Like anyone who bore witness to its humble beginnings, we can't help but marvel at how far Smosh, the YouTube comedy duo of Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla, has come. To be fair, some of that marveling is really just shock that these two still exist. But seeing Hecox and Padilla on the red carpet at the premiere of Smosh: The Movie last month was genuinely significant, and not just for those of us who might have had a crush on at least one of them in 2006. It meant that these icons of YouTube had made it from the little screen to the big one.
This was a first, unless you count Fred, who is more notable for his grating personality and voice than for any kind of talent. And it might have been a mere stepping stone toward even greater exposure. According to a recent report from the New York Times, Netflix has licensed Smosh: The Movie as well as vloggers Jenn McAllister and Lauren Luthringshausen's Bad Night for streaming. This move is part of a larger mission to offer more Netflix content to the "tween set." If you can disregard the shudder-inducing term for this demographic, it's worth noting that preteens have historically lacked appealing, age-appropriate programming. Streaming Gilmore Girls and Pretty Little Liars will eventually get old, so Netflix is wisely working to avoid losing young teens' attention.
This is what continues to set Netflix apart from basic and premium cable services — regardless of streaming abilities, it aims to cater to nearly anyone's tastes. You can get your OITNB fix while Grandpa catches the latest Longmire and your cousin giggles over Ian and Anthony's antics. And maybe you can all watch "Boxman" together?