By Danica Ward
Staff Writer
Legendary YouTube channel Smosh celebrated their 20th anniversary on Nov. 19. Led by duo Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla, the channel has gone from just two guys making videos to a full-fledged company.
2005, the year YouTube was created, was also when the iconic duo got their start. Beginning with short comedy sketches, and eventually a series called “Every Blank Ever,” the channel immediately gained traction from new users.
The channel’s highest viewed video to date is “Beef ‘n’ Go,” a 2008 sketch with 108 million views. From sketches, to the eventual introduction of a cast of members, Smosh has been through many transformations over the years.
Starting in 2011, Smosh was owned by Defy Media. In 2017, Padilla announced he was leaving the company, and in 2018, Defy Media shut down.
After this whirlwind of changes, popular YouTube duo Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal of Good Mythical Morning, bought Smosh, giving it a new home.
The cast of members remained strong, but changing, and the channel introduced shows like Try Not to Laugh and Eat it or Yeet It, and remained producing content on their main channel, second channel (Smosh Pit), and third channel (Smosh Games).
Shows like “Let’s Do This!” and “Squad Vlogs” might have come and gone, but they have been replaced by other series such as “Who Memed It?” and “Smosh Reads Reddit Stories,” as well as a resurgence of a Smosh podcast, “Smosh Mouth.”
In 2023, Smosh again shocked the internet with the announcement that Hecox and Padilla bought back Smosh. Since then, fans have called this the “golden age” of Smosh, with there being so many memorable moments and hilarious personalities across the channels. Both fans and the company itself have agreed that this era of Smosh has been their best yet.
A combination of old and new cast has been part of Smosh’s charm. Original members Shayne Topp and Courtney Miller still lead the company’s content, and shocked the internet with their marriage announcement on April 1, 2024. Other long-standing members include Noah Grossman, Keith Leak Jr., Olivia Sui, Damien Haas, Tommy Bowe and Spencer Agnew.
Newer members like Angela Giarratana, Amanda Lehan-Canto, Chanse McCrary, Arasha Lalani and Trevor Evarts have also become additions to the cast in recent years, and have made the outstanding content that is so loved by fans today.
From their wacky characters in challenges and sketches, to their longstanding games series Board AF, Smosh has kept up with the changing tides of the internet while also staying true to themselves and their own sense of humor.
Some fan-favorite characters are The Chosen, The Gentleman, Courtney Freaking Miller and Sarah Christ. My personal favorite videos are “The Chosen Multiverse Moose Master,” “Ultimate Poker Showdown, and the main channel’s SNL-esque show, “Bit City.”
Celebrating their anniversary with the “Smoscars,” an almost 2-hour Oscar award show parody on the main channel, the company hints at more new things to come.
Overall, lasting 20 years and sure to last many more, Smosh has continued to prove that comedy really is rooted in friendship.
