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| caption = Title card
| genre = {{plainlist |
* [[Absurdist fiction|Absurdist]] [[surreal humour|surreal comedy]]
* [[Black comedy]]<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.theilluminerdi.com/2021/12/22/smiling-friends-review/|title = Smiling Friends: Adult Swim's Latest Adult Comedy is Childish|date = December 22, 2021|access-date = January 13, 2022|archive-date = January 13, 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220113002120/https://www.theilluminerdi.com/2021/12/22/smiling-friends-review/|url-status = live}}</ref>
}}
| creator = {{plainlist |
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* Zach Hadel
}}
| director = {{plainlist |
* Michael Cusack
* Zach Hadel
}}
| voices = {{plainlist |
* Michael Cusack
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| language = English
| num_seasons = 2
| num_episodes =
| list_episodes =
| executive_producer = {{plainlist |
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* [[Princess Bento Studio]]
* Studio Yotta
*
* [[Williams Street]]
}}
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| related =
}}
'''''Smiling Friends''''' is an Australian-American [[adult animation|adult]] [[animated television series]] created by [[Zach Hadel]] and [[Michael Cusack (animator)|Michael Cusack]] for [[Cartoon Network]]'s
The pilot episode aired April 1, 2020, unannounced as part of Adult Swim's annual April Fools' Day event alongside the premiere of Cusack's other series, ''[[YOLO (2020 TV series)|YOLO]]''. On May 19, 2021, Adult Swim ordered a full season that was initially set to premiere in late 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tapp |first1=Tom |title=Adult Swim Orders Series Pick Ups For 'Royal Crackers' And 'Smiling Friends' |url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/adult-swim-series-royal-crackers-smiling-friends-1234759884/ |access-date=May 19, 2021 |publisher=Deadline |date=May 19, 2021 |archive-date=May 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519140129/https://deadline.com/2021/05/adult-swim-series-royal-crackers-smiling-friends-1234759884/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A panel dedicated to the series was held during the Adult Swim Festival on November 12, 2021, where co-creator Zach Hadel mentioned the show will premiere "within a few months", pushing the release schedule ahead to 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 12, 2021 |title=2021 Adult Swim Festival Coming to Screens Everywhere |url=https://www.awn.com/news/2021-adult-swim-festival-coming-screens-everywhere |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211012202737/https://www.awn.com/news/2021-adult-swim-festival-coming-screens-everywhere |archive-date=October 12, 2021 |access-date=October 15, 2021 |work=Animation World Network}}</ref> The first season contains nine episodes, including the pilot and an 11-minute special.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3SPnm43q3E |title=PsychicPebbles on Making Smiling Friends |date=July 22, 2021 |publisher=The Create Unknown |access-date=July 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722195920/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3SPnm43q3E |archive-date=July 22, 2021 |url-status=live |via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/smiling_friends/s01 | title=Smiling Friends | website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] | access-date=July 26, 2022 | archive-date=July 26, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726024807/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/smiling_friends/s01 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Valdez |first=Nick |date=2022-05-18 |title=Smiling Friends to Release New Special Episode |url=https://comicbook.com/anime/amp/news/smiling-friends-season-2-special-episode-adult-swim/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726025301/https://comicbook.com/anime/amp/news/smiling-friends-season-2-special-episode-adult-swim/ |archive-date=July 26, 2022 |access-date=July 26, 2022 |website=[[ComicBook.com]]}}</ref> The first season eventually premiered on January 10, 2022, with Adult Swim airing all episodes of the season, except for the special, in one night despite initial plans for a weekly release.<ref>{{cite web |last=Valdez |first=Nick |date=2022-01-10 |title=Adult Swim Shocks Fans With Secret Smiling Friends Premiere Marathon |url=https://comicbook.com/anime/news/smiling-friends-premiere-marathon-adult-swim-surprise-fan-reactions/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111202611/https://comicbook.com/anime/news/smiling-friends-premiere-marathon-adult-swim-surprise-fan-reactions/ |archive-date=January 11, 2022 |access-date=January 25, 2022 |website=[[ComicBook.com]]}}</ref><ref name="Smiling Friends Air Date" />{{efn|name=Adult Swim|Adult Swim lists the series as premiering on January 9, 2022, at 12:00 a.m. (24:00) [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]]/[[Pacific Time Zone|PST]], which is effectively January 10.}}
The series received critical acclaim, and was renewed for a second season on February 9, 2022;<ref name="Deadline Adult Swim">{{cite web|last=Del Rosario|first=Alexandra|title='Birdgirl' & 'Smiling Friends' Renewed For Season 2 By Adult Swim|url=https://deadline.com/2022/02/birdgirl-smiling-friends-renewed-season-2-adult-swim-1234929116/|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=February 9, 2022|access-date=August 11, 2022|archive-date=August 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809193335/https://deadline.com/2022/02/birdgirl-smiling-friends-renewed-season-2-adult-swim-1234929116/|url-status=live}}</ref> the season premiere aired on April 1, 2024,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Valdez |first1=Nick |title=Smiling Friends Season 2 Shares First Look at Premiere: Watch |url=https://comicbook.com/anime/news/smiling-friends-season-2-episode-1-watch-adult-swim/ |website=Comicbook.com |access-date=2 April 2024 |language=en |quote="after the special puppet episodes, Adult Swim sneakily premiered the first episode of the new season" |archive-date=2 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240402202332/https://comicbook.com/anime/news/smiling-friends-season-2-episode-1-watch-adult-swim/ |url-status=live }}</ref> with the rest of the season beginning to air on May 13.<ref name="Mini-Teaser">{{Cite web |last=Flook |first=Ray |date=2024-03-24 |title=Smiling Friends Returns Next Sunday; Season 2 Mini-Teaser Released |url=https://bleedingcool.com/tv/smiling-friends-returns-next-sunday-season-2-mini-teaser-released/ |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=[[Bleeding Cool]] |language=en |archive-date=2024-03-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240324231209/https://bleedingcool.com/tv/smiling-friends-returns-next-sunday-season-2-mini-teaser-released/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Special Broadcast">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSwfwTw79HQ |title=Adult Swim Special Broadcast 2024 |date=April 1, 2024 |publisher=[[Adult Swim]] |access-date=April 1, 2024 |via=[[YouTube]] |archive-date=March 31, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331223641/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSwfwTw79HQ&rv=NSwfwTw79HQ |url-status=dead }}</ref> On June 13, 2024
==Premise==
The series follows the
==Voice cast==
===Main===
* [[Michael Cusack (animator)|Michael Cusack]] as [[Pim Pimling]] / Allan Red / Mr. Pimling /
* [[Zach Hadel]] as [[Charlie Dompler]] / [[Glep]] /
* Marc M. as Mr. Boss / Airport Guy / Construction Goblin / [[Bill Nye]] / additional voices
===Supporting===
* [[Red Letter Media|Mike Stoklasa]] as Desmond / Himself (split second frame) / Purple Alien
* David Dore as Party Bro / Forest Demon / Armzo
* [[Erica Lindbeck]] as Assistant / Jennifer the Barista / Mustard / Princess of the Enchanted Forest / Brittney
* Rodrigo Huerta as Guy In Line / Jacob the Goblin / Devils / Jombo / additional voices
* [[Chris O'Neill (YouTuber)|Chris O'Neill]] as Smormu James Carter / Mr. Frog Auditionee / Yeti
* Hans van Harken as [[Jimmy Fallon]] / Priest / Hell Faces / Bill <ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1712939315142283727 |user=hansvanharken |title=My #SmilingFriends voice body count so far |last=Van Harken |first=Hans |date=October 13, 2023 |access-date=October 15, 2023}}</ref> / Alien / additional voices
* Mick Lauer as Bug / Guy at the Gym / Crazy Cup / Elf / additional voices
* Harry Partridge as Smormu Announcer / Grease / 3D Squelton / William Worm
* [[David Firth (animator)|David Firth]] as Shrimp / Fillmore
* Monica Franco as
* Joshua Tomar as Centaur / Grandpa Glep / Cop / Count Groxia / Troglor / OfficeCrap Boss / U.S. Air Force Jet Pilot / Bigfoot / additional voices
* Lyle Rath as
===Guest===
====Introduced in Season 1====
* [[Finn Wolfhard]] as Squatter / various Bliblies
* Nick Wolfhard as Graham Nelly / various Bliblies
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* Clyde Boraine as Policeman
* [[Perry Caravello]] as Simon S. Salty
* [[James Rolfe]] as
* [[Gilbert Gottfried]] as [[God]]
====Introduced in Season 2====
* [[Mike Bocchetti]] as President Jimble
* [[Doug Walker (comedian)|Doug Walker]] as Daniel the Demon Slayer
* [[Joel Haver]] as Doug
* Marc Winslow as Pim's Spanish
* Edson Matus as Charlie's Spanish
* [[Red Letter Media|Rich Evans]] as Brown Alien<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1789745777343963360 |user=redlettermedia |title=Hey everyone! Season 2 of Smiling Friends airs tonight on @adultswim! Congrats to @MichaelRCusack and @psychicpebble!!! Looking forward to finally seeing all the episodes. Rich and Mike play the villains in an episode. Not sure which one it is but it's one of them! Check it out! |author=Red Letter Media |date=May 12, 2024 |access-date=May 13, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Red Letter Media|Jay Bauman]] as Police Alien<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1799207337854701883 |user=redlettermedia |title=This Sunday! Finally! Mike, Jay and Rich Evans are in Episode 6 of @SmilingFriends! It's on @cartoonnetwork at Midnight. Or it's on HBO Max the following day. Here's a clip from that episode. |author=Red Letter Media |date=June 7, 2024 |access-date=June 8, 2024}}</ref>
* Abed Gheith as Tyler
* [[Microsoft text-to-speech voices|TruVoice Peter Adult Male #1]] as Oscar-Jester / various spamtopia citizens
* [[Dana Snyder]] as Rotten the Snowman
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| color2 = #F5B7FF
| link2 = #Season 2 (2024)
| episodes2 = 8
| start2 = {{Start date|2024|04|01}}
| end2 = {{End date|2024|06|24}}
}}</onlyinclude>
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|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2022|01|10}}
|Viewers= 0.30<ref name="1.01-1.03"/>
|ShortSummary= A preview asks the audience to vote on whether a new character, "Smormu," should be added to the show. Pim and Charlie are called to help [[Shrimp]], a reclusive and awkward [[gamer]] who was recently left by his girlfriend, Shrimpina. Charlie believes Shrimp should move on, while Pim aims to reunite the two and seeks her out to set her up on a blind date with Shrimp. Pim ends up developing feelings for Shrimpina instead and tries to steal the date, but changes his mind once he sees Charlie with a miserable Shrimp at the agreed upon meeting spot and reluctantly reintroduces the two. As it turns out, the woman Pim located was not Shrimpina at all, but a stranger named Jennifer. However, Jennifer finds herself attracted to Shrimp anyways, leaving a heartbroken Pim with Smormu - who had been voted in by the audience - attempting to cheer him up.
|LineColor= #F9C90F
}}
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|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2022|01|10}}
|Viewers= 0.25<ref name="1.01-1.03"/>
|ShortSummary= Before the episode, a [[Robert Stack]]-like host walking in an alleyway comments on the horrors of the unknown. Pim is tasked with retrieving firewood for the company's [[Halloween]] party, but gets lost and is attacked by a demonic forest creature. It chases him back to the office, where the partygoers mistake its skin tone for [[blackface]], burn it to death, and eat its remains, while Mr. Boss thanks Pim for "saving" Halloween. The live-action host concludes that the greatest horrors come from the mind, when a cop suddenly arrives telling him to
|LineColor= #F9C90F
}}
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|EpisodeNumber2= 5
|Title= Who Violently Murdered Simon S. Salty?
|DirectedBy=
|Aux2=Mark Sheard
|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2022|01|10}}
|Viewers= 0.23<ref name="1.01-1.03"/>
|ShortSummary= While getting dinner at the popular fast food restaurant Salty's, Pim and Charlie find founder Simon S. Salty dead in a back room. They call the police, who explain that the murder investigation division was moved to a separate company due to budget cuts; Mr. Boss then calls and informs them that the Smiling Friends are in fact the police's new division. They interrogate Salty's team of living mascots, all of whom display alarmingly unhinged behavior. They eventually recover security footage from
|LineColor= #F9C90F
}}
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|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2022|01|10}}
|Viewers= 0.21<ref name="1.01-1.03"/>
|ShortSummary= While on a mission to help the princess of the nearby [[Enchanted Forest]] smile for a portrait, Pim and Charlie get sidetracked by a [[hobbit]]-like forest dweller named Mip. Charlie undertakes several quests despite his earlier apathy towards doing so, causing Pim, who wanted to do the quests beforehand, to accidentally kill Mip in a jealous [[Gollum]]-esque struggle. Remorseful, he and Charlie give the princess the gift Mip had intended for her, but she reveals that Mip was her stalker; inside the box is a bomb, which she frantically discards in a panic before finally smiling upon learning of his demise, much to the duo’s confusion. In a post-credits scene, back at the office, Charlie has an allergic reaction to a "potion" Mip had urged him to drink on a quest, claiming it was a cure for headaches.
|LineColor= #F9C90F
}}
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|EpisodeNumber2= 7
|Title= Frowning Friends
|DirectedBy=
|Aux2=Michael Harris
|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2022|01|10}}
|Viewers= 0.21<ref name="1.01-1.03"/>
|ShortSummary= A rival company called the "Frowning Friends
|LineColor= #F9C90F
}}
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|EpisodeNumber2= 8
|Title= Charlie Dies and Doesn't Come Back
|DirectedBy=
|Aux2=David Hootselle
|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2022|01|10}}
|Viewers= 0.22<ref name="1.01-1.03"/>
|ShortSummary= While fetching a [[Christmas tree]] for the office on [[Christmas Eve]], Pim and Charlie argue about the latter's pessimistic attitude until a tree falls on Charlie and gruesomely kills him. He awakens in [[Hell]], which has [[When hell freezes over|frozen]] over as [[Satan]] is suffering from a bout of depression. Charlie travels to Satan's castle and offers to make him smile, on the condition that Satan must send him back to Earth if he succeeds. Satan finally smiles after harming Charlie and realizes that torturing people gives him pleasure, and tries to back out of their deal, only for [[God]] ([[Gilbert Gottfried]]) to reveal the whole thing was a test, and send Charlie back to Earth during his funeral. An elderly Glep, who has been narrating the episode the entire time, informs his grandson that the story is true and that Christian Hell is real before wishing the audience a Merry Christmas.
|LineColor= #F9C90F
}}
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|EpisodeNumber2= 9
|Title= The Smiling Friends Go to Brazil!
|DirectedBy=
|Aux2= Michael Dockery, Michael Harris & Mark Sheard
|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2022|08|06}}
|Viewers= 0.27<ref>{{cite web|url=https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-saturday-8-6-2022-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html|title=SHOWBUZZDAILY's Saturday 8.6.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals UPDATED|work=Showbuzz|first=Mitch|last=Metcalf|date=August 9, 2022|access-date=August 9, 2022|archive-date=August 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220821144022/https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-saturday-8-6-2022-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|ShortSummary= The Smiling Friends arrive in [[Brazil]], only to discover that Pim forgot to book the hotel as he assumed Allan was responsible for doing so. They try to book another hotel nearby, but learn everything is fully booked as [[Mardi Gras]] is currently occurring. The crew get seated at an airport restaurant and call Mr. Boss for advice, but he offers nothing. Ultimately, the gang accepts that their best option is to catch the next flight back home, unaware of a plane that's about to crash into a mountain in the background. This entire sequence of events is presented as a single shot.
|LineColor = #F9C90F
}}}}
===Season 2 (2024)===
{{Episode table|background=#F5B7FF|overall=|season=|title=|titleR
|EpisodeNumber= 10
|EpisodeNumber2= 1
|Title= Gwimbly: Definitive Remastered Enhanced Extended Edition with DX 4K (Anniversary Director's Cut)
|DirectedBy=Paul Ter Voorde
|Aux2=James Cunningham, [[Michael Cusack (animator)|Michael Cusack]], Michael Dockery & [[Zach Hadel]]
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|4|1}}
|ShortSummary=Pim and Allan try to help washed-up video game mascot Gwimbly after he ends up on the company's doorstep by getting his parent company to make him a new game. When the CEO refuses, they decide to [[Crowdfunding in video games|crowdfund]] the game themselves, leaving him enraged that they are using his intellectual property without permission. As he hunts them with the company's new
|Viewers= 0.24<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ustvdb.com/networks/adult-swim/shows/april-fools/|title=April Fools|date=31 March 2023 |access-date=June 2, 2024|publisher=USTVDB|archive-date=June 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240602182825/https://ustvdb.com/networks/adult-swim/shows/april-fools/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|LineColor = #F5B7FF
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|Aux2=Michael Cusack, Michael Dockery & Zach Hadel
|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2024|05|13}}
|ShortSummary= Pim and Charlie get a call from the concurrently running and very unpopular [[President of the United States]], the unhygienic and unintelligent Jimble ([[Mike Bocchetti]]), requesting help in winning the upcoming election. He is struggling to run against Mr. Frog, who is launching a [[smear campaign]] against him. Their attempts at earning him a higher approval rating fail as Jimble soils himself during a speech, inadvertently crashes the economy trying to make everyone rich, and establishes a [[foreign policy]] with an infamous [[dictator]] that has committed [[genocide]] against an [[Ethnic cleansing|entire race]] of people. While walking out in frustration, Charlie accidentally discovers a secret society of worms in the [[White House]] basement that are trying to sabotage the vote in favor of Mr. Frog, but accidentally persuades them into supporting Jimble instead upon revealing that frogs eat worms. A saddened Jimble admits his shortcomings at the [[United States presidential debates|Presidential Debate]], swinging public favor in his direction. However, a single vote submitted by Glep in [[Pennsylvania]] causes Mr. Frog to win the election anyway via the [[United States Electoral College|electoral vote]]. In a post-credits scene, Jimble relaxes at a beach, taking advice Charlie had given him earlier in the episode.
|Viewers= 0.28<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bunch |first=Rebecca |date=May 17, 2024 |title=Sunday Cable Ratings 5/12/24: Interview with the Vampire Collapses in Return, The Chi Ties Series Low in Midseason Premiere, When Calls the Heart Ties Season High |url=http://www.thetvratingsguide.com/2024/05/sunday-cable-ratings-51224-interview.html?m=1 |access-date=May 20, 2024 |website=The TV Ratings Guide |archive-date=May 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520114029/http://www.thetvratingsguide.com/2024/05/sunday-cable-ratings-51224-interview.html?m=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|LineColor = #F5B7FF
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|Aux2=Michael Dockery, Jake Ganz, Paul Georghiou, Paul Ter Voorde & [[Sheldon Vella]]
|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2024|05|20}}
|ShortSummary= Mr. Boss tasks Allan with buying more [[paperclips]] for the office. Allan obtains them from an electronics store, but is faced with various obstacles and misadventures before he can make it back to the office - namely a thief, a [[helicopter]] chase with the [[U.S. Air Force]], a [[Sasquatch]], a crew of [[undead]] pirates, and finally a massive [[leviathan]] that swallows Allan and ejects him from its [[Blowhole (anatomy)|blowhole]]. He washes ashore with the box of paperclips, but opens it to find it empty aside from a [[ransom note]] telling him to retrieve the paperclips from
|Viewers= 0.18<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bunch |first=Rebecca |date=May 24, 2024 |title=Sunday Cable Ratings 5/19/24: NBA Playoffs Hit 2024 High, The Jinx and Interview with the Vampire Jump, When Calls the Heart Slips |url=http://www.thetvratingsguide.com/2024/05/sunday-cable-ratings-51924-nba-playoffs.html |access-date=May 31, 2024 |website=The TV Ratings Guide |archive-date=June 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240601002656/http://www.thetvratingsguide.com/2024/05/sunday-cable-ratings-51924-nba-playoffs.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|LineColor = #F5B7FF
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|Aux2=Michael Dockery, Paul Georghiou & David Hootselle
|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2024|05|27}}
|ShortSummary= After Mr. Boss marries a malformed [[demon]] named Brittney, the company undergoes a complete rebrand under her influence. Suspecting Brittney of having sinister intentions, Pim, Charlie, and Allan do more research and learn that "Brittney" is actually Filia Diabulus, the daughter of
'''Note:''' [[Doug Walker (comedian)|Doug Walker]] makes a cameo appearance in this episode, portraying a parody of his [[Nostalgia Critic]] persona; a [[demonology]]-focused [[YouTuber]] whose videos Pim, Charlie, and Allan consult for information.
|Viewers= 0.28<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bunch |first=Rebecca |date=June 1, 2024 |title=Sunday Cable Ratings 5/26/24: When Calls the Heart Ticks Up, The Jinx Ends Steady, Interview with the Vampire Drops Again |url=http://www.thetvratingsguide.com/2024/06/sunday-cable-ratings-52624-when-calls.html?m=1 |access-date=June 2, 2024 |website=The TV Ratings Guide |archive-date=June 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240605171939/http://www.thetvratingsguide.com/2024/06/sunday-cable-ratings-52624-when-calls.html?m=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|LineColor = #F5B7FF
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|Aux2=Tijmen Raasveld & Jakub Zieba
|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2024|06|03}}
|ShortSummary= Pim and Charlie are called to help aspiring [[mad scientist]] Daniel "Professor Psychotic" create life. As Daniel
|Viewers= 0.20<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thetvratingsguide.com/2024/06/sunday-cable-ratings-6224-last-week.html?m=1|title=Sunday Cable Ratings 6/2/24: Last Week Tonight and When Calls the Heart Hit Season Highs, Interview with the Vampire Hits New Low|author=Rebecca Bunch|date=June 7, 2024|publisher=The TV Ratings Guide|access-date=June 8, 2024|archive-date=June 8, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608213140/http://www.thetvratingsguide.com/2024/06/sunday-cable-ratings-6224-last-week.html?m=1|url-status=live}}</ref>
|LineColor = #F5B7FF
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|Aux2=David Hootselle
|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2024|06|10}}
|ShortSummary= Pim takes Charlie to
'''Note:''' The synopsis for the episode on [[Max (streaming service)|Max]] and [[Adult Swim]]'s website is intentionally false, describing Pim in the plot of ''[[Mars Needs Moms]]'' (2011).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Charlie, Pim, and Bill vs the Alien - S2 EP6 - Smiling Friends |url=https://www.adultswim.com/videos/smiling-friends/charlie-pim-and-bill-vs-the-alien |website=Adult Swim}}</ref>
|Viewers= 0.17<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thetvratingsguide.com/2024/06/sunday-cable-ratings-6924-lazarus.html?m=1|title=Sunday Cable Ratings 6/9/24: The Lazarus Project Ties Low in Return, Interview with the Vampire Ticks Up, MLB Leads|author=Rebecca Bunch|date=June 14, 2024|publisher=The TV Ratings Guide|access-date=June 14, 2024|archive-date=June 14, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614202610/http://www.thetvratingsguide.com/2024/06/sunday-cable-ratings-6924-lazarus.html?m=1|url-status=live}}</ref>
|LineColor = #F5B7FF
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|Aux2=Max Collins, Tijmen Raasveld, & James White
|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2024|06|17}}
|ShortSummary= After firing an employee named Tyler, Mr. Boss informs the Friends that he must journey to the
|Viewers=
|LineColor = #F5B7FF
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|EpisodeNumber2= 8
|Title= Pim Finally Turns Green
|DirectedBy=Paul Georghiou
|Aux2=Paul Georghiou & Michael Cusack
|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2024|06|24}}
|ShortSummary= Charlie, Glep, and Allan build a [[snowman]] out of garbage, naming it Rotten ([[Dana Snyder]]). Rotten comes to life after Pim attaches a radioactive daffodil to its head, and Pim decides to teach him about the pleasures of life. Pim denies Rotten's request to visit the beach, claiming the sun will kill him; horrified at the concept of death, Rotten suffers an [[existential crisis]] and starts screaming non-stop. In an attempt to cheer him up, Charlie calls upon [[Bill Nye]], who begins singing a song about how death is natural and not something to fear, only to be electrocuted to death when his [[hot air balloon]] flies into power lines. Pim and Charlie leave Rotten on a snowy mountain so he can live forever, but he is returned to the office by a frustrated [[yeti]]. Glep suggests storing Rotten in the office freezer, which initally leaves him content, but as time passes, he becomes depressed. As the Friends leave for a trip to the beach, Pim realizes he can take Rotten by putting him inside a cooler, but he melts when another beachgoer accidentally knocks it over. Pim and Charlie begin mourning him, but Rotten suddenly reappears as an ocean wave, along with the ghost of Bill Nye. In a post-credits scene, the Friends question whether Rotten is just the wave or the whole ocean. Rotten consumes a boat and sends a [[tsunami]] towards the shoreline as horrified beachgoers evacuate.
'''Note:''' The synopsis and title for the episode on [[Max (streaming service)|Max]] and [[Adult Swim]]'s website is incorrect or intentionally false, instead stating: "After eating a mysterious artefact found at an ancient burial ground, Pim suddenly and mysteriously turns bright green to everyone's dismay."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pim Finally Turns Green - S2 EP8 - Smiling Friends |url=https://www.adultswim.com/videos/smiling-friends/pim-finally-turns-green |website=Adult Swim}}</ref>
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==Production==
[[File:Michael Cusack & Zach Hadel by Gage Skidmore.jpg|thumb|right|Creators [[Michael Cusack (animator)|Michael Cusack]] (left) and [[Zach Hadel]] (right) at [[Wondercon]] 2024]]
''Smiling Friends'' was created by animators Zach Hadel and Michael Cusack, noted for their individual successes as content creators for [[Newgrounds]] and [[YouTube]]. Already well-acquainted with each other online, the pair conceived the idea for the show in 2017 whilst dining at Gus's Chicken in [[Burbank, California]]
Hadel and Cusack pitched the series to [[Adult Swim]], which greenlit production on the pilot in 2018. Hadel had previously attempted to sell his and [[Chris O'Neill (YouTuber)|Chris O'Neill]]'s web series ''Hellbenders'' to the network, but the project was not picked up while an independently produced pilot was shelved during production; O'Neill would later compose the ''Smiling Friends'' theme song.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/937404 |title=Brown Smile - Smiling Friends Credit |date=2020-05-27 |last=O'Neill |first=Christopher |type=Music |publisher=Oney Music |access-date=May 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519205005/https://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/937404 |archive-date=May 19, 2021 |url-status=live |website=[[Newgrounds]]}}</ref> Cusack created the ''Rick and Morty'' short ''Bushworld Adventures'', which premiered as an [[April Fool's Day]] stunt on the network in 2018, and also created the series ''[[YOLO: Crystal Fantasy]]'', which premiered in August 2020.
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During Adult Swim's panel at [[New York Comic Con]] in October 2023, it was confirmed that the second season would premiere in 2024, and would continue to explore a variety of animation styles, such as stylized 2D, 3D, stop motion, rotoscoping, and live-action content.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mer Eclarinal |first=Aeron |date=2023-10-13 |title=Smiling Friends Season 2 Gets Official Release Window |url=https://thedirect.com/article/smiling-friends-season-2-release-official |website=The Direct |access-date=2023-10-19 |archive-date=2023-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103000440/https://thedirect.com/article/smiling-friends-season-2-release-official |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Broadcast ==
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==Reception==
Lex Briscuso of ''[[New York Magazine]]'' praised the show's tone and animation style, particularly its use of "unnerving close-up cuts and creepy supporting character design".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Briscuso |first1=Lex |title=Smiling Friends Is a Balm |url=https://www.vulture.com/2022/02/smiling-friends-adult-swim-hbo-max.html |website=Vulture |date=February 9, 2022 |publisher=New York Magazine |access-date=24 June 2023 |archive-date=21 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521163622/https://www.vulture.com/2022/02/smiling-friends-adult-swim-hbo-max.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Margaret Lyons of ''[[The New York Times]]'' praised the show's humor and compared it favorably to ''[[Aqua Teen Hunger Force]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lyons |first1=Margaret |date=February 10, 2022 |title=How Much Watching Time Do You Have This Weekend? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/10/arts/television/bel-air-whitney-houston-national-anthem.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare |access-date=24 June 2023 |work=[[The New York Times]] |archive-date=23 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230923071350/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/10/arts/television/bel-air-whitney-houston-national-anthem.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare |url-status=live }}</ref> Noah Dominguez of ''[[Comic Book Resources]]'' also made this comparison, and additionally praised the show as "unique" and commended its "bizarre humor" and "surrealist tone."<ref name="Smiling Friends review">{{cite web|last=Dominguez|first=Noah|date=January 24, 2021|title=Why You Should Watch Smiling Friends|url=https://www.cbr.com/why-you-should-watch-smiling-friends/|access-date=January 28, 2021|website=[[Comic Book Resources|CBR]]|archive-date=January 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125190027/https://www.cbr.com/why-you-should-watch-smiling-friends/|url-status=live}}</ref>
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[[Category:Television series by Williams Street]]
[[Category:Television series created by Michael Cusack]]
[[Category:Television shows set in Pennsylvania]]▼
[[Category:Television series set in the 2020s]]▼
[[Category:Television series set in 2021]]
[[Category:Television series set in 2022]]
▲[[Category:Television series set in the 2020s]]
▲[[Category:Television shows set in Pennsylvania]]
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