Smosh founders, Ian Hecox (left) and Anthony Padilla (right) in 2012.

Smosh is an American YouTube sketch comedy-improv collective founded by Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox. Initially starting as a comedy duo of Hecox and Padilla, the channel began expanding to include additional cast members starting in 2010, with the majority of new cast members joining after Smosh was acquired by Alloy Digital (later rebranded to Defy Media) in 2011.[1] Padilla left the channel in 2017 to pursue his independent channel, while Hecox remained with Smosh through the merge with Mythical Entertainment. In June 2023, it was announced that both Padilla and Hecox had bought Smosh from Mythical Entertainment, and the two founders would resume working together on Smosh as an independent entity.

History

2002–2011: Comedy duo

Smosh started as a website created by Anthony Padilla that he and his friends would use to upload Flash animations and talk to each other online. Eventually, he was joined by childhood friend Ian Hecox when the two started their YouTube channel. The videos started as lip syncing to theme songs for various movies and TV shows, such as Power Rangers, Mortal Kombat, Pokémon, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but as their uploads became more popular, they eventually transitioned to sketch comedy.[2][3] The majority of videos focused on the two in various comedic skits and music videos, but would also include occasional appearances from family and friends, such as Hecox's mother and longtime friend Brian Rassmussen.[4]

2011–2016: Expansion and Alloy Digital acquisition

In 2010, Smosh launched a new feature on their website called the "Smosh Pit", a blog that consisted of various pieces of pop-culture trivia, and written comedy. As part of this new feature, they also launched a new series on their second YouTube channel called "Smosh Pit Weekly" that summarized various articles posted on the website. Rather than hosting the series themselves, they recorded auditions for a host that were uploaded as a part of their "Ian is Bored" series, and let their fans vote on who they should pick.[5] Eventually, the two hired Mari Takahashi as the show's host, making her the first addition to the Smosh cast.[6][7][8]

Following Smosh's acquisition by Alloy Digital, the duo made plans to start Smosh Games; a new channel focused on video game news and let's play videos. To help run the channel, Alloy brought in three new cast members from the recently acquired Clevver Media; David "Lasercorn" Moss, Joshua "Jovenshire" Ovenshire, and Matt Sohinki.[9][10] The channel launched on September 25, 2012, and continued to expand with additional members from 2014 to 2018, such as Amra "Flitz" Ricketts, Wes Johnson, Ericka "Boze" Bozeman, and Damien Haas.[11]

As for their main channel, Padilla and Hecox began adding new cast members in 2015 with the addition of Keith Leak Jr., Olivia Sui, and Noah Grossman.[12][13] The three were announced as main cast members at the end the main channel video "APPLE WATCH SUCKS" on March 13, 2015.[14] This group would eventually be followed by Courtney Miller and Shayne Topp later that year, which would complete the group that would be known as the "Smosh Squad." Much like the first group of new cast members, Miller and Topp were announced as joining the cast at the end of a main channel video on July 17, 2015.[15] Hecox would later upload a video on the Smosh channel showing all the new cast members.[12]

2017–2018: Departures and Defy Media shutdown

Smosh began to see cast members leave the company consistently throughout 2017 and 2018. On June 14, 2017, Padilla announced that he would be leaving Smosh due to a lack of creative freedom.[16] Shortly after, both Lasercorn and Sohinki announced that they would no longer be full-time members of Smosh Games due to similar reasons, but both stated that their decisions were not in response to Padilla's departure.[17][18] In 2018, Flitz also left Smosh Games after being accused of sexual assault.[19][20] Both Jovenshire and Takahashi left the company in 2018 as well, but continued to appear in videos as freelance employees, and made no announcements about their departures until much later on.[21]

Later that year, Defy Media (formerly Alloy Digital) abruptly announced that they would be shutting down all operations and laying off their employees.[22] During this time, both Johnson and Boze left,[23] but the remaining cast stayed with the company while being independent.[24]

2019–2023: Mythical acquisition and continued expansion

On February 22, 2019, Smosh announced that they had been acquired by Rhett & Link as a part of Mythical Entertainment.[25] Following this acquisition, both Lasercorn and Takahashi returned to run Smosh Games, but would leave again in 2020 to start a new channel with former Smosh members Sohinki, Jovenshire, Flitz, and Johnson.[26] Since joining Mythical Entertainment, Smosh had seen a massive expansion of on-screen talent, which had also included more consistent appearances by their crew. New main cast members in this time had included Kimmy Jimenez, Jackie Uweh, Amanda Lehan-Canto, Chanse McCrary, Angela Giarratana, and Arasha Lalani.[27][28]

2023–present: Padilla's return and Smosh as an independent venture

In November 2022, Padilla and Hecox reconnected, and on June 20, 2023, the Smosh channel uploaded a video announcing that Padilla had returned to Smosh, and that they had purchased the channel and would be returning to their sketch comedy duo format.[29] Despite Padilla's return, members of Smosh's team such as Topp, Miller, and Haas, would recurring on the channel, while Rhett & Link would also continue to work with Smosh as minority shareholders and advisors.[29] On August 23, 2023, Smosh announced on Twitter that Jackie Uweh has left the cast to join The Second City in New York.[30]

On January 1, 2024, Trevor Evarts of Mythical Entertainment announced on Twitter that he joined the Smosh cast,[31] having made many appearances on their channels previously.

Members

Current

Image Performer Time on Smosh First appearance
Ian Hecox by Gage Skidmore.jpg
 Ian Hecox 2005–present Power Rangers Theme[32]
Anthony Padilla (7484977542).jpg
 Anthony Padilla
  • 2005–2017
  • 2023–present
Keith Leak Jr. 2014–present MAGIC iPOD[33]
Olivia Sui 2015–present TIME TRAVELING PICKUP MASTER[34]
Noah Grossman.png
 Noah Grossman THE INTERNET IN REAL LIFE[35]
Courtney Miller THE MOTHER'S DAY RULE[36]
Shayne Topp HUGE SUMMER ANNOUNCEMENT![37]
Damien Haas.png
 Damien Haas 2017–present RAW DATA VR LIVE! (Smosh Games Live)[38]
Kimmy Jimenez[lower-alpha 1] 2018–present IF FAIRY TALES WERE MODERN DAY[40]
Amanda Lehan-Canto 2020–present Every Awkward Moment Ever[41]
Chanse McCrary 2022–present They Want To Kill My Pet?! (Am I The A**hole Reenactment)[42]
Arasha Lalani New Friends Become Enemies[43]
Angela Giarratana Billy Mays, Babe Ruth, Landon Cody & Bazonka | Dead Table Talks[44]
Trevor Evarts 2024–present Trevor Is Joining Smosh | Smosh Mouth 28[45]

Former

Image Performer Time on Smosh Main channel Smosh Pit Smosh Games First appearance
Mari Takahashi.png
 Mariko "Mari" Takahashi
  • 2011–2018
  • 2019–2020
 Green tick Green tick WORST AUDITION EVER! (Ian is Bored 43)[5]
Jovenshire.png
 Joshua "Jovenshire" Ovenshire 2012–2018 Green tick Green tick OMG! Smosh Games![10]
Lasercorn.png
 David "Lasercorn" Moss
  • 2012–2017
  • 2019–2020
 Green tick Green tick
Matthew Sohinki.png
 Matthew Sohinki 2012–2017 Green tick Green tick
Amra Flitz Ricketts.png
 Amra "Flitz" Ricketts 2013–2018 Green tick Green tick SMOSH GAMES NODE VIDEO GAME OLYMPIX - Part 1[46]
Wesley Wes Johnson.png
 Wesley "Wes" Johnson Green tick Green tick CHIVALRY & PAINTBALL PUNISHMENT (Cage Match)[47]
Ericka "Boze" Bozeman 2017–2019 Green tick Green tick BUCKET OF DOOM W/ FLITZ AND BOZE[48]
Jackie Uweh 2019–2023 Green tick Green tick Green tick Every Sick Day Ever[49]
Ify Nwadiwe.png
 Ify Nwadiwe 2020–2022 Green tick Green tick Green tick How To Get 37 Cards in Uno and Regret Everything[50]
Saige Ryan Campbell.jpg
 Saige Ryan Green tick Green tick Green tick Our First RPG Ever! (Board AF)[51]

Timeline

Crew members who made/make regular appearances

Notes

  1. ↑ Jimenez no longer regularly appears in videos, but she is still part of Smosh as an associate producer on Smosh Pit.[39]
  2. ↑ Aside from his role as producer and director, Todd portrayed the character of Stevie in main channel sketches between 2012 and 2018. He left the company in early 2020 to move on the other projects,[52] though he did appear in food battle 2023.[53]
  3. ↑ Raub was the vice president of unscriped content when they were under Defy Media, he also was the lead producer of Smosh Games. During this time he made several appearances on both channels. He departed the company in 2023.[54]
  4. ↑ Agnew has been a crew member of Smosh since 2014,[55] originally as an editor[56] and is now the Director of programming for Smosh Games.[57] He started making appearances on Smosh Games and Smosh Pit in 2021 and continues to the present day.
  5. ↑ Whittle was originally an assistant producer and went on to be a director for Smosh Pit and the Main Channel.[58] She hosted Spelling Bee-Kini Wax and made various appearances in Smosh Pit and Smosh Games videos. She temporarily left Smosh in 2018,[59] but later returned in February 2019[60] before her final departure in 2021,[61] though she has made various guest appearances since.[62][63]
  6. ↑ Bowe is a social media and short form editor for Smosh,[64] he regularly appears on the Smosh Pit and Smosh Games channels on series like Try Not to Laugh and the Funeral Roast.[65]
  7. ↑ Palm is a director at Smosh,[66] he has previously been Producer of Unscripted Content, a PA and an associate producer.[67] He appears as a co-host on Eat It Or Yeet It, alongside Courtney Miller, as well as appearing as a actor on the main channel.[68]

References

  1. ↑ Team, The Deadline (January 14, 2013). "SMOSH Says It's The No. 1 YouTube Channel In Subscribers". Deadline. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  2. ↑ Borden, Jane (July 16, 2015). "How Sacramento's YouTube darlings Smosh went Hollywood and scored big time". Sacramento News & Review. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  3. ↑ Dreier, Troy (October 4, 2012). "Smosh: YouTube Gods and Unlikely Online Video Superstars". Streaming Media Magazine. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Smosh Answer The Web's Most Searched Questions". Wired. July 28, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  5. 1 2 "WORST AUDITION EVER! (Ian is Bored 43)". YouTube. November 22, 2010. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  6. ↑ "MEME SCHOOLGIRL!". YouTube. April 25, 2011. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  7. ↑ Bort, Julie (December 10, 2015). "When Smosh star Mari Takahashi started out, YouTube comments were so cruel they made her cry". Business Insider India. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  8. ↑ Gutelle, Sam (August 14, 2017). "Smosh Announces Slate Of Seven Shows For Rebranded Smosh Pit Channel (Exclusive)". Tubefilter. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  9. ↑ Block, Alex Ben (June 18, 2012). "Alloy Digital Acquires Clevver Media". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  10. 1 2 "OMG! Smosh Games!". YouTube. September 26, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  11. ↑ Alexander, Julia (October 16, 2017). "Smosh Games talks future of YouTube and gaming on the world's biggest network". Polygon. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  12. 1 2 Rolli, Bryan (August 14, 2017). "15 things you didn't know about Smosh, one of YouTube's biggest channels". The Daily Dot. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  13. ↑ Hamedy, Saba (April 16, 2017). "How two high school friends built a YouTube empire". Mashable. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  14. ↑ "APPLE WATCH SUCKS". YouTube. March 13, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  15. ↑ "HAND BOMB". YouTube. July 17, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  16. ↑ Crecente, Brian (June 15, 2017). "Smosh co-founder leaves YouTube channel over lack of creative freedom". Polygon. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Lasercorn's Next Step". YouTube. August 5, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Sohinki's New Chapter". YouTube. August 5, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  19. ↑ Weiss, Geoff (January 8, 2018). "Amra 'Flitz' Ricketts Departs Smosh Games Amid Sexual Assault Allegations". Tubefilter. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  20. ↑ Jackson, Gita (January 5, 2018). "YouTuber Leaves Smosh Games After Sexual Assault Allegations". Kotaku. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Did Joven Steal A Show From Shayne & Damien? - SmoshCast #11 - Highlight". YouTube. May 1, 2019. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  22. ↑ Spangler, Todd (November 6, 2018). "Defy Media Is Shutting Down, Will Lay Off Employees". Variety. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  23. ↑ Hale, James (April 11, 2023). "Streamers on the Rise: How Ericka Bozeman became Twitch's true crime queen". Tubefilter. Retrieved October 16, 2023. Bozeman officially joined Smosh in late 2017, and stayed with the company until 2019. In the wake of former Smosh owner Defy Media's collapse, Bozeman stepped away from Smosh and from content creation.
  24. ↑ "Smosh is Homeless". YouTube. November 12, 2018. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  25. ↑ Spangler, Todd (February 22, 2019). "Smosh Acquired by Rhett & Link's Mythical Entertainment". Variety. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  26. ↑ Holland, Patrick (September 27, 2020). "From ballerina to gamer and entrepreneur: The Mari Takahashi origin story". CNET. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  27. ↑ Rankin, JJ (April 24, 2022). "The Cast of YouTube Comedy Group Smosh, Ranked By Comic Abilities". Screen Rant. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  28. ↑ Bender, Brittany (December 19, 2022). "Smosh: Under The Mistletoe Had Serious Potential, Fell Short: Review". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  29. 1 2 Spangler, Todd (June 20, 2023). "Smosh Co-Founders Anthony Padilla, Ian Hecox Reunite to Acquire Comedy Brand From Rhett & Link (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  30. ↑ @smosh (August 23, 2023). ".@Jacklyn_uweh is off to Second City in New York 🎉 We love you so much, Queen Jackie. You'll be missed ❤️" (Tweet). Retrieved September 21, 2023 – via Twitter.
  31. ↑ "BIG NEWS!!! I AM OFFICIALLY JOINING @smosh AS A CAST MEMBER!! don't worry though, i'm still with @Mythical and gonna be on MK and GMM. finally reached a joint custody settlement with my 4 dads😭 big big things in 2024:)".
  32. ↑ "Power Rangers Theme". YouTube. November 19, 2005. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  33. ↑ "MAGIC iPOD". YouTube. December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  34. ↑ "TIME TRAVELING PICKUP MASTER". YouTube. January 23, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  35. ↑ "THE INTERNET IN REAL LIFE". YouTube. February 6, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  36. ↑ "THE MOTHER'S DAY RULE". Youtube. May 8, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  37. ↑ "HUGE SUMMER ANNOUNCEMENT!". YouTube. June 27, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  38. ↑ "RAW DATA VR LIVE! (Smosh Games Live)". YouTube. March 22, 2017. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  39. ↑ "Short Kings Rank Short Kings description". YouTube. January 19, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  40. ↑ "IF FAIRY TALES WERE MODERN DAY". YouTube. July 25, 2018. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  41. ↑ "Every Awkward Moment Ever". YouTube. April 15, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  42. ↑ "They Want To Kill My Pet?! (Am I The A**hole Reenactment)". YouTube. May 18, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  43. ↑ "New Friends Become Enemies". YouTube. August 5, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  44. ↑ "Billy Mays, Babe Ruth, Landon Cody & Bazonka | Dead Table Talks". YouTube. August 10, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  45. ↑ "Trevor Is Joining Smosh! | Smosh Mouth 28". YouTube. January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  46. ↑ "SMOSH GAMES NODE VIDEO GAME OLYMPIX - Part 1". YouTube. May 10, 2013. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  47. ↑ "CHIVALRY & PAINTBALL PUNISHMENT (Cage Match)". YouTube. July 24, 2013. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  48. ↑ "BUCKET OF DOOM W/ FLITZ AND BOZE". YouTube. January 21, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  49. ↑ "Every Sick Day Ever". YouTube. December 9, 2019. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  50. ↑ "How To Get 37 Cards in Uno and Regret Everything". YouTube. July 24, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  51. ↑ "Our First RPG Ever! (Board AF)". YouTube. January 17, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  52. ↑ Ryan Todd [@_ryan_todd_] (January 2, 2020). "Goodbye to a decade of @Smosh 🥳 I'll be moving on to new projects in 2020" – via Instagram.
  53. ↑ FOOD BATTLE 2023, November 17, 2023, retrieved December 3, 2023
  54. ↑ @mattraub (July 29, 2022). "After 8 and a half years (3 lifetimes in internet), today is my last day with Smosh" (Tweet). Retrieved November 30, 2023 – via Twitter.
  55. ↑ Spencer Agnew [@spennser] (November 7, 2018). "End of an awesome four years with these folks. Love em all. RIP Defy media. Please hire me, I edit videos!" – via Instagram.
  56. ↑ Are We Smarter Than Our Editor?. Smosh Pit. July 8, 2021. 11:41 minutes in – via YouTube.
  57. ↑ @SmoshGames (October 24, 2022). "Years of dedication and professional excellence have finally paid off: Spencer Agnew is our new Director of Smosh Games" (Tweet). Retrieved November 30, 2023 – via Twitter.
  58. ↑ "Experience | Sarah Whittle | LinkedIn". LinkedIn. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  59. ↑ Sarah Whittle [@rudeunicorns] (November 7, 2018). "The future of @smosh is up in the air right now with the sudden closure of its parent company. Even though I left a few months ago, it was still my HOME of 3 years and the people there are my FAMILY" – via Instagram.
  60. ↑ Sarah Whittle [@rudeunicorns] (February 26, 2019). "I'M BACK FAM!!! I've joined the @smosh team...again!" – via Instagram.
  61. ↑ "Why Sarah is Leaving Smosh (*not clickbait*) (*emotional*)", YouTube, SmoshCast, May 4, 2021, retrieved November 30, 2023
  62. ↑ Challenge Pit Relay w/ Sarah Whittle. Smosh Pit. March 30, 2023 – via YouTube.
  63. ↑ How To Make Friends as an Adult (w/ Sarah Whittle). Smosh Pit. April 8, 2023 – via YouTube.
  64. ↑ "Thomas Bowe | LinkedIn". LinkedIn. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  65. ↑ "Tommy Bowe". Tommy Bowe. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  66. ↑ "Experience | Garrett Palm | LinkedIn". LinkedIn. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  67. ↑ "Garrett Palm on LinkedIn: Today is my last day as the full-time Producer of Unscripted at Smosh. I…". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  68. ↑ "Every Substitute Teacher Ever". YouTube. December 2, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
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