Smiling Friends

Created by Zach Hadel and Michael Cusack, Smiling Friends launched on Adult Swim in April 2020 as a surreal workplace comedy that quickly found its footing. The show stars the duo as Charlie Dompler and Pim Pimling, two employees at a small business dedicated to one simple goal: making people smile. While the premise sounds wholesome, the execution leans heavily into absurdism and dark humor, turning mundane requests for happiness into chaotic nightmares filled with sci-fi elements and bizarre creatures. Over four seasons and 35 episodes that concluded in early 2026, the series maintained a sharp, irreverent tone that resonated strongly with adult animation fans. Critics and audiences alike praised the unique visual style and the chemistry between the voice cast, which included Marc Moceri as the exasperated Mr. Boss. With an average rating hovering near 8.5 out of 10, the show proved that a story about selling joy could be just as entertaining as it was strange.[edit]