Sam Reich got completely “change-gamered” in a $200K surprise episode that required kidnapping, a castle, and exploiting his own ego
SPOILER WARNING: This article contains details about “Samalamadingdong,” the surprise Season 7 finale of Game Changer that dropped Monday on Dropout. The follow originates from a Variety exclusive interview.
In the annals of television pranks, few can match the sheer audacity, planning, and expense of what Brennan Lee Mulligan just pulled off. The longtime Game Changer contestant – and frequent loser – orchestrated the most elaborate revenge scheme in game show history, tricking host Sam Reich into becoming the unwitting star of his own show’s surprise finale.
Six Months of Deception for One Perfect Day
The episode, titled “Samalamadingdong” (yes, there’s a cringe-worthy story behind that name), required military-level planning. Shot on Election Day 2024 at a Hollywood Hills castle complete with drawbridge, the production cost an estimated $100,000-$200,000 – all without Reich’s knowledge or approval.
The following comes from an exclusive interview Sam Reich and Brennan Lee Mulligan had with Variety:
“Books have been cooked,” Reich admitted in our the post-episode interview with Variety. “There were different codes being used. My company, my show, no permission.”
The mastermind behind it all? Mulligan, who knew exactly how to bait his target: Reich’s ego and love of press coverage.
“The degree of instant unanimity in the council of people working on this show that went, ‘If there’s something related to Variety or an interview about Game Changer, Sam will be there for as long as he is asked,'” Mulligan revealed. The fake Variety interview was the perfect trap.
A Conspiracy That Went All the Way to the Top
The deception involved Reich’s own wife, Elaine Carroll, who knew about the plot from August and even prepared special turmeric tea for her husband on the morning of filming. When Reich finally connected the dots during his kidnapping (yes, actual kidnapping), it was like a “Memento moment” of realization.
“I trust my wife to always do what’s best for the bit, which sometimes means deceiving me,” Reich said with remarkable good humor.
The Game Meets Medieval Torture Chamber
The episode concept brilliantly combined Reich’s love of Michael Douglas’s The Game with Mulligan’s passion for live-action roleplaying. Reich found himself trapped in puzzles involving past Game Changer contestants, with Mulligan playing a terrifying mix of Jigsaw from Saw and the mythical Minotaur.
The hardest challenge? A vase-breaking puzzle that left Reich frustrated until producers told him he was supposed to fail. “I can fail efficiently, if that’s the goal,” he laughed.
The ARG That Fooled Everyone
But the surprises didn’t end with filming. Reich and Dropout created an elaborate alternate reality game (ARG) throughout Season 7, releasing web games and hidden clues. Despite Reich’s denials up until Monday afternoon – even during a live Instagram session with 15,000 viewers – fans cracked the ARG in just 48 hours once they discovered it.
As recently as 1 p.m. ET on Monday, Reich was still insisting the episode didn’t exist, maintaining the bit until the final reveal at 1:30 p.m.
The Price of Perfection
Reich rates his experience at “two and a half chili peppers” on his show’s comfort scale – only deducting half a pepper “because it was so much fun, and because Brennan let me win.”
The most embarrassing moment? That ridiculous title. When Reich dropped his sword during filming and improvised “Samalamadingdong,” he sealed his fate. “Every regret about that,” he admits, but adds, “I’m taking ‘Samalamadingdong’ very seriously.”
Revenge Planning Already Underway
True to form, Reich is already plotting his retaliation for Season 8. “There were things that I decided not to do this season because I felt like they were too unconscionable, which now I floated right to the top of my list.”
But perhaps the cruelest twist of all? Reich has to edit the entire episode himself. “That’s the real prank,” he realized. “All of this footage is gonna end up on my lap.”
A Love Language Written in Chaos
Despite being kidnapped, deceived by his wife, and forced to participate in an expensive prank he didn’t approve, Reich’s response is pure appreciation. “At the end of the day, this is my love language, and it’s the way that I express love for my cast. And so people doing it to me, how could I interpret it any other way?”
The episode represents everything Game Changer does best: unexpected twists, genuine reactions, and the kind of creative ambition that turns a simple game show into appointment television. For Reich, getting “change-gamered” wasn’t just payback – it was validation that his show has created something truly special.
