Smiling Friends season 3 episode 2 arrives with the long‑teased comeback of Mr. Frog and a fresh mission for Pim and Charlie. Adult Swim’s late‑night slot brings the episode to viewers in America this weekend, with next‑day streaming also in play. Creators Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel continue to steer the series’ irreverent tone, with Hadel stressing, “I don’t think Charlie and Pim could cry, and anybody would care.”

Release & Where to Watch

Two same‑day reports list different on‑air times for the U.S. broadcast in America on the weekend of October 12–13, 2025:

  • Claim A (Sunday, October 12, 2025, at 11:30 p.m. ET/PT): A preview identifies the slot and the title “Le Voyage Incroyable de Monsieur Grenouille,” and notes curated re‑airs of “Mr. Frog” (S01E02) and “Mr. President” (S02E02) around the telecast.
  • Claim B (Saturday, October 11, 202,5, at 10:30 p.m.): A campus review states season 3 airs on Saturdays at 10:30 p.m., with episodes available on HBO Max the following day.
  • Next‑day streaming: Both pieces reference next‑day viewing on HBO Max.

BuddyTV analysis (scheduling): Program guides in the American market should reflect one of those late‑night blocks; set alerts for both if needed. Either way, the new episode lands on Adult Swim’s weekend lineup with next‑day streaming.

What Episode 2 Promises

The preview frames Mr. Frog’s arc as a wild pivot point, teasing his status swings and the need for Pim and Charlie to help again. The episode title “Le Voyage Incroyable de Monsieur Grenouille” underlines the focus, while the production callout credits storyboarder Hannah Daigle. The same preview pairs the broadcast with two curated throwbacks: season 1 episode 2 “Mr. Frog” and season 2 episode 2 “Mr. President.”

Related: All About The Cast and Characters of “Smiling Friends”

Hadel and Cusack addressed expectations for tone and structure in past remarks, with Hadel adding two key guardrails about the format: “I don’t think we’ll ever do serialization” and “It’s supposed to just be popcorn.” He even joked, “It’s McDonald’s of TV,” underscoring the commitment to short‑burst comedy rather than heavy, season‑long arcs.

Cast, Characters & Creators

  • Creators: Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel.
  • Main duo: Charlie Dompler and Pim Pimling.
  • Recurring office: Allan/Alan Red (spelling varies across coverage) and Mr. Boss.
  • Episode 2 focus: Mr. Frog returns to center stage.
  • Season 3 premiere client: Silly Samuel, introduced with an outlandish design gag.
  • Storyboard recognition for Ep. 2: Hannah Daigle.

The Tulane recap emphasizes how the premise funnels Pim and Charlie into “bizarre… hijinks,” with cameos from the uptight Alan Red and the quirky Mr. Boss. It also highlights how Cusack and Hadel blend live‑action, stop‑motion, and traditional animation to keep the show’s look singular.

Episode & Season Status (Numbers & Dates)

  • Season 1 premiered in January 2022 and quickly “went viral on social media.”
  • Season 3 returned after “over a year on hiatus,” with episodes airing on Adult Swim late at night in the U.S. and hitting HBO Max the following day.
  • Season length: 8 episodes are cited for the new season.
  • Viewer score snapshot: The campus review cites an 8.3/10 user rating for the premiere on IMDb.
  • Renewals: Adult Swim has publicly touted plans for a fourth and fifth season.

How the Style Stays the Same (On Purpose)

Hadel and Cusack lean away from Very Special Episode energy and into pure gag density. Hadel explained the approach plainly: “I don’t think Charlie and Pim could cry, and anybody would care.” Cusack echoed the consistency goal: “We like keeping a continuous tone with ‘Smiling Friends,’ where you can tune in in any season.” The pair cite comedy touchstones from South Park—created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone—to the FX/FXX juggernaut It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, led by Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, Kaitlin Olson, and Danny DeVito.

That philosophy explains how a character like Mr. Frog can swing from headline‑making chaos to karaoke‑bar melancholy within minutes, then vault back into a mission that needs Pim and Charlie’s intervention. It also explains why curated re‑airs of “Mr. Frog” (S01E02) and “Mr. President” (S02E02) surround the new broadcast—re‑establishing patterns while letting the new installment riff on them.

The Look & Sound

The show fuses mixed media and hyper‑specific voice performances. The campus review points to the way even mundane lines land as jokes because of the vocal choices. Meanwhile, the visual blend—live‑action, stop‑motion, and traditional animation—leans into tactile weirdness without losing the timing that made the series viral in 2022. 

Bylines & attribution of coverage

  • Ray Flook filed the late‑night preview that names the title “Le Voyage Incroyable de Monsieur Grenouille,” the 11:30 p.m. ET/PT slot, and the throwback episode pairing.
  • Beau Whyburn contributed the campus review, citing the eight‑episode count, the Saturday 10:30 p.m. note with next‑day HBO Max availability, the January 2022 season‑one premiere timing, and the 8.3/10 user score snapshot.

Quick Guide for Tonight

  • Channel: Adult Swim (late‑night block in America/New_York).
  • Broadcast: Either Saturday 10:30 p.m. or Sunday 11:30 p.m., per conflicting same‑day reports.
  • Streaming: Next‑day on HBO Max.
  • Throwback pairing: Re‑airs of “Mr. Frog” (S01E02) and “Mr. President” (S02E02) around the premiere slot.
  • Episode 2 title: “Le Voyage Incroyable de Monsieur Grenouille.”

What’s Next for Smiling Friends

Beyond season 3’s eight‑episode run, the brand momentum remains strong. Adult Swim’s April Fools 2024 slate even featured puppet versions of the characters, a reminder that the show thrives on surprise formats. With season 4 and season 5 already cited in official messaging, Pim, Charlie, Allan/Alan Red, Mr. Boss, and Mr. Frog will keep the energy flowing.

Bottom Line

Smiling Friends season 3 episode 2 is built to deliver quick‑hit chaos and familiar faces, with Mr. Frog front and center. The time‑slot discrepancy between the 10:30 p.m. Saturday note and the 11:30 p.m. Sunday preview is a programming quirk rather than a red flag. Set a reminder, keep HBO Max handy for the next day, and enjoy the highly concentrated, “popcorn” comedy burst.

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