Smosh Mouth Podcast #111 – The Character Episode

Release Date: September 22, 2025
Hosts: Shayne Topp, Amanda Lehan-Canto, Chance McCra

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the creative process behind generating, building, and performing characters for Smosh videos and related projects. Shayne, Amanda, and guest Chance McCra candidly discuss their approaches to character creation (from both physical and psychological perspectives), the challenges of evolving digital comedy, favorite personal creations, generational touchstones in character humor, and share a rapid-fire brainstorm of new (and sometimes intentionally bad) character ideas. The conversation is lively, self-deprecating, and filled with inside-process anecdotes, laughs, and the occasional tangent.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Pace of Character Development (02:35–04:52)

• Amanda shares noticing a shift in how quickly characters must be established for modern digital content, compared to earlier projects like “Baft Legacy,” which allowed more gradual character-building.
  • “I have stopped kind of generating...well-written characters because I’m just—because of here.” (03:08)
• Shayne observes that online video content often pressures creators to have characters reach peak comedy or identity almost immediately, whereas older formats allowed more room for slow builds and complexity.
  • “You can’t have a slow build.” (04:13)

2. Character Generation Approaches & Physicality (05:24–09:45)

• Different doors: Sometimes it starts with the costume/look, other times with a premise or inner want.
• Chance and Courtney often start with the physical look and let that inform the voice/mannerisms, while Amanda may build from a premise or psychological “want.”
  • “You guys cook on a look.” (05:24 – Amanda)
• The hosts share tips for "embodying" a character: how posture, movement, and even facial expressions align with core character intent and point of view.
  • “It’s the way their body moves too ... where do they carry tension and how does that affect how they think?” (08:45 – Shayne)

3. The Power of Point of View & Character Intent (06:30–07:35; 13:09–14:34)

• Shayne notes that intention is everything: “With the Chosen, it’s that everything I’m saying has to be—it’s the most badass thing ever said.” (05:52)
• Relatable or grounded characters, like “the Chosen,” are successful because audiences resonate with their exaggerated yet familiar mindsets.
  • “The chosen is who I am for the 30 minutes after I see an awesome movie.” (07:06 – Shayne)
• Real-life influences: Many characters subconsciously merge traits of family members, public figures, or “types” observed in day-to-day life.

4. Writing Techniques: Premise vs. POV (09:32–12:30)

• Amanda distinguishes between “premise-based” characters (e.g., the girl who shames people for not seeing movies) and those built from deep point-of-view.
• Shayne praises observational characters (e.g., “Target Lady”) for their real-world relatability and transferable behaviors.
  • “To make something that you could send that character anywhere ... you just are like, ‘Oh, I know how they would act there.’” (11:41)

5. High Status vs. Low Status Characters (18:40–23:44)

• They discuss the comedic potential and challenge of both confident (“high status”) and awkward (“low status”) archetypes.
  • “A high status character...thinks he is smart...whereas a low status character is like—it’s not intelligence, it’s like willpower.” (19:51 – Shayne)
• Both types can be compelling, but high status often dominates Smosh’s short-form, fast-paced comedy.
• Noteworthy segment: Shayne recounts his “Mr. Muffins” dog character (22:01–22:53).

6. The Notes App: Capturing Inspiration (23:59–24:49)

• Amanda reveals her exhaustive (and individual) note-taking method—one note per character concept.
  • “All my friends have one note on their notes app. I create a new note for every character.” (24:20)
• Shayne and Chance react with mock awe and debate other methods of tracking ideas.

7. The Visuals and Props of Character (27:28–32:14)

• The transformative power of hats, sunglasses, and physical props is both played for laughs and used analytically—to show how minor costume tweaks can totally change audience perception.
  • “Sunglasses are so much of their personality...” (31:46 – Shayne & Amanda, complete with improvised roleplays)
• This leads to discussions of types of “guys” you meet—like “white guy in sunglasses” and “youth pastor”—and what their accessories communicate.

8. Characters as Amalgamation (13:09–14:34; 33:03–34:23)

• Many characters are a mix of people the comedians know personally (“my Aunt Carolyn character is...chill...and has no filter”) and cultural archetypes.
• They reflect on seeing their relatives in characters, and accidental similarities to cartoons or other outside influences.

9. Rapid-Fire Brainstorming: New Character Pitches (36:32–48:55)

• The trio runs through a string of new concepts, such as:
  • “Girl on a trip with no itinerary” (35:17)
  • “Girl at a music festival getting hit by a ball” (37:24–38:19)
  • “Waitress being hunted” (24:26–24:41)
  • “iPad kid at the restaurant” (43:08–44:03)
  • “Oracle baby” (44:07–44:27)
  • “Sommelier as a character” (66:06)
• There’s much playful Yes-And-ing, expanding each idea until it reaches absurdity.

10. Impressions, Parodies & Parodic Names (47:11–53:48, 53:59–55:25)

• “Queef Latifah,” “King Louie the CK,” “Jersey Mike”—what would these characters be like?
• Playing with names gives total creative freedom, even more so when the real-world referent is hazy or irrelevant.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Amanda (03:08): “I have stopped kind of generating...well-written characters because I’m just—because of here.”
• Shayne (07:06): “The chosen is who I am for the 30 minutes after I see an awesome movie.”
• Amanda (11:26): “Target lady is like, that is someone. Like, I've seen that real person.”
• Shayne (19:51): “A high status character...thinks he is smart...whereas a low status character is like—it’s not intelligence, it’s like willpower.”
• Chance (27:58): “I think to this day Mr. Peanut is still my favorite of yours because he is mysterious to me in that I don’t know his intentions, but I know that you know his intentions.”
• Amanda (43:08): “I got iPad kid at the restaurant.”
• Shayne (59:22): “I love photographers because it’s such a mindset that I love where they’re obsessed with getting the photos of things.”
• Amanda (62:03): “Santa’s American. Don’t clip that.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:35] – Discussion of digital content affecting character development pace
• [05:24] – Physical vs. psychological approaches to character creation
• [06:30] – The importance of point-of-view (POV) and intent in making strong characters
• [11:26] – Observational and “everyday” character archetypes
• [18:40] – High vs. low status in comedic characters
• [22:01] – “Mr. Muffins” and the appeal of low status characters
• [23:59] – The Notes app: Amanda’s character inspiration workflow
• [27:28] – Props and physicality: hats, sunglasses and the ‘white guy tropes’
• [35:17] – Rapid brainstorming: “Girl on a trip with no itinerary”
• [37:24] – “Girl at a music festival getting hit by a ball”
• [43:08] – “iPad kid at a restaurant”
• [44:07] – “Oracle Baby”
• [47:11] – The power (and danger) of main character syndrome in creating characters
• [53:59] – Parodic names and undefined archetypes: “Jersey Mike,” “Queef Latifah”
• [62:03] – Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, and comedy opportunities in Christmas archetypes
• [66:06] – The sommelier character; wine as a well of character tropes

Tone & Takeaways

Throughout the episode, the Smosh crew is self-aware, collaborative, and playful with their craft. They are candid about both the constraints and freedoms of sketch and improv comedy in today's fast-paced digital world, sharing both specific techniques (notes, costuming) and philosophical insights (what makes a character real, lasting, relatable). The episode is a treasure trove for fans curious about the “how” behind Smosh character comedy—and an inspirational, often hilarious listen for any aspiring comedian.

If you want to see any of these characters come to life, let the hosts know on their social media! And, of course, hold Shayne to his promise about Queef Latifah... as long as the internet promises to be cool about it.

(Summary by Smosh Mouth Podcast Summarizer)