Smosh: 20 Years of Internet Sketch Comedy and Creative Evolution

The Genesis of Smosh

• 💡 Smosh began 20 years ago as a YouTube channel created by two friends, Anthony and Ian, out of boredom, initially focusing on sketch comedy.
• 🚀 What started as a hobby quickly evolved into a career, with the founders aiming to become the "SNL of the internet."
• 📈 Today, Smosh has grown into a large company with 63 employees, a testament to its unexpected business success.

Evolving Creative Processes

• 🧠 The creative process evolved from just Anthony and Ian to a structured approach involving a programming team and channel leads.
• 🎭 Smosh operates multiple channels, including Smosh Pit for unscripted content and Smosh Games for tabletop and video games.
• 💡 The company actively seeks and supports creative individuals, leveraging their expertise in specific niches to produce diverse content.

Behind the Scenes: Studio and Content

• 🎬 The video tours various sets, including the Smosh Reads Reddit Story show, where hosts discuss anonymous online dilemmas.
• 💧 The Try Not to Laugh set involves improv challenges where participants try to avoid laughing while holding water.
• 🍳 Culinary Crimes is a newer show where the team investigates and tastes recipes that have been altered by commenters.
• 🎭 The main channel set is versatile, hosting shows like Bit City and featuring memorabilia, acting as a mini-Smosh museum.

Smosh's Digital Presence and Future

• 🌐 Smosh maintains a strong presence across multiple platforms, including YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Snap.
• 🎙️ They also host a podcast channel, Smoscast, and an interview series, Smosh Alike.
• 🎟️ Ticketed live-streamed events are held a couple of times a year to engage a global audience.
• 🎭 The brand celebrates 20 years with upcoming content across all its channels, promising continued entertainment.

The Smosh Brand and Identity

• 🎭 The Smosh name originated from an accidental utterance of "smash pit" instead of "mosh pit," becoming an inside joke.
• 🎭 The workplace is described as incredibly funny, with staff often engaged in skit-based activities and humor.
• 🎭 A significant part of the production involves a large wardrobe and prop department, including numerous wigs and custom-made puppets of the staff.
• 🎯 Smosh produces approximately 40 pieces of content per month, requiring a vast inventory of props and costumes.