Smosh#SmoshCast
{{Short description|American YouTube comedy channel}}
{{Pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox comedian
| name = Smosh
| image = Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla at VidCon 2025 (combined frames).jpg
| caption = Hecox and Padilla at VidCon 2025
| medium = Internet
| active = 2002–present
| genre = {{plainlist|
}}
| website = {{URL|https://smosh.com/}}
| module = {{Infobox YouTube personality|embed=yes
| name = Smosh
| channels = {{ubl
| [https://youtube.com/@Smosh Smosh]
| [https://youtube.com/@smoshpit Smosh Pit]
| [https://youtube.com/@SmoshGames Smosh Games]
| [https://youtube.com/@smoshcast SmoshCast]
| [https://youtube.com/@SmoshAlike SmoshAlike]
}}
| years_active = 2005–present
| subscribers = 26.9 million
| associated_acts = Shut Up! Cartoons
| views = 11 billion
| network = Defy Media (2011–2018)
Mythical Entertainment (2019–2023)
| silver_year = {{ubl|2007 (Smosh)|{{nowrap|2011 (Smosh Games)}}|2011 (ElSmosh)|2019 (SmoshCast)}}
| gold_year = {{ubl|2009 (Smosh)|2011 (Smosh Games)|2011 (ElSmosh)}}
| diamond_year = 2013 (Smosh)
| stats_update = June 13, 2025
| silver_button = yes
| gold_button = yes
| diamond_button = yes}}
{{Infobox
| child=yes
| header = Logo
| data1 = 200px}}
}}
Smosh ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|m|ɔː|ʃ}}) is an American YouTube sketch comedy-improv collective, independent production company, and former social networking site founded by Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox. In 2002, Padilla created a website named "smosh.com" for making Flash animations, and he was later joined by Hecox. They began posting videos on Smosh's YouTube channel in 2005 and quickly became one of the most popular channels on the site. {{As of|2025|June}}, the main Smosh channel has over 11 billion views and over 26 million subscribers.
Initially making lip-sync videos to cartoon and video game-based songs, Smosh garnered virality for their "Pokémon Theme Music Video"; reaching 24 million views, it became the most-viewed video on YouTube until it was removed from the site due to copyright infringement. Smosh pivoted towards comedic sketches geared towards pop culture media, with Hecox and Padilla portraying various characters. Making series such as Food Battle, If X Were Real and Every [Blank] Ever, Smosh continued to garner online popularity throughout the 2010s. Their sketches progressed in production quality as they included more cast and crew members.
Owned by media company Defy Media starting from 2011, the brand expanded to consist of multiple channels, including a variety channel (Smosh Pit), animation (Shut Up! Cartoons), and gaming content (Smosh Games). In 2017, Padilla left the channel to pursue independent ventures and focus on creating solo content. One year later, Defy Media abruptly closed without warning, leading the Smosh cast to become temporarily independent. They subsequently joined Mythical Entertainment after their company was purchased by Rhett & Link in 2019. After four years of ownership under Mythical, Padilla returned to the channel in 2023, and alongside Hecox had bought the company back from Mythical, re-establishing Smosh as an independent entity.
Considered one of the earliest YouTube personalities and content creators, Smosh has achieved various records and accolades. The Smosh channel has experienced three different spans as the most subscribed YouTube channel. Hecox and Padilla were included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, and were often included in lists of the highest-paid YouTubers. The Smosh brand has won Webby Awards, Shorty and Streamy Awards.
History
= Formation and lip sync videos (2002–2006) =
File:Streamy Awards Photo 1180 (4513303273) without watermark.jpg in 2010|alt=Anthony Padilla standing to the left and Ian Hecox standing to the right in front of a red background which states "Streamy Awards" in a repeating pattern|left]]
The franchise began when Anthony Padilla built a website in 2002, smosh.com, and made several different Flash animations, with the name "Smosh" coming from an incident where he mistook a friend explaining a mosh pit as a "smosh pit".{{cite web |url=https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/smosh-youtube/ |title=15 things you didn't know about Smosh, one of YouTube's biggest channels |first=Bryan |last=Rolli |website=The Daily Dot |date=August 14, 2017 |access-date=September 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621115903/https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/smosh-youtube/ |archive-date=June 21, 2023 |url-status=live}} Padilla created the website's logo through juxtaposing a fast-forward sign and the letter "S" from a Linkin Park-based text font.{{cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/video/watch/google-autocomplete-inverviews-smosh-answer-the-webs-most-searched-questions|title=Smosh Answer The Web's Most Searched Questions|magazine=Wired|date=July 28, 2023|access-date=September 14, 2023|archive-date=September 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929033423/https://www.wired.com/video/watch/google-autocomplete-inverviews-smosh-answer-the-webs-most-searched-questions|url-status=live}}
Later, his friend, Ian Hecox, joined the venture; Padilla and Hecox first met in the sixth grade. They became friends, and quickly discovered their knack for comedy. In 2005, the duo created lip sync videos of the theme songs to Mortal Kombat and Power Rangers, which were created in Padilla's bedroom at his family's home in Carmichael, California. They initially hosted the videos on smosh.com and their MySpace page, but discovered YouTube after finding their Mortal Kombat video uploaded on the website, where it garnered several thousand views.{{cite web |last=Borden |first=Jane |date=July 16, 2015 |title=How Sacramento's YouTube darlings Smosh went Hollywood and scored big time |url=https://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/content/how-sacramentos-youtube-darlings-smosh-went-hollywood-and-scored-big-time/17591594/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607051932/https://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/content/how-sacramentos-youtube-darlings-smosh-went-hollywood-and-scored-big-time/17591594/ |archive-date=June 7, 2023 |access-date=September 12, 2023 |website=Sacramento News & Review}} They officially joined YouTube on November 19, 2005, uploading three videos on the same day: the Power Rangers and Mortal Kombat videos with The Epic Battle: Jesus vs Cyborg Satan sketch, with the former being their first video uploaded.{{cite web|last=Cohen|first=Joshua|url=http://www.tubefilter.com/2013/01/12/smosh-most-subscribed-youtube/|title=Smosh Passes Ray William Johnson as #1 Most Subscribed YouTube Channel|publisher=Tubefilter|date=January 12, 2013|access-date=December 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402020128/https://www.tubefilter.com/2013/01/12/smosh-most-subscribed-youtube/|archive-date=April 2, 2023|url-status=live}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GqGTN3LScAoC&q=smosh|title=YouTube and Video Marketing: An Hour a Day|first=Greg|last=Jarboe|date=October 7, 2011|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-1-118-20381-1}}
One of Smosh's earliest videos, "Pokémon Theme Music Video", was released on November 28, 2005, and followed the same style as their other earlier videos, featuring the duo lip-syncing the original English theme song for the Pokémon anime.{{cite magazine|url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1570729,00.html|title=Smosh|first=Lev|last=Grossman|author-link=Lev Grossman|magazine=Time|date=December 16, 2006|access-date=July 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406150548/https://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1570729,00.html|archive-date=April 6, 2023|url-status=dead}} The video's creation followed an audience poll the duo posted on MySpace for their next video, where Pokémon won. However, the video instantly became much more popular than any of their other videos. Over the course of its lifetime, it gained over 24 million views, and briefly became the most-viewed video on all of YouTube.{{cite news |last=Heffernan |first=Virginia |author-link=Virginia Heffernan |date=April 4, 2006 |title=Comic shorts, home on the Web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/04/arts/04iht-videos.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411043548/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/04/arts/comic-shorts-home-on-the-web.html |archive-date=April 11, 2023 |access-date=November 23, 2009 |newspaper=The New York Times}}{{Cite journal |last1=Henriksen |first1=Danah |last2=Hoelting |first2=Megan |last3=the Deep-Play Research Group |date=March 1, 2016 |title=A Systems View of Creativity in a YouTube World |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-016-0047-2 |journal=TechTrends |volume=60 |issue=2 |pages=102–106 |doi=10.1007/s11528-016-0047-2 |s2cid=255306852 |issn=1559-7075 |access-date=October 13, 2023 |archive-date=May 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520115720/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11528-016-0047-2 |url-status=live }} This held that title until being dethroned by Judson Laipply's "Evolution of Dance".{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L91RCOpMI1oC&dq=%22Smosh.com%22+before:2012+-wikipedia&pg=PA68|title=Reading Youth Writing: "new" Literacies, Cultural Studies & Education|first1=Michael|last1=Hoechsmann|first2=Bronwen E.|last2=Low|pages=68–73|publisher=Peter Lang|date=2008|isbn=978-1-4331-0177-9 |access-date=June 16, 2025}} The success of their Pokémon video and other videos led Smosh to be featured in the "Person of the Year: You" issue of Time, published on December 16, 2006. The video was later removed from the site in 2007 due to a copyright infringement claim. Due to the channel's continued success, and Smosh's partnership with YouTube, the two recreated the video in November 2010, this time changing the words to be critical of The Pokémon Company taking down the Pokémon theme video.{{Cite web |last=Dreier |first=Troy |date=October 4, 2012 |title=Smosh: YouTube Gods and Unlikely Online Video Superstars |url=https://www.streamingmedia.com/Articles/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=85398 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721135438/https://www.streamingmedia.com/Articles/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=85398 |archive-date=July 21, 2022 |access-date=November 21, 2022 |website=Streaming Media Magazine}}
= Initial YouTube success and early expansion (2006–2011) =
File:Ian Hecox & Anthony Padilla (7484979406).jpg 2012|alt=Ian Hecox standing to the left and Anthony Padilla standing to the right performing on stage at VidCon 2012, with Hecox pouring a bottle of water in a bucket held by Padilla]]
Over the course of the next few years, Smosh began to diversify. Barry Blumberg, former president of Walt Disney Television Animation, discovered Hecox and Padilla's videos in 2006, and came in contact with them to become their manager. Blumberg helped the duo obtain a spot among YouTube's Partner program in 2007, allowing Smosh to monetize their content. He also persuaded the duo to develop a schedule for video creation. Blumberg's involvement in Smosh was credited by several outlets as pivotal for the brand's diversification.{{Cite web |last=Acuna |first=Kirsten |date=August 1, 2015 |title=THE ORIGINAL YOUTUBE STARS: How Smosh went from making a ridiculous Pokémon video to building a comedy empire |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/smosh-ian-hecox-anthony-padilla-history-2015-7 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20170420042527/https://www.businessinsider.com/smosh-ian-hecox-anthony-padilla-history-2015-7 |archive-date=April 20, 2017 |access-date=August 7, 2024 |website=Business Insider}}
By 2006, they transitioned to making original comedy skits, which were primarily filmed in and around a house in Rosemont, California.{{Cite news|url=https://www.sacbee.com/entertainment/article276574066.html|title=Anthony Padilla, co-founder of Smosh, purchases and rejoins popular YouTube channel|first=Alex|last=Muegge|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|date=June 20, 2023|access-date=September 11, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621055928/https://www.sacbee.com/entertainment/article276574066.html|archive-date=June 21, 2023|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}} During this time, they created various series such as Food Battle, That Damn Neighbor, and If X Were Real. Smosh also launched a second channel based on Hecox's individual "IanH" account that he created in 2006, which contained behind-the-scenes footage and extras. Smosh became the most-subscribed YouTube channel from May to June 2006, and from April 2007 to September 2008. The Smosh website would also see expansion as well. It hosted their videography alongside bloopers and exclusive footage from their sketch videos. The website also provided additional revenue for Smosh via advertising and merchandise.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/3049003/how-smosh-evolved-from-pokemon-videos-to-a-multi-media-brand|title=How Smosh Evolved From Pokemon Videos To A Multi-Media Brand|first=Nicole|last=LaPlante|magazine=Fast Company|date=July 28, 2015|access-date=September 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625023516/https://www.fastcompany.com/3049003/how-smosh-evolved-from-pokemon-videos-to-a-multi-media-brand|archive-date=June 25, 2022|url-status=live}} In January 2010, Smosh launched the "Smosh Pit" feature, a blog that consists of various pieces of pop-culture trivia, and written comedy. They hired Mariko "Mari" Takahashi in 2011 to host the Smosh Pit Weekly series on their second channel, which summarized content from Smosh Pit.{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/how-smosh-star-mari-got-the-last-laugh-2015-12|title=When Smosh star Mari Takahashi started out, YouTube comments were so cruel they made her cry|first=Julie|last=Bort|website=Business Insider|date=December 9, 2015|access-date=September 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018150851/https://www.businessinsider.com/how-smosh-star-mari-got-the-last-laugh-2015-12|archive-date=October 18, 2023|url-status=live}}
= Defy Media, further expansion and Padilla's departure (2011–2018) =
File:Ian Hecox & Anthony Padilla (14495031506).jpg 2014|alt=Ian Hecox to the left and Anthony Padilla to the right at VidCon 2014, sitting down while signing autographs]]
In 2011, Smosh was acquired by Alloy Digital (later rebranded to Defy Media), while also enjoying a 40% boost in viewership.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2013/01/smosh-youtube-channel-subscribers-404020/|title=SMOSH Says It's The No. 1 YouTube Channel In Subscribers|last=Team|first=The Deadline|date=January 14, 2013|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=October 25, 2017|archive-date=October 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025185426/http://deadline.com/2013/01/smosh-youtube-channel-subscribers-404020/|url-status=live}} Blumberg would also become the chief content officer of Defy Media. The duo created three new YouTube channels throughout 2012: ElSmosh, with Smosh videos dubbed in Spanish, Shut Up! Cartoons, their animation channel, and Smosh Games, with gaming-related content. In January 2013, the Smosh channel surpassed Ray William Johnson in subscribers to become the most-subscribed YouTube channel for the third time. They held this position until August 2013 when they were surpassed by Swedish Let's Player PewDiePie, who also collaborated with the duo shortly after reaching the position.{{cite web|url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2013/08/17/pewdiepie-smosh-collab-to-celebrate-most-subscribed-youtube-channel/|title=PewDiePie, Smosh Collab To Celebrate Most Subscribed YouTube Channel|first=Joshua|last=Cohen|publisher=Tubefilter|date=August 17, 2013|access-date=August 7, 2024|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20130819022123/https://www.tubefilter.com/2013/08/17/pewdiepie-smosh-collab-to-celebrate-most-subscribed-youtube-channel/|archive-date=August 19, 2013|url-status=live}} By December 2014, the Smosh website had accumulated over 60 million page views, and according to Alexa Internet was ranked among the top websites in the world.{{cite web|url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2014/12/23/smosh-com-traffic-60-million-page-views-per-month/|title=Smosh.com Gets Insane Traffic, Over 60 Million Page Views Per Month|first=Joshua|last=Cohen|publisher=Tubefilter|date=December 23, 2014|access-date=June 16, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129183218/https://www.tubefilter.com/2014/12/23/smosh-com-traffic-60-million-page-views-per-month/|archive-date=November 29, 2022|url-status=live}}
In 2015, Smosh began hiring cast members for their videos, including Noah Grossman, Keith Leak Jr., Olivia Sui, Courtney Miller and Shayne Topp. They began appearing in sketches such as the Every (Blank) Ever series, which started in May 2015.{{cite web|url=http://newmediarockstars.com/2015/05/every-blank-ever-smosh-debuts-new-series/|title=Every [Blank] Ever: Smosh Debuts New Series|first=Evan|last=DeSimone|website=New Media Rockstars|date=May 13, 2015|access-date=June 16, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522025109/http://newmediarockstars.com/2015/05/every-blank-ever-smosh-debuts-new-series/|archive-date=May 22, 2015|url-status=dead}} In January 2016, a web sitcom was launched on the main Smosh channel. Part Timers is a comedy-drama which takes place at a fictional children's arcade and pizza place called Pork E. Pine's, which takes inspiration from Hecox's first job at Chuck E. Cheese's.{{Cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2015/digital/news/smosh-part-timers-youtube-comedy-ian-hecox-anthony-padilla-1201634304/|title=YouTube's Smosh Guys to Star in 'Part Timers' Scripted Comedy|first=Todd|last=Spangler|magazine=Variety|date=November 5, 2015|access-date=October 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019132238/https://variety.com/2015/digital/news/smosh-part-timers-youtube-comedy-ian-hecox-anthony-padilla-1201634304/|archive-date=October 19, 2023|url-status=live}} Also that year, the Smosh cast streamed a live sketch show on YouTube on August 26. Compared to Saturday Night Live, the 90 minute show featured improvisational sketches and fake TV commercials, which Hecox and Padilla stated was an adjustment from their typical scripted comedy. Regarded as the first live sketch show on YouTube, the stream reached around 58,000 concurrent viewers and over 1.3 million views within several days.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/youtube-comedy-franchise-smosh-went-live-on-friday-night-1472594077|title=YouTube Comedy Franchise Smosh Went Live on Friday Night|first=Mike|last=Shields|work=Wall Street Journal|date=August 30, 2016|access-date=August 14, 2024|url-access=subscription}} Smosh also launched several short-lived web series in the fall of 2016, which was dubbed "Smoshtober"; the programming block succeeded Defy's raising of $70 million during the summer.{{Cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2016/digital/news/smosh-defy-fall-programming-1201877480/|title='Smosh' New Comedy Shows Lead Defy Media's Fall Slate of Original Series|first=Todd|last=Spangler|magazine=Variety|date=October 4, 2016|access-date=June 16, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005124136/https://variety.com/2016/digital/news/smosh-defy-fall-programming-1201877480/|archive-date=October 5, 2016|url-status=live}}
On June 14, 2017, Padilla announced he would be leaving Smosh to pursue independent video ventures due to a "lack in creative freedom".{{Cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/6/15/15811466/smosh-break-up-padilla|title=Smosh co-founder leaves YouTube channel over lack of creative freedom|last=Crecente|first=Brian|date=June 15, 2017|website=Polygon|access-date=October 25, 2017|archive-date=October 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025185327/https://www.polygon.com/2017/6/15/15811466/smosh-break-up-padilla|url-status=live}} Hecox stated he would remain with Smosh, adding "I'm really looking forward to taking Smosh to the next phase, and we can't wait for people to see what we have coming up". Blumberg also resigned from his position at Defy earlier that year in March.{{cite magazine|first=Todd|last=Spangler|title=Smosh Co-Founder Anthony Padilla Is Leaving the YouTube Comedy Group|date=June 14, 2017|url=https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/anthony-padilla-leaving-smosh-1202465684/|access-date=June 14, 2017|magazine=Variety|archive-date=April 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240413071219/https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/anthony-padilla-leaving-smosh-1202465684/|url-status=live}} Following Padilla's departure, Smosh expanded their second channel into Smosh Pit while adding multiple series. The Smosh Pit Weekly series, which had ended in 2015, was revived with Takahashi hosting once more.{{cite web|url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2017/08/14/smosh-pit-defy-media/|title=Smosh Announces Slate Of Seven Shows For Rebranded Smosh Pit Channel (Exclusive)|first=Sam|last=Gutelle|website=Tubefilter|date=August 14, 2017|access-date=September 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008084327/https://www.tubefilter.com/2017/08/14/smosh-pit-defy-media/|archive-date=October 8, 2023|url-status=live}}
= Under Mythical Entertainment's ownership (2018–2023) =
{{further information|Defy Media#2018: Decline and dissolution}}
On November 6, 2018, Defy Media abruptly announced they were shutting down and laying off all its employees.{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/defy-media-shutting-down-layoffs-1203020919/|title=Defy Media Is Shutting Down, Will Lay Off Employees|first=Todd|last=Spangler|magazine=Variety|date=November 6, 2018|access-date=November 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117040001/https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/defy-media-shutting-down-layoffs-1203020919/|archive-date=November 17, 2018|url-status=live}} On November 12, Smosh released an update video reaffirming that Smosh was searching for a new owner, and that in the meanwhile, content would continue to be released independently by the Smosh team. The cast clarified that they still had a significant amount of content from before Defy Media's shutdown in post-production. They also did not rule out the possibility of filming new content and releasing it independently, calling such an idea "old school", alluding to YouTube's early days when content was less commercialized.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfA2d7ZoixA |title=Smosh is Homeless |date=November 12, 2018 |author=Smosh |access-date=November 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/lfA2d7ZoixA |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{Cite magazine |last=Jarvey |first=Natalie |date=November 19, 2018 |title=A Class-Action Lawsuit, Late Creator Payments: Inside Defy Media's Shutdown |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/defy-medias-shutdown-provokes-class-action-lawsuit-complaints-late-creator-payments-1160929/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019132237/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/defy-medias-shutdown-provokes-class-action-lawsuit-complaints-late-creator-payments-1160929/ |archive-date=October 19, 2023 |access-date=October 13, 2023 |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter}}
Padilla released a video the following day explaining in further detail his departure from Smosh, alongside his issues regarding Defy's ownership of the brand. Declaring Defy as "evil and shady", he revealed that he and Hecox sold Smosh to Defy for stock, which had no monetary value because the company never went public. Padilla also expressed dissatisfaction with Defy's treatment of its employees and stated the company exploited them financially, took over his Facebook page, tried to take over his Twitter account, and prevented him from joining the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). He also revealed that Defy had pressured them into starting a fundraiser for Food Battle: The Game before it had even been conceived, something that had at the time led to accusations of exploitation being levied against himself and Hecox. He also explained that he had not previously shared this information because of worries that it would threaten the job security of his friends.{{cite web |last=Weiss |first=Geoff |date=November 8, 2018 |title=Smosh Co-Founder Anthony Padilla Shares Why He Departed "Evil And Shady" Defy Media After Sudden Shutdown |url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2018/11/08/why-anthony-padilla-left-defy-media/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108170423/https://www.tubefilter.com/2018/11/08/why-anthony-padilla-left-defy-media/ |archive-date=November 8, 2018 |access-date=August 13, 2024 |publisher=Tubefilter}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/13/18079148/defy-media-youtube-creators-response-shane-dawson-ryland-adams-smosh-anthony-padilla|title=Top YouTube creators call out defunct Defy Media for shady practices|first=Julia|last=Alexander|website=The Verge|date=November 13, 2018|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113195810/https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/13/18079148/defy-media-youtube-creators-response-shane-dawson-ryland-adams-smosh-anthony-padilla|archive-date=November 13, 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/12/5/18125657/defy-media-youtube-logan-paul-ryland-adams-anthony-padillo-smosh-network|title=YouTube creators blindsided by major network's collapse|first=Julia|last=Alexander|website=The Verge|date=December 5, 2018|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205150538/https://www.theverge.com/2018/12/5/18125657/defy-media-youtube-logan-paul-ryland-adams-anthony-padillo-smosh-network|archive-date=December 5, 2018|url-status=live}} Hecox later revealed in a March 2019 interview with TheWrap that throughout the brand's ownership under Defy, they suffered through "aimless and poor leadership", and that had they not found a suitable company to buy the brand that he "would not continue with the brand."{{cite web |last=Lopez |first=Matt |date=March 5, 2019 |title=Smosh Co-Founder Spills on the 'Bad Situation' With Owner Who Suddenly Shut Down Last Year |url=https://www.thewrap.com/smosh-defy-ian-hecox-mythical-rhett-link-bad-situation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024223244/https://www.thewrap.com/smosh-defy-ian-hecox-mythical-rhett-link-bad-situation/ |archive-date=October 24, 2022 |access-date=June 16, 2025 |website=TheWrap}}
On February 22, 2019, Smosh was acquired by Mythical Entertainment, a production company founded by fellow YouTube comedians Rhett & Link. A majority of the Smosh cast and crew returned to the company following the acquisition. Smosh also created a new weekly podcast, "SmoshCast", following the announcement. {{cite magazine |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=February 22, 2019 |title=Smosh Acquired By Rhett & Link's Mythical Entertainment |url=https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/smosh-acquired-rhett-link-mythical-entertainment-1203146114/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112025545/https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/smosh-acquired-rhett-link-mythical-entertainment-1203146114/ |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |access-date=March 20, 2019 |magazine=Variety}} During this time, Smosh operated out of Mythical Entertainment's Los Angeles office, though later moved into a specially built studio space in Burbank.{{Cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/smosh-anthony-padilla-ian-hecox-acquire-rhett-link-1235645648/|title=Smosh Co-Founders Anthony Padilla, Ian Hecox Reunite to Acquire Comedy Brand From Rhett & Link (EXCLUSIVE)|first=Todd|last=Spangler|magazine=Variety|date=June 20, 2023|access-date=June 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620165925/https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/smosh-anthony-padilla-ian-hecox-acquire-rhett-link-1235645648/|archive-date=June 20, 2023|url-status=live}} Smosh subsequently joined the Studio71 network in April.{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/smosh-studio71-rhett-link-1203201232/|title=YouTube Sketch-Comedy Group Smosh Joins Studio71's Creator Network|first=Todd|last=Spangler|magazine=Variety|date=April 30, 2019|access-date=June 16, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250426053800/https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/smosh-studio71-rhett-link-1203201232/|archive-date=April 26, 2025|url-status=live}} They later hired several new staff following the acquisition: Daniel Tibbets as their first CEO in October 2021;{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/smosh-hires-first-ceo-daniel-tibbets-mythical-rhett-link-youtube-1234854820/|title=Smosh Hires Media Vet Daniel Tibbets As Its First CEO As YouTube Comedy Brand Plots Expansion|first=Dade|last=Hayes|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=October 13, 2021|access-date=June 16, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211013153431/https://deadline.com/2021/10/smosh-hires-first-ceo-daniel-tibbets-mythical-rhett-link-youtube-1234854820/|archive-date=October 13, 2021|url-status=live}} Lesley Wolff as their director of on-air talent in April 2022;{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/smosh-lesley-wolff-on-air-talent-1235219339/|title=Smosh Hires Casting Veteran Lesley Wolff as Director of On-Air Talent|first=Todd|last=Spangler|magazine=Variety|date=April 7, 2022|access-date=June 16, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407160420/https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/smosh-lesley-wolff-on-air-talent-1235219339/|archive-date=April 7, 2022|url-status=live}} and Joel Rubin as their Executive Vice President of Programming and Content in July 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/07/smosh-appoints-joel-rubin-as-first-evp-of-programming-content-digital-comedy-youtube-1235063229/|title=Smosh Appoints Joel Rubin As Digital Comedy Outlet's First EVP Of Programming And Content|first=Dade|last=Hayes|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=July 13, 2022|access-date=June 16, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220713170148/https://deadline.com/2022/07/smosh-appoints-joel-rubin-as-first-evp-of-programming-content-digital-comedy-youtube-1235063229/|archive-date=July 13, 2022|url-status=live}}
In October 2019, Smosh announced they would go on their first live tour in February 2020 across five cities: Seattle, Portland, Sacramento, San Diego and Phoenix. The tour is based on their "Try Not To Laugh" web series, which involves the cast members performing improvisational skits towards an individual member in an attempt to make them laugh.{{cite web|url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2019/10/28/smosh-try-not-to-laugh-live-tour-february-2020-tickets/|title=Smosh Will Take 'Try Not To Laugh' YouTube Series Live With First-Ever Tour|first=James|last=Hale|website=Tubefilter|date=October 28, 2019|access-date=June 16, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029073322/https://www.tubefilter.com/2019/10/28/smosh-try-not-to-laugh-live-tour-february-2020-tickets/|archive-date=October 29, 2019|url-status=live}} Smosh created another live show in a similar manner as their 2016 stream, named "Under the Influence". The stream featured the cast performing sketches alongside reenacting several of their segments, including "Try Not To Laugh" and "Eat It or Yeet It", while under the influence. The stream aired on June 30, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/viral/smosh-ian-hecox-live-show-under-the-influence-rcna35988|title=Smosh returns to live shows with 'Under The Influence'|first=Morgan|last=Sung|website=NBC News|date=June 30, 2022|access-date=August 14, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630175835/https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/viral/smosh-ian-hecox-live-show-under-the-influence-rcna35988|archive-date=June 30, 2022|url-status=live}} They hosted a similar event on December 15, 2022 called "Under the Mistletoe."{{cite web|url=https://bleedingcool.com/tv/smosh-under-the-mistletoe-had-serious-potential-fell-short-review/|title=Smosh: Under The Mistletoe Had Serious Potential, Fell Short: Review|first=Brittney|last=Bender|quote=This is something that Smosh and its cast are good at. Character work continued to save this event from some less-than-favorable improvisational moments... They work so well together, and their improvisational skills continue to impress. |website=Bleeding Cool|date=December 19, 2022|access-date=September 11, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219133825/https://bleedingcool.com/tv/smosh-under-the-mistletoe-had-serious-potential-fell-short-review/|archive-date=December 19, 2022|url-status=live}}
= Padilla's return and Smosh as an independent venture (2023–present) =
On June 20, 2023, Hecox and Padilla announced the latter's return to Smosh after the duo had decided to repurchase a majority stake in Smosh from Mythical Entertainment to become an independent entity again, with Mythical maintaining a minority stake and maintaining involvement in an advisory capacity. With this change, Padilla promoted Alessandra Catanese, the COO and executive producer from his own company Pressalike Productions, as CEO of the new Smosh entity; Rubin and Tibbets both exited the company. It was stated that the main Smosh channel would return to a more sketch-oriented output, moving away from the pivot to more improv-based content in the years prior. However, the unscripted Smosh Pit and Smosh Games channels would remain as they were. They also launched a subscription-based membership program which offers exclusive content such as behind-the-scenes videos and live streams.
Following Padilla's return to Smosh, the channel returned to the sketch comedy format primarily featuring the duo, including revisiting past sketches such as their "Stop Copying Me" video and Food Battle.{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/og-youtubers-comebacks-revivals-2023-rcna127668|title=From Smosh to Dan and Phil Games: 'OG' YouTubers returned to their roots this year|first=Daysia|last=Tolentio|work=NBC News|date=December 28, 2023|access-date=August 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202055838/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/og-youtubers-comebacks-revivals-2023-rcna127668|archive-date=February 2, 2024|url-status=live}} Their current output focuses on Bit City, a series advertised as "if Smosh did a late-night talk show" which features various cast members such as Hecox, Padilla, and hosts Angela Giarratana and Chanse McCrary. Bit City premiered on August 23, 2024.{{cite web |last=Hein |first=Michael |date=August 23, 2024 |title=Smosh Reveals New Show: Watch the Trailer for 'Bit City' |url=https://popculture.com/streaming/news/smosh-reveals-new-show-watch-trailer-for-bit-city/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819183037/https://popculture.com/streaming/news/smosh-reveals-new-show-watch-trailer-for-bit-city/ |archive-date=August 19, 2024 |access-date=September 11, 2024 |website=PopCulture.com}}
Channels
= Smosh =
Smosh is the original and main channel created in November 2005, with current output focusing around the show Bit City.
= Smosh Pit =
The Smosh Pit channel uploads every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. The videos mostly consist of a variety of unscripted formats including game shows and challenges involving the cast. Popular series include Try Not to Laugh, Challenge Pit and Reading Reddit Stories.
= Smosh Games =
{{Main article|Smosh Games}}
The Smosh Games channel uploads every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. The videos consist of playing video games, board games, and card games, with various recurring games and series.
= SmoshCast =
Smosh's podcast channel currently consists of Smosh Mouth, which is hosted by Shayne Topp and Amanda Lehan-Canto. Each episode usually features a distinct theme and a guest from amongst Smosh's cast and production crew.
= ElSmosh =
ElSmosh uploads new Smosh episodes that have been dubbed over in Spanish. The videos are mostly from the main Smosh channel. It was originally created by a fan who dubbed Smosh videos in the language, and Hecox and Padilla hired them.
=SmoshAlike=
Originally Anthony Padilla's personal channel, it began posting content more frequently after Padilla's departure from Smosh in 2017. Upon his return to owning the Smosh brand with Ian Hecox in 2023, the channel began featuring Smosh cast members while remaining an independent part of Padilla's PressAlike production. On May 5, 2025, the channel rebranded to SmoshAlike, bringing the channel and PressAlike under the Smosh brand.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8Dx87tGrVA What's Going On With This Channel] SmoshAlike. May 5, 2025. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
Other ventures
= App and game development =
Smosh has branched out into various ventures related to digital media, including app and game development. In early 2010, Smosh created the "iShut Up App" for Android phones as part of a Google sponsorship; it eventually made its way to the iTunes app store.{{Cite book |last=Matheson |first=Rosie |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lggxCgAAQBAJ&dq=smosh&pg=PT59 |title=YouTube Famous: Making it big on the internet |date=May 6, 2015 |publisher=Arcturus Publishing |isbn=978-1-78428-111-3 |access-date=August 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215221909/https://books.google.com/books?id=lggxCgAAQBAJ&q=food+battle |archive-date=December 15, 2023 |url-status=live}} In February 2013, they released the Super Head Esploder X video game for iOS, which became the most downloaded game in the App Store within its first week.{{cite web|url=http://www.tubefilter.com/2013/02/19/smosh-mobile-game-super-head-esploder-x/|title=Smosh's Mobile Game Hits App Store's Most Downloaded List|first=Sam|last=Gutelle|website=Tubefilter|date=February 19, 2013|access-date=August 7, 2024|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20131031073056/http://www.tubefilter.com/2013/02/19/smosh-mobile-game-super-head-esploder-x/|archive-date=October 31, 2013|url-status=live}} The same year in July, they also started an Indiegogo campaign for an iOS and PC game, Food Battle: The Game, which was based on their characters and the foods used in their annual Food Battle series.{{cite web|url=http://www.tubefilter.com/2013/07/22/smosh-food-battle-game-indiegogo/|title=Smosh Looks To Raise $250,000 on Indiegogo For 'Food Battle' Video Game|first=Joshua|last=Cohen|publisher=Tubefilter|date=July 22, 2013|access-date=July 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130812044135/http://www.tubefilter.com/2013/07/22/smosh-food-battle-game-indiegogo/|archive-date=August 12, 2013|url-status=live}} Lasting for 33 days from July 22 to August 24, the campaign raised $259,247 in total over a $250,000 goal, with Hecox and Padilla donating 10% of the funds to the "DoSomething", "Child's Play" and "FEED USA" charities.{{cite web|url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2013/08/24/youtube-smosh-259247-food-battle-video-game/|title=YouTube Star Channel Smosh Raises $259,247 To Make A Video Game|first=Joshua|last=Cohen|publisher=Tubefilter|date=August 24, 2013|access-date=August 7, 2024|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20130826114707/https://www.tubefilter.com/2013/08/24/youtube-smosh-259247-food-battle-video-game/|archive-date=August 26, 2013|url-status=live}} An action RPG inspired by games such as The Legend of Zelda and The Witcher 2, the game was released in 2014.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2014/10/30/smosh-s-ian-and-anthony-on-their-food-battle-video-game-and-youtube-notoriety.aspx|title=Smosh's Ian And Anthony On Their Food Battle Video Game And YouTube Notoriety|first=Kyle|last=Hilliard|magazine=Game Informer|date=October 30, 2014|access-date=August 7, 2024|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240520003257/https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2014/10/30/smosh-s-ian-and-anthony-on-their-food-battle-video-game-and-youtube-notoriety.aspx|archive-date=May 20, 2024|url-status=live}} Smosh also released another mobile app to access Smosh videos and other content from their website, which was also available on the Xbox One.{{cite book |last1=Coombs |first1=Danielle Sarver |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FbvOEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Smosh%22+%2B+%22xbox%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA225 |title=Debates for the Digital Age: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Our Online World [2 Volumes] · Volume 1 |last2=Collister |first2=Simon |date=November 23, 2015 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=9781440801242 |page=225 |access-date=August 7, 2024}}
= Books =
In 2013, Smosh created Smosh Magazine which consisted of comics, interviews and behind-the-scenes content. The magazine ran exclusively in the United States for two editions with 40,000 copies produced, alongside a digital download on iTunes.{{cite magazine |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=August 21, 2013 |title=YouTube Stars: Our Way or the Highway |url=https://variety.com/2013/digital/news/youtube-smosh-anthony-padilla-ian-hecox-jenna-marbles-1200582893/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20150206073321/https://variety.com/2013/digital/news/youtube-smosh-anthony-padilla-ian-hecox-jenna-marbles-1200582893/ |archive-date=February 6, 2015 |access-date=August 7, 2024 |magazine=Variety}} Throughout 2015 and 2016, Smosh partnered with Dynamite Entertainment to publish a comic book and graphic novel series.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/youtube-comedy-brand-smosh-partners-796791/|title=YouTube Comedy Brand SMOSH Partners With Dynamite for Comic Book Line|first=Graeme|last=McMillan|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 19, 2015|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221003042501/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/youtube-comedy-brand-smosh-partners-796791/|archive-date=October 3, 2022|url-status=live}} Comic writers Michael McDermott and Yale Stewart co-wrote the book with Stewart contributing illustration, and Hecox and Padilla were credited for developing the story with Dynamite editor Rich Young. The six-issue series contains the "Super Virgin Squad" story written by McDermott, which chronicles the titular group as possessing superhuman abilities. Stewart also penned "That Damn Neighbor" based on the Smosh web series. The first issue was released in May 2016.{{cite web |last=Ching |first=Albert |date=February 17, 2016 |title=EXCLUSIVE: YouTube Comedy Duo Smosh Expand to Comics at Dynamite |url=https://www.cbr.com/exclusive-youtube-comedy-duo-smosh-expand-to-comics-at-dynamite/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125030821/https://www.cbr.com/exclusive-youtube-comedy-duo-smosh-expand-to-comics-at-dynamite/ |archive-date=January 25, 2021 |access-date=August 12, 2024 |website=Comic Book Resources}}
=Films=
On September 18, 2014, it was announced that a feature-length film starring the duo was in development by AwesomenessFilms;{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/smosh-the-movie-announced-2014-9|title=Lionsgate Is Making A Movie With Two of YouTube's Biggest Stars|first=Kristen|last=Acuna|website=Business Insider|date=September 18, 2014|access-date=September 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140919031429/http://www.businessinsider.com/smosh-the-movie-announced-2014-9|archive-date=September 19, 2014|url-status=live}} it would be later titled Smosh: The Movie, and was released direct-to-video on July 24, 2015, by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, with Netflix acquiring the film's streaming rights.{{Cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2015/digital/news/netflix-smosh-the-movie-streaming-exclusive-1201577671/|title=Netflix Acquires 'Smosh: The Movie' Exclusive Streaming Rights|first=Todd|last=Spangler|magazine=Variety|date=August 25, 2015|access-date=May 1, 2021|archive-date=April 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430143407/https://variety.com/2015/digital/news/netflix-smosh-the-movie-streaming-exclusive-1201577671/|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|last1=Spangler|first1=Todd|title=Lionsgate Acquires Rights to 'The Smosh Movie,' Starring YouTube Comedy Duo|url=https://variety.com/2014/digital/news/lionsgate-acquires-worldwide-rights-to-the-smosh-movie-starring-youtube-comedy-duo-1201308432/|magazine=Variety|date=September 18, 2014|access-date=November 3, 2014|archive-date=February 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212005305/http://variety.com/2014/digital/news/lionsgate-acquires-worldwide-rights-to-the-smosh-movie-starring-youtube-comedy-duo-1201308432/|url-status=live}} Directed by Alex Winter from a screenplay by Eric Falconer and Steve Marmel, it stars both Hecox and Padilla as fictionalized versions of themselves, alongside fellow YouTube personalities Jenna Marbles, Grace Helbig, Harley Morenstein, Mark Fischbach, Dominic Sandoval, and the Smosh Games crew, with Shane Dawson appearing in the Unrated version.{{cite web |last=Brouwer |first=Bree |url=http://www.tubefilter.com/2014/09/18/lionsgate-distribution-the-smosh-movie/ |title=Smosh Gets A Movie Deal Through Lionsgate, DEFY Media, AwesomenessTV |publisher=Tubefilter |date=September 18, 2014 |access-date=September 22, 2014 |archive-date=March 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331204543/https://www.tubefilter.com/2014/09/18/lionsgate-distribution-the-smosh-movie/ |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine|magazine=Variety|url=https://variety.com/2015/digital/news/smosh-the-movie-starring-youtube-comedy-duo-set-to-premiere-in-july-1201473198/|first=Todd|last=Spangler|title='Smosh: The Movie' Starring YouTube Comedy Duo Set to Premiere in July|date=April 15, 2015|access-date=April 16, 2015|archive-date=April 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416233959/http://variety.com/2015/digital/news/smosh-the-movie-starring-youtube-comedy-duo-set-to-premiere-in-july-1201473198/|url-status=live}}
Smosh created the film Ghostmates for YouTube Red that was released on December 14, 2016. Channel collaborator Ryan Finnerty wrote the screenplay with Hecox and Padilla, with Jack Henry Robbins directing the film. The film chronicles Hecox's character as a ghost following his accidental death, who becomes the roommate of Padilla's character after the latter moves into his apartment. The film also features a cameo from rapper T-Pain as a ghost.{{cite magazine |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=December 13, 2016 |title=Smosh Founders on Making Their Second Movie, 'Ghostmates,' Coming to YouTube Red |url=https://variety.com/2016/digital/news/smosh-movie-ghostmates-youtube-red-1201940849/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408083730/https://variety.com/2016/digital/news/smosh-movie-ghostmates-youtube-red-1201940849/ |archive-date=April 8, 2023 |access-date=June 10, 2025 |magazine=Variety}}
=Philanthropy and media appearances=
Smosh participated in the Prank It Forward series starting in 2014, which focused on raising money for charity with prank-based videos. They interviewed several celebrities in the series, including Emma Watson and Jennifer Lawrence. Proceeds from the videos went to the DoSomething charity, where $1 was donated for every 1000 video views accumulated.{{cite web|url=https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/films/news/jennifer-lawrence-storms-out-of-hunger-games-interview-after-pranking-pranksters-a6739041.html|title=Jennifer Lawrence storms out of Hunger Games interview in a prank on pranksters|first=Jess|last=Dunham|website=The Independent|date=November 18, 2015|access-date=June 11, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250611004315/https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/films/news/jennifer-lawrence-storms-out-of-hunger-games-interview-after-pranking-pranksters-a6739041.html|archive-date=June 11, 2025|url-status=live|language=en-UK}}{{cite web |last=Gutelle |first=Sam |date=March 31, 2014 |title=Smosh, Break, YouTube Jokesters 'Prank It Fwd' For Charity |url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2014/03/31/smosh-break-prank-it-fwd-charity-do-something/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216110658/https://www.tubefilter.com/2014/03/31/smosh-break-prank-it-fwd-charity-do-something/ |archive-date=December 16, 2014 |access-date=June 10, 2025 |website=Tubefilter}} The next year, Smosh appeared in a charity stream with The Game Theorists for The Brain and Behavior Research Foundation during Giving Week,{{cite web|url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2018/11/20/game-theorists-safiya-nygaard-youtube-giving-week/|title=The Game Theorists, Safiya Nygaard, Jay Shetty To Spearhead YouTube Charity Week|first=Geoff|last=Weiss|publisher=Tubefilter|date=November 20, 2018|access-date=November 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222110349/http://www.tubefilter.com/2016/10/31/smosh-t-pain-youtube-red-ghostmates/|archive-date=December 22, 2017|url-status=live}} and autographed a custom Xbox One console for Microsoft's partnership with Make-A-Wish in the Consoles for Kids charity auction.{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/9/19/17876134/xbox-one-make-a-wish-consoles-for-kids|title=Xbox and Make-A-Wish partner up to auction off custom consoles|first=Petrana|last=Radulovic|website=Polygon|date=September 19, 2018|access-date=June 10, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919152507/https://www.polygon.com/2018/9/19/17876134/xbox-one-make-a-wish-consoles-for-kids|archive-date=September 19, 2018|url-status=live}} For the channel's 15th anniversary, Smosh hosted a Twitch charity stream for the First Nations Development Institute which raised $17,000.{{cite web|url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2020/11/23/smosh-fifteenth-youtube-anniversary-first-nations-development-institute/|title=Smosh Fetes Fifteenth YouTube Anniversary With Charity Stream, Raising $17,000|first=Geoff|last=Weiss|publisher=Tubefilter|date=November 23, 2020|access-date=June 10, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123215908/https://www.tubefilter.com/2020/11/23/smosh-fifteenth-youtube-anniversary-first-nations-development-institute/|archive-date=November 23, 2020|url-status=live}} Members of Smosh also participated in the "Creators for Palestine" fundraiser in July 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/article/creators-for-palestine-raise-1-million-twitch.html|title=Creators for Palestine Raise $1.5 Million on Twitch|first=Bethy|last=Squires|website=Vulture|date=June 2, 2024|access-date=June 10, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240603005859/https://www.vulture.com/article/creators-for-palestine-raise-1-million-twitch.html|archive-date=June 3, 2024|url-status=live}}
Smosh has appeared in various episodes of YouTube Rewind.{{cite web|url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2017/12/21/youtube-rewind-2012-where-are-they-now/|title=The Stars of YouTube Rewind 2012: Where Are They Now?|first=Sam|last=Gutelle|website=Tubefilter|date=December 21, 2017|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428073601/https://www.tubefilter.com/2017/12/21/youtube-rewind-2012-where-are-they-now/|archive-date=April 28, 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/youtube-rewind-watch-vloggers-team-up-to-recreate-a-year-of-viral-videos-9912888.html|title=YouTube Rewind: Vloggers team up to re-create a year of viral videos|first=Andrew|last=Griffin|website=The Independent|date=December 9, 2014|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706104158/https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/youtube-rewind-watch-vloggers-team-up-to-recreate-a-year-of-viral-videos-9912888.html|archive-date=July 6, 2022|url-status=live}} Hecox and Padilla also appeared as guest judges on the Internet Icon series throughout 2012 and 2013,{{cite web|url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2012/12/21/yomyomf-internet-icon-season-2/|title=Want To Be A YouTube Star? YOMYOMF Has You Covered|first=Sam|last=Gutelle|website=Tubefilter|date=December 21, 2012|access-date=September 11, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130819234422/https://www.tubefilter.com/2012/12/21/yomyomf-internet-icon-season-2/|archive-date=August 19, 2013|url-status=live}} and participated in YouTube's Comedy Week in May 2013.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/youtube-announces-comedy-week-445947/|title=YouTube to Hold First Star-Studded Comedy Week|first=Philiana|last=Ng|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter|date=April 25, 2013|access-date=August 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816035803/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/youtube-announces-comedy-week-445947/|archive-date=August 16, 2024|url-status=live}}
The duo appeared in a promotion for Watch Dogs with Rob Dyrdek in 2014.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/rob-dyrdek-smosh-team-up-706959/|title=Rob Dyrdek, Smosh Team Up to Promote Video Game 'Watch Dogs' (Video)|first=Aaron|last=Couch|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 23, 2014|access-date=June 10, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201193531/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/rob-dyrdek-smosh-team-up-706959/|archive-date=December 1, 2021|url-status=live}} They also had voice roles in the 2016 animated film The Angry Birds Movie,{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/angry-birds-movie-jason-sudeikis-josh-gad-peter-dinklage-bill-hader-1201318330/|title='Angry Birds' Movie Casts Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, Peter Dinklage, Maya Rudolph|first=Dave|last=McNary|author-link=Dave McNary|magazine=Variety|date=October 1, 2014|access-date=August 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820005634/http://variety.com/2014/film/news/angry-birds-movie-jason-sudeikis-josh-gad-peter-dinklage-bill-hader-1201318330/|archive-date=August 20, 2016|url-status=live}} and appeared in an episode of the Epic Rap Battles of History web series.{{cite web|url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2014/07/14/epic-rap-battles-of-history-smosh-rhett-link-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles/|title=Smosh, Rhett & Link, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Battle On Season Finale Of 'ERB'|first=Joshua|last=Cohen|website=Tubefilter|date=July 14, 2014|access-date=August 13, 2024}}
Legacy
{{see also|Smosh Games#Reception and popularity}}
=Popularity and reception=
One of the first personalities to gain popularity on YouTube, Smosh has been regarded as among the most popular channels on the website, and an early example of an Internet celebrity.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Nw3kEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Smosh%22+%2B+%22celebrity%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA317|title=Explaining Creativity: The Science of Human Innovation|first1=Robert Keith|last1=Sawyer|first2=Danah|last2=Henriksen|page=317|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780197747537|date=January 5, 2024|access-date=September 5, 2024}} They have also been credited as pioneers and innovators of the platform.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9q_2EAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Smosh.com%22+-wikipedia&pg=PT135|title=Celeb 2.0: How Social Media Foster Our Fascination with Popular Culture|first=Kelli S.|last=Burns|section=Comedic Performers|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|isbn=9798216058533|date=October 22, 2009|access-date=September 5, 2024}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J_ZlDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Smosh%22+%2B+%22pioneers%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA81|title=Growing Your Library Career with Social Media|first=Daniella|last=Smith|page=81|publisher=Elsevier Science|isbn=9780081024126|date=July 20, 2018|access-date=September 5, 2024}} News outlets have referred to the brand as a media empire.{{cite web |last=Petersen |first=Anne Helen |date=July 26, 2015 |title=Forever Young: How Smosh Plans To Build A YouTube Fame That'll Last |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/annehelenpetersen/super-smosh-brothers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230827064026/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/annehelenpetersen/super-smosh-brothers |archive-date=August 27, 2023 |access-date=September 13, 2023 |website=BuzzFeed News}} Their authenticity was recognized as a factor for their popularity. BuzzFeed News and Variety both observed their relatability among audiences and their relationship among their fans. Compared to traditional celebrities, Smosh and other Internet personalities were typically deemed as more engaging and authentic among adolescents.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2014/08/07/the-surprisingly-profound-reason-why-teenagers-love-youtube-celebrities/|title=The surprisingly profound reason why teenagers love YouTube celebrities|first=Caitlin|last=Dewey|author-link=Caitlin Dewey|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=August 7, 2014|access-date=September 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808111342/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2014/08/07/the-surprisingly-profound-reason-why-teenagers-love-youtube-celebrities/|archive-date=August 8, 2014|url-status=live}} Troy Dreier of Streaming Media Magazine ascribed their fan base's affinity of the duo to their image "as likeable (if crazy) guys next door." However, author Aaron Duplantier stated that their videos eschewed intimate self-expression, instead focusing on comedic skits.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zo-wDAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Smosh%22+%2B+%22authentic%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA131|title=Authenticity and How We Fake It: Belief and Subjectivity in Reality TV, Facebook and YouTube|first=Aaron|last=Duplantier|page=131|publisher=McFarland, Inc.|isbn=9781476625232|date=July 12, 2016|access-date=September 11, 2024}}
Their videos have received a positive reception from several outlets. Likening them to Saturday Night Live, Grossman opined that "[t]heir genius... is in their unswerving, unwinking commitment to idiocy." Matheson claimed that their humor worked for its seditious and crude, yet inoffensive nature. She also praised Smosh for Hecox and Padilla's lack of embarrassment or fear, and their enjoyment of "mucking around" as a reason for retaining their viewership. Several outlets highlighted their exaggerated acting style and penchant for juvenile, yet appealing humor. Borden noted their acting style emphasized their personalities over finesse, while Petersen asserted that if one "find[s] their humor juvenile, you're missing the point: It's not for you." Kennedy Unthank of Plugged In praised the channel's nostalgic value and longevity alongside the duo's friendship. However, he raised concerns of their use of profanities, sexual humor and death in their sketches.{{cite web|url=https://www.pluggedin.com/youtube-reviews/smosh/|title=YouTube Channel Review - Smosh|first=Kennedy|last=Unthank|website=Plugged In|date=December 14, 2023|access-date=September 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231220152519/https://www.pluggedin.com/youtube-reviews/smosh/|archive-date=December 20, 2023|url-status=live}} Smosh's various cast members have also received praise for their acting style and character work.{{cite web|url=https://bleedingcool.com/tv/smosh-under-the-mistletoe-had-serious-potential-fell-short-review/|title=Smosh: Under The Mistletoe Had Serious Potential, Fell Short: Review|first=Brittney|last=Bender|quote=This is something that Smosh and its cast are good at. Character work continued to save this event from some less-than-favorable improvisational moments... They work so well together, and their improvisational skills continue to impress. |website=Bleeding Cool|date=December 19, 2022|access-date=September 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219133825/https://bleedingcool.com/tv/smosh-under-the-mistletoe-had-serious-potential-fell-short-review/|archive-date=December 19, 2022|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/smosh-youtube-best-comic-abilities-cast-members/|title=The Cast of YouTube Comedy Group Smosh, Ranked By Comic Abilities|first=JJ|last=Rankin|website=Screen Rant|date=April 25, 2022|access-date=September 11, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220425091835/https://screenrant.com/smosh-youtube-best-comic-abilities-cast-members/|archive-date=April 25, 2022|url-status=live}}
=Impact and longevity=
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Among researchers, Smosh's popularity has been regarded as increasing the recognition of the Internet as a creative medium, and they were recognized with other personalities as representing a generation of creators distributing content via social media.{{cite journal|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/297612072|title=A Systems View of Creativity in a YouTube World|first1=Danah|last1=Henriksen|first2=Megan|last2=Hoelting|last3=the Deep-Play Research Group|journal=TechTrends|publisher=Springer|volume=60|pages=102–106|doi=10.1007/s11528-016-0047-2|date=March 5, 2016|issue=2 |access-date=May 31, 2025}} Grady Smith of Entertainment Weekly opined that their success on YouTube "reshape[d] the site into a vast entertainment entity that produces so much more than Web-based novelty acts."{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2013/03/01/new-faces-youtube/|title=The new faces of Youtube|first=Grady|last=Smith|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=March 1, 2013|access-date=September 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413144552/https://ew.com/article/2013/03/01/new-faces-youtube/|archive-date=April 13, 2021|url-status=live}} Their 2006 video Feet for Hands, which featured the Zvue audio player as part of a promotional deal, was cited as an early example of influencer marketing by journalist Chris Stokel-Walker.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3pvXEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Smosh%22+%2B+%22history%22&pg=PT145|title=The History of the Internet in Byte-Sized Chunks|first=Chris|last=Stokel-Walker|author-link=Chris Stokel-Walker|publisher=Michael O'Mara Books|isbn=9781789295603|date=October 26, 2023|access-date=September 5, 2024}} Author Kelli S. Burns credited the duo with popularizing the lip-synch video genre in her 2009 book Celeb 2.0. Various content creators have regarded Smosh as an inspiration. YouTubers Jake and Logan Paul were inspired by Smosh to create their first channel, Zoosh, in 2006.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mMKWDwAAQBAJ|title=YouTubers: How YouTube Shook Up TV and Created a New Generation of Stars|first=Chris|last=Stokel-Walker|author-link=Chris Stokel-Walker|page=19|publisher=Canbury Press|isbn=9781912454211|date=2019|access-date=September 5, 2024}} Jenn McAllister was likewise inspired to create her channel, writing in her autobiography that their 2007 Spiderman, Spiderman sketch was the first YouTube video she watched.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B2BWCgAAQBAJ&dq=%22Smosh%22+%2B+%22jenn%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA88|title=Vlog It!|first1=Stephanie|last1=Clarkson|page=88|publisher=Scholastic|isbn=9781407165127|date=September 3, 2015|access-date=September 5, 2024}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jz94BwAAQBAJ&q=Smosh+jenn+mcallister|title=Really Professional Internet Person|first1=Jenn|last1=McAllister|author-link=Jenn McAllister|page=34|publisher=Scholastic|isbn=9780545861137|date=August 25, 2015|access-date=September 5, 2024}} Musician and YouTuber Emma Blackery also regarded Smosh as an influence.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/story/emma-blackery-youtube-musician-villains-album-uk-tour/|title=How Emma Blackery went from YouTube fame to IRL music career|quote=...she came across comic videos by the likes of.. Smosh... It inspired her to try something a bit different and give comedy a go.|first=Chris|last=Stokel-Walker|author-link=Chris Stokel-Walker|magazine=Wired|date=August 10, 2018|access-date=September 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240904073041/https://www.wired.com/story/emma-blackery-youtube-musician-villains-album-uk-tour/|archive-date=September 4, 2024|url-status=live}}
Smosh has been noted for their focus on internet-based ventures and longevity in internet popularity by various outlets. In a 2015 CNET interview, writer Joan E. Solsman attributed their popularity to the early timing of their YouTube presence.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/meet-smosh-big-stars-on-small-screens-q-a/|title=Meet Smosh: Big stars on small screens (Q&A)|first=Joan E.|last=Solsman|website=CNET|date=March 25, 2015|access-date=September 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325152313/https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/meet-smosh-big-stars-on-small-screens-q-a/|archive-date=March 25, 2023|url-status=live}} Dorothy Pomerantz of Forbes claimed a similar viewpoint regarding their beginnings in a 2013 article, describing them as a "purely digital breed of star."{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/dorothypomerantz/2013/01/25/smoshs-ian-and-anthony-are-a-new-purely-digital-breed-of-celebrity/|title=Smosh's Ian And Anthony Are A New, Purely Digital, Breed Of Celebrity|first=Dorothy|last=Pomerantz|website=Forbes|date=January 25, 2013|access-date=May 31, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128022035/https://www.forbes.com/sites/dorothypomerantz/2013/01/25/smoshs-ian-and-anthony-are-a-new-purely-digital-breed-of-celebrity/|archive-date=January 28, 2013|url-status=live}} Both Fast Company and Forbes highlighted their early diversification into online media as opposed to traditional media, with the former outlet recognizing such expansion as a realization of the changes in YouTube's algorithm. A 2017 Tubefilter article mentioned that compared to early YouTube creators who have since faded into obscurity, Smosh continued to upload content while expanding their brand.{{cite web|url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2017/03/15/youtube-most-subscribed-charts/|title=The History Of YouTube's Most-Subscribed Channels Is A Fun Nostalgia Trip|first=Sam|last=Gutelle|publisher=Tubefilter|date=March 15, 2017|access-date=September 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315235723/https://www.tubefilter.com/2017/03/15/youtube-most-subscribed-charts/|archive-date=March 15, 2017|url-status=live}} The same year, a Mashable article also remarked on their lasting popularity in comparison to other YouTube content creators; writer Saba Hamedy claimed that the duo "still haven't fallen out of the internet's favor. Ten years in and that's saying something: viral stars don't often survive their fan's short attention spans."{{cite web |last=Hamedy |first=Saba |date=April 16, 2017 |title=How two high school friends built a YouTube empire |url=https://mashable.com/article/the-rise-of-smosh-anthony-padilla-ian-hecox |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230827012607/https://mashable.com/article/the-rise-of-smosh-anthony-padilla-ian-hecox |archive-date=August 27, 2023 |access-date=September 12, 2023 |website=Mashable}}
Various commentators noted Smosh's legacy following Padilla's return to the channel. NBC News listed Smosh as among the original YouTube channels to return in 2023, noting fan enthusiasm for the return of "classic Smosh". Morgan Sung of TechCrunch claimed that their reunion as an independent entity was "setting the precedent for creators to own and define their contents' legacy", and regarded it as a victory for content creators.{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/07/03/anthony-padilla-and-ian-hecox-usher-in-the-new-era-of-smosh/|title=Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox usher in the new era of Smosh|first=Morgan|last=Sung|publisher=TechCrunch|date=July 3, 2023|access-date=September 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703150015/https://techcrunch.com/2023/07/03/anthony-padilla-and-ian-hecox-usher-in-the-new-era-of-smosh/|archive-date=July 3, 2023|url-status=live}} TheGamer's Jade King similarly considered Smosh's return to be a "rare victory" for both YouTube and the Internet, reflecting on the duo's friendship and the brand's history.{{cite web|url=https://www.thegamer.com/smoshs-return-feels-like-a-rare-victory-for-the-internet/|title=Smosh's Return Feels Like A Rare Victory For The Internet|first=Jade|last=King|website=TheGamer|date=June 27, 2023|access-date=September 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230627173855/https://www.thegamer.com/smoshs-return-feels-like-a-rare-victory-for-the-internet/|archive-date=June 27, 2023|url-status=live}}
=Accolades and achievements=
Smosh has been awarded various accolades throughout their career. Hecox and Padilla were both listed in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2012 and 2014 for the entertainment category.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.forbes.com/special-report/2012/30-under-30/30-under-30_hollywood.html|title=30 Under 30 - Hollywood|first1=Caroline|last1=Howard|first2=Michael|last2=Noer|magazine=Forbes|date=December 17, 2012|access-date=May 31, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121218073654/http://www.forbes.com/special-report/2012/30-under-30/30-under-30_hollywood.html|archive-date=December 18, 2012|url-status=usurped}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.forbes.com/special-report/2014/30-under-30/hollywood-and-entertainment.html|title= 30 Under 30 - Hollywood & Entertainment|first1=Dorothy|last1=Pomerantz|first2=Kate|last2=Pierce|magazine=Forbes|date=2014|access-date=May 31, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109191624/http://www.forbes.com/special-report/2014/30-under-30/hollywood-and-entertainment.html|archive-date=January 9, 2014|url-status=usurped}} The same outlet has listed the Smosh brand as among the highest-paid YouTube personalities throughout the 2010s – in 2015,{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/10/15/9538117/youtube-top-earning-2015-forbes|title=These are the top-earning YouTube stars of 2015 according to Forbes|first=James|last=Vincent|website=The Verge|date=October 15, 2015|access-date=May 31, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015194615/https://www.theverge.com/2015/10/15/9538117/youtube-top-earning-2015-forbes|archive-date=October 15, 2015|url-status=live}} 2016{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161206012108/https://www.thewrap.com/10-highest-paid-youtube-stars-of-2016-photos/|title=10 Highest Paid YouTube Stars of 2016 (Photos)|first=Reid|last=Nakamura|website=TheWrap|date=December 5, 2016 |access-date=September 5, 2024|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20161206012108/https://www.thewrap.com/10-highest-paid-youtube-stars-of-2016-photos/|archive-date=December 6, 2016|url-status=live}} and 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/g25002/richest-youtube-stars-of-2017/|title=These are the 10 richest YouTubers of 2017|first=Rianne|last=Houghton|website=Digital Spy|date=August 12, 2017|access-date=May 31, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416193535/https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/g25002/richest-youtube-stars-of-2017/|archive-date=April 16, 2021|url-status=live}} In a 2014 survey from the University of Southern California published by Variety, they were ranked the #1 most influential personality among U.S. teenagers, listed ahead of celebrities including Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio.{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2014/digital/news/survey-youtube-stars-more-popular-than-mainstream-celebs-among-u-s-teens-1201275245/|title=Survey: YouTube Stars More Popular Than Mainstream Celebs Among U.S. Teens|first=Susanne|last=Ault|magazine=Variety|date=August 5, 2014|access-date=September 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207065234/http://variety.com/2014/digital/news/survey-youtube-stars-more-popular-than-mainstream-celebs-among-u-s-teens-1201275245/|archive-date=February 7, 2015|url-status=live}} They would place #5 in a similar survey the following year.{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2015/digital/news/youtubers-teen-survey-ksi-pewdiepie-1201544882/|title=Digital Star Popularity Grows Versus Mainstream Celebrities|first=Susanne|last=Ault|magazine=Variety|date=July 22, 2015|access-date=September 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724050643/https://variety.com/2015/digital/news/youtubers-teen-survey-ksi-pewdiepie-1201544882/|archive-date=July 24, 2015|url-status=live}} The same year, Hecox and Padilla were among the first internet personalities to obtain sculptures from the Madame Tussauds wax museum, alongside Jenna Marbles, Zoella and Alfie Deyes.{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2016/digital/news/smosh-live-comedy-show-youtube-1201803037/|title=Smosh to Launch Live Sketch-Comedy Show on YouTube (EXCLUSIVE)|quote=Last year, Anthony and Ian became the first digital celebs to be cast in wax by Madame Tussauds, in an unveiling that coincided with VidCon 2015.|first=Todd|last=Spangler|magazine=Variety|date=June 24, 2016|access-date=May 31, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625072832/https://variety.com/2016/digital/news/smosh-live-comedy-show-youtube-1201803037/|archive-date=June 25, 2016|url-status=live}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://people.com/celebrity/jenna-marbles-gets-madame-tussauds-wax-figure/|title=Jenna Marbles Gets Madame Tussauds Wax Figure|quote=The video queen joins fellow YouTubers Anthony Padilla, Ian Hecox, Zoella and Alfie Deyes in getting a wax double.|first=Lydia|last=Price|website=People|date=July 23, 2015|access-date=May 31, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206190043/https://people.com/celebrity/jenna-marbles-gets-madame-tussauds-wax-figure/|archive-date=February 6, 2022|url-status=live}} In May 2025, VidCon announced that Smosh will be included in their inaugural Hall of Fame, dedicated to honoring content creators.{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2025/digital/news/vidcon-hall-of-fame-rhett-link-smosh-tyler-oakley-grace-helbig-1236383891/|title=VidCon's Inaugural Hall of Fame Inductees Include Rhett & Link, Hank Green, Smosh Founders, Grace Helbig and More|first=Todd|last=Spangler|magazine=Variety|date=May 1, 2025|access-date=May 31, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250501181754/https://variety.com/2025/digital/news/vidcon-hall-of-fame-rhett-link-smosh-tyler-oakley-grace-helbig-1236383891/|archive-date=May 1, 2025|url-status=live}}
In addition to once holding the most-viewed video on YouTube with their Pokémon theme song, Smosh has held multiple records on the site. They have held the record for the most-subscribed YouTube channel in three periods – May to June 2006, August 2007 to September 2008, and January to August 2013. Smosh was the first YouTube channel to reach ten million subscribers,{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/first-youtube-channel-reach-10-million-subscribers-94071/|title=The 1st YouTube Channel to Reach 10M Subscribers Is…|first=Lucas|last=Shaw|website=TheWrap|date=May 28, 2013|access-date=September 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150804225942/https://www.thewrap.com/first-youtube-channel-reach-10-million-subscribers-94071/|archive-date=August 4, 2015|url-status=live}} and received the YouTube Diamond Creator Award. From 2006 to 2017, it was the only channel to consistently remain within the top-ten most subscribed list.
Current cast members
{{Main|List of Smosh cast members}}
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col" |Performer ! scope="col" |Time on Smosh |
| data-sort-value="Hecox, Ian" scope="row" style="text-align:left" |Ian Hecox
| style="text-align:left" |2005–present |
|---|
| data-sort-value="Padilla, Anthony" scope="row" style="text-align:left" |Anthony Padilla
| style="text-align:left" |{{Hlist|2005–2017|2023–present}} |
| data-sort-value="Leak Jr., Keith" scope="row" style="text-align:left" |Keith Leak Jr.
| style="text-align:left" |2014–present |
| data-sort-value="Sui, Olivia" scope="row" style="text-align:left" |Olivia Sui
| rowspan="4" style="text-align:left" |2015–present |
| data-sort-value="Grossman, Noah" scope="row" style="text-align:left" |Noah Grossman |
| data-sort-value="Miller, Courtney" scope="row" style="text-align:left" |Courtney Miller |
| data-sort-value="Topp, Shayne" scope="row" style="text-align:left" |Shayne Topp |
| data-sort-value="Haas, Damien" scope="row" style="text-align:left" |Damien Haas
| style="text-align:left" |2017–present |
| data-sort-value="Lehan-Canto, Amanda" scope="row" style="text-align:left" |Amanda Lehan-Canto
| style="text-align:left" |2020–present |
| data-sort-value="McCrary, Chanse" scope="row" style="text-align:left" |Chanse McCrary
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:left" |2022–present |
| data-sort-value="Lalani, Arasha" scope="row" style="text-align:left" |Arasha Lalani |
| data-sort-value="Giarratana, Angela" scope="row" style="text-align:left" |Angela Giarratana |
| data-sort-value="Bowe, Tommy" scope="row" style="text-align:left" |Tommy Bowe
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:left" |2024–present |
| data-sort-value="Agnew, Spencer" scope="row" style="text-align:left" |Spencer Agnew |
| data-sort-value="Evarts, Trevor" scope="row" style="text-align:left" |Trevor Evarts |
Discography
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of albums, with selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:15em;" | Album details ! scope="col" colspan="9" | Peak chart positions |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|US Comedy {{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p1165223/charts-awards/billboard-singles | title=Smosh > Charts & Awards | publisher=AllMusic. Rovi Corporation | access-date=May 9, 2012 | archive-date=May 20, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520115826/https://ow.pubmatic.com/setuid?bidder=amx&uid=36ad0272-0d5f-4176-aedc-80e9619239fa&do=www.allmusic.com | url-status=live }}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/smosh/|title=Smosh: Biography, Music & News |magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 14, 2024}} ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|US |
|---|
| scope="row" | Sexy Album
|
| 11 || — |
| scope="row" | If Music Were Real
|
| 5 || 26 |
| scope="row" | Smoshtastic
|
| 3 || 27 |
| scope="row" | The Sweet Sound of Smosh
|
| 4 || 33 |
| scope="row" | Shut Up! and Listen
|
| 4 || — |
| colspan="11" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Wikiquote}}
- {{official website}}
{{S-start}}
{{S-ach|ach}}
{{Succession box
| title = Most Subscribed Channel on YouTube
| years = 2006–2006
| before = N/A
| after = Judson Laipply
}}
{{Succession box
| title = Most Subscribed Channel on YouTube
| years = 2007–2008
| before = lonelygirl15
| after = nigahiga
}}
{{Succession box
| title = Most Subscribed Channel on YouTube
| years = 2013–2013
| before = Ray William Johnson
| after = PewDiePie
}}
{{S-end}}{{Smosh|state=expanded}}{{Portal bar|Internet|California|Comedy}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2002 establishments in California
Category:2019 mergers and acquisitions
Category:American musical duos
Category:American YouTube groups
Category:Comedians from California
Category:American comedy YouTubers
Category:American music YouTubers
Category:Number-one YouTube channels in subscribers
Category:Performing groups established in 2002