Smiling Friends Ending After Season 3: How the Creators’ Exit Reshapes the Show’s Next Chapter
Smiling Friends will stop producing new seasons after its third run, a decision that shifts the show from an ongoing series to a finished season order with possibilities rather than promises for what follows. That matters because the creators framed the choice as deliberate—driven by burnout, quality control and an urge to leave the show on a high note—while also scheduling two leftover Season 3 episodes to air on April 12 at 11 p. m.
Consequences for the series, its creators and viewers
The immediate change is clear: there will be no further seasons beyond Season 3 as the creators have concluded their current run. Creators and stars Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel described feeling both burned out and accomplished after completing Season 3, and they said they chose to stop rather than risk continuing the series half-heartedly or compromising quality. The network has been characterized as supportive of that decision and amenable to the creators taking a break.
Here’s the part that matters for fans and collaborators: the end of regular seasons does not irrevocably close the franchise. The creators left the option open to return in other forms, such as specials or future episodes, but also emphasized that coming back is not guaranteed.
How the announcement was shared and framed
Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel revealed the plan in a video posted to the network’s social account. They said this was a deliberate announcement—not a joke—and framed it as a mutual decision driven by a desire to give the show everything rather than continue at less than full energy. Hadel said they had aimed from the start to give the series their full effort and to leave on a high note, preferring to have audiences left wanting more instead of seeing the show continue past its prime.
Cusack stressed that ending the series was their decision and that the network supported that choice, offering them the space to take a break and to return later if they wish. The creators repeatedly returned to the theme of protecting quality over extending the run for its own sake.
Remaining Season 3 episodes and scheduling
- Two unreleased Season 3 episodes will air on April 12 at 11 p. m.
- The creators described these installments as "little stragglers"—not intended as series finales but part of the completed Season 3 order.
It’s presented as a final fold of the existing Season 3 deliverables rather than a send-off event crafted as a formal finale.
What the future could realistically look like
The creators signaled openness to future collaboration in the show’s universe while stopping short of promising more seasons. They suggested the franchise could return in a different format—specials or one-off projects—if they feel inspired, but also left the possibility that it might remain concluded. One creator noted that representatives and the network may expect a long-running run, but the creators' view is that they should control the series' lifespan and keep it from overstaying.
It’s easy to overlook, but the public framing emphasizes creative control and audience respect: they prefer leaving fans wanting more to delivering content produced under burnout.
Micro Q&A
- Q: Will there be more seasons? A: The creators have concluded that there will be no additional seasons beyond Season 3.
- Q: Are there any new episodes still to air? A: Yes—two unreleased Season 3 episodes are scheduled to air on April 12 at 11 p. m.
- Q: Is a return possible? A: The creators left the door open for future episodes or specials but did not commit to returning.
The real question now is whether the creators will feel rejuvenated enough to revisit the world in a different form; until they make that call, the show’s active production era is considered finished.
Writer’s aside: What’s easy to miss is how centrally quality control figures in this exit—the creators repeatedly framed ending the run as the best way to respect both their standards and the audience’s experience.
