Wacky Web fun with Smosh

Anthony Padilla (left) and Ian Hecox — aka Smosh — are Internet superstars thanks to their fun and funny videos.

By Natalie Tupta
Charleston Catholic High School

The Pokémon theme song. California stereotypes. Boys playing with dolls. What do all these things have in common? They’re all subjects of Smosh videos.

Since 2005, two teenage guys have been releasing homemade videos to the Internet. They created a Web site, smosh.com, and a YouTube.com account to put their videos out. The videos aren’t much more than the pair being silly, but they’ve sure attracted attention.

Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox, both 19, call themselves Smosh. Recognized by publications such as Time magazine, BBC News and USA Today, the pair has drawn lots of attention to their videos.

Smosh is the most subscribed user of all time on YouTube and recently won a YouTube Best Comedy Video Award for its “Stranded.” Additionally, with more than 231/2 million views, its “Pokémon Theme Music Video” is YouTube’s third-most-viewed video of all time, as well as the second-most-discussed and fifth top favorite.

So why all the hype?

These videos are really funny. The concepts behind all of them don’t really seem very funny if you think about them, but the duo has a way with the camera that keeps loyal viewers coming back for more.

However, Padilla and Hecox didn’t start making the videos with fame in mind.

“We started making videos only when we were very bored. I guess it’s grown into a passion,” Padilla told Canadian student newspaper The Medium. “We’re just two normal guys making videos about things [the audience] is familiar with.”

These things include parodies of TV theme songs and random skits. Padilla attributes Smosh’s success to the fact that people can relate to the funny stuff in their videos.

Want to give them a watch now? Go to their Web site or YouTube and search for these hilarious titles.

5. “Stranded” — This YouTube Award winner is a clever video, showing a man stranded on a desert island. The surprise ending is what makes this video great.

4. “That Damn Neighbor” — Benny Jean confides in his pal Cletus about his troubles with his ever-intrusive neighbor.

3. “The California Stereotype Experiment” — Ian and Anthony are tired of people assuming that because they live in California they surf and/or live next to a celebrity. They hit the beach to prove these stereotypes wrong, and the results of their experiment will definitely make you giggle.

2. “New Year’s Eve PSA” — This is a hilarious Public Service Announcement about how not to act at a New Year’s Eve party. Hecox does a great job playing the obnoxious party guy.

1. “Easy Step” — This video does a great job of poking fun at all the unrealistic infomercials out there. It’s by far my favorite Smosh video because it never gets old. Don’t forget to pause it so you can read all the fine print when the order screen comes up.

Some of Smosh’s videos feature mild language. However, for the most part, anything offensive is censored.