Smiling Friends to End After Season 3 in Surprise Creative Decision
The creators Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel announced that smiling friends will end after its third season, revealing the decision in a video posted to the network’s social account. The move closes the series as the duo say they are both exhausted and fulfilled by years of work, and it confirms there will be no additional seasons beyond Season 3. Two unreleased Season 3 episodes are scheduled to air April 12 at 11 p. m. ET.
Why Smiling Friends is ending after Season 3
Cusack and Hadel said the decision to conclude the series was intentional and creator-led. After completing Season 3 they both felt burned out but also accomplished, and they concluded the show has reached a natural stopping point. The creators emphasized a desire to leave the show on a high note rather than continue with diminished enthusiasm or production quality.
Creators cite burnout and a desire to "go out on top"
Both creators conveyed that they wanted to give the series their full energy—one of them described wanting to put in "110%"—and that continuing past that threshold would risk delivering inferior episodes. That calculus informed their choice to halt new seasons rather than press on half-heartedly. They framed the decision as protective of both their creative standards and the audience experience.
Network response and the possibility of returns
The creators said the network has been very supportive of their choice. When informed of the decision, network leadership encouraged them to take a break and made clear they would not stand in the way of the creators stepping away. The team stressed that while the series run is ending, the door remains open: the creators could return in the future to make more episodes, a special, or other projects in the same universe if they choose, but they also said a return is not guaranteed.
Two unaired Season 3 episodes set for April 12, 11 p. m. ET
As part of the announcement, Cusack and Hadel said two unreleased Season 3 episodes will be broadcast on April 12 at 11 p. m. ET. The creators clarified these installments are not intended as series finales; they described them as small stragglers that did not make the initial season rollout but still belong to the completed Season 3 order.
Fan reaction context and what’s next
The creators acknowledged that the news will disappoint fans and described recording the announcement as emotionally difficult. They thanked viewers for their support, calling the experience a once-in-a-lifetime ride and praising the audience for being extraordinarily supportive. Looking forward, the creators signaled an openness to collaborate on future projects connected to the show, while also underscoring that any return would depend on their creative readiness rather than outside pressure.
Details about possible future specials, the format of any return, and other follow-up projects are unclear in the provided context and may evolve over time.
