‘Smiling Friends’ Creators Dish on Season 3, Vow to ‘Do Whatever We Find Funny’
In the chaotic landscape of modern adult animation, where shows often chase deep emotional arcs and complex lore, one Adult Swim series stands out by gleefully running in the opposite direction. That show is Smiling Friends, the brilliantly bizarre creation from Zach Hadel (psychicpebbles) and Michael Cusack. Following a critically acclaimed and fan-favorite second season, the masterminds behind Pim and Charlie have pulled back the curtain on their creative process, confirming what many already suspected: they’re here for a good time, not a long, serious time.
In a recent interview that has sent the show’s dedicated fanbase into a frenzy, Hadel and Cusack dropped tantalizing hints about a potential Season 3 while laying down their unapologetic creative manifesto. For fans holding their breath for a tear-jerking Pim backstory or a serious exploration of the Frowning Friends’ existential dread, the message was crystal clear: don’t.
A Creative Manifesto: ‘Averse to Serious Episodes’
“We’re pretty averse to serious episodes,” Hadel stated, a sentiment that perfectly encapsulates the show’s ethos. Smiling Friends has built its cult following not on long-form storytelling, but on delivering concentrated, high-potency doses of surreal humour. Each 11-minute episode is a self-contained vortex of absurdity, from helping a forgotten video game character find his purpose to navigating the perils of a forest inhabited by a creature named Glep.
The show’s strength lies in its refusal to get bogged down by the weight of its own world, a refreshing contrast to contemporaries that often become entangled in their own continuity.
Pissing Off Fans for Fun
This commitment to pure comedy also extends to their relationship with the audience. In an era of rampant fan service, Hadel and Cusack seem to derive a special kind of joy from playfully subverting expectations—or, as they put it, “pissing off fans for fun.” This isn’t born from malice, but from a comedian’s instinct to zag when everyone expects a zig.
Take the Season 2 finale, an episode that fans speculated would be a monumental character moment. Instead, the creators delivered something entirely different, a move that was both baffling and, in retrospect, perfectly in character for the show. Their guiding principle isn’t a focus group or a Reddit thread; it’s a simple, powerful mantra: “We’ll do whatever we find funny.”
This philosophy is the secret sauce that makes Smiling Friends so special. It imbues the show with an authentic, unfiltered energy that feels increasingly rare. You can feel their genuine amusement in every bizarre character design and every unexpected punchline. They are not just making a show for an audience; they are making a show for themselves, and we are lucky enough to be invited along for the wild ride.
What’s Next? Hope for Smiling Friends Season 3
So, what about the future? While not an official confirmation, the duo spoke enthusiastically about ideas for a third season, suggesting that the Smiling Friends LLC is far from closing its doors. The long wait between the pilot and Season 1, and then between Seasons 1 and 2, has only made the fanbase hungrier. The news that the creative well is far from dry is reason enough to celebrate.
For now, fans can rest assured that the future of Smiling Friends, whenever it arrives, will be as unpredictable and hilarious as ever. Hadel and Cusack are comedy mavericks in a corporate world, committed to their unique brand of delightful madness. They’re not here to make you cry or teach you a lesson. They’re here to make you laugh, even if it means ruffling a few feathers along the way. And in a world that often takes itself too seriously, that’s a mission worth smiling about.
