Smosh Mouth #137 – These Sketches Are Absolutely MENTAL (that's British for crazy)

Date: March 30, 2026
Hosts: Shayne Topp, Amanda Lehan-Canto
Guests: Chance, Arasha

Episode Overview

This episode dives headfirst into the wild world of comedy writing as the hosts and their guests read aloud rejected (and sometimes beloved) sketch scripts they've created over the years. With animated cold reads, brutal honesty, and plenty of self-deprecating laughter, the crew explores what makes a sketch work, hilarious failures, and the creative process behind jokes that are "absolutely mental."

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Intro, Vibes & Cast

• [01:07] The episode kicks off with Shayne, Amanda, and guests Chance and Arasha clowning on each other and joking about being in a “temporary studio, hundreds of feet below the earth’s crust” ([01:44]).
• They riff on minecarts in pop culture, from Club Penguin to Indiana Jones, setting a silly, pop-culture-laden tone.

2. Generational Language & ‘Chud’ Culture

• [04:05–06:46] Discussion ensues on Gen Z slang, notably the terms “chopped,” “Jenkins,” and “chud.” The group debates their meanings, with Arasha clarifying usage as a (somewhat annoyed) Gen Z representative.
  • Arasha: “You for some reason have gotten a pass... It’s like when your teacher says, everybody else do not say it.” ([07:43])
• The team reflects on millennial cringe, appreciating both the follies and victories of their generation ([08:15]).

3. Sketch Writing Origins & Vulnerable First Reads

• [13:20] They introduce the central bit: reading their genuinely rejected or cringey sketch ideas aloud for the first time (some dating back to college or SNL packet submissions).
• Amanda notes: “We are calling this rejected sketches, but as we’ve come to find out, some went hard... but they might end up being chopped.” ([07:28])

Read-Alouds: Rejected Sketches & Raw Comedy

Chance’s “Four” – The Mysterious Professor

• [13:17–21:03]
• Premise: A college professor walks into class, writes “4” on the board, and leaves. The students spiral into wildly off-base theories.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • Amanda (as student): “Maybe he had to go to the bathroom with all his stuff.” ([16:58])
  • Chance: “So there wasn’t like a single joke, really. I mean, there was... It’s just kind of a dilemma.” ([19:29])
• Discussion on how it reads more as a sitcom cold open than a punchline sketch.
• Everyone appreciates the “Catfish Cabin” non sequitur and the earnest depiction of college theater culture.

Shayne’s “Rock and Roll Marathon” – Cartoon Crossover Race

• [27:42–32:24]
• Premise: Marathon announcers cover a race featuring a literal Roadrunner, Wile E. Coyote, Laurie Strode, Michael Myers, and Indiana Jones.
• Notable Moments:
  • Amanda: “I love that they’re drunk because it makes me think that they’re so fucked up.” ([31:24])
  • The oblivious commentary as horror icons chase each other: “Yeah. Oh, that’s the type of sportsmanship you’d like to see.” ([29:54])
  • “This is why they call it the rock and roll marathon, Joanne.” ([30:20])

Arasha’s “Chicken” – Drive-Thru Psychodrama

• [33:05–36:24]
• Premise: A woman’s first drive-thru visit devolves into a surreal spat over combos, two chicken fingers, and employees who live at Wendy’s.
• Memorable Lines:
  • Supervisor: “You gotta stop forcing women to hog down your combos. What the is wrong with you?” ([35:05])
  • Amanda notes: “I like that they lived there.” ([39:28])
• Arasha reveals the inspiration: “I actually used to work at Raising Cane’s... This is truly what you say in the drive thru—chicken, chicken, chicken, which combo you pickin’?” ([37:10])

Amanda’s “Reward” – Grocery Store Battle

• [41:49–50:41]
• Premise: Sprouts employees Lori and Richard clash over the existential fate of rewards points, escalating from petty bickering to physical comedy brawl.
• Highlights:
  • Amanda: “What is the PLU number? Oh, wait. Ugh. I know it. God.” ([43:57])
  • The argument explodes into insult-trading and a fight involving a headbutt and paper bag face-slashing.
  • Manager’s anticlimactic ruling: “The reward points expire, but we roll your points over, Richard, because you never use them, and we don’t want to take that perk away from you.” ([48:54])
• Amanda describes the real inspiration—a tense but hilarious interaction witnessed at a grocery store ([52:14]).
• Discussion touches on sketch structure versus character depth.

Chance’s “Understudy” – Improv Gone Wild in ‘Chicago’

• [57:03–64:59]
• Premise: An unhinged understudy highjacks a production of “Chicago,” improvising, breaking into her one-woman show, and misunderstanding “pediatrician.”
• Notable Quotes:
  • “Can I get a suggestion of a profession?” – Understudy, in middle of a scripted number ([59:58])
  • “She didn’t just ask for a suggestion during a scripted performance.” – Charles ([60:01])
  • “My feet are just fine. I haven’t even needed to go to the pediatrician in years.” – Understudy ([60:59])
• Panel agrees: “Super Tim Robinson coded.”

Arasha’s “Lloyd” – Werewolf Game Meltdown

• [65:04–71:18]
• Premise: During a group game of Werewolf, Lloyd’s denial, misdirection, and emotional spiral create chaos.
• “That is the dumbest fucking thing I’ve ever heard in my life. Why would I kill Mike? He’s right over there.” ([67:20])
• Panel notes the Tim Robinson influence and the comedic genius of latching onto pointless beefs.

Shayne’s “Shane, Handsome” – Space Odyssey Donut Run

• [72:07–76:31]
• Premise: Shayne brings donuts to the podcast, promptly trips, and is sent flying through the cosmos on a skateboard—only to land on an alien world and share donuts, causing alien heads to explode.
  • “He flies past the moon... passes Mars, the asteroid belt, Jupiter, Neptune, Uranus, and even Pluto, which as he glides past, can see is in fact a planet. It says it on the surface... I don’t make the rules.” ([73:25])
  • Alien: “Oh, sick. Boston Cream.” [Head explodes] ([76:14])
• The group wants to see this animated.

Podcasting & Comedy Process Insights

• The crew repeatedly analyzes what works or doesn’t in a sketch (e.g., character-driven vs. game-driven).
• They reflect on the nature of group sketch writing, SNL rejections, and the emotional risk of reading rough drafts in public.
  • “In college... you’re reading rough sketches. More often than. It was so interesting.” – Chance ([21:23])
• Amanda on writing long, character-driven sketches: “This was my biggest issue with writing sketches—I would go so hard, deep onto characters... I struggle to...” ([53:10])
• They recognize trends and tropes in improv and sketch (e.g., “improv face,” the guy in a plaid shirt with eyebrows up, mouth tight).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On generational language:

  • “Chud sounds like chode to me.” – Chance ([06:40])
  • “People have started to misuse low key a lot.” – Shayne ([04:55])

• On creative vulnerability:

  • “So this is vulnerable because I was trying to make it fun.” – Chance ([13:54])

• Meta moments:

  • “What happened? I have a question about Shane Handsome carrying several boxes of donuts.” ([77:03])
  • “You love delving into anyone's story. Like, it's hard for you to let any small character just go.” – Shayne, to Amanda ([53:04])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:07] – Episode kicks off: Who’s at the mics, underground studio bit.
• [04:05] – Gen Z slang & generational cringe discourse.
• [13:17] – Introduction to "Rejected Sketches" read-aloud.
• [13:17–21:03] – Chance's “Four” sketch performance & notes.
• [27:42–32:24] – Shayne’s “Rock and Roll Marathon.”
• [33:05–36:24] – Arasha’s “Chicken” (drive-thru) sketch.
• [41:49–50:41] – Amanda’s “Reward” (Sprouts) sketch.
• [57:03–64:59] – Chance’s “Understudy” (Chicago musical) sketch.
• [65:04–71:18] – Arasha’s “Lloyd” (Werewolf game) sketch.
• [72:07–76:31] – Shayne’s “Shane, Handsome” (intergalactic donuts) rapidfire sketch.

Closing Thoughts

The episode is a joyous mess of inside jokes, sketch comedy nerdery, and real vulnerability about bombing and learning in comedy. The cast promises to revisit this format soon, with unfinished “Shitter” and “Dino Date” sketches teased as “absolutely mental” bits to come ([77:55]).

Panel affection:
Amanda: “Lori’s got a whole world.” ([78:10])
Chance & Arasha: “Have us back.” ([78:03])

Perfect capstone to the episode:
An alien, after biting into a donut: “Oh, sick. Boston Cream.” [Head explodes] ([76:16])

For Sketch Comedy Fans

If you want to hear creative collaboration, cringey college scripts, and four sketch-writers roasting each other and themselves with palpable warmth, this is a manic, delightful listen—equal parts failed bit and friendship celebration.