Smiling Friends to End After Season 3, Creators Cite Burnout and Creative Choice
Creators and stars Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel announced that the animated comedy smiling friends will conclude after its third season, a decision the pair described as intentional and driven by creative exhaustion. They also said two unreleased Season 3 episodes will air on April 12 at 11 p. m.
How Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel revealed the news
Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel delivered the announcement in a video posted online. Hadel opened by saying, “I’m gonna cut right to the chase, ” and made clear, “This is not a bit, this is not a joke. Michael and I are here to announce that ‘Smiling Friends’ will be ending after Season 3 is done. ” Cusack and Hadel are both identified as creators and stars of the series.
Burnout and creative satisfaction shaped the decision
Cusack said that after they finished Season 3 the pair felt both “pretty burnt out” and “pretty accomplished, ” adding, “I think that could just be it. ” Hadel said they set out to put “110%” into the show and wanted to “go out on top, ” arguing it was better to leave the audience “wanting more” than to continue half-heartedly.
Smiling Friends: two unreleased Season 3 episodes arrive April 12 at 11 p. m.
The creators announced that two unreleased Season 3 episodes will air on April 12 at 11 p. m. Hadel clarified those installments are “not finales, ” calling them “little stragglers” that didn’t make the initial season rollout; the creators said the episodes remain part of the completed Season 3 order.
They framed the ending as their decision and left the door ajar
Cusack emphasized that ending the show was “our decision, ” and said the network has been “very supportive. ” He relayed the network’s response as, “If you’re not feeling like making a cartoon, we’re not going to stop you. Go have a break. Either come back or don’t. ” The pair said they could return to make more episodes in the future if they want: “they’ve been super cool and said they would let us do that. But maybe not. Who knows?”
Creators rule out further seasons but hint at other projects
Cusack and Hadel confirmed the series “has come to an end with the third season, ” and said there will be no additional seasons. They described feeling “burnt out and creatively accomplished after completing the third season” and said they “do not believe they could continue the series without compromising its quality, ” choosing to stop while it was “operating at a high standard. ” Cusack added, “We pretty much can guarantee it’s not going to go on as much as these other shows, ” and Hadel said, “Even if we had a thousand ideas at the end of season five, we’re not going to go on long. ”
What the creators told fans directly
Cusack acknowledged the announcement would be disappointing and said it was emotionally difficult to record. He told fans, “We know this is very disappointing, ” and said, “It’s been very hard to even record this recording for it because it’s just a very difficult thing to say for us. ” He thanked the fans and reflected on the run: “We hope you understand and we hope you’ve enjoyed what we’ve done. It’s been amazing. The fans have been so good. It’s been the best. It’s been the ride of a lifetime. ”
Possibilities beyond seasons: specials or future collaborations
While the creators said they are not planning additional seasons, they left open the possibility of future projects in the show’s universe. They said they would collaborate on projects in the future and left “the door slightly open to a special or something along those lines. ” Cusack noted that their representatives and the network might assume the show would continue, but he and Hadel believe they know what’s best for the show and favored “leaving the audience wanting more. ”
