If you haven't seen Vic Michaelis sit across from a person dressed as a step-by-step "How to Draw a Dog" tutorial, you're missing the weirdest, most brilliant thing on the internet. It's called the Very Important People TV show. Most folks just call it VIP. Honestly, it’s the kind of show that shouldn't work. It’s an interview series where the host—Vic—interviews "celebrities" who are actually just talented improvisers in heavy prosthetic makeup.
They don't know who they are until they look in the mirror. That's the hook.
It’s chaotic. It’s unhinged. It’s a Sam Reich-led production under the Dropout (formerly CollegeHumor) banner that has managed to capture a very specific type of lightning in a bottle. While mainstream late-night talk shows are dying a slow death of scripted anecdotes and forced laughter, VIP thrives because it is dangerously spontaneous. You’re watching performers like Josh Ruben or Anna Garcia literally figure out their own backstory in real-time while trying not to break character.
How the Very Important People TV Show Actually Works
The premise is deceptively simple but a logistical nightmare for the crew. Performers show up at a warehouse. They spend hours in a makeup chair. The makeup artists—led by the incredible Alex Arrelano—are given free rein to turn these people into monsters, aliens, or bizarre parodies of human beings.
The actor doesn't see themselves until the reveal.
Once the "look" is set, they walk onto a set that looks like a high-end, slightly sterile talk show. Vic Michaelis plays the "straight man," though they are often just as absurd as the guests. They have to navigate an interview where neither person knows what the next sentence will be. It is the purest form of "Yes, and" you can find on television right now.
Vic is the secret sauce here. They have this uncanny ability to ask the most piercing, serious questions about the most ridiculous things. When a guest says they live in a crawl space and eat nothing but dry drywall, Vic doesn't blink. They ask about the texture. They ask about the vintage of the drywall. It’s that commitment to the bit that makes the Very Important People TV show feel like a fever dream you don't want to wake up from.
The Dropout Effect and the Rise of Niche Streaming
Dropout is doing something weird. They’ve basically built a sustainable ecosystem for "improv nerds" that is actually profitable. In a world where Netflix cancels shows after two seasons if they don't get a billion views, Dropout thrives on a loyal subscriber base that just wants to see funny people be smart.
VIP is a spin-off, or at least a spiritual successor, to the characters seen in Game Changer.
Remember the episode "Characters Welcome"? That was the proof of concept. The audience reaction was so visceral that it became clear there was a hunger for long-form character work. People are tired of 15-second TikTok sketches. They want to see a character developed over twenty minutes. They want to see the cracks in the facade.
Why prosthetics change the game
When you put a comedian in a mask, something shifts. It’s a psychological trick. On the Very Important People TV show, the makeup isn't just a costume; it's a prompt. If an actor has a giant prosthetic chin, they start talking differently. They lead with their face.
Take the episode with Zac Oyama and Vic. Zac is transformed into a sort of "cool guy" alien hybrid. The makeup dictated the voice, which dictated the attitude, which dictated the tragic backstory about his home planet. If Zac had just walked out in a t-shirt, it wouldn't have been half as funny. The physical transformation forces the improviser to abandon their go-to tropes. They can't just be themselves. They have to be the thing in the mirror.
Breaking Down the Most Iconic Moments
You can't talk about this show without mentioning the Tommy Shriggly episode. Played by James Mastraieni, Tommy is a "motivational speaker" who is clearly a nightmare of a human being. The phrase "climb high" has become a literal meme within the fandom.
It’s a perfect example of how the show builds a world.
- The guest arrives with a name and a look.
- Vic asks a foundational question (e.g., "How did you get started?").
- The guest says something insane.
- Vic treats it as objective truth.
- A lore is born.
Then there is the Princess Yi episode. Anna Garcia plays a character that is so chaotic it nearly deconstructs the entire format of the show. It’s a masterclass in staying ahead of the host. Usually, the host leads. In VIP, the guest often hijacks the steering wheel and drives the car off a cliff, and the audience just cheers for the explosion.
The technical craft behind the scenes
We need to talk about the editing. Comedy is timing, and the editors of the Very Important People TV show deserve an Emmy. They know exactly when to cut to a wide shot to show the absurdity of the situation. They know when to hold on a close-up of Vic’s confused face.
The show also uses "post-production" gags brilliantly. If a character mentions a fake book they wrote, the editors will flash a fake book cover on the screen three seconds later. It adds a layer of "reality" to the improvised nonsense. It makes the world feel lived-in, even though it was invented thirty seconds ago.
Why Improvisers Love (and Fear) This Format
I spoke with a few folks in the UCB (Upright Citizens Brigade) circuit about this kind of "blind" improv. It’s terrifying. Most improv relies on a suggestion from the audience. Here, the "suggestion" is your own face.
You have to trust your partner implicitly. If Vic Michaelis wasn't as fast as they are, the show would tank. Vic has to do the heavy lifting of narrative structure. They have to make sure the "interview" actually has a beginning, middle, and end while the guest is busy describing how they don't have bones.
It’s also a high-wire act for the makeup team. If the prosthetic falls off, or if it’s too restrictive for the actor to speak, the bit dies. There’s a lot of "test-fitting" that happens without the actor seeing the final result. It’s a high-budget version of a parlor game, and that’s why it feels so intimate.
Is "VIP" Part of a Larger Trend?
Honestly, yeah. We’re seeing a shift toward "process-based" entertainment. Shows like Hot Ones or 73 Questions are popular because they put celebrities in a specific, slightly uncomfortable context. The Very Important People TV show takes that and applies it to fictional characters.
It’s the "anti-talk show."
Instead of a celebrity promoting a movie they hated making, you get a comedian pouring their soul into a character named "Dr. Milk." It feels more honest. It’s more creative. It’s definitely more memorable than hearing about a Marvel star’s workout routine for the hundredth time.
Critical Reception and Where to Watch
Currently, the show is a flagship title for Dropout.tv. While clips go viral on YouTube and TikTok, the full experience is behind the paywall. And honestly? It’s one of the few streaming services that feels worth the five bucks.
Critics have praised the show for its "unflinching commitment to absurdity." It’s been compared to The Eric Andre Show, but without the nihilism. VIP isn't trying to make the guests feel bad; it's trying to make them feel real. Even the most grotesque characters are given a weird sense of dignity.
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The "Vic" Phenomenon
Vic Michaelis has become a breakout star because of this show. Their background in improv (specifically with groups like Search Engine) shines here. They have a "mid-century modern" energy—very composed, very professional—which makes the insanity of the guests pop.
If Vic were "zany," it wouldn't work. The humor comes from the contrast. It’s the "Straight Man" theory of comedy taken to its absolute limit.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re looking to get into the Very Important People TV show, don't just start at episode one and grind through. Pick and choose based on the performers you like.
- Step 1: Start with the "Tommy Shriggly" episode. It’s the gold standard for how the format should work.
- Step 2: Watch the "Step-by-Step Dog" episode if you want to see how the makeup team can absolutely handicap a performer in the best way possible.
- Step 3: Pay attention to the "post-show" segments. They often show the actor seeing themselves for the first time. It provides great context for why they made certain choices during the interview.
- Step 4: Follow the makeup artists on social media. Seeing the "sculpts" before the paint goes on gives you a massive appreciation for the artistry involved in a show that is, fundamentally, about poop jokes and weird voices.
The show is currently in its prime. With a second season expanding the scope and bringing in even more legendary improvisers, it’s becoming a cornerstone of modern alt-comedy. It’s weird, it’s messy, and it’s probably the most "human" thing on television, even when the people on screen aren't technically human.
Actionable Insight: To truly appreciate the craft of VIP, watch an episode and then try to "find the character" of someone you see in public. Don't just look at their clothes; look at how their physical features dictate their movement. That's the secret to great character improv—and it's the engine that runs this entire show.
Check out the Dropout YouTube channel for the free "Shorts" if you're still on the fence, but the full-length episodes are where the real narrative magic happens.