Spanning more than ten seasons, Dropout’s premier geek-centric trivia challenge, Um, Actually, has become a revolving door for high-profile nerds far beyond the platform’s internal talent pool. The show has seen the likes of Critical Role luminary Matthew Mercer claiming victories, Marvel scribe Cody Ziglar seizing the title in the Season 11 debut, and a Season 9 finale that brought together iconic voice actors like Dante Basco of Avatar: The Last Airbender fame.
Yet, if current host Ify Nwadiwe could curate his ultimate lineup, the show’s signature mustard-yellow sofa would feature even more legendary figures from the fan-sphere. In a recent conversation with Polygon, Nwadiwe shared his personal “dream casting” for the series.
“We have persistently tried to assemble the Meltdown trio,” Nwadiwe explained during a Zoom interview. He’s referring to the comedic powerhouse of Emily Gordon, Kumail Nanjiani, and Jonah Ray, the creative forces behind Comedy Central’s The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail. As is often the case in the entertainment industry—and with high-stakes Dungeons & Dragons campaigns—logistics remain the primary obstacle. “It’s always a delicate synchronization of schedules to see who can actually make it to the set.”
Scheduling hurdles are also why Nwadiwe’s close friend, comedian Ron Funches, has yet to buzz in on the show. “Ron and I go back to our days on @midnight,” Nwadiwe noted. “He’s a massive nerd. We constantly geek out together. It was ironic because he was unavailable for this current run, and after seeing him appear on The Traitors, I suspect that might have been the reason.”
Now entering his third season at the helm, Nwadiwe is aiming for some “heavy hitters” in his future casting. “I’d love to host a couch featuring my favorite Nigerian nerds—getting John Boyega and Ayo Edebiri together would be incredible,” he said. Boyega, a Star Wars veteran, is famously vocal about his passions; as a dedicated anime enthusiast, he would have been a perfect fit alongside the likes of Garrick Bernard and Thundercat.
Nwadiwe’s ambitions don’t stop there. He is particularly keen on a Warhammer-themed episode featuring Henry Cavill. The former Superman is a well-known World of Warcraft veteran, a PC-building aficionado, and the producer of an upcoming Warhammer 40,000 cinematic universe. “There’s something inherently joyful about the idea of Henry Cavill just gushing over his hobbies,” Nwadiwe remarked. “We’ve seen the videos of him building a rig, but we haven’t truly seen him dive deep into Warhammer lore on camera. I want this show to be the platform for that.” Perhaps Dropout CEO Sam Reich is already working the phones.
Beyond the wish list of new guests, the current season marks the anticipated return of the Tournament of Champions. In its inaugural season, this multi-part event gathered nine of the show’s most elite players for a definitive showdown. Nwadiwe himself was once a fierce competitor in this format, though he famously fell to Siobhan Thompson in a tightly contested match.
Season 11’s tournament promises a clash of titans, featuring fan-favorites such as Erika Ishii, Brennan Lee Mulligan, and Danielle Radford. “The most fervent fans are always debating who the true GOAT is,” Nwadiwe said. “Bringing back the Tournament of Champions felt like a necessity this year. We really hit the ground running with it.”
Before stepping into the host’s shoes, Nwadiwe was arguably the most feared contestant in the show’s history, holding the record for the most wins at the time of his promotion—a record Brennan Lee Mulligan has only recently equaled. Does he ever miss the adrenaline of being the one behind the buzzer?
“Honestly, no. The pressure is completely gone now,” Nwadiwe admitted, comparing his transition to a champion boxer retiring at their peak. “I stepped away as the most winningest player in the game. Even if Brennan catches up, it’s only because I’m not in the arena. Historically speaking, my dominance remains undisputed.”
Nwadiwe is quite content to facilitate the chaos rather than participate in it, especially after the sting of his previous tournament loss. “I was incredibly salty about losing to Siobhan back then,” he laughed. “That defeat actually fueled my subsequent winning streak. But now? I love being the one in control. I’ll take the host’s chair over the couch any day.”
Um, Actually is available for streaming exclusively on Dropout.tv.
Source: Polygon
