Adult Swim's "Smiling Friends" Goes Viral: Season 2 Release Date, Streaming Guide & Hidden Easter Eggs Revealed

Adult Swim’s cult-hit animated comedy “Smiling Friends” is officially wrapping up with Season 3, but creators Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel are giving viewers two surprise episodes on 12 April before they turn off the lights for good. In an audio message to fans, the duo said the decision to end the series was theirs alone, explaining that three straight years of production left them “accomplished but burnt out” and eager to exit “while we’re still on top.” They stressed that the April instalments are “little rogue planets” and not proper finales, keeping the door cracked for a possible revival down the road. Season 3 finished its eight-episode run on Adult Swim last November and continues streaming next-day on Max, where “Smiling Friends” has built a devoted meme-making fandom. The irreverent series follows optimistic Pim, cynical Charlie and their off-beat coworkers as they solve people’s problems—usually with chaotic results. Since its stealth pilot debuted on the 2020 Adult Swim April Fools’ lineup, the show has been praised for its rapid-fire gags, internet-native humor and guest voices ranging from Danny Trejo to Mike Stoklasa. Although Adult Swim reportedly offered additional seasons, Cusack and Hadel felt ending now “isn’t just fair to us; it’s fair to the audience,” citing a desire to avoid creative fatigue. Executives at the late-night block backed the call, and the network will air the bonus episodes at 11 p.m. ET/PT, immediately pushing them to Max for on-demand viewing. Fan reaction online has been a mix of disappointment and gratitude; hashtags like #SmilingFriendsForever trended overnight as viewers shared favorite clips and fan art. The creators, meanwhile, are moving forward with their new Los Angeles-based Zam Studios, aiming to produce fresh animated projects while encouraging other shows to hire members of the “Smiling Friends” crew. Key takeaways for fans and cord-cutters: • Final broadcast: two new episodes, 12 April, 11 p.m. on Adult Swim • Next-day streaming: Max (formerly HBO Max) • Potential future: open-ended according to creators, but no immediate plans For now, the gang at Smiling Friends Inc. will close out their mission exactly how viewers found them—trying to make the world a little happier, one bizarre request at a time.