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Liar... |
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Watch Magic Wipes get rid of the stain like magic! |
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Why are there no pictures of Smosh Productions Inc. on the wall? |
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Think he could use some help? |
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Yeah, let's find that son of a bitch! |
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Smosh Productions Inc., doing business as Smosh, is an American sketch comedy-improv collective, an independent production company, and a lifestyle brand co-founded by Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox.
History[]
Smosh, as a whole, began on November 10, 2002, when then-15-year-old Anthony Padilla created the Smosh.com website as a basic Flash movie and social networking website where he and his friends could chat, as there were no good social media services at the time. The name "Smosh" was a mispronunciation of the word "mosh", as one of his friends mistakenly mentioned "mosh pit" as "smosh pit". Later, Ian Hecox joined Padilla's venture, quickly becoming friends and discovering their knack for comedy. In the summer of 2005, out of boredom after graduating high school, they decided to make silly lip-syncing videos together for fun and upload them to the website.
However, Padilla experienced the difficulty of financially maintaining their website for the people who watch them, but quickly found YouTube as an outlet for uploading videos without the need for any financial backing. Thus, Padilla and Hecox joined YouTube with the Smosh name on November 19, 2005, and released their lip sync videos from the Smosh.com website, such as "Power Rangers Theme, "Mortal Kombat Theme", and "The Epic Battle: Jesus vs Cyborg Satan". The former two later became instant hits. Smosh quickly grew to become one of the most popular YouTube creators at the time. They uploaded more lip-sync videos and later branched out to sketch comedy. In December 2007, YouTube launched the Partner Program that allowed channels meeting certain metrics to run video advertisements in their videos and earn money in the process. Smosh became one of the first channels to benefit from this program.
In 2011, Smosh Productions was acquired by Alloy Digital, the precursor to Defy Media. Under Defy's ownership, Smosh launched new channels (most especially ElSmosh, Shut Up! Cartoons in partnership with YouTube, and Smosh Games), rapidly expanded the cast, developed a mobile game, published two issues of a magazine, and produced two feature-length live-action films (Smosh: The Movie and Ghostmates).
On June 14, 2017, Padilla left Smosh to pursue his personal YouTube channel due to a "lack in creative freedom", which was actually due to the way Defy Media was handling the Smosh brand and for treating their employees unfairly.
On November 6, 2018, Defy announced the immediate cessation of its operations and laid off all employees. Hecox continued to run the brand at a limited capacity, only featuring himself and the main channel cast in videos, aided by a depleted voluntary crew. On February 22, 2019, Smosh announced its acquisition by Mythical Entertainment, a company co-founded by comedians and fellow YouTubers Rhett & Link. Under Mythical, Smosh focused on their active YouTube channels, with brief stints on Twitch and G4, launched new merchandise via Smosh.com, and appointed Daniel Tibbets as its first CEO in late 2021.
On June 20, 2023, Smosh announced Padilla's return to Smosh and the establishment of the current independent entity after Padilla and Hecox's reacquisition of Smosh, with Alessandra Catanese as CEO and Zoe Moacanin as EVP of Production. Mythical, its former parent company, retained a minority stake within the new company.
Key People[]
- Anthony Padilla, co-founder/owner (2002—2011; 2023—present)
- Ian Hecox, co-founder/owner (2005—2011; 2023—present)
- Alessandra Catanese, CEO (2023—present)
- Kiana Parker, EVP — Programming & Content (2023—present)
- Amanda Barnes, EVP — Production (2024—present)
- Zoe Moacanin, EVP — Production (2023—2024)
