InfoSearched
Published -
- July 17, 2019
- 4:00 pm
Something crazy went down at our office.
And it truly almost ended Smosh.
CREW
Director: Ryan Todd
Writers: Monica Vasandani, Shayne Topp & Ryan Finnerty
Production Manager: Margo McHugh
1st AD: David Gutel
PA: Jacqi Jones
PA: Austin Barrett
DP: Mitch Anderson
Cam Op: Brennan Iketani
Cam Op: Billy Yates
1st AC: Shelby Conzelman
DIT: Matt Duran
Art Director: Steven Cirocco
Set Decorator: Tayler Nicholson
Props/Stage Coord: Yasmeen Mughal
Set Dresser/Buyer: Natalia Brito
Sound Mixer: Greg Jones
Script Supervisor: Merina Seidel
Makeup: Rachel Jenkins
Wardrobe: Athena Lawton
Gaffer: Billy Yates
Gaffer: Joseph Putruzzello
Gaffer: Anthony Hwang
Key Grip: Trent Turner
Community Manager: Cece Wrenn
Content Manager: Kiana Parker
It/Equipment Manager: Tim Baker
Executive Assistant: Nancy Azcona
Smosh Sketch Editor: Mike Small
GFX: Brittany Metz
Executive Producer: Ryan Todd
What were some of the underlying issues that led to Anthony Padilla leaving Smosh?
Smosh, the beloved YouTube channel with over 24 million subscribers and 10 billion total views, was dangerously close to ending in early 2017. Co-founders Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla had been the faces of the channel since its creation in 2005, but things began to unravel when Padilla announced that he was leaving the group.
For fans of Smosh, the announcement was devastating. Padilla had been a staple of the channel for over a decade, and many worried that his departure would spell the end of Smosh altogether. The announcement video, titled “It’s Time To Say Goodbye”, quickly racked up more than 7 million views, with fans flooding the comments section to express their sadness and support for Padilla.
While Padilla’s decision to leave Smosh was a personal one, it was clear that there were underlying issues at play. In a YouTube video titled “Why I Left Smosh”, Padilla detailed some of the problems he had faced behind the scenes, including creative disagreements and feeling burnt out. “I needed to take a step back and figure out what I wanted to do next,” he explained in the video.
In the aftermath of Padilla’s departure, Hecox was left to carry the torch for Smosh. Without his longtime friend and collaborator, it was unclear how the channel would fare. However, Hecox was determined to keep Smosh going, and he quickly began assembling a new team to help him.
In a video titled “Things Change…”, Hecox introduced the new members of the Smosh team, including a handful of recurring characters from the channel’s skits and sketches. Fans were relieved to see that Smosh wasn’t completely ending, and they embraced the new team members with open arms.
Since Padilla’s departure, Smosh has continued to thrive. The channel has undergone some changes – for example, Hecox has taken on a more prominent role in front of the camera – but the core elements that made Smosh such a hit with fans are still there. The channel has continued to release regular content, including comedy sketches, music videos, and “react” videos, where members of the team watch and comment on popular videos from around the web.
Looking back on the near-ending of Smosh, it’s clear that the channel’s survival is a testament to the dedication of its founders and the support of its fans. In the face of adversity, Hecox and the team behind Smosh were able to adapt and keep the channel going – and in doing so, they proved that even when things seem darkest, there’s always hope for a happy ending.
