Both shows will also be available next day on HBO Max (or whatever they call it that week). More news and info below.

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ADULT SWIM SETS OCTOBER RETURN OF HIT SERIES “SMILING FRIENDS” AND PREMIERE OF ANIMATED COMEDY “HAHA, YOU CLOWNS”

BURBANK (August 28, 2025) – “SMILING FRIENDS,” the fan-favorite series about a company dedicated to lending a helping hand to anyone needing to smile, returns to Adult Swim for its third season on Sunday, October 5 at 11:30pm ET/PT. Also joining the lineup is a new comedy “Haha, You Clowns,” debuting Sunday, October 19 at 11:45pm ET/PT. New episodes of both quarter-hour adult animated series will be available to stream the following day on HBO Max. “We love shows that make you smile and go ‘haha’- and that’s what you’ll get with ‘SMILING FRIENDS’ and ‘Haha, You Clowns.’ It’s right there in the titles.” said Michael Ouweleen, president, Adult Swim. “While totally different from each other, these two shows are united in that they’re hilarious, gently unnerving, and sometimes even profound.” Season Three of “SMILING FRIENDS” finds Pim, Charlie, Flint and the whole gang going absolutely bonkers once again, diving headfirst into their ultimate quest to spread joy upon the land. We’ll see a bunch of unexpected stuff here such as Mr. Frog running full speed at the camera, the team finally collecting all the spirit gems they need, and a totally epic showdown spectacle with an Ancient Witch of some sort. AHHHHH!!!! One of Adult Swim’s top-performing shows on HBO Max outside of “Rick and Morty,” “SMILING FRIENDS” ranked among the platform’s top 10 series during its Season Two premiere. Adult Swim has also renewed the series for a fourth and fifth season. Created by Joe Cappa, “Haha, You Clowns” is an unexpected new series from Adult Swim that celebrates wholesome family programming. Join the Campbell boys, three doting teenagers and their tenderhearted dad, as they live, laugh, love their way into your living rooms. They’re big dudes with big feelings who are learning to navigate life in the wake of their mother’s death, sensing her presence in everyday adventures. Originally an Adult Swim SMALLS short series, a first look at “Haha, You Clowns” debuted to a packed house at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con. Both “SMILING FRIENDS” and “Haha, You Clowns” are produced by Williams Street, Adult Swim’s in-house production company.

Smiling Friends fans can rejoice as it’s been announced that the show created by Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel has been picked up for a fourth and fifth season. This is in addition to the third season set to premiere this fall. The news came out of Annecy Animation Festival where Smiling Friends had a dedicated panel.

Cusack had this to say to The Hollywood Reporter about the freedom the multi-season pick up now gives the creative team. “It means you don’t have to make the same episode that the engine of the show relies on, which is the smiling friends go out and help a depressed character. Just like the shows we love and grew up with, the best part is now we can make a whole episode about a secondary character and zoom in on them more and explore the town.”

To hear more, check out the exclusive interview with Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel on The Hollywood Reporter.

Previously announced, the Adult Animation panel which appears to be a general panel of WBD heads for Max, WB Animation, and Cartoon Network/Adult Swim. Additionally there will be a “making of” panel featuring last year’s announced Common Side Effects by creators Joe Bennett and Steve Hely as well as a general Adult Swim panel featuring Primal’s Genndy Tartakovsky as well as Smiling Friends’ Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel.

There’s no telling at this point what could be announced. Besides the previously announced Common Side Effects, the previously announced shows are Season 3 of Primal and Yolo, the Rick and Morty shows, Spanish-Language Women Wearing Shoulder Pads. It’s anyone’s guess as to what else they may announce.

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Here’s the Press Release:

ADULT SWIM TO PRESENT WORLD-PREMIERE SCREENING OF “COMMON SIDE EFFECTS,” NEW SERIES ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCES AT ANNECY INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION FILM FESTIVAL Genndy Tartakovsky, Joe Bennett, Steve Hely, Michael Cusack, And Zach Hadel To Join Adult Swim Network Showcase at This Year’s Festival

BURBANK (May 28, 2024) – The global leader in adult animation, Adult Swim returns to Annecy International Animation Film Festival with a robust slate of first-looks, breaking news and special appearances that will spotlight what’s to come in the world of Adult Swim. “Common Side Effects” Making-of Panel – Adult Swim will screen the entire first episode of the highly anticipated new series “Common Side Effects” exclusively at Annecy. After the world-premiere screening, co-creators Joe Bennett (“Scavengers Reign”) and Steve Hely (“Veep,” “American Dad!,” “The Office”), will join Adult Swim President Michael Ouweleen, Head of Adult Animation Suzanna Makkos and Bandera Entertainment President Dustin Davis, for an in-depth conversation and Q&A about this special new series. From Executive Producers Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, “Common Side Effects” follows Marshall and Frances, two former high school lab partners who share a secret: Marshall has discovered the world’s greatest medicine, a mushroom that can heal almost anything. But getting it out into the world won’t be easy – the DEA, big pharma, and international businessmen are all on the chase to stop them. The half-hour serialized comedic thriller is produced by Bandera and Green Street Pictures. (Wednesday, June 12 at 5pm, Bonlieu – Petite salle)     Adult Swim – Defying Expectations – Featuring appearances by Emmy-winning creator Genndy Tartakovsky (“Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal”) and “SMILING FRIENDS” co-creators Zach Hadel and Michael Cusack, this can’t-miss panel will offer first-looks at a collection of forthcoming Adult Swim content that will continue to defy expectations. Ouweleen and Makkos will join Adult Swim Head of Production Kelly Crews for a show-stopping panel filled with first looks and breaking news that will underscore the network’s global dominance in adult animation.  (Thursday, June 13 at 2pm, Impérial Palace – Salle de la Volière) Adult Animation at Warner Bros. Discovery – Studio Focus – Adult Swim, Max, and Warner Bros. Animation spotlight their strategy and efforts in the booming adult animation space. Ouweleen, Makkos, and Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, Warner Bros. Animation Peter Girardi will preview current and upcoming projects and share their team’s strategies to ensure Warner Bros. Discovery remains the destination for adult animation. (Friday, June 14 at 12pm, Impérial Palace – Salle de la Volière)  On the heels of its sophomore season debut on Adult Swim, the quarter-hour comedy “SMILING FRIENDS” was selected for official competition at this year’s festival as well.

First, let’s recap this year’s gag… as with every year since 2004, the Internet’s been rampant with speculation and ideas of what this year’s would end up being. With AS announcing “New Smiling Friends” at midnight, there were ideas… but no one (outside of creators Michael Cusack, Zach Hadel, as well as the “Adult Swim Center For Puppetry Farts”) could have seen this one coming: PUPPETS!

I would totally buy a Mr. Frog puppet, but otherwise the puppet redux concept was fantastic. Especially, each of the three episodes were completely different. First, was the traditional Muppet/Felt Puppet look for Season One’s second episode, “Mr. Frog”. Second aired, “Shrimp’s Odyssey” was done in sock puppets (Charlie and Shrimp especially looking perfect) plus “Shrimpina” as a live-action human. Lastly, we got a paper macher puppet version for episode “Charlie Dies and Doesn’t Come Back”. Personally, I would have loved to see them do “Who Violently Murdered Simon S. Salty?” but overall this was fantastic! In a post-pandemic/WBD “shredding and deleting everything” era where the past 3 years were mid at best, this was a fresh idea and a welcome surprise. However, not the last bit of the night…

After the gag portion, we were treated to the aforementioned “new” episode from the upcoming S2 titled “Gwimbly: Definitive Remastered Enhanced Extended Edition DX 4k (Anniversary Director’s Cut)”. While it didn’t feature puppets, rather back to animation (mostly), the episode was definitely back to form for SF and gives some anticipation for the upcoming season… which was announced for May 12th at Midnight on AS (next day on Max).

As of writing this, you can catch the entire 34 minutes of puppet fun below. Also a sneak peek at the upcoming season. One (maybe) interesting factoid from our friend Wizard of Jim on Discord…

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Check out official info below:

ADULT SWIM SURPRISES FANS WITH “SMILING FRIENDS” SEASON TWO PREMIERE EPISODE AND PUPPET SHOW TO ANNOUNCE SERIES RETURN ON MAY 12

BURBANK (April 1, 2024) – “SMILING FRIENDS,” the hit animated comedy co-created and starring Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel that follows the employees of a small company dedicated to bringing happiness to a bizarre yet colorful world, will return for a second season on Sunday, May 12 at midnight on Adult Swim.  Adult Swim continued its annual April Fools’ Day tradition this morning at midnight with the unexpected debut of three episodes of “SMILING FRIENDS” re-created in various styles of puppetry, followed by a surprise airing of the season two premiere episode, “Gwimbly: Definitive Remastered Enhanced Extended Edition DX 4k (Anniversary Director’s Cut).” SMILING FRIENDS” fans who missed out on the block can still enjoy the puppet-style season one episodes HERE.  April Fools 2024: Smiling Friends (Puppet Version) | adult swimIn season two of “SMILING FRIENDS,” Pim, Charlie, Zongo, Allan and Glep continue their mission to bring happiness to the world, whether it’s a washed-up retro video game character, a troubled marriage, or even the president of the United States.    “HELLOOO EVERYONE HOPE YOU WATCH THE NEW SEASON OF ‘SMILING FRIENDS’ AND THE SMILING FRIENDS PUPPET SHOW,” said Cusack and Hadel. “IT’S GOING TO BE SOOOOO COOL AND FUN AND HOPE YOU WATCH!!!!!!!”   The quarter-hour comedy is co-created by Cusack (“YOLO: Crystal Fantasy”) and Hadel (“Hellbenders”). Beginning May 13, new episodes of “SMILING FRIENDS” will be available to stream on Max and to purchase on Digital.