Paul F. Tompkins, Skye Townsend, and Aparna Nancherla Reveal the Secrets of Dropout

Leaning heavily into early-2000s nostalgia with a format reminiscent of MTV’s Total Request Live, Dropout has released its newest original series, MP3. Each installment treats viewers to a lineup of three absurd, original music videos delivered by an offbeat roster of broadcast personalities. While the production represents a notable milestone as Dropout’s first scripted show in seven years, series star Paul F. Tompkins emphasized that the production embraces the platform’s improv roots rather than relying on a rigid teleplay.

We shot it sort of Curb Your Enthusiasm style, said Tompkins, a veteran performer who has frequently appeared on Dropout mainstays such as Game Changer and Very Important People. He explained that series creators Zach Reino and Jess McKenna structured the narrative by handing Tompkins and fellow performers Jeremy Culhane, Aparna Nancherla, and Skye Townsend an episodic framework. It’s like: Here are the scenes. Here’s what we want to get to, and then we have so much room to play within that. It’s nice to have that. Like, improv is fun, but it is nice to have that sort of safety net underneath you.

Collaborative Character Building on the Set of ‘MP3’

The premise of MP3 focuses on the dynamic between former boy band sensation Dane Cartel (played by Jeremy Culhane)—the longtime host of Music Presentation 3—and his father, show director Thomas Cartel (played by Paul F. Tompkins). The studio workplace grows complicated when Thomas introduces two new co-hosts: the deadpan, eccentric Chia (Aparna Nancherla) and the hyper-enthusiastic Dr. Muse-Tina (Skye Townsend), igniting professional rivalries and comedic chaos.

Townsend, known for her work on A Black Lady Sketch Show, described how Reino and McKenna offered the ensemble extensive freedom when conceptualizing their roles. Everybody brought on board was brought on board with trust, and they just let us play, Townsend noted. She explained that while the foundation was established by the creators, the specifics developed through cast pitches: The name was established and her origin story, that she has lived a life that’s unbelievable, but possibly she did everything she said.

Townsend took an active role in crafting Dr. Muse-Tina’s aesthetic using comprehensive visual boards: I love to do mood boards, she shared, And so coming in, I just did a full mood board with, like, a bio and like — what do her teeth look like? Here are three different options for her mouth. Can she get rid of her eyebrows? And if not, can they be bleach blonde?… Then, the first day of work, when we tested hair and makeup, I saw the mood board sitting there. And I was like, ‘Oh my God, we’re doing it!’ They put on the wig and they cut the [baby] bangs, and they just kept getting shorter… I was blown away by the fact that they were like, ‘Hey, if this is how you envisioned her, go crazy.’

Explaining the creative intention behind the look, Townsend stated: This is a person where her confidence and her excitement for life, she just wants to rock it. And so I think, like, there was just never too much for this character… It just makes her so chaotic, because she’s supposed to be this person who has lived the wildest life ever, and it shows on the aesthetic.

Personal Wardrobes, Noise Professors, and Father-Son Dynamics

Aparna Nancherla brought elements of her everyday life directly to the screen as Chia, even sporting a utilitarian jumpsuit that mirrored her outfit from her Dropout stand-up special, Hopeful Potato. A lot of the wardrobe was, like, from my own wardrobe. So, for Chia, [it] was kind of like, where does Aparna end and Chia begin? And there is some overlap, but there’s also a lot about Chia that I think is a question mark, and that was kind of fun to explore. Like, I feel like I discovered a lot as we were shooting of, like, who is this person? How did she end up here? I think that was a really fun thing, because that really leans into the improv of it all — just, like, kind of figuring it out as you go, Nancherla said. When evaluating Chia’s self-described status as a noise professor, Nancherla added, I think it’s someone who is just very completely, like, enamored and at the same time flummoxed by the idea of sound.

Meanwhile, Tompkins leans into visual misdirection with his portrayal of Thomas Cartel, whose wardrobe choices—such as a Kangol cap and soul patch—suggest sleaziness, despite his genuine paternal devotion. What’s interesting to me about this character, Tompkins shared, is that he absolutely looks like the most disgusting person, an overaged club guy who still thinks he’s very cool-looking. But there’s nothing in his personality that suggests he was in any way problematic. That he was just in a boy band, and that was fun. And then he decided to start a record label, and now it’s a TV show, and isn’t that fun too? And now his son’s doing it. So, he’s like this kind of sweet middle-aged dad who looks like a guy you would cross the street from if you saw him walking towards [you].

This offbeat fatherly warmth manifests physically through an ongoing bit between Tompkins and Culhane. When disagreements arise, Dane asks for reassurance, prompting a comical response from his father. I gotta say, that got established so early on, Tompkins revealed. It was one of the first exchanges that Jeremy and I had. He just went ‘Kisses,’ and I was like, ‘Yes, kisses.’ And then he leaned forward, and I just I decided, Okay, yes, it’s got to be one million rapid-fire kisses on his forehead, and this is something that they do all the time to reset their relationship.

Why This Matters

Dropout’s rollout of MP3 marks a calculated evolution in the independent streamer’s programming strategy. While the platform built an intensely loyal subscriber base through unscripted comedy formats, actual-play table games like Dimension 20, and parlor-style game shows like Game Changer, scripted narrative projects had taken a back seat since its transition away from the legacy CollegeHumor brand. By utilizing retro-scripted frameworks—where a tight structural outline underpins free-form improvisational dialogue—Dropout bridges the gap between traditional narrative television and the spontaneous, performer-driven comedy that drives its subscription model.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can viewers watch ‘MP3’ and what is the release schedule?

The first three episodes of MP3 are currently streaming on the Dropout platform. New episodes are scheduled to debut every two weeks, running until the season finale on December 2.

Who created and stars in the Dropout series ‘MP3’?

The series was created by comedy duo Zach Reino and Jess McKenna. The central cast features Paul F. Tompkins as Thomas Cartel, Jeremy Culhane as Dane Cartel, Skye Townsend as Dr. Muse-Tina, and Aparna Nancherla as Chia.

Is ‘MP3’ completely scripted or improvised?

While billed as Dropout’s first scripted show in seven years, MP3 employs a hybrid structure comparable to Curb Your Enthusiasm. The creators outline the story beats and narrative objectives for each scene, allowing the cast wide latitude to improvise character choices, jokes, and dialogue.