Smosh Mouth Episode #25: "2023 Was A Wild Year" - Detailed Summary
Release Date: December 18, 2023
In the 25th episode of Smosh Mouth, hosts Shane Madej, Amanda Lehan-Canto, and Courtney Miller dive deep into a comprehensive recap of the tumultuous and eventful year that was 2023. From personal milestones to significant developments within the Smosh community and the broader internet landscape, the trio reflects on the highs and lows, sharing insights, humorous anecdotes, and heartfelt conclusions. Below is a detailed summary of the key discussions, insights, and memorable moments from the episode.
1. Personal Life Updates
The episode opens with the hosts sharing significant personal events that shaped their year.
Amanda Lehan-Canto's Marriage: Amanda reveals that she got married in 2023, describing the experience as both intense and transformative. She humorously downplays the event initially but elaborates on the memorable aspects of her mini-honeymoon.
- Quote: “I got married this year. Which is intense.” [02:02]
Shane Madej's Personal Resolutions: Shane discusses his initial determination to form new habits, particularly focusing on his goal to achieve the splits. He reflects on the challenges of maintaining perfectionism and the balance between commitment and personal fulfillment.
- Quote: “I was really stubborn about it, but I also found myself having a bit of a struggle... am I giving in to my perfectionism?” [07:00]
Courtney Miller's Unique Celebration: Courtney shares a quirky personal highlight—marrying herself during her birthday party. This humorous and unconventional celebration underscores her vibrant personality.
- Quote: “I married myself for my birthday party in May.” [15:37]
2. Career and Smosh Developments
The hosts delve into the professional side of their lives, focusing on the evolution and challenges within the Smosh brand.
Challenges in the First Half of 2023: Shane reflects on the uncertainty surrounding the future of Smosh, especially amid rumors and concerns about the company’s stability. The impending return of Anthony brings a mix of anxiety and hope.
- Quote: “I truly thought that we were about to go under again.” [09:16]
Return of Anthony and Creative Peaks: With Anthony’s return, the team experiences a resurgence in creativity and channel performance. Shane notes that the second half of the year felt like “Smosh Prime,” where the quality and engagement reached new heights.
- Quote: “These past couple months have been Smosh at a peak that I experience. It is Smosh Prime.” [09:50]
Embracing Creative Risks: The increased stability allows the team to take bigger creative risks, resulting in some of their most engaging and innovative content to date, such as “Sniper Chess” and the “Love is Blind” episode.
- Quote: “We're really taking risks and we're having fun, and we're having fun on a level that we've never had before.” [09:59]
3. Impact of External Events
SAG Strike: The Season Actors Guild (SAG) strike profoundly impacted their work dynamics. Despite the strike, Smosh continued to produce content, adapting by collaborating with different creatives and incorporating new elements into their live shows.
- Quote: “We still get to be super creative, and on live shows, you get to work with a lot more people who aren't usually there.” [16:47]
VidCon Experiences: VidCon emerges as a significant highlight for the team, serving as a bonding and creative catalyst. The event fostered deeper connections within the Smosh family and enhanced their collaborative spirit.
- Quote: “VidCon definitely counts. That was a journey.” [27:03]
4. Reflections on Entertainment and Content Creation
Live Performances vs. Online Content: Courtney and Amanda discuss the resurgence of live performances and improvisational comedy, especially during the strike. They highlight the unique challenges and rewards of engaging with live audiences compared to online content creation.
- Quote: “Live theater forces you to push outside of your comfort zone.” [21:29]
Balancing Perfectionism and Creativity: Shane articulates the struggle between striving for perfection and maintaining genuine, spontaneous creativity. This balance is crucial for sustaining both personal satisfaction and audience engagement.
- Quote: “Am I doing this out of want and desire, or am I doing this out of... obligation?” [08:32]
5. Personal Growth and Lessons Learned
The hosts share their personal growth journeys, emphasizing the importance of boundaries, acceptance, and following one’s passion.
Boundaries and Self-Care: Both Amanda and Courtney highlight how setting boundaries has been pivotal in managing their professional responsibilities and personal well-being.
- Quote (Amanda): “This year was boundaries and I think next year. I feel like this year was a very intense, intense year.” [41:28]
- Quote (Courtney): “I'm so much better because of boundaries.” [43:53]
Acceptance and Letting Go: Shane discusses the concept of acceptance, learning to let go of societal pressures, and focusing on what truly brings joy and fulfillment.
- Quote: “Acceptance is a little bit of just like, hey, I can't do everything that I want or that I expect of myself.” [43:30]
Pursuing Passion: Looking forward to 2024, Shane expresses a desire to focus more on passion-driven projects rather than external expectations.
- Quote: “For 2024, I want it to be like passion.” [69:25]
6. Favorite Media and Consumed Content
The conversation shifts to media consumption, with the hosts sharing their favorite books and movies of the year, showcasing their diverse interests.
Books: Shane mentions several books that left a significant impact on him, including “She Who Became the Sun” and “The Three-Body Problem” series.
- Quote: “I finished the Three Body Problem series. That's incredible.” [55:00]
Movies: Amanda and Courtney discuss standout films like “Barbie”, “Oppenheimer”, and “Killers of the Flower Moon”, highlighting their diverse tastes from horror to historical drama.
- Quote (Shane): “I think Barbie was my favorite movie of the year.” [57:56]
- Quote (Amanda): “Talk to Me is a great horror movie.” [58:56]
7. Plans and Expectations for Next Year
As 2023 wraps up, the hosts outline their aspirations and themes for 2024, focusing on maintaining balance and embracing creativity without overcommitment.
Setting Intentions: Each member shares a single word that encapsulates their experiences and goals. Amanda emphasizes "grace," Courtney focuses on "boundaries," and Shane aspires to "passion" in the coming year.
- Quote (Shane): “For this year it was acceptance. For me personally, I think next year what I want it to be is like passion.” [69:25]
- Quote (Amanda): “I think boundaries was my word for this year.” [69:32]
8. Memorable Highlights and Fun Moments
The hosts reminisce about amusing and unexpected moments from the year, such as borrowing and naming a keg during VidCon and sharing lighthearted frustrations with daily life in Los Angeles.
VidCon Keg Antics: Courtney narrates the humorous incident of borrowing a keg, naming it "Jacoby Keg," and the subsequent challenges of returning it, adding a playful touch to their VidCon memories.
- Quote: “We named it Jacoby Keg. Michael Myers.” [65:00]
Daily Life Frustrations: Shane humorously vents about the quirks of California drivers and public behaviors that irked him, adding relatability and comedy to the episode.
- Quote: “I have really bad luck with when I'm on an escalator and someone stops and just looks around.” [37:24]
9. Closing Thoughts and Final Reflections
In concluding the episode, the hosts express gratitude for the year's experiences, acknowledge the lessons learned, and look forward to continuing their creative journey together in 2024.
- Quote (Amanda): “2023 has just been a wild year. It has been a wild year.” [47:42]
- Quote (Shane): “I can see that [the finish line]. And I can have fun.” [47:38]
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
- Shane Madej: “I was really stubborn about it, but I also found myself having a bit of a struggle... am I giving in to my perfectionism?” [07:00]
- Amanda Lehan-Canto: “This year was boundaries and I think next year. I feel like this year was a very intense, intense year.” [41:28]
- Courtney Miller: “I married myself for my birthday party in May.” [15:37]
- Shane Madej: “These past couple months have been Smosh at a peak that I experience. It is Smosh Prime.” [09:50]
- Shane Madej: “I could just do a little thing every day. I'm just going to. I'm not going to think acceptance.” [41:35]
- Courtney Miller: “I'm so much better because of boundaries.” [43:53]
- Shane Madej: “For this year it was acceptance. For me personally, I think next year what I want it to be is like passion.” [69:25]
Conclusion
Episode #25 of Smosh Mouth serves as an insightful and entertaining reflection on a year marked by personal growth, creative challenges, and significant milestones both within the Smosh community and the broader digital landscape. Shane, Amanda, and Courtney candidly discuss their experiences, offering listeners a blend of humor, sincerity, and relatable content. As they look forward to 2024, the trio emphasizes the importance of boundaries, passion, and maintaining a balance between personal aspirations and creative endeavors. For fans and newcomers alike, this episode provides a comprehensive glimpse into the dynamic lives of Smosh’s beloved hosts.