Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel On New Season of Smiling Friends

NEWS x MUSE Manny Gomez talks with the co-creators and stars Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel about going into the second season of Smiling Friends at WonderCon 2024.
Smiling Friends follows the employees of a small company dedicated to bringing happiness to a bizarre yet colorful world.
Learn more about the show by visiting www.adultswim....
Host:
Manny Gomez
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[@CottonBollBat]

The Zach actor is doing a great impression of his voice

[@Durgemann]

Oh no he's just a body double, they got Jim Cummings to dub over him for the interview. Common misconception.

[@Bepis-man]

Hes just lip reading

[@Lunarcheese72]

I mean, look at his normal-sized nose. That clearly isn't Zach.

[@jollimaiahtacksworth]

Zach's iconic singular outfit

[@cherrybloodflavor]

He has 10 pairs of the same outfit in his closet…

[@skadoodlezz420]

The brown leather jacket was actually surgically attached to his skin for speed purposes

[@JPdraws_]

@@cherrybloodflavor”brown leather jacket, brown leather jacket, brown leather jacket, oh! Brown leather jacket! Let’s change it up”

[@rohndstm854]

It’s actually a body suit its all one piece, made from endangered seal leather. He has to oil himself to squeeze into it.

[@Quzga]

​@@cherrybloodflavori like to imagine Zach has a whole Dexter's laboratory closet.

[@wlfrndz8743]

zach may genuinely be a vampire

[@TehMemeMachine]

His fangs are well hidden until he feeds

[@Quzga]

He's always wearing the same attire and is quite pale hmmmmm

[@yowatchie]

@@Quzga Notice how the flaps of the jacket are always up, always so conveniently covering up the sides of his neck.

[@QuantumPineapple]

Why does it look like Zach absorbed 15% of Micheal's life essence

[@Bencewarlock]

He did.

[@HoboMojo9580]

Didn’t you know he does the exact same thing to Chris and Tomar on Oneyplays.

[@esteemedyams]

He's growing

[@Aldini_to]

​@@HoboMojo9580he needs the energy to not be green and retired

[@biosupdate7449]

He even looks like a vampire🤣

[@sorrymommy8190]

Zach's iconic leather jacket. God I'd love to know what he has hidden within.

[@spikestoyou]

like in his body?

[@JabrinkTheStink]

Id love to see him take wing

[@TehMemeMachine]

Trinkets

[@vitradesk]

@@TehMemeMachineprobably a gadget or gizmo or 2

[@The_uglybastard]

His conceal carry and lyles bowie knife

[@harrison.kaiser]

I love how they’re standing in front of a fancy convention background but the lack of background chatter and the reverb makes it seem like they’re the only 3 people in the building

[@JPdraws_]

They’re in a big empty hallway in the convention center

[@harrison.kaiser]

@@JPdraws_ probably something like that

[@JPdraws_]

@@harrison.kaiser I was just kidding. I have no idea where they’re at. Probably voice isolating mics

[@poopa_stinka]

I love how they’re both taking the piss but also being completely genuine at the same time

[@Nate-ll4do]

I'm predicting Nostalgia Critic will make a cameo in season 2. I feel it in my bones, don't second guess me on this.

[@dontsleeponyourstomach]

They wanted chris chan on season one and hes out of prison now so that is a possibility

[@Toothpork]

@@dontsleeponyourstomach Well I don't know if adult swim will that slide this time lol

[@thedamnedcat3240]

@@dontsleeponyourstomach uhhhhhhhh yeah im gonna go out on a whim and say they dont want him on the show anymore.

[@dontsleeponyourstomach]

@@thedamnedcat3240 I'm gonna go out on a limb and say they would've if he was available

[@thedamnedcat3240]

@@dontsleeponyourstomach uh but yeah definitely

[@PurpleColonel]

Michael Cusack could be anywhere between 17 and 55 years old

[@mangonion5085]

They really are just their characters in real life lmao, Michael is sweet and always wants to give a sincere answer and Zach is just spouting whatever nonsense comes to his mind. Geniuses at work

[@lorenzoquirante8685]

Oh you’d love oney plays

[@NintendoBoy64]

Look at Zach Hadel in his iconic Todd Howard drip

[@sptflcrw8583]

Lmfao why does zach always wear that exact outfit at every convention

[@thehungarywaffleinc.7775]

He’s Wolverine

[@DreadAnon]

uh this is a slightly darker jacket you FAKE FAN smh my head

[@gallow_]

It's iconic

[@furfixer]

Everyone has the cool jacket™ they wear to the big events

[@nbshftr]

its probably a real leather jacket, those things are durable and comfortable as fuck.

[@lucasmendoza7576]

I want to see the uncut interview where the face hatch of Zach's human-mech opens and we see the real goblin Zach inside.

[@slimthickens3981]

I was totally at the con when this happened. He said something about "Orions Belt" but idk what that means.

[@Minoriscful]

That is why Tomar was there he was the adukt supervisor ​@@slimthickens3981

[@MealDealSupreme]

The VFX for the Zach character are getting better every time we see them! Maybe one day they'll look photorealistic

[@space_1073]

the zachet strikes again

[@makeyourownpie]

I love Michael Cuscack and Zach Handel

[@NateS917]

Michael cucock and zach ladel

[@neekochano3535]

@@NateS917 So true bestie!

[@esteemedyams]

A.k.a Psychic stone

[@svant3]

And Joshua Tolmar

[@peeeeeeeeeeaf]

@@svant3and pigua hogmar

[@VelvetAura]

I'm willing to believe that Zach entirely made ZONGO up on the spot.

[@Itsyababyboi]

Gee what gave it away

[@VelvetAura]

@@Itsyababyboi idk shame we aren't all psychics like you who can see into people's minds apparently

[@dawert2667]

Zach cosplaying as Todd Howard and having enormous mutton chops but also somehow having a regular beard simultaneously was captivating

[@erasmus_locke]

It's so weird seeing Zach... It's like a talented middle schooler drew Wolverine from memory then voices them.

[@DimitriUmi]

Love them being vague

[@LightishRed]

3:27 Zach was very obviously trying to restrain himself from lunging at the camera for the bit

[@bucket6079]

hes restraining himself the whole time hes being recorded

[@scuffffed]

Zongo is killing me cause I know he made that up on the spot

[@AJedits65]

I just realized this is probably the first time I’ve actually seen Zach so hearing his voice with that body is so bizarre

[@TheGarfieldTeacher]

It’s not actually Zach, it’s a stand in. The actors name is Charlie (that’s where the character’s name came from) the real Zach never shows his face. This actor has practiced his impression for 469 hours and 34 minutes to perfect it

[@oopus4]

@@TheGarfieldTeacher Sad thing is Charlie can't speak with his own voice anymore, but i think he has come to terms with it now.

[@AJedits65]

@@TheGarfieldTeacher ah that makes perfect sense

[@gaysatan4565]

@@oopus4honestly it’s even sadder knowing his family and friends abandoned him because he lost his sense of reality since becoming a Zach Hadel stand-in. Fortunately he makes 3 million a year

[@TVindustries5000]

i remember when he was just psychicpebbles, ever since he uploaded a 2 and a half Men parody cartoon to youtube (i just found a reupload that says it was from 2011). i remember seeing an oneyNG comment supporting him. no one saw his real face for YEARS. like it feels like i never saw a picture of him till smiling friends was a thing. i always imagined him as slightly pudgey due his depiction in Hellbenders its still so strange seeing him moving around in real life. a true cryptid

[@Toniscampers]

The interviewer and the camera man were blindfolded and driven to a secluded area to speak with the warlord Zach Hadel and his LT Micheal and their child army

[@legalza0843]

It’s so funny to see Zach interact with regular people

[@ZyxthePest]

I can't believe Zach STOLE Hugh Jackman's iconic Wolverine look.

[@pepesilvia429]

Zach holding in his interruption when the guy asks "where do you get your ideas from?" is so good, I wish we got to see him do it on Norm MacDonald's podcast

[@Fish-cj4ub]

zach has an unbelievable aura.

[@hazzal2470]

Seeing Zach in 4K definition is wild

[@Quzga]

It's like seeing bigfoot in HD. It's just too much detail for me to believe this is real and not a figment of my imagination or a deepfake.

[@IAndy11]

There is a 10,000% chance that Zongo will NOT appear in season 2 😂

[@difflerwiggins5841]

Definetly not 😂

[@rninc.7984]

Not with that attitude. SAY ZONGOS NAME!!!!

[@richyket]

Not a coincidence Michaels hair is greying while Zach is slowly morphing into a vampire clan leader

[@genwye5988]

Booking my flight to the beach right away, need to soak up the sun to write my next album. Thanks Zach!

[@CalebratedGamer93]

Zach is gonna wait till the camera is off before attacking the camera man - and thats why he's the comic genius.

[@hypno5690]

It's why he has a show and tomorrow doesnt

[@Its_Star_Brite]

I reaallly love how michaels voice is pims but slightly deeper 😭🩷

[@boileddemon]

They are such strange creatures.

[@TimoKirsch-vd1eq]

Love how intentionally and yet wholesomly awkward that interview was.

[@joshlevy4533]

I just realized I think I've almost never seen irl Zach without a sick ass leather jacket

[@vilespecter]

Zach is the perfect kind of unhinged energy we need in a modern-day animator.

[@mattyfox_]

I love Michel Cucock and Zachariah Handlebar, i cant wait to smile with my friends

[@halhorrific]

Kinda off topic, but Zach has huge grippin' hands

[@br3akstuff]

He’s very tall. So is Chris. And Lyle is enormous.

[@cornbabyproductions]

tomar is the runt of the litter, i think that's in his twitter bio

[@IAndy11]

Ikr... Almost did a double take

[@commonwriternext]

HE'S GOT BIG HANDS BIG HANDS

[@Aldini_to]

​@@commonwriternextprobably Zach's funko pop will be bigger than the rest

[@eternalmiasma5586]

They really have their finger on the pulse of modern comedy because they are partly behind modern comedy, they know what they are doing

[@Felixscan12]

this guys have no idea on how to speak like real humans and i love it!! 🔥💖

[@TheAndrewj96]

I’m sure they do, they just choose not to in public.😂

[@MochaRitz]

They make a very conscious effort to be useless in interview situations and it's great.

[@Zeldarulah]

On some longform podcasts and stuff they're more sincere

[@Felixscan12]

@@Zeldarulah hehe yeah, i just love their personalities on interviews is all.

[@ZhenLiZhao]

I wish I could talk like zach, him just making stuff up on the fly always makes me laugh

[@henrylivingstone2971]

I love how every interview Zach does he ignores the question and answers with BS to throw off any spoilers 😂😂😂

[@camowarrior4230]

I love how much they did with every generic question.

[@frankdahtank354]

I cant wait to smile smile smile

[@JabrinkTheStink]

Zach is such a stud I love it lol

[@cloakedhornets6515]

It feels strange seeing these people as human people and not a long nosed yellow man and purple smiling character

[@larger.a.t.2020]

Zach got stunged by a bee so his face look bigger than before

[@OilyBastard]

he got done bit by a copperhead

[@Beunibster]

Repeat after me: His face is bigger than before

[@CatManThree]

Its the beard

[@cetsmusic8377]

Its the L.A. air

[@maticampa2336]

that's just his brain growing day by day

[@rutger5510]

I hope my elderly neighbour quivered in fear after I loudly said "Zongo" at the dead of night in my silent appartment

[@sebastianm.6669]

its so cool these 2 created and simultaneously ARE the show

[@BronzeAgePepper]

this is like when you're on your second or third playthrough of a game and doing whatever you want just to fuck with the NPCs, but you don't want to go too unhinged and look like a psychopath because your mom is watching

[@supercococaleb]

To be fair, that camera movement was probably adding a lot of pressure

[@masonhagan]

cant wait to explore this wacky toon world drawn with nothing but a no.2 pencil!

[@lockerbuddy2039]

I feel like EVERY time I see a picture of Michael or Zach, they look completely different from the last time I saw them.

[@jackiswild]

Zach looks like he’s about to have 3 claws protrude from each hand screech it’s clawing time

[@yeowuch]

zach absolutely mogging everybody in that room. Beautiful.

[@plant3616]

He totally meant Jombo

[@KushKohma]

Charlie’s voice actor is just using his normal voice that’s so dope

[@fakename105]

They're way hotter than I expected

[@alexdonger5816]

Did Zach really take of his wedding ring to flirt with the interviewer?

[@evilsponge6911]

These guys make me smile

[@Lunarcheese72]

Zach was hoping Michael would jump in front of the camera for a sneaky surprise. Don't worry yellow man, I got where you were going with that one.

[@PatzyBeats]

Zachs iconic brown leather jacket

[@greenfox42]

These two are some of my favorite minds in the animation world!

[@austin184wrestler]

Im so embarrassed I cant believe I once again saw Zach talking live with clear resolution and squealed like a little girl yet again because I as a 28-year-old man cant contain my love for him nor anyone from oneyplays..... So embarrassing

[@flippy.b]

Real

[@CatholicFrog]

Did this interviewer just ask where do your ideas come from 😅

[@kombuchamooch]

3:26 aged well

[@theborjon]

I can watch Zach talk for hours 😂

[@grubbu7073]

That interviewer has never seen the show

[@ozmond]

Zach’s iconic leather jacket

[@RagsinatorMusic]

i love these guys so much

[@dwoodieva]

Seeing Zach talk after watching SF is wild it’s like he’s doing a Charlie impression but that’s just him

[@sleepyheadmemes]

4:45 donald trump cameo

[@xx_bugc0re3_xx28]

why do they look so old. They look 80 years old and their gonna die any second now jesus christ what the hell? People growing old? What? No way thats.. what..

[@br3akstuff]

They’re dying

[@Nate-ll4do]

I don't mean to be a downer, but they don't have much time left *at all*

[@tek3576]

They don't have much long left

[@flashmozzg]

@@Nate-ll4do True. I heard that they got their Smiling Friends show greenlit as part of Make a Wish deal.

[@ashydavis8313]

It’s sad too cause Zach is only 62. Michael is 77 so he at least looks closer to his age.

[@carlbrown1000]

Zach iconic sawed off shot gun hidden in his iconic leather jacket.

[@Mybalgon23]

Ahh zach and his iconic leather jacket

[@LinkleMcA]

Michael, blink twice if Zach is actually an android aiming his laser eyes at you.

[@schmee9025]

ive been watching zachs stuff since he started a decade ago its so uncanny seeing him being an actual person

[@Baddaby]

More like 2 decades

[@schmee9025]

@@Baddabyjesus youre right my brain still thinks its 2016

[@Baddaby]

@@schmee9025 same lmao

[@KorporalNoobs]

Zach has yet to decide if he will morph into Jschlatt or Garand Thumb.

[@bruhdon4748]

Schlatt thumb

[@Quzga]

Our little Garand goblin ❤

[@TheItalianoAssassino]

Bro looks like a vampire dealer 😂

[@thecstineman]

I think that Zach is THE example for someone who’s voice doesn’t match his body. He is like honestly a really good looking guy but obviously he has a ‘distinctive’ voice.

[@carstenpfundt]

Wow the iconic smiling friends sign in the background

[@Fat_sodie]

The iconic jacket.

[@pepepoopsonthefarright7531]

we need a rich evans appearance where he does his old timey voice he did it in a old western musical they made

[@polboye]

It's actually annoying how charming Zach Hadel is.

[@brainhem]

something about this is cracking me up

[@peradolia]

yeah seeing them be somewhat serious is just funny

[@Baddaby]

God bless our troops

[@Kranzio-]

I always thought Zach was just a funny little guy, but then I saw that leather jacket and broke out into a cold sweat of overwhelming intimidation.

[@blue.inbloom5412]

Zach looks great

[@juanes8931]

i want to watch the whole season 2 giggling unstoppably waiting for zongo to appear

[@spacetortoiseentertainment9090]

i can’t believe that’s actually a person’s voice

[@Tarantula_Fangs]

I love Zachs voice, he needs to do more voice acting work in Hollywood. I would love to hear him on a animated disney film😂

[@justin5824]

Every time Zach has the mic he just starts spitting lies. Mad respect

[@Tremmor500]

Zach spent so long avoiding cameras that his soul was never slowly drained in chunks.

[@jordanmcmanaman8008]

So wait is their regular voices fucking Charlie and Pim? Michaels is a litttttle deeper but zach is literally charlie and i would cry if i heard him speaking behind me

[@Tydiddy01]

It’s so weird I’m so used to Zach’s online character look that it throws me off to see his voice come from him

[@KnightHog]

I appreciate that they like to edge the audience 🥰

[@MrDukeSilverr]

this has tim and eric doing interviews vibes

[@LiteralVampirePotbellyGoblin]

gotta love these two scallywags

[@TheAaronDuck]

That tom cruise line was so norm of Zach