Smosh Explained

Smosh
Medium:Internet
Active:2002–present
Genre:
Module:
Embed:yes
Smosh
Years Active:2005–present
Subscribers:26.7 million
Associated Acts:Shut Up! Cartoons
Views:10.8 billion
Network:Defy Media (2011–2018)
Mythical Entertainment (2019–2023)
Diamond Year:2013 (Smosh)
Stats Update:August 8, 2024
Silver Button:yes
Gold Button:yes
Diamond Button:yes
Child:yes
Header:Logo

Smosh is an American YouTube sketch comedy-improv collective, independent production company, and former social networking site founded by Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox.[1] 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. the channel has over 10 billion views and over 26 million subscribers.

Since 2012, the Smosh brand has expanded to consist of multiple channels, including a Spanish-language channel (ElSmosh), a channel focused on gaming content (Smosh Games), and a variety channel (Smosh Pit), while also expanded to a larger cast featured throughout their content. The Smosh channel has experienced three different spans as the most-subscribed YouTube channel. The first period spanned from May to June 2006, the second from April 2007 to September 2008, and the third span from January to August 2013.[2] [3] [4]

In 2017, Padilla left the channel to pursue independent ventures and focus on his own separate channel. On November 6, 2018, Smosh's then-parent company Defy Media abruptly closed without warning. Six days later, the Smosh cast released a video announcing that production of Smosh, Smosh Pit, and Smosh Games content was still ongoing, and that existing videos would be finished and other content would be released independently on those channels. Smosh subsequently joined Mythical Entertainment after the company was purchased by Rhett & Link on February 22, 2019. After four years of ownership under Mythical, it was announced in June 2023 that Padilla had returned to the channel, and that he, along with Hecox, had bought the company back from Mythical, re-establishing Smosh as an independent entity.

History

Formation and lip sync videos (2002–2006)

The franchise began when Anthony Padilla built a website in 2002, smosh.com,[5] [6] and made several different Flash animations.[7] He has stated that the name "Smosh" came from an incident where he mistook a friend explaining a mosh pit as a "smosh pit".[8] Padilla created the website's logo through juxtaposing a fast-forward sign and the letter "S" from a Linkin Park-based text font.[9] 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.[10] On November 19, 2005, they joined YouTube and made several videos together, lip syncing the theme songs to Mortal Kombat, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Power Rangers, the last of which was their first video uploaded to the website.[11] At first, these videos were not intended to be posted online, but after they sent them to their friends, they started a YouTube channel.[12]

One of Smosh's earliest videos, "Pokémon Theme Music Video", was released on November 28, 2005. It followed the same style as their other earlier videos, featuring the duo lip-synching the original English theme song for the Pokémon anime.[13] [14] 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, becoming the most-viewed video on all of YouTube at that time.[15] [16] [17] [18] This held that title until being dethroned by Judson Laipply's "Evolution of Dance". It was later removed for copyright infringement.

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 December 13, 2006.[19] 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.[20]

Initial YouTube success (2006–2011)

Over the course of the next few years, Smosh began to diversify. They started making short YouTube skits, such as their annual video series Food Battle, which shows Hecox using a pink-frosted sprinkled doughnut and Padilla choosing a variety of foods voted on by fans,[21] [22] and That Damn Neighbor, which were primarily filmed in and around a house in Rosemont, California.[23] According to a 2012 interview with New Media Rockstars, Smosh's process for making sketch videos involved Hecox and Padilla brainstorming ideas for sketches, with Hecox writing their ideas into an outline and the duo expanding them into a full script. The duo described their editing and writing skills as primarily self-taught.

In January 2010, Smosh launched the "Smosh Pit" feature, a blog that consists of various pieces of pop-culture trivia, and written comedy. In addition, 2010 saw the channel launch three different Smosh-based web series: Ian Is Bored, which started as a collection of comedic videos by Hecox, but then turned into both Hecox and Padilla making vlog like videos, and renamed Smosh Is Bored;[24] Ask Charlie, where people ask Charlie, from their January 2010 Charlie the Drunk Guinea Pig video, random questions;[25] and Lunchtime with Smosh, a comedy series featuring Smosh getting and eating food from various places, and answering Twitter questions from their fans on Twitter. Some of Smosh's most popular video series include Pokémon in Real Life and If X Was Real.[26] The If X Was Real videos see the duo parody various video games, films and pop culture media while questioning their realism.

Defy Media and Padilla's departure (2011–2018)

In 2011, Smosh was acquired by Alloy Digital (later rebranded to Defy Media), while also enjoying a 40% boost in viewership.[27] In 2012, the duo started three new YouTube channels, ElSmosh, with Smosh videos dubbed in Spanish, Shut Up! Cartoons, with various animated videos,[28] [29] and Smosh Games, with gaming-related content hosted alongside Mariko "Mari" Takahashi, David "Lasercorn" Moss, Matthew Sohinki, and Joshua "Jovenshire" Ovenshire.[30] [31] The pair also ventured into music, creating comedic songs for licensed media such as The Legend of Zelda and Assassin's Creed 3, among other original compositions.[32] These songs (along with other original songs) have been released in four albums to date – Sexy Album (2010), If Music Were Real (2011), Smoshtastic (2012), and The Sweet Sound of Smosh (2013). In January 2013, the Smosh channel surpassed Ray William Johnson in subscribers to become the most-subscribed YouTube channel for the third time. Following the achievement, Smosh collaborated with Johnson on a video of his "Equals Three" series.[33] 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.[34] [35] During this period, Smosh participated in YouTube's Comedy Week in May 2013.[36] [37]

In March 2015, Smosh re-launched the Smosh Games Alliance, a multi-channel network where fans join to enjoy network benefits in exchange for a percentage of the ad revenue.[38] [39] That same year the duo announced Noah Grossman, Keith Leak Jr., Olivia Sui,[40] Courtney Miller and Shayne Topp[41] as new regular cast members for Smosh videos. They began appearing in sketches such as the Every (Blank) Ever series.[42] [43]

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.[44] [45] Each episode presents a challenge that the team must overcome to keep the business going. The series features regular Smosh cast members, Grossman (as Pete), Hecox (as Ian), and Padilla (as Anton), in addition to Cat Alter (as Mads), Jade Martz (as Ella), Casey Webb (as Dinger), and Natalie Whittle (as Lori).[46] The series was released every Monday on the Smosh channel from January to May 2016. 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 55,000 concurrent viewers and over 1.3 million views.[47] [48]

On June 14, 2017, Padilla announced he would be leaving Smosh to pursue independent video ventures due to a "lack in creative freedom".[49] [50] 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."[51]

Under Mythical Entertainment's ownership (2018–2023)

On November 6, 2018, Defy Media abruptly announced they were shutting down and laying off all its employees.[52] Hecox said that Smosh was not "going away" and that plans were underway to find Smosh a new home.[53] [54] Padilla released a video the following day which went into more detail about his departure from Smosh and his issues with what Defy was doing with their employees and Smosh. He said that he and Hecox sold Smosh to Alloy Digital (which later became Defy Media) for stock, which had no monetary value because the company never went public. Padilla also expressed dissatisfaction with how Defy treated its employees and stated the company exploited them financially, took over his Facebook page, tried to take over his Twitter account, prevented him from joining the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), and that they 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 leveled 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.[55] [56] [57] 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.

On February 22, 2019, Smosh was acquired by Mythical Entertainment, a production company founded by fellow YouTube comedians Rhett & Link.[58] A majority of the Smosh cast and crew returned to the company following the acquisition. During this time, Smosh operated out of Mythical Entertainment's Los Angeles office, though later moved into a specially built studio space in Burbank.[59] Smosh also created a new weekly podcast, "SmoshCast", following the announcement.

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, "Try Not To Laugh" and "Eat It or Yeet It", while under the influence. The stream aired on June 30, 2022.[60] [61]

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, 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.[62] Following Padilla's return to Smosh, the main 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.[63]

Channels

Smosh

Smosh is the original and main channel created in November 2005, with current output focusing around the show Bit City.[64]

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.

Smosh Games

See main article: article and 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 comprises two shows:

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.

Lunchtime with Smosh, a more ad-hoc podcast that features Ian and Anthony chatting about what's on their mind while joined by Erin, a member of Smosh's 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.

Other ventures

App and game development

Smosh has branched out into various ventures related to digital media, including app and game development.[65] 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.[66] [67] 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.[68] 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.[69] An action RPG inspired by games such as The Legend of Zelda and The Witcher 2, the game was released in 2014.[70]

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. Smosh released another mobile app in February 2014 to access Smosh videos and other content from their website, and an Xbox One app later the same year.

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. Throughout 2015 and 2016, Smosh partnered with Dynamite Entertainment to publish a comic book and graphic novel series.[71] Titled "Super Virgin Squad", the six-issue series chronicles the titular group as super-humans. The first issue was released in May 2016.[72]

Films

On September 18, 2014, it was announced that a feature-length film starring the duo was in development by AwesomenessFilms;[73] it would be later titled , and was released direct-to-video on July 24, 2015, by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, with Netflix acquiring the film's streaming rights.[74] [75] 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.[76] [77]

Smosh created the film Ghostmates for YouTube Red that was released on December 14, 2016.[78] [79]

Appearances in other media

Smosh has appeared in various installements of YouTube Rewind.[80] [81] Hecox and Padilla also had voice roles in the 2016 animated film The Angry Birds Movie (with the latter returning in its 2019 sequel),[82] and appeared in an episode of the Epic Rap Battles of History web series.[83]

Current cast members

See main article: List of Smosh cast members.

PerformerTime on Smosh
data-sort-value="Hecox, Ian" scope="row" style="text-align:left" Ian Hecox2005–present
data-sort-value="Padilla, Anthony" scope="row" style="text-align:left" Anthony Padilla
data-sort-value="Leak Jr., Keith" scope="row" style="text-align:left" Keith Leak Jr.2014–present
data-sort-value="Sui, Olivia" scope="row" style="text-align:left" Olivia Sui2015–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 Haas2017–present
data-sort-value="Lehan-Canto, Amanda" scope="row" style="text-align:left" Amanda Lehan-Canto2020–present
data-sort-value="McCrary, Chanse" scope="row" style="text-align:left" Chanse McCrary2022–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 Bowe2024–present
data-sort-value="Evarts, Trevor" scope="row" style="text-align:left" Trevor Evarts

Reception

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."[19] 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.[84] Smosh's various cast members have also received praise for their acting style and character work.[85] [86]

Impact and legacy

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.[87] They have also been credited as pioneers and innovators of the platform, with some noting their fortuity in getting their start as YouTube began to take off as a platform.[88] [89] [90] [91] News outlets have referred to the brand as a media empire. 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.[92] 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 skits.[93]

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."[94] 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.[95] Author Kelli S. Burns credited the duo with popularizing the lip-synch video genre in her 2009 book Celeb 2.0. YouTubers Jake and Logan Paul were inspired by Smosh to create their first channel, Zoosh, in 2006.[96] 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.[97] [98] Musician and YouTuber Emma Blackery also regarded Smosh as an influence.[99]

Both Fast Company and Tubefilter highlighted the brand's diversification and expansion into other areas as a way to stay relevant, while other early YouTubers have since faded into obscurity.[100] A 2017 Mashable article 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."

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.[101] TheGamers 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.[102]

Achievements

Smosh has been awarded various accolades throughout their career. 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.[103] They would place #5 in a similar survey the following year.[104] The same year, they were believed to be the first American digital-based celebrities to obtain sculptures from the Madame Tussauds wax museum.

In addition to once holding the most-viewed video on YouTube with their Pokémon theme song, Smosh has held multiple records on the site. In 2017, they were listed in the Guinness World Records book as the most-subscribed comedy channel.[105] 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, and received the YouTube Diamond Creator Award.[106] From 2006 to 2017, it was the only channel to consistently remain within the top-ten most subscribed list.

Awards and nominations

Awards and nominations for Smosh
YearAwardCategoryRecipientResult
20072007 YouTube AwardsComedy"Smosh Short 2: Stranded"[107] [108]
20092009 Webby AwardsExperimental & Weird"Sex Ed Rocks"[109]
20102010 Webby AwardsViral"If Movies Were Real"[110]
20133rd Streamy AwardsBest Comedy SeriesSmosh[111]
Audience Choice for Personality of the YearSmosh
Best Animated SeriesOishi High School Battle
2013 Webby AwardsBranded Entertainment Short Form"Ultimate Assassin's Creed 3 Song"[112]
2013 Social Star AwardsMost Popular Social ShowSmosh[113] [114]
North American Social Media StarSmosh[115]
20144th Streamy AwardsBest Comedy Channel, Show, or SeriesSmosh[116]
Best Gaming Channel, Show, or SeriesSmosh Games
2015Seventh Annual Shorty AwardsYouTube Star of the Year presented by A&ESmosh[117]
5th Streamy AwardsShow of the YearSmosh[118]
Best Gaming Channel, Show, or SeriesSmosh Games
20162016 Webby AwardsGaming (channel)Smosh Games[119]
6th Streamy AwardsGamingSmosh Games[120]
FoodPut it in My Mouth
20177th Streamy AwardsLiveSmosh Live[121]
GamingSmosh Games

Discography

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:15em;"
Album detailsPeak chart positions
US
Comedy

[122] [123]
US
Heat.

Sexy Album 11
If Music Were Real
  • Released: November 11, 2011
  • Formats: CD, Digital download
5 26
Smoshtastic
  • Released: December 3, 2012
  • Formats: Digital download
3 27
The Sweet Sound of Smosh
  • Released: November 30, 2013
  • Formats: Digital download
4 33
Shut Upand Listen
  • Released: December 10, 2015
  • Formats: Digital download
4
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

References

Primary sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: About Us. Smosh. July 11, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160331193229/http://www.smosh.com/about-us . 31 March 2016 . dead.
  2. Web site: Most Subscribed Members – May 17, 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060517054525/http://www3.youtube.com/members?ms . May 17, 2006 . YouTube.
  3. News: Heffernan . Virginia . A Big Deal: The Run-Off on YouTube!! . The New York Times . April 26, 2007 . December 10, 2013 . March 11, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140311062721/http://themedium.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/04/26/a-big-deal-the-run-off-on-youtube/?_r=0 . live .
  4. Web site: Cohen. Joshua. Smosh Passes Ray William Johnson as #1 Most Subscribed YouTube Channel. Tubefilter. January 12, 2013. December 10, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20230402020128/https://www.tubefilter.com/2013/01/12/smosh-most-subscribed-youtube/. April 2, 2023. live.
  5. Web site: Padilla . Anthony . Smosh.com, 2002 . https://web.archive.org/web/20021124191813/http://www.smosh.com/ . November 24, 2002 . Smosh . June 25, 2012.
  6. Web site: Acuna. Kirsten. Here's what the creators of Smosh would be doing if they weren't two of YouTube's biggest stars . August 4, 2015. October 13, 2023. Business Insider. October 19, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231019132239/https://www.businessinsider.com/what-ian-and-anthony-would-do-if-they-werent-doing-smosh-2015-7. live.
  7. Web site: 15 things you didn't know about Smosh, one of YouTube's biggest channels. Bryan. Rolli. The Daily Dot. August 14, 2017. September 12, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230621115903/https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/smosh-youtube/. June 21, 2023. live.
  8. Web site: How Sacramento's YouTube darlings Smosh went Hollywood and scored big time. Jane. Borden. Sacramento News & Review. July 16, 2015. September 12, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230607051932/https://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/content/how-sacramentos-youtube-darlings-smosh-went-hollywood-and-scored-big-time/17591594/. June 7, 2023. live.
  9. Smosh Answer The Web's Most Searched Questions. Wired. July 28, 2023. September 14, 2023. September 29, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230929033423/https://www.wired.com/video/watch/google-autocomplete-inverviews-smosh-answer-the-webs-most-searched-questions. live.
  10. Web site: Forever Young: How Smosh Plans To Build A YouTube Fame That'll Last. Anne Helen. Petersen. BuzzFeed News. July 26, 2015. September 13, 2023. August 27, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230827064026/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/annehelenpetersen/super-smosh-brothers. live.
  11. Web site: How two high school friends built a YouTube empire. Saba. Hamedy. Mashable. April 16, 2017. September 12, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230827012607/https://mashable.com/article/the-rise-of-smosh-anthony-padilla-ian-hecox. August 27, 2023. live.
  12. Web site: Smosh Exclusive Interview: The Partners Project Episode 13 . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/HJ_yUutK4pQ . December 21, 2021 . live. YouTube . December 25, 2011 . Partners Project . March 10, 2011.
  13. News: Comic shorts, home on the Web . . Virginia . Heffernan . Virginia Heffernan . April 4, 2006 . November 23, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230411043548/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/04/arts/comic-shorts-home-on-the-web.html. April 11, 2023. live.
  14. Web site: THE ORIGINAL YOUTUBE STARS: How Smosh went from making a ridiculous Pokémon video to building a comedy empire. Kirsten. Acuna. Business Insider. August 1, 2015. August 7, 2024. http://web.archive.org/web/20170420042527/https://www.businessinsider.com/smosh-ian-hecox-anthony-padilla-history-2015-7. April 20, 2017. live.
  15. News: Comic shorts, home on the Web . . Virginia . Heffernan . Virginia Heffernan . April 4, 2006 . November 23, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230411043548/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/04/arts/comic-shorts-home-on-the-web.html. April 11, 2023. live.
  16. News: The first superstars of web TV . . November 27, 2006 . July 7, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20061207210639/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6180312.stm. December 7, 2006. live.
  17. Web site: Smosh: YouTube Gods and Unlikely Online Video Superstars. Troy. Dreier. Streaming Media Magazine. October 4, 2012. November 21, 2022. July 21, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220721135438/https://www.streamingmedia.com/Articles/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=85398. live.
  18. Henriksen . Danah . Hoelting . Megan . the Deep-Play Research Group . March 1, 2016 . A Systems View of Creativity in a YouTube World . TechTrends . 60 . 2 . 102–106 . 10.1007/s11528-016-0047-2 . 255306852 . 1559-7075 . October 13, 2023 . May 20, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240520115720/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11528-016-0047-2 . live .
  19. Smosh. Lev. Grossman. Lev Grossman. Time. December 16, 2006. July 16, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20230406150548/https://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1570729,00.html. April 6, 2023. live.
  20. Book: Jarboe, Greg . YouTube and Video Marketing: An Hour a Day . October 7, 2011 . John Wiley & Sons . 978-1-118-20381-1.
  21. Web site: Gutelle . Sam . October 19, 2012 . After Three Week Long Bracket, Smosh Guys Have 'Food Battle 2012' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230406055304/https://www.tubefilter.com/2012/10/19/smosh-food-battle-2012/ . April 6, 2023 . October 31, 2012 . Tubefilter.
  22. Web site: St. Clair . Grant . November 4, 2023 . Early YouTube legends Smosh revive one of their biggest series after nearly a decade . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231104130741/https://boingboing.net/2023/11/04/early-youtube-legends-smosh-revive-one-of-their-biggest-series-after-nearly-a-decade.html . November 4, 2023 . August 13, 2024 . Boing Boing.
  23. News: Muegge . Alex . June 20, 2023 . Anthony Padilla, co-founder of Smosh, purchases and rejoins popular YouTube channel . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230621055928/https://www.sacbee.com/entertainment/article276574066.html . June 21, 2023 . August 12, 2024 . The Sacramento Bee.
  24. Web site: Smosh: New Media Personalities. Melly. Lee. New Media Rockstars. April 3, 2012. August 7, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20120406040211/http://newmediarockstars.com/2012/04/smosh/. April 6, 2012. dead.
  25. Book: Matheson, Rosie . YouTube Famous: Making it big on the internet . May 6, 2015 . Arcturus Publishing . 978-1-78428-111-3 . August 7, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231215221909/https://books.google.com/books?id=lggxCgAAQBAJ&q=food+battle . December 15, 2023 . live.
  26. Web site: Tina . Amini . It's Silly When Video Games Try To Be Real. Kotaku. April 17, 2012 . July 7, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20230408035008/https://kotaku.com/its-silly-when-video-games-try-to-be-real-5902334. April 8, 2023. live.
  27. Web site: SMOSH Says It's The No. 1 YouTube Channel In Subscribers. Team. The Deadline. January 14, 2013. Deadline Hollywood. October 25, 2017. October 25, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171025185426/http://deadline.com/2013/01/smosh-youtube-channel-subscribers-404020/. live.
  28. Web site: Mike. Shields. Zombie Apocalypse Spreads to YouTube Alloy Digital's new channel Shut Up Cartoons generates 20 million views in 5 weeks. Adweek. June 11, 2012. June 17, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20210126124554/https://www.adweek.com/performance-marketing/zombie-apocalypse-spreads-youtube-141032/. January 26, 2021. subscription.
  29. Web site: Todd. Kushigemachi . YouTube toon channel loads up on series. Variety. April 13, 2012. July 7, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20230829164947/https://variety.com/2012/digital/news/youtube-toon-channel-loads-up-on-series-1118052605/. August 29, 2023. live.
  30. Matthew. Manarino. SMOSH TALKS WITH US ABOUT SHUT UP! CARTOONS. New Rockstars. April 27, 2012. June 17, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120430060143/https://newmediarockstars.com/2012/04/smosh-talks-with-us-about-shut-up-cartoons/. April 30, 2012. dead.
  31. Web site: Smosh Games talks future of YouTube and gaming on the world's biggest network. Julia. Alexander. Polygon. October 16, 2017. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230403192316/https://www.polygon.com/2017/10/16/16475628/smosh-games-youtube-future. April 3, 2023. live.
  32. Web site: Mike. Kayatta . Assassin's Creed III Rap Gives the British a Beat (Down) . Escapist Magazine. October 26, 2012. October 31, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20131029202935/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/120313-Assassins-Creed-III-Rap-Gives-the-British-a-Beat-Down. October 29, 2013. dead.
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    1. 1, #2 YouTubers Smosh, Ray William Johnson Collab In Funny Video
    . Joshua. Cohen. Tubefilter. January 16, 2013. August 7, 2024. http://web.archive.org/web/20130118100811/https://www.tubefilter.com/2013/01/16/1-and-2-youtubers-smosh-ray-william-johnson-collab-in-funny-video/. January 18, 2013. live.
  34. Web site: PewDiePie Overtakes Smosh as YouTube's Top Channel. Lucas. Shaw. TheWrap. August 15, 2013. August 7, 2024. http://web.archive.org/web/20240304005802/https://www.thewrap.com/pewdiepie-overtakes-smosh-youtube-s-top-channel-111246/. March 4, 2024. live.
  35. Web site: PewDiePie, Smosh Collab To Celebrate Most Subscribed YouTube Channel. Joshua. Cohen. Tubefilter. August 17, 2013. August 7, 2024. http://web.archive.org/web/20130819022123/https://www.tubefilter.com/2013/08/17/pewdiepie-smosh-collab-to-celebrate-most-subscribed-youtube-channel/. August 19, 2013. live.
  36. YouTube to Hold First Star-Studded Comedy Week. Philiana. Ng. The Hollywood Reporter. April 25, 2013. August 15, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240816035803/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/youtube-announces-comedy-week-445947/. August 16, 2024. live.
  37. News: YouTube's Comedy Week shows how much comedy has changed. Dominic. Cavendish. The Daily Telegraph. May 20, 2013. August 15, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20150828135216/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/comedy/comedy-news/10068492/YouTubes-Comedy-Week-shows-how-much-comedy-has-changed.html. August 28, 2015. live.
  38. Web site: Smosh Games. Huge New Announcement!!. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/U7Zl2tzcL6g . December 21, 2021 . live. YouTube. April 6, 2015. March 8, 2015.
  39. Jarvey . Natalie . March 10, 2015 . Smosh Games Alliance Re-launches on YouTube . October 13, 2023 . The Hollywood Reporter . December 15, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231215214530/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/smosh-games-alliance-launches-youtube-780369/ . live .
  40. Web site: Apple Watch Sucks. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/kr5PoOpsnjg . December 21, 2021 . live. YouTube. April 6, 2015. March 13, 2015.
  41. Web site: Hand Bomb. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/1HUd8ZhOzag . December 21, 2021 . live. YouTube. July 22, 2015. July 17, 2015.
  42. Web site: Petersen . Anne Helen . July 26, 2015 . Forever Young: How Smosh Plans To Build A YouTube Fame That'll Last . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230827064026/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/annehelenpetersen/super-smosh-brothers . August 27, 2023 . September 13, 2023 . BuzzFeed News.
  43. Web site: Rolli . Bryan . August 14, 2017 . 15 things you didn't know about Smosh, one of YouTube's biggest channels . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230621115903/https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/smosh-youtube/ . June 21, 2023 . September 12, 2023 . The Daily Dot.
  44. Web site: Part Timers Official Trailer . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/h4Pt6JgjCdI . December 21, 2021 . live. YouTube . April 4, 2016 . January 4, 2016.
  45. Spangler . Todd . November 5, 2015 . YouTube's Smosh Guys to Star in 'Part Timers' Scripted Comedy . October 13, 2023 . . October 19, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231019132238/https://variety.com/2015/digital/news/smosh-part-timers-youtube-comedy-ian-hecox-anthony-padilla-1201634304/ . live .
  46. Web site: WELCOME TO PORK E. PINE'S (Part Timers #1). https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/dFKEcpSq-ao . December 21, 2021 . live. YouTube . April 4, 2016 . January 11, 2016.
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  49. Web site: Anthony Padilla Just Left YouTube Comedy Duo Smosh to Go Solo. Lockett. Dee. Vulture. June 14, 2017 . October 25, 2017. February 14, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230214224442/https://www.vulture.com/2017/06/anthony-padilla-leaves-youtube-comedy-duo-smosh-to-go-solo.html. live.
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  51. Todd. Spangler. Smosh Co-Founder Anthony Padilla Is Leaving the YouTube Comedy Group. June 14, 2017. June 14, 2017. Variety. April 13, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240413071219/https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/anthony-padilla-leaving-smosh-1202465684/. live.
  52. Defy Media Is Shutting Down, Will Lay Off Employees. Todd. Spangler. Variety. November 6, 2018. November 7, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181117040001/https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/defy-media-shutting-down-layoffs-1203020919/. November 17, 2018. live.
  53. Web site: Smosh . Smosh is Homeless . November 12, 2018 . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/lfA2d7ZoixA . December 21, 2021 . live. YouTube . November 12, 2018.
  54. Jarvey . Natalie . November 19, 2018 . A Class-Action Lawsuit, Late Creator Payments: Inside Defy Media's Shutdown . October 13, 2023 . The Hollywood Reporter . October 19, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231019132237/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/defy-medias-shutdown-provokes-class-action-lawsuit-complaints-late-creator-payments-1160929/ . live .
  55. Web site: Top YouTube creators call out defunct Defy Media for shady practices. Julia. Alexander. The Verge. November 13, 2018. August 12, 2024. 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. November 13, 2018. live.
  56. Web site: YouTube creators blindsided by major network's collapse. Julia. Alexander. The Verge. December 5, 2018. August 12, 2024. 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. December 5, 2018. live.
  57. Web site: Smosh Co-Founder Anthony Padilla Shares Why He Departed "Evil And Shady" Defy Media After Sudden Shutdown. Geoff. Weiss. Tubefilter. November 8, 2018. August 13, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20181108170423/https://www.tubefilter.com/2018/11/08/why-anthony-padilla-left-defy-media/. November 8, 2018. live.
  58. Smosh Acquired By Rhett & Link's Mythical Entertainment. Todd. Spangler. Variety. February 22, 2019. March 20, 2019. November 12, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201112025545/https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/smosh-acquired-rhett-link-mythical-entertainment-1203146114/. live.
  59. Spangler . Todd . June 20, 2023 . Smosh Co-Founders Anthony Padilla, Ian Hecox Reunite to Acquire Comedy Brand From Rhett & Link (EXCLUSIVE) . June 20, 2023 . Variety. June 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230620165925/https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/smosh-anthony-padilla-ian-hecox-acquire-rhett-link-1235645648/ . live .
  60. Web site: Smosh returns to live shows with 'Under The Influence'. Morgan. Sung. NBC News. June 30, 2022. August 14, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20220630175835/https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/viral/smosh-ian-hecox-live-show-under-the-influence-rcna35988. June 30, 2022. live.
  61. Web site: Smosh: Under The Influence Live Boozy Livestream Event Set For June 30. Brittney. Bender. Bleeding Cool. May 29, 2022. August 14, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220529143805/https://bleedingcool.com/tv/smosh-under-the-influence-live-boozy-livestream-event-set-for-june-30/. May 29, 2022. live.
  62. Rhett & Link Sell Pioneering YouTube Brand Smosh Back To Original Co-Founders. Antonio. Pequeño. . June 20, 2023. June 23, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230622230656/https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2023/06/20/rhett--link-sell-pioneering-youtube-brand-smosh-back-to-original-co-founders/. June 22, 2023. live.
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  64. Web site: Smosh Reveals New Show: Watch the Trailer for 'Bit City'. Michael. Hein. PopCulture.com. August 23, 2024. September 11, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240819183037/https://popculture.com/streaming/news/smosh-reveals-new-show-watch-trailer-for-bit-city/. August 19, 2024. live.
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  70. Smosh's Ian And Anthony On Their Food Battle Video Game And YouTube Notoriety. Kyle. Hilliard. Game Informer. October 30, 2014. August 7, 2024. 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. May 20, 2024. dead.
  71. YouTube Comedy Brand SMOSH Partners With Dynamite for Comic Book Line. Graeme. McMillan. The Hollywood Reporter. May 19, 2015. August 12, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20221003042501/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/youtube-comedy-brand-smosh-partners-796791/. October 3, 2022. live.
  72. Web site: EXCLUSIVE: YouTube Comedy Duo Smosh Expand to Comics at Dynamite. Albert. Ching. Comic Book Resources. February 17, 2016. August 12, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20210125030821/https://www.cbr.com/exclusive-youtube-comedy-duo-smosh-expand-to-comics-at-dynamite/. January 25, 2021. live.
  73. Web site: Lionsgate Is Making A Movie With Two of YouTube's Biggest Stars. Kristen. Acuna. Business Insider. September 18, 2014. September 19, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140919031429/http://www.businessinsider.com/smosh-the-movie-announced-2014-9. September 19, 2014. live.
  74. Netflix Acquires 'Smosh: The Movie' Exclusive Streaming Rights. Todd. Spangler. Variety. August 25, 2015. May 1, 2021. April 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210430143407/https://variety.com/2015/digital/news/netflix-smosh-the-movie-streaming-exclusive-1201577671/. live.
  75. Spangler. Todd. Lionsgate Acquires Rights to 'The Smosh Movie,' Starring YouTube Comedy Duo. Variety. September 18, 2014. November 3, 2014. February 12, 2015. 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/. live.
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  82. 'Angry Birds' Movie Casts Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, Peter Dinklage, Maya Rudolph. Dave. McNary. Dave McNary. Variety. October 1, 2014. August 13, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20160820005634/http://variety.com/2014/film/news/angry-birds-movie-jason-sudeikis-josh-gad-peter-dinklage-bill-hader-1201318330/. August 20, 2016. live.
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