Ian and Anthony's best friendship is really the core of Smosh and why it worked. The two have amazing chemistry together and the same dumb sense of humor that translates into their years worth of viral videos.
From Shut Up Cartoons' Zombies vs. Ninjas series, in "P.R.-OBLEM", Andre taking the time during a fight to wave at the camera and say "I love you, Grandma."
In "Bigfoot is Gay", after Bigfoot kills Dane Shawson and saves Ian and Anthony, the two immediately throw the net over him. At first they're excited that they're gonna be rich and famous, but then they look over, see Bigfoot crying, and look at the picture of Bigfoot and his children and immediately decide to set him free. Sure, they threw him off a cliff immediately afterward thinking he could fly, but it was still a nice scene.
"A Smoshy Christmas" ends with Ian sleeping sweetly on Christmas Eve night.
Anthony: "Merry Christmas, little guy."
In "My Bobblehead Is Evil", Anthony refuses to kill Ian when his bobblehead tells him to, and stops him when he tries to kill them himself by killing himself so the bobblehead dies with him. The moment is lessened somewhat at the end when it's revealed that Ian had been Obfuscating Stupidity and working with his own bobblehead to kill both of them.
Granted, pretty much the entirety of "Life Better-ers" is about Ian and Anthony trying and failing to help other peopledue to missing the point, but the idea of them going out of their way to help others is still heartwarming. Especially when, even if they fail at fixing the obvious problem (such as seeing a kid with a broken and bleeding leg), they still help with something (such as fixing said kid's bike wheel).
In "MY BOBBLEHEAD IS EVIL!", Anthony adamantly refuses to kill Ian.
"No one! Is going! To kill my friend!!!"
And then it's entirely ruined by the ending. The scene was still heartwarming though.
The ending of "We're Stuck Together". Although they fought and bickered like an old married couple, they both admitted that in the end, they were happy they got to spend more time together.
Only to be ruined when it turns out Ian stuck them together with super glue to prank Anthony and forgot about it. Then they proceed to fight again.
In Anthony's Draw My Thing, Anthony reveals how he and Ian became best friends, saying he was glad that they had met. He also explains how he got over being one of the shiest kids in his school, and how the years he's spent on Youtube have been the best of his life.
In a very twisted way, the end of "Smosh vs Zombies" is this. Ian and Anthony realize they could be best friends for ever if they become zombies, so they infect themselves willingly. The video ends to them killing survivors together to another friendship song.
At the end of "Mime Fail", the mime kills himself by not wearing a parachute while skydiving. Dumbass. Then, at his funeral, his widowed wife and a grave digger look at each other lovingly and begin talking to each other. Then, it's revealed that they got married and are telling somebody how they met each other a la "How I Met Your Mother."
During the time Anthony left, they uploaded a picture to Twitter with Anthony and most of the Smosh family. Here's the pic◊.
After Anthony left, Ian decided to make a commemorative video introducing the entire Smosh family to give them the recognition they deserve. You'd be amazed at how many were involved with Smosh apart from Ian and Anthony, and before the Smosh Squad was introduced. It was a way to let fans know that Smosh wouldn't be where it is at today without these people, and also a great way to transition into the new era from Anthony's departure.
Ian adding he and Anthony are still friends.
And then Anthony came back! Ian and Anthony bought back Smosh because of their friendship. Several videos were made celebrating the start of this new era of Smosh. Including Anthony’s first TRY NOT TO LAUGH for a long time.
Perhaps most importantly was how supportive Rhett & Link (the guys who purchased Smosh after Defy's shutdown) were of the acquisition—as OG youtubers themselves, they've held on to hope that one day Ian and Anthony could reunite like this, and they did not prioritize the business side of it.
It wasn’t an easy path though. When Anthony interviewed Ian on his personal channel the day before the announced they bought Smosh, they reveal they had a falling out after the former left the channel, but they took those 5 years apart to reflect, eventually leading them to this moment. When they reconnected, the idea of buying Smosh back started out as a crazy idea they had in their heads that they didn't think they could pull off. Prior to all this, Anthony completely distanced himself from the brand and shot down any suggestion or possibility of him returning, while Ian was about to resign himself to the fact that Smosh can never go back to what it used to be anymore. After an exercise where they attempt to write a sketch, they decided to go for it anyways.
Anthony interviewed Rhett and Link on his personal channel about a month later. At the end of the video, he took the time to thank them for saving Smosh. Even after buying back Smosh, Rhett and Link will always be considered honorary members of the Smosh Family.
Shayne recollected on the Smosh Cast how after Anthony left and Defy went under, he asked Ian what was going to happen and Ian just said "We're going to figure it out." Ian fought tooth and nail to keep Smosh alive, stepping into a leadership role he didn't particularly want, but ultimately flourished in, becoming the Smosh crew's "Single dad". Shayne also recalled how in the months leading up to the announcement of Anthony's return and the purchase of the Smosh brand, Shayne saw a noticeable positive shift in Ian's mood, describing him as "glowing".
Smosh Squad's Courtney Miller, who has a huge crush on Chris Pratt, ended up winning a middle-school slow dance with him on the "You Posted That" Smosh Game Show through rigged shenanigans.
The reveal that after several years of speculation from the audience, Shayne Topp and Courtney Miller got married in March of 2024.
