Smosh

Smosh
Smosh founders Ian Hecox (left) in 2020 and Anthony Padilla (right) in 2019
Born
  • Ian Andre Hecox: (1987-11-30) November 30, 1987 (age 38)
  • Anthony Padilla: (1987-09-16) September 16, 1987 (age 39)
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)YouTube comedy duo, YouTube Partner
Years active2002–present
Websitesmosh.com

Smosh is an American web-based comedy duo. The members are Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla who have been on YouTube since 2005. Today they have over 5 different channels, over a thousand videos on their main channel and over 26.88 million subscribers and 11 billion viewers.

History

Padilla (left) and Hecox (right) at the 2nd Streamy Awards in 2010

Smosh started as early as 2002 when Anthony Padilla created a website named smosh.com and started adding different Flash animation. He said that the name "Smosh" came from the time where he mistook a friend explaining a mosh pit as a "smosh pit". Shortly after Ian Hecox joined him.

They both started their YouTube channel Smosh in November 2005 uploading lip sync videos like the "Pokémon Theme Music Video" which eventually gained 25 million views which was, at the time, the most viewed video on YouTube, however six months later into the fame the video was removed for copyright reasons.

The success of their videos led Smosh to be featured in the "Person of the Year: You" issue of Time, published in December 2006.

Later on in March 2007 though, a user named Andi2000 re-uploaded the Pokémon video and today, it has 15 million views. Smosh also re-made the video in November 2010 changing the lyrics a little bit so it wouldn't be removed again.

In 2009, smosh.com had a major redesign. Adding a games section, extras and bloopers for their skit. In 2010, the "iShut Up App" app was available on the App Store, Google Play and iTunes app store; and three new web-series': Ask Charlie, Lunchtime with Smosh and Ian is Bored.

In 2011, Smosh was bought by Alloy Digital (later known as Defy Media), while also enjoying a 40% boost in viewership.

On January 12, 2013, Smosh became the most subscribed channel on the internet beating Ray William Johnson.

On June 14, 2017, Padilla said he would be leaving Smosh to make independent videos due to "lack in creative freedom".

On November 6, 2018, Defy Media abruptly said that they were shutting down. Hecox said that Smosh was not "going away" and plans were made to find Smosh a new home. So on February 22, 2019, Smosh was bought by Mythical Entertainment, a production company founded by YouTube comedians Rhett & Link.

Nowadays, their skits are more general and advanced.

Channels

Smosh

The head channel where Padilla and Hecox post new skits, sketches and other videos every Friday.

Smosh Pit

Smosh's official "second channel" on YouTube (originally called "IanH"). It is used to present more improv-based shows such as Squad Vlogs and The Show That Has No Name!. The channel has over 8 million subscribers as of December 2023. It was renamed Smosh Pit on August 14, 2017, an event that coincided with the addition of new shows.

SmoshAlike

Padilla's personal channel, where he does unscheduled vlogs. As of April 2023, it has over 7 million subscribers.This channel was rechristened SmoshAlike in May 2025, thereby bringing it squarely into the Smoshverse fold. It has 7.65 million subs currently.

ElSmosh

ElSmosh is the Spanish version of Smosh where Padilla and Hecox post the Spanish version of Smosh Pit Weekly, El Smosh Pit de la Semana, on Wednesdays, and post a Spanish skit on Sundays, both two days after the English version.

Smosh Games

Smosh's gaming channel, with two new videos every day except for Saturday when they only post one video.

SmoshCast

Podcast created by Smosh, currently hosted by Amanda Lehan-Canto and Shayne Topp. Posts every Monday.

References

  1. 1 2 "About Us". Smosh. Archived from the original on April 10, 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Smosh Plays Happy Wheels (Gametime w/ Smosh)". YouTube. October 24, 2012. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  3. ↑ Padilla, Anthony. "Smosh.com, 2002". Smosh. Archived from the original on November 24, 2002. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
  4. 1 2 Rolli, Bryan (August 14, 2017). "15 things you didn't know about Smosh, one of YouTube's biggest channels". The Daily Dot. Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  5. ↑ Acuna, Kirsten. "Here's what the creators of Smosh would be doing if they weren't two of YouTube's biggest stars". Business Insider. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  6. ↑ Borden, Jane (July 16, 2015). "How Sacramento's YouTube darlings Smosh went Hollywood and scored big time". Sacramento News & Review. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  7. ↑ Partners Project (March 10, 2011). "Smosh Exclusive Interview: The Partners Project Episode 13". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
  8. ↑ Heffernan, Virginia (April 4, 2006). "Comic shorts, home on the Web". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 11, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2009.
  9. ↑ "The first superstars of web TV". BBC. November 27, 2006. Archived from the original on December 7, 2006. Retrieved July 7, 2012.
  10. ↑ Grossman, Lev (December 16, 2006). "Smosh". Time. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  11. ↑ Dreier, Troy (October 4, 2012). "Smosh: YouTube Gods and Unlikely Online Video Superstars". Streaming Media Magazine. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  12. ↑ Henriksen, Danah; Hoelting, Megan; the Deep-Play Research Group (2016-03-01). "A Systems View of Creativity in a YouTube World". TechTrends. 60 (2): 102–106. doi:10.1007/s11528-016-0047-2. ISSN 1559-7075. S2CID 255306852.
  13. ↑ Grossman, Lev (December 16, 2006). "Smosh". Time. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  14. ↑ Smosh (November 26, 2010). "Pokemon Theme Song REVENGE!". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
  15. ↑ Dreier, Troy (October 4, 2012). "Smosh: YouTube Gods and Unlikely Online Video Superstars". Streaming Media Magazine. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  16. ↑ Team, The Deadline (January 14, 2013). "SMOSH Says It's The No. 1 YouTube Channel In Subscribers". Deadline. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  17. ↑ Lockett, Dee. "Anthony Padilla Just Left YouTube Comedy Duo Smosh to Go Solo". Vulture. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  18. ↑ Crecente, Brian (June 15, 2017). "Smosh co-founder leaves YouTube channel over lack of creative freedom". Polygon. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  19. ↑ Spangler, Todd (November 6, 2018). "Defy Media Is Shutting Down, Will Lay Off Employees". Variety. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  20. ↑ the rumors are true...WE FOUND A HOME!. Smosh. Feb 22, 2019 – via YouTube.
  21. ↑ "AnthonyPadilla". YouTube. Retrieved November 21, 2018.