Hey everyone, this is Dan! I thought it might be fun if I did an occasional blog entry for this website to let you know a little bit about what's going on with us behind the scenes. The biggest news recently has been that Arin and I both got our covid vaccines (also known as "getting your earmuffs for the Backstreet Boys reunion tour") and we've been regularly recording episodes together again for the first time in over a year. It's the best! It's been so great to get back to the recording space and hang out with one of my best friends again.
When Arin first asked me to join the show way back in 2013, we were filming in the living room of his house. Those days were a blast, but as anyone who has worked at home knows, it can be hard to relax when you wake up in the morning and see your job waiting for you 10 feet from your bed. So in 2015 we moved into our first office space and started recording with more professional equipment. That was a great feeling too as we were moving forward in our careers and becoming more legitimate.
When the pandemic hit in 2020, we did our best to keep recording at the office, but it soon became impossible to keep everyone safe. So we started recording at Arin's house again, which seemed like a "full-circle" kind of experience after so many years. It was back to long nights of laughing on his couch while playing games and eating terrible food. I have to say I enjoyed the experience despite the painful and frightening circumstances of the world around us at the time.
Unfortunately, the pandemic ramped up and meeting in person at all was becoming risky. This led us to record episodes remotely for the first time. It was a little difficult to get used to because of the delay in audio and video sync between our two computers, but we eventually got more comfortable. There were even some fun perks of doing the show from my house. If Arin needed to take a break, I could just walk to the little makeshift studio in my basement and work on music. There were also some fun moments of my dog Camilla making appearances on the show by joyously playing with her army of squeaky toys. Additionally, it was nice to have full access to my mini-fridge at all times. So many turkey sandwiches!
...but at the end of the day, it was all outweighed by the fact that I missed hanging out with my friend. The chemistry of Arin and I being in the same room together is something that can't be duplicated or manufactured. We could both feel it, so as soon as vaccines became available, we jumped at the chance to get back to doing what we love in person. The first day back at the office was a strange one. It simultaneously felt like no time had passed, but was also somehow a thousand years later. Upon seeing each other, we commenced a bro-hug that probably lasted way too long, then got to work. I had been playing Link's Awakening in my spare time at home and was ready to rock as soon as we hit "record." It instantly restored a light in my life, and the laughter and smiles were immediate.
For the past year, the Game Grumps show (even in its remote state) has been a grounding presence in my life. In a time when the world felt chaotic and hostile, just having that weekly rhythm of recording episodes helped keep me calm and focused on enjoying each day, no matter the circumstances. Arin and I have often been told through the years that our show helps people get through their day. That makes us feel great, but I'm not sure we've ever made it clear how much the show helps us, too. Getting back together to record in the same space again was a huge reminder of that. Here's hoping it continues for a long time to come.
Return to blog