One year later: Looking back at 'Brennan Quits Dropout' ⁠64%

By Mark Stetson⁠0% Kristy Puchko⁠32%

7/10/2026, 5:50:13 AM

BS Summary: This article contains 25 faulty reasoning types, including Attempt to Sell a Product or Service, Halo Effect, and Negativity Bias, with Biased Writer Voice as the most egregious example at 60.2% saturation with 242 hits. Analysis detected 1,350 faulty-reasoning hits from 402 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 58.4% and a BS Rank of ⁠64% (8,000 of 21,887 articles). This article is worse (more manipulative) than 63.50% of the article peer group.

On Mashable's Say More , hosts Kristy Puchko (Mashable's Entertainment Editor) and Mark Stetson (Senior Creative Producer) bring humor and their trusted insights to the biggest shows, films, digital trends, and cultural moments. 
From viral-worthy rants and passionate raves to smart recaps and first-look teasers, they cover what everyone is talking about. 
Celebrity guests join the conversation for real talk about their careers, upcoming projects, and what's trending online. 
New episodes every Friday. 
Happy anniversary to Dropout's most mind-bending viral video: "Brennan Quits Dropout." 
It was July 14, 2025, when Game Changer aired "Fool's Gold." 
In this episode, Dropout contributors pitched video concepts to a Shark Tank -like panel of investors. 
The goal: Make the most viral portfolio. 
The most viral video? 
Vic Michaelis ' pitch for "Brennan's Exit Video." 
Dressed like an American Girl Doll, Michaelis pitched that Brennan Lee Mulligan post a video to social media claiming he was quitting Dropout, Dimension 20, and Dungeons & Dragons altogether to dedicate himself to his passion for creating shoes for American Girl Dolls. 
Over the past year, Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko has interviewed Michaelis, Mulligan, and Game Changer host Sam Reich about this epic moment, which led not only to a TikTok video that had fans and newbies to Dropout freaking out, but also a Google Easter egg . 
To toast the anniversary of this very silly video - that some people took very seriously - our Executive Video Producer Mark Stetson has compiled all that Michaelis, Mulligan, and Reich have revealed about the magic and mischief of "Brennan Quits Dropout." 
Emmy snubs: Dropout gets overlooked for legacy and mediocrity 
The Dropout lineup that is redefining modern entertainment 
Dropout is a game-changer for comedy and creators 
Google's new 'Game Changer' Easter egg farewells Brennan Lee Mulligan 
Brennan Lee Mulligan makes 'D&D' funny, cool, and accessible 
Sure, they got snubbed by the Emmys . 
But we'll always have, "AAAAAH! 
THIS IS ME!" 
Dropout curious? 
Here's where you should start watching. 
For more interviews with Dropout's stars and other celebrities, check out Say More or our YouTube channel. 
Kristy Puchko is the Entertainment Editor at Mashable. 
Based in New York City, she's an established film critic and entertainment reporter who has traveled the world on assignment, covered a variety of film festivals, co-hosted movie-focused podcasts, and interviewed a wide array of performers and filmmakers. 
Article reasoning-pattern comparisonThis article: 3.5%Mark Stetson: 0.9%Mashable: 2.1%Confirmation Bias3.5%This article: 0.0%Mark Stetson: 0.0%Mashable: 1.9%Anchoring Bias0.0%This article: 11.4%Mark Stetson: 2.9%Mashable: 3.1%Availability Heuristic11.4%This article: 4.0%Mark Stetson: 1.0%Mashable: 1.2%Representativeness Heuristic4.0%This article: 0.0%Mark Stetson: 0.0%Mashable: 0.5%Hindsight Bias0.0%This article: 0.0%Mark Stetson: 0.5%Mashable: 2.6%Overconfidence Bias0.0%This article: 26.9%Mark Stetson: 7.8%Mashable: 5.2%Framing Effect26.9%This article: 0.0%Mark Stetson: 0.0%Mashable: 1.5%Loss Aversion0.0%This article: 0.0%Mark Stetson: 0.0%Mashable: 0.5%Status Quo Bias0.0%This article: 0.0%Mark Stetson: 0.0%Mashable: 0.3%Sunk Cost Effect0.0%This article: 7.2%Mark Stetson: 1.8%Mashable: 4.2%Optimism Bias7.2%This article: 4.2%Mark Stetson: 1.1%Mashable: 1.2%Pessimism Bias4.2%This article: 29.1%Mark Stetson: 8.9%Mashable: 5.3%Negativity Bias29.1%This article: 0.0%Mark Stetson: 0.0%Mashable: 0.6%Self-Serving Bias0.0%This article: 0.0%Mark Stetson: 0.0%Mashable: 0.5%Fundamental Attribution Error0.0%This article: 0.0%Mark Stetson: 0.0%Mashable: 0.1%Actor-Observer Bias0.0%This article: 0.5%Mark Stetson: 4.1%Mashable: 0.8%In-Group Bias0.5%This article: 0.0%Mark Stetson: 0.0%Mashable: 0.1%Out-Group Homogeneity Bias0.0%This article: 30.8%Mark Stetson: 18.3%Mashable: 4.1%Halo Effect30.8%This article: 0.0%Mark Stetson: 0.0%Mashable: 0.1%Horn Effect0.0%This article: 0.0%Mark Stetson: 0.0%Mashable: 0.0%Dunning-Kruger Effect0.0%This article: 2.2%Mark Stetson: 1.1%Mashable: 1.1%Recency Bias2.2%This article: 9.5%Mark Stetson: 2.4%Mashable: 0.3%Primacy Effect9.5%This article: 0.0%Mark Stetson: 0.0%Mashable: 0.0%Blind-Spot Bias0.0%This article: 0.0%Mark Stetson: 0.0%Mashable: 0.2%Ad Hominem0.0%This article: 0.0%Mark Stetson: 0.0%Mashable: 0.2%Straw Man0.0%This article: 19.7%Mark Stetson: 13.7%Mashable: 3.2%Appeal to Authority19.7%This article: 0.0%Mark Stetson: 0.0%Mashable: 1.3%False Dilemma0.0%This article: 0.0%Mark Stetson: 0.0%Mashable: 0.5%Slippery Slope0.0%This article: 0.0%Mark Stetson: 0.0%Mashable: 0.1%Circular Reasoning0.0%This article: 12.9%Mark Stetson: 9.0%Mashable: 5.1%Hasty Generalization12.9%This article: 0.0%Mark Stetson: 0.0%Mashable: 0.2%Red Herring0.0%This article: 4.7%Mark Stetson: 3.5%Mashable: 1.1%Bandwagon4.7%This article: 19.2%Mark Stetson: 7.7%Mashable: 3.3%Appeal to Emotion19.2%This article: 1.5%Mark Stetson: 0.4%Mashable: 0.7%Begging the Question1.5%This article: 11.7%Mark Stetson: 2.9%Mashable: 2.0%Post Hoc (False Cause)11.7%This article: 0.0%Mark Stetson: 0.0%Mashable: 0.0%Tu Quoque0.0%This article: 0.0%Mark Stetson: 0.0%Mashable: 0.3%Burden of Proof0.0%This article: 0.0%Mark Stetson: 0.0%Mashable: 0.1%Appeal to Nature0.0%This article: 0.0%Mark Stetson: 0.0%Mashable: 0.2%Composition/Division0.0%This article: 16.4%Mark Stetson: 4.1%Mashable: 2.2%Anecdotal16.4%This article: 10.4%Mark Stetson: 2.6%Mashable: 0.1%No True Scotsman10.4%This article: 3.2%Mark Stetson: 0.8%Mashable: 2.5%Ambiguity (Equivocation)3.2%This article: 0.0%Mark Stetson: 0.0%Mashable: 0.0%Gambler’s Fallacy0.0%This article: 0.0%Mark Stetson: 0.0%Mashable: 0.1%Middle Ground0.0%This article: 0.0%Mark Stetson: 0.0%Mashable: 0.0%Personal Incredulity0.0%This article: 0.0%Mark Stetson: 0.0%Mashable: 0.2%Special Pleading0.0%This article: 0.0%Mark Stetson: 0.0%Mashable: 0.0%Genetic Fallacy0.0%This article: 2.0%Mark Stetson: 1.0%Mashable: 1.2%Unattributed Quote2.0%This article: 2.7%Mark Stetson: 0.9%Mashable: 0.7%Quote-first Misdirection2.7%This article: 60.2%Mark Stetson: 29.1%Mashable: 10.3%Biased Writer Voice60.2%This article: 6.2%Mark Stetson: 2.3%Mashable: 2.5%Indoctrination6.2%This article: 0.0%Mark Stetson: 0.0%Mashable: 0.4%Politically Left Leaning Bias0.0%This article: 0.0%Mark Stetson: 0.0%Mashable: 0.0%Politically Right Leaning Bias0.0%This article: 35.6%Mark Stetson: 15.1%Mashable: 16.9%Attempt to Sell a Product or S…35.6%

402 words analyzed.

Speakers

7speakers52%attributed speech192writer words
Voice mapSelect a segment to jump to its words
Writer's voice • 9 words • 0.0% coverageMashable • 33 words • 100.0% coverageWriter's voice • 19 words • 100.0% coverageWriter's voice • 17 words • 100.0% coverageWriter's voice • 4 words • 100.0% coverageWriter's voice • 11 words • 100.0% coverageGame Changer • 11 words • 0.0% coverageDropout • 16 words • 0.0% coverageWriter's voice • 7 words • 0.0% coverageWriter's voice • 4 words • 0.0% coverageVic Michaelis • 8 words • 100.0% coverageVic Michaelis • 43 words • 0.0% coverageKristy Puchko • 47 words • 100.0% coverageMark Stetson • 42 words • 100.0% coverageWriter's voice • 9 words • 100.0% coverageWriter's voice • 8 words • 100.0% coverageWriter's voice • 8 words • 100.0% coverageGoogle • 10 words • 100.0% coverageWriter's voice • 9 words • 100.0% coverageWriter's voice • 8 words • 100.0% coverageWriter's voice • 5 words • 0.0% coverageWriter's voice • 3 words • 100.0% coverageWriter's voice • 2 words • 100.0% coverageWriter's voice • 6 words • 100.0% coverageWriter's voice • 17 words • 100.0% coverageWriter's voice • 8 words • 0.0% coverageWriter's voice • 38 words • 100.0% coverage
Selected voice

Mark Stetson

100%flagged-word coverage
42 attributed words20% of attributed speech100% writer coverage
0%50.0%100.0%Attempt to Sell a Product +47.4 ptsWriter: 52.6%Mark Stetson: 100.0%100.0%Biased Writer Voice+42.7 ptsWriter: 57.3%Mark Stetson: 100.0%100.0%Indoctrination-13.0 ptsWriter: 13.0%Mark Stetson: 0.0%0.0%Quote-first Misdirection-5.7 ptsWriter: 5.7%Mark Stetson: 0.0%0.0%

Attribution is sentence-level. Pattern percentages are calculated only from words assigned to that voice.

Loading…
Loading…
Loading…
Loading…

Analysis

Hover over highlighted words in the article to view the associated bias or fallacy analysis.