open and far less linear than the G-Club. 

I hope this gets my point across. The G-Club is definitely not bad and SuperMegaCast isn’t the BEST PODCAST IN THE PLANET but I wanted to explain why I’ve not been able to get much out of the G-Club. I mean sure, if you have seen all the things they talk about on the podcast, great, go you, enjoy the podcast. I just feel like it isolates out a lot of people who may not be into specific franchises or whatever who want to enjoy a Grump podcast. I’m not saying they should scrap the whole formula but I do think they should try and have a focus on more than just one thing as the main topic of discussion for an episode.

The thing is, I’m just kinda tired of seeing a new G-Club episode in my sub box, getting all happy, then immediately seeing its about something I’ve not seen and having to think “okay, guess I’ll give this one a miss too” which is something I’ve had to do for a majority of them. I haven’t been able to watch one for weeks because of this. I don’t really see enough movies, I’ll be the first to admit, but it just seems so unnecessarily isolating to talk about ONE thing for an entire podcast instead of just making it one OF the things you talk about.

you can send your hate mail to my inbox or asks or whatever it is tumblr uses xoxoxox

[scrawnydutchman]

Why “Super Best Friends Play” is the Hypest Let’s Play Channel on Youtube

Let’s players are a popular, albeit divisive lot on youtube. On one hand, many go on record saying the Let’s Play format is cheap, lazy and maybe even a bit exploitative, as when it comes down to it it’s basically just some random people playing a game you could play yourself instead. On the other hand, many others love Let’s Players because they think there’s something endearing about seeing other people experience the things you love in their own unique way and it’s a very down to earth way to get to know some of your favorite online personalities. So where do I land on this? Well, I think Let’s Play is like any other format in that there’s a right and wrong way to do it. If you fall into basic tropes you can tend to blend in with other generic personalities in your field. If you do it, you gotta have a charm and an appeal that really stands out and can grow a dedicated fan base if not a particularly large one. That’s where Super Best Friends come in. I’ve been following the shenanigans of Matt, Pat & Woolie (and for a time Liam) ever since I first saw the Machinima episode on Spider-Man games I’ve had years of entertainment that both genuinely intrigues me on some solid game design and makes me laugh to tears. The Best Friends Zaibatsu are some of the earliest pioneers of the “group” format of Let’s Play in the same vain as Game Grumps, Achievement Hunter and Funhaus, where the appeal is not in a single persons interaction with a game but in a groups interaction with both the game and each other. It reignites the feelings of playing alongside a good friend and having some laughs fucking around with a videogame. But even with the charming concept of watching some good friends bond over their love for media, it wouldn’t work if important elements weren’t in play. Super Best Friends Play is the hypest Let’s Play channel on youtube for the following reasons: They have distinct likable personalities, they give genuinely interesting insight on the games they play, they’re downright hilarious, they genuinely put in effort for their presentation and they use their means to hugely benefit other communities.

Likable Personalities

The format of group let’s play is arguably a completely different ballpark than just doing a let’s play by yourself because it conveys a different challenge. The challenge is to be entertaining as part of a group, NOT to be funny on your own. It’s easier said than done because there are many cases in which one member receives way too much attention or another is becoming increasingly toxic. It’s why removing and adding new members to your group can be such a risky move for your fan communities; the chemistry of the group becomes completely different (Dan-era Game Grumps is an entirely different beast from Jon-era Game Grumps). Luckily the Best Friends have wonderful chemistry with each other that never gets old. Matt’s always the endearing leading man with the golden laugh, bottomless bag of Simpsons references and hilariously derailing one liners. Pat always brings his deadpan wit and sarcastic tone (and makes for a great straight man as a result). Woolie is the Zaibatsu’s hype man; knowing how to make any epic moment a million times better with his reactions. Former member Liam was often the quiet sensible one but when he got a laugh MAN was it a big laugh. They’re all such colliding personalities but they come together in such an endearing way that makes the whole experience lovable but not overbearing. These guys are a fundamental part of my sense of humor today. It’s the reason that unlike other let’s play series on Youtube the Zaibatsu let’s plays have great rewatch value. It also helps that they actually complete most of the playthroughs they start (cough *Game Grumps* cough). Whether they’re referencing old media, getting hype over a great game moment, laughing their asses off or are getting in stupid arguments (I recommend the “shitting pants” argument from the L.A. Noire series) watching the Best Friends is always a great time.

Great Insight on Games

So remember that old anti Let’s Play argument about how commentating over recorded game play is so easy anyone can do it? Well, I have a rebuttal. Yes, anyone can do it . . . that doesn’t mean everyone SHOULD do it. Aside from personality being a driving incentive for anyone to sit through a 10 minute video of some random person playing Detroit: Become Human, one would argue you should also present some knowledge of the game you’re playing. Otherwise it doesn’t matter what game you’re playing; there’s nothing distinguishing one let’s play series from another. Every episode of Conan O’Brien’s Clueless Gamer is just Conan’s unfunny improv set to canned audience laughter as he does a show out of necessity and not out of passion. Not knowing about the game can also cause other impeding issues such as the series taking forever to progress or the player becoming unlikable as they disregard fundamental aspects of the game (DarkSydePhil). When it comes to knowing something about the games they play, Super Best Friends not only express intoxicating passion for the medium but also express some applied knowledge on game design which makes for more interesting commentary. It’s very appropriate since the lot have been game testers on a number of titles. Whenever they have something to say about how to activate bugs, tight controls, decent polish on mechanics or even how well the games narrative is woven into the gameplay it teaches me a little more about how the medium works. They’re also clearly very passionate about their favorite franchises, such as Matt’s take on the Final Fight series above (I recommend you check out all of the Best Friends independent channels btw, which I will link to below):

Matt: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiP_FwGyJQ_6P8k5ON5mncQ

Pat: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpmNJI_KhjkpXw1UPmtC3-Q

Woolie: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyOJzQzyDGihKpTO3-zyhYg

Liam: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7zkWVkHBSMGpfHVgaFqr1A

They’re Downright Hilarious

I really don’t have a lot to say here. I know humor is largely subjective and these guys spout so many obscure references you may not even get a lot of them, but . . .goddamn . . I don’t think anybody on the entirety of Youtube has made me laugh as hard or as consistently as these guys. For the best of the best, I recommend their Spider-Man Machinima episode (my introduction to them), the Punch Out Outtakes (which oddly enough is funnier than the actual episode) Their L.A. Noire playthrough, Their Punisher Playthrough and their Gang Beasts Fisticuffs. You can see all you need to know about their chemistry, wit and delivery. Links to all below

Spider-Man: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gea09ImEtmM

Punch-Out!!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOwQXNxcRRM

L.A. Noire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bPqjD_zg5g

Punisher: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wznGw9fJNCc

Gang Beasts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhFGjK_ZUEk

They Put In Effort For Their Presentation/They Largely Benefit Other Communities

*this is just one of many outstanding animated intros commissioned by Super Best Friends, courtesy of Volta Bass*

If there’s one thing I can always use as a defense for most Let’s Play internet celebrities, it’s that they use their means to really benefit other communities. Say what you want about Markiplier, but there’s a reason he was awarded celebrity of the year by the Make-a-Wish foundation. Say what you will about Ihascupquake but she played a fundamental role in launching Jaiden Animations very successful career. Needless to say the popularity of Let’s Players has had a hugely positive effect on countless communities and that’s something we could always use more of, especially in an age where a lot of role models are . . . not great.

Super Best Friends is not only a great example of this, but is probably the best example I can think of. Why? Because they do more to benefit both the indie game community and the animation community than any other let’s player despite being one of the smaller channels out there (criminally small I might add). T.E.C 3001, Skullgirls, Shovel Knight and Divekick ALL owe a great deal of their success to the Zaibatsu’s funding and influence and each game has some sort of mention of them attributed. Also, as an animator myself I HIGHLY appreciate the Zaibatsu for their regular employment of animation talent like 2Snacks, Plague of Gripes, CrankyConstruct and Volta Bass. Because of how much they hire such talent every new series has a stunningly gorgeous intro and outro for each episode. These guys are an indication that some Let’s Play Channels larger than them have to STEP UP THEIR GAME when it comes to hiring talent and making strides in the indie community. *P.S, if anyone in the Zaibatsu is reading this, I would be honored if you would have me do an animated intro/outro for a series. Just say the word and I’m there*. 

But their effort doesn’t stop at hiring other talent. They also do great in providing their own entertaining edited content. Just look at this intro they made for Saturday 

Morning Scrublords: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljDcHWHKueM&t=286s

One will notice this hilarious intro is a parody of their already amazing intro for Friday Night Fisticuffs. And this isn’t the only variation of the intro they’ve ever done either. That’s what I like about these guys the most; they’re genuinely passionate about being entertaining. They aren’t just let’s players; they do a little but of everything from sketches to animated adventures to podcasts to livestreams. You can tell they have a huge blast doing all of it.

In conclusion, if anyone wants to start a genuinely entertaining Let’s Play Channel, they ought to take some notes from the Best Friends. They’re great because they diversify, they put their money and time into making great content, they have solid insight, clear passion and they’re goddamn hilarious. For these reasons, they will always be the HYPEST LET’S PLAY CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE.

[carnationbooks]

One Year: Carnation Books Staff Q&A- Lee, CEO

What do you do for Carnation? 

I like to describe myself as the Captain of this Starship, but I guess you can technically also call me the CEO (that's my legal title). I was fortunate enough to be in the right time and place and have the resources to bring Carnation Books to life, but it's been a tremendous group effort as well, bringing a company up from zero with no outside investment. We're 100% fandom-powered, and everyone who's involved with us is also involved in fandom in some respect. As the Captain, I guess I steer the ship, but there are a lot of great people who actually make it go. 

What’s your main fandom? 

BBC Sherlock was the unquestionable impetus for Carnation's creation. It was the catalyst for me getting back into fandom after a long axe battle with depression over the better part of a decade. I first got into Sherlock when I was stranded and terribly bored on the worst vacation ever, and I was in the mood to read something completely new. "I do love murder mysteries," I said to myself, "and I've never read Sherlock Holmes. And that Benedict Cumberbatch fellow is very handsome, isn't he? He was so good as Khan in Star Trek, and isn't he Sherlock on television? And Martin Freeman is a cutie, too, and he's Watson... Well, I wouldn't mind imagining Holmes solving some mysteries together with his BFF Watson!" Ohoho, little did I know how much my life would change, from the first moment that Sherlock "gripped" John's hand at the beginning of in "A Study in Scarlet." This was in early 2015, I think? It was well after Season 3 had ended, and just before the special episode "The Abominable Bride" was announced. Since then, the BBC Sherlock fandom (and specifically Johnlock) has changed my life in ways I never could have imagined. And when people ask me this question about my main fandom, my instinct is to say Sherlock. But, to answer the actual question, uh, my fandoms and ships are:

-BBC Sherlock (John/Sherlock and Greg/Mycroft)

-Star Wars (Kylo Ren/General Hux and Matt the Radar Technician/Clan Techie (the "crack ship" that blindsided me with feelings so strong I cried literal tears))

-Harry Potter (Draco/Harry and Remus/Sirius)

-Star Trek (Reboot Kirk/Spock and some miscellaneous pairings; I share this fandom with my husband!)

-Cabin Pressure (Douglas/Martin and Arthur/Martin, I love them both)

-Hannibal (Hannibal/Will, aka The Only Ship)-Marvel (Steve/Bucky)

-Tolkien (Sam/Frodo and Thorin/Bilbo)

-Kingsman (Harry/Eggsy)

Also, my main hobby outside of western media fandom is video games, which is kind of a fandom in itself, in addition to fandoms for individual games that spin off great fanfiction and fanart. I'm also in the Game Grumps fandom, which, as a comedy Let's Play channel, is kinda peripheral to video games.

What’s your OTP?

I have three answers to this question:

1) My first OTP (before the phrase "OTP" came into frequent usage) was Mulder/Scully from "The X-Files." I had a yellow accordion folder full of G-rated fics that I carried everywhere with me for the entire summer of 1997, including on three vacations. (My parents were pretty tolerant of their quirky kid.) I read a handful of slash fics (mostly Mulder/Skinner) but I definitely didn't ship Mulder with anyone but Scully. I mean, they're totally canon.

2) My OTP for my whole adolesence was Sirius/Remus from Harry Potter. From 7th grade on, I was well obsessed with Harry Potter, and after the third book came out, I read and re-read it, and carried it everywhere with me. It was my first slash pairing where I really saw the romance, and really believed that the characters were meant to be together (and, in the case of Sirius/Remus, had already been together in the past). I read hundreds of Remus/Sirius fics during high school--definitely a formative time in my personal and fandom development. (And really, aren't they the same thing?)

3) The OTP that changed my life, John/Sherlock. What can I say about these two that haven't been said by people much cleverer and more passionate than me? All I can add here is that I'll love the two of them forever, no matter what.

What are your favorite tropes? 

FAKE RELATIONSHIP! I've been on that fake relationship drug since Mulder and Scully had to pretend to be married to solve cases. It's just as good when John and Sherlock have to do it. I love all the attendant tropes, too, like bed-sharing, awkward PDA, mutual pining, and that kiss that starts out awkward but blossoms into the real thing and leaves both characters breathless. You know, the usual. I don't know if this counts as a trope, but I only read fics with happy endings. You can have as much angst as you please, but as long as no good guys die and the pairing ends up happily living together and in love, then it's good enough for me. I love some good old-fashioned hurt/comfort, but "Happy endings only" is kind of my personal motto. 

Most fic read in one sitting? 

My longest total fic binge would probably be that one holiday where I did nothing over a 4 day weekend aside from reading the complete masterpiece "Children, Wake Up" by Holly Hark, @hollyhark aka hollycomb on AO3 (https://archiveofourown.org/series/386986). It was absolutely glorious.

What are you reading right now? 

Right now my imagination is totally taken with the Johnlock surfer AU "Gimme Shelter," by @sincewhendoyoucallme-john (https://archiveofourown.org/works/11578941/chapters/26020017). It's a total breath of fresh summer air. I don't usually read WIPs, but this one's like a vacation to the beach. A sandy, salty Pacific ocean beach in the 1970s. Listen, just read it. I'm also slowly making my way through the back catalogue of @berlynn-wohl​ (http://archiveofourown.org/users/berlynn_wohl/), but I've been at it almost a year, and my progress is frankly a bit embarassing.

What are you working on for Carnation right now? 

*conspiratorial whisper* a lot of secrets! Keep watching our blog for a ton of awesome book announcements coming so very soon!  

What would you like to tell people about Carnation Books? 

The number one thing I want people to know is that we're doing everything we're doing for the love of fandom. The company is 100% devoted to fandom and fanfiction writers. We're doing this out of love for fandom, with the sole goal of uplifting and celebrating fanfiction writers. People should also know that we are a startup, we've only been around for a year, we're entirely bootstrapped with no outside funding, and we're pretty much a ragtag gang of plucky outsider underdogs when it comes to publishing (although we've gotten professional assistance where it counts, like our great publishing specialist lawyer and our accountant). We're just fans who are trying our best to support other fans, because we believe in the power of the fandom community. If you believe, too, then we want you to join us. I also want anyone reading this to know that we fully believe that the world of books is big enough for everyone. We support other publishing companies, and we support writers who choose to publish elsewhere. We just wish everyone the best :) I am incredibly lucky to have the circumstances that enable me to captain this starship, and I also understand the tremendous responsibility inherent in caring for other people's creative endeavours. I wish I could personally thank every single person who's ever said an encouraging word about us, or to us. I'll have to just say it here--thank you so much for your support. We look forward to proving you right over the next 12 months. Here's to Carnation Books: Year Two!

We’re all really lucky, and really happy to be working with Lee on this amazing adventure. All of Carnation Books’ staff wishes Lee and this wonderful dream of theirs a very happy birthday. We can’t wait to see what the next year brings. <3

[biofunmy]

‘Friends’ Is Turning 25. Here’s Why We Can’t Stop Watching it.

Once upon a time, we made do with less television. Three broadcast networks dominated everything. (Channels weren’t flipped so much as triangulated.) We had a local public station and whatever oldies a UHF signal could tune in. Now? Now, we romanticize our cable-assisted, internet-borne so-called golden age and carp about the galactic girth of the streaming era. Somebody even lent the girth a fretful name: “peak TV” — the “money can’t buy happiness” of screen life.

In retrospect, less television has come to imply lesser — by volume, by value, by verisimilitude. But what was “Friends” lesser than? There are 236 episodes of it, merely one fewer than a combined tally of “Game of Thrones,” “House of Cards,” and “Orange Is the New Black.” Most of those episodes are perfect as tidy comedies. Maybe it’s hard to think of “Friends” as perfect, let alone as great, because it looked easy.

Most “old TV” looked easy — even when characters broke up, bled and died. That’s because, even when they did, they were obviously not in a movie. TV now is the movies, so we love it more. We believe it more. For its entire existence, the American sitcom was anti-cinematic, beholden to the demands of advertisers.

Before there was too much TV, there was simply a lot, including a lot of NBC’s “Friends.” Think about the effort required to make about 24 episodes in a nine-month season (certain scripted shows somehow made more). This was impossible work that we at home took for granted. A network like NBC could turn “granted” into “mandatory” with maximal FOMO threat. “Let’s all be there,” it demanded in the 1980s. A decade later, we had to be there for “Must See TV.” Technologically, it was an uncertain age. If you missed an episode, who knew when you’d be able to catch it again?

“Friends” was easy TV at an elite level. So many jokes, so much body comedy, so many surprises and awwws, and squeals of live-studio audience excitement. Hairdressers were doing — and not infrequently botching — the Rachel. Coffee shops became people’s second homes. Tens of millions of Americans watched all of that writing and directing and acting, all of that seemingly effortless effort, for all 10 of its years. That work and a country’s devotion to it feels like proof of a golden age of something.

Familiarity is the magnet of every decent American sitcom. The “com” can’t compete alone and neither can the “sit,” even though, together, they’re obviously quite the sandwich. But the many nights I’ve spent recumbent on my sofa laughing at, say, Ross and Phoebe debating evolution, or Phoebe, Joey and Ross impersonating Chandler, or Chandler blanching at Monica’s desperate new cornrows or Rachel taking forever to tell somebody who the father of her baby is — those nights have never really been about the situation comedy of “Friends.” They’ve only ever been about us — me and these six people — and my apparently enduring need to know what they’re up to and how they are, even though I’ve known for 25 years.

“Friends” debuted on NBC in the fall of 1994, ran for an entire decade, typically had around 25 to 30 million viewers a week (sometimes many more) and now airs in Nickelodeon’s Nick @ Nite block, which my cable conglomerate has stationed near the top of the channel pyramid. That means if you’re a chronologist like me, the five-channel trip from NY1 — past the local news, TNT and “The Simpsons” — always terminates at Chandler, Joey, Monica, Phoebe, Rachel and Ross. Laziness is a factor. (Do you use the number keys on your remote? I’ll bet you don’t even have a remote at this point.)

But, really, it’s simplicity. “Friends” actually is enormously easy to watch. “The genius of “Seinfeld” (and “The Simpsons,” too) has everything to do with the “com” arising from the “sit.” What trouble will Jerry and the gang instigate? Whether you’re watching an episode for the first time or the 27th, the inciting premise is a major element of the pleasure. The premise of “Friends” is the friends.

Of course, the friends started out with a touch of the Jerrys. They, too, were a white cohort living in New York City (the West Village rather than Seinfeld’s Upper West Side). And many an early episode involved defending social etiquette (“Those are not the rules!” Ross barks at a foe in a laundromat) and trying out twisted dating schemes (Monica and Joey try to bust up a couple in order to have the newly single partners for themselves). But on “Seinfeld,” the city and the characters’ righteous belief in their own norms spurred them on to increasingly lunatic misanthropy. They were anti-socialites.

Not so on “Friends.” Matters of behavior and economic inequality only seemed to bring them together. Take the show’s 29th episode. Everybody goes out for a nice dinner to celebrate Monica’s promotion, and Phoebe, Joey and Rachel order the cheapest items on the menu, then balk at evenly dividing the bill. Income turns those three against the other three, until Monica loses her job and Joey valiantly offers to pay for her $4 coffee — with Chandler’s money. The theme song didn’t lie: They really were there for each other, punch lines and all. That thereness was the show’s intangible hook. The writers could engineer plots for the directors to orchestrate. But these six actors working together, on anything, on nothing — it was the highlight of many a person’s week. That thereness was phenomenally elastic, too. These were six people who could snipe at one another, who could fight and lie and practice what we’d now call radical honesty yet keep so many secrets, who can break up (many times, in many ways) but, as a sextet, keep snapping back together. I like them that way, as half a dozen. I like them in tandems and trios, as human math problems, as chemistry experiments. Maybe 10 times I’ve watched Chandler, Joey and Monica break down and confess to the other three that, yes, Chandler did pee on Monica’s jellyfish sting.

I don’t know how many takes that sequence took or how much caffeine was consumed. But it’s never less than a marvel of harmonized hysterics. That kind of exclamatory, high-energy comedy could happen in any configuration of the cast because it was the best such collection in the history of television. Other hall-of-fame comedies, like “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “Cheers,” had wits and jesters and clowns mixed in among the goody-goodies and grumps. Some, like “All in the Family” and the first few seasons of “Designing Women,” were all zingers, personality and delivery before the whole thing went to schtick. A few permanently watchable jewels like “The Golden Girls” and “Frasier” sneaked in a combo platter of slapstick, vinegar and fuzzies. But the proportions were bigger on “Friends.” They went for more, more often, and rarely missed.

For one thing, the actors had more to play with. The “Friends” friends started out as types. Rachel was a princess, Monica a control freak, Joey a dumb actor. But the types kept recombining.

Ross seemed like a geek because his paleontology was frequently mocked and there’s something gluey in the music of David Schwimmer’s whine. But Ross was sad, needy, insecure, quick to anger — dark, basically — and built like a jock. Phoebe evolved rapidly from hippie naïf to schemer, dreamer, peacekeeper, and pot-stirrer. In another era, she’d have been the “Three’s Company”-era Suzanne Somers of the bunch, a hapless bombshell. But Lisa Kudrow, with her akimbo intelligence, brought the part in sideways. Not far into the show’s run, actually, some of the six are watching TV and Chandler, in Matthew Perry’s contagious sardonic snark, says “I think this is the episode of ‘Three’s Company’ where’s there’s some kind of misunderstanding.”

“Then I’ve already seen this,” Phoebe snaps and turns off the TV.

“Friends” could easily have been “Three’s Company,” where “sit” and “com” strained credibility. Chandler was so frequently presumed gay that he could have been Jack Tripper, the faux-mosexual from the other show. And Matt LeBlanc played Joey like Somers but by way of Tony Danza. That probably would have made Courteney Cox the Joyce DeWitt of “Friends” — neutrally sane. For a few episodes at least, Cox, as Monica, seemed meant as the crux of the pack. Monica was Ross’s sister. Rachel was an old high-school friend who became her roommate.

But halfway through Season 1, it was clear this boat had no captain, just a lot of oars. And the rowing Cox did has never received its due. She wasn’t as rubbery a funny person as Perry and Schwimmer or as radiant and tangy in her approach to comedy as Jennifer Aniston was as Rachel. She couldn’t physicalize sarcasm and shock with as much cursive and calculus as the other five. But athletic gumption launched Monica entirely beyond classification.

I mean, I guess her type was Type A. Monica made the most psychological sense, as a former fat person who’s holding on to whatever it took to shed the weight and keep it off. We can shake our heads now at the idea of the show’s laughing at her size through the fat suit Cox wears in flashbacks. These flashbacks also explain why she seemed to think everything was grist for competition, why winning and losing mattered so much to her, why control was so important. And Monica lost so much control, so much cool, so much coolness. Each actor managed to do a lot with intensity, but Cox made it a state of Monica’s mind.

People now ding “Friends” for all kinds of offenses — regarding homosexuality, mental health, race, interracial dating, ethnicity. (Here’s pregnant Rachel, exasperated by the surfeit of gift diapers at her shower: “What are we feeding this baby — Indian food?”) “Friends”-as-problematic disserves the show’s complex relationship to those issues. Sometimes it winked at them. Monica did a lot of winking, especially under a spell of casual blackness. Her cornrows and Chandler’s disdain for them were one thing. My favorite, though, is the time she comes down with a cold but refuses to give up on sex with Chandler. He’d rather not. She comes at him anyway, in a bathrobe as plush and scarlet as a Muppet, full of mucus and the R&B of Guy. “Are you saying,” she asks, thrusting her body at her man, “that you don’t wanna. Git. With. This?” It’s peak Monica: addicted to victory, unlimitedly white.

There’s a way to watch “Friends” so that its very whiteness — and the associated entitlement — is the problem. That magical casting configuration probably couldn’t happen now without considerable umbrage — umbrage I’d understand. For a great while during “Friends”-mania, Eriq La Salle, of “ER,” was just about the biggest star on a smash-hit show who wasn’t white. “Friends” gave you white people who leave infants on city buses without consequence, who only rarely face a challenge to their permanent spot at Central Perk (for many years, a “reserved” card rested on the coffee table). But I’m not sure this was the show to do the labor, to open those doors with the same alacrity.

“Friends” could never have had, say, Joey drop by a black party in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn and tell Chandler how strange or exhilarating an experience it was without it also becoming a Very Special Episode. For some of its run, “Friends” aired opposite “Living Single,” on Fox, a good, “Friends”-ish show that was also the black party. As it is, Ross and Joey did date nonwhite women without their race being even a point of interest in the 1990s and 2000s, and even if that seems willfully naïve, it actually did feel special.

“Friends” made most of its social bets on gender differences, the way men get away with being chauvinists and lust buckets and layabouts, and the women have to pick up the slack. But tweaking the stereotypes became a meaningful staple of the show. Once, the girls’ failure to know the boys as well as the boys knew them cost Monica and Rachel their apartment. To be fair: Do you know what Chandler does for a living? Nonetheless, their place suddenly belongs to Joey and Chandler. It remains a shocking turn of events. I watched the early years of this show with roommates in the dorm of a college where bad housing could ruin friendships. I wasn’t watching a comedy that night. I was watching a cautionary tale. The show knew our loyalties were with the women and that Monica might not survive making breakfast in a man cave. So it refused to shake the Etch A Sketch. She unleashes a scream of “no” fit for no sitcom. It belonged in “Hamlet.”

“Friends” left prime-time television in 2004, just as the culture began to distrust meaningful inter-gender adventure. Its offspring — “How I Met Your Mother,” “The Big Bang Theory” “The Mindy Project,” “New Girl,” the short-lived masterpiece of repartee “Happy Endings” — did their best. But “Sex and the City,” which hit HBO in 1998, and the movies that sprang from Judd Apatow’s laugh factory would so convincingly relocate the sexes into ladies’ nights and boys’ clubs that the culture never quite came to reinvest in the coed comforts of a Central Perk.

“Friends” wasn’t a fantasy during its original run. But I can see why so many people who weren’t alive the first time around have devoured the show on cable and streaming like it’s a tub of ice cream. (I know of a 10-year-old as “Friends” conversant as I am.) There are no sexual threats, just Monica, her robe and her cold; just a vengeful guest star, in Julia Roberts, stranding Chandler in a pair of her underwear as comeuppance for a preadolescent prank; just a last-run of Rubik’s Cube hookups and occasionally vaguely funny lechery. Otherwise, the show was an oasis: adult women hanging out with adult men, with no monsters to fear, run from or prosecute. That could explain why droves of us are addicted to it. Sure, it’s excellent Easy TV — funnier, dirtier and more audacious than you heard it was, than you remember it being. But maybe, now, “Friends” is a fantasy. If you’re looking to restore some thereness to your life, maybe it’s more than must-see TV. Maybe it’s a clue.

Sahred From Source link Arts

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[of-sin-forever]

[I love the Best Friends. Believe me, I do. However, there are times where I don’t like almost everything they put out. There are some vids that did annoy me. I think the main ones are the games that they hate, but actively, but snarklily rag on them, or they just sound like they don’t wanna be there.

I was watching the Friday Night Fisticuffs video on them doing Under Night In Birth, and I could just hear the uninterest in Matt’s voice.

He sounded fucking miserable. Even in BlazBlue calamity Trigger, which was a 30-minute fuck you to the people who actually like it. I like both Guilty Gear and BlazBlue.

I would not call BlazBlue 100% bad, the only issues I would give it are the characters and story, and that’s really it. Mechanic wise, it plays really well.

Especially Umbrella Chronicles. If you don’t like the game, just say you don’t like it. Snarking on it for 30 minutes is annoying, and the joke stops being funny, and just becomes obnoxious after 5 minutes. Again, these guys aren’t bad in the sense of how the Grumps are, but it just annoys me. You dudes are better than this.]