The Equals Three Show

The Equals Three Show
Episodes	630
Seasons	8
Genre	Comedy
Host	Ray William Johnson (2009–2014) Robby Motz (2014–2015) Kaja Martin (2015) Carlos Santos (2015–2016)
Creator	Ray William Johnson
Executive Producer(s)	Ray William Johnson Kaja Martin (2014–2016)
Premiered	February 20, 2009
Ended	May 13, 2016

The original look of Equals Three.

The Equals Three Show (formerly known as Equals Three) (stylized as "=3") was a YouTube web series which was famously hosted by Ray William Johnson until mid March 2014. The show returned on July 16th, 2014 and was hosted by Robby Motz. After Ray left, the show's popularity began to decline and it really declined when Kaja Martin took over as host on July 28, 2015.

Also around this time, Ray began Equals Three Studios, which forced the show's name to be changed from "Equals Three" to "The Equals Three Show". On December 4th, 2015, she was replaced by Carlos Santos. Carlos decided that rather than reviewing three videos in two episodes a week, he would review six videos in one long episode that would air on Fridays.

The show premiered on Fridays on the Ray William Johnson channel, but it used to be on Tuesdays and Fridays when only three videos were reviewed. The show hasn't made any new episodes since 2016. The most recent new episode was uploaded on May 13, 2016.

The title card of Equals Three 2.0

Content

Each episode is usually 5 minutes long, and consists of the following:

• A greeting
• Viral Videos (x3 separated by transitions)
  • Contextualization of video
  • Playback
  • Initial Reaction
  • Mockery
  • Repeated playback and/or dubbing
• Comment Question of the Day (now discontinued)
• Credits
• Miscellaneous announcements and updates (occasionally)
• Outtakes/Replay (occasionally)

Episodes

Main article: List of episodes

Season 1–3 (2009–2011)

These episodes were all hosted by Ray William Johnson in his college dorm room.

Season 4–5 (Equals Three 2.0) (2012–2013)

Around mid-way through the season, Ray and Maker Studios get into a dispute, resulting in Ray temporarily hosting Equals Three from his apartment. A few weeks later, the show receives it's first major update with a new studio and look dubbed by fans, "Equals Three 2.0"

Equals Three 2.0 is the name given to the improved and revamped Equals Three show, which is now produced by Ray's studio Runaway Planet and in conjuction with Julian Smith's studio Papertown. There are numerous noticeable changes to the show.

There is no longer "Cool Transitions". Now, the camera pans away from Ray, revealing a comic book strip, and zooms in onto another frame to transition. However, the record spin sound is still played as it transitions. These comic book strips also surround the videos that are being reviewed. Also, there is a new title card for the show.

Including higher quality visuals, the background is blurred while Ray is clear. The camera appears to be lower than he is and at an angle upward, meaning that Ray has to stoop slightly. Although, a few months later that was fixed and the camera is now at his eye-level.

Finally, due to the team of staff that now help Ray produce the show, there are credits that roll at the end of each episode while a techno-like beat plays. Credits were featured when Ray worked with Maker Studios, though they eventually stopped being put in. According to Ray, its current format is the way that he always wanted his show to be.

Notes

In the episode So Long Ray, he announced that he was going to record the Your Favorite Martian album and that there would be guest hosts for the six weeks. Little did we know, that would be the last =3 episode with Ray partnered with Maker Studios.

In the episode WORLD'S GREATEST NINJA, Ray returns to =3, but is now filming in his apartment as he is no longer with Maker Studios.

The episode How to Approach Women is the last =3 episode under the original Equals Three.

In the episode Equals Three 2.0, Equals Three 2.0 begins.

Episodes

1. Goodbye Ray
2. Deadly Cat!!
3. Hole People
4. Zebra Hickey
5. EAT EVERYTHING
6. SPELLING BEE
7. I'M BACK
8. FIGHTING THE ELEPHANT
9. RHINO SAUSAGE
10. GANG SIGNS
11. CONSPIRACY THEORY
12. DUBSTEP CAT
13. I HAVE SUPER POWERS
14. I LOVE YOU GUYS!!
15. JUSTIN BIEBER'S BIRTHDAY!
16. YOU'RE AWESOME!
17. VERY IMPORTANT VIDEO!
18. DOLPHIN RAPE!
19. WORLD'S BIGGEST CONDOM
20. YOU INSPIRE ME!
21. FLYING LIKE A BIRD
22. ELMO SEX TAPE
23. Angry Woman vs Bike
24. Drunk Bohemian Rhapsody
25. You're So Metal
26. Problem Solving
27. REACT!
28. North Korea Perspective
29. Secret Service Prostitution
30. New Ninja Turtles Movie
31. THE WORLD IS ENDING!
32. CHEESEBURGER!
33. HAPPY CINCO de MAYO!
34. Meow Died :(
35. Punching Everywhere
36. Feel Good
37. DRUNK CHICK PROOF
38. Hooter Hula Hoops
39. Church Singer
40. Ray Smash!
41. Kids on Drugs
42. Flying Cat
43. Hello Norway!
44. Hello Mexico!
45. Ice Cream Truck Fight!!
46. For The Ladies
47. My Pet Monkey
48. How to Eat a Fly
49. Amazing Spiderman
50. Wiener Crabs
51. Sell Out
52. Hannah Montana Spray
53. Gay Robin
54. 1 Minute Episode
55. Wonder Dog
56. World Record
57. Vag-Blaster 9000
58. Catt Lauer
59. Party Crasher
60. Rageboner
61. Gay Fire
62. Birthday Episode
63. I Got First
64. True Love :)
65. Double-Ended Di-L-Do
66. Everybody is Gay
67. Nut Shot Trilogy
68. So Long Ray (1)
69. T-PAINFUL
70. Korean Fart Doll
71. Flying Kitties
72. Fat Man's Kryptonite
73. Virginity Rocks
74. Uncle Wang
75. Best Death Ever
76. Big Water Bazonga Melons
77. Blazing Crow
78. One Direction
79. WORLD'S GREATEST NINJA!! (2)
80. Sh*t I Don't Like
81. 2 BILLION VIEWS
82. Picking Up Women
83. Asian Hostage
84. Dog Has Super Powers
85. "OH SH!T"
86. YOUTUBE FAMOUS! (3)
87. Biebs and Selena
88. How to Approach Women
89. Equals Three 2.0 (4)
90. Bigfoot Found!
91. The Ray William Johnson Show
92. Chimpanzee Riding a Segway
93. Terrorist Baby
94. DA FUQ
95. Loudest Bass in the World
96. Eagle Steals a Baby

Season 5 (2013)

1. BEST OF EQUALS THREE 2012
2. NO UNDERWEAR
3. RWJ vs SMOSH
4. ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
5. RAY AND SILENT BOB
6. GOT AN STD?
7. HARLEM SHAKE VIDEOS
8. METEORITE CRASH IN RUSSIA
9. GALLON SMASH PRANK
10. WORLD'S FASTEST HOT DOG EATER
11. SHOCKING CONTENT!
12. PUNCHING KIDS
13. THE MEANING OF LIFE
14. SCARIEST RIDE EVER
15. I murdered my husband...
16. CHEATING EX
17. Do humans actually remember commercials?
18. The Illuminati
19. BLOWING UP
20. SHAKE DAT ASS
21. UGLIEST FACE IN THE WORLD
22. Help!
23. Harry Potter Abridged
24. Six Second Video
25. Miss Utah
26. EQUALS FIVE
27. Plane Crash
28. Bubble Soccer
29. I'm Single
30. Dance and Do Laundry
31. Amazing Swimming Baby
32. Horny Grandma
33. Terrified Man
34. Cow Sex Accident
35. Cat Ass
36. Pilot Names Prank
37. Star Wars Freakout
38. How to Hire an Assassin
39. Shia Labeouf Spotted
40. White Morgan Freeman
41. Kevin Rose Raccoon Attack
42. Ferrari Driver Arrested in NYC
43. Guy Sticks Knife in Toaster
44. Robots are Taking Over
45. Korean Girl Sexually Harassed
46. Awkward Couple Fight!
47. Traffic Blows
48. Security Guard Beatdown
49. Wal-Mart Mom Fight
50. Boat Trick Accident
51. Crazy Rhubarb Lady
52. Amazing Sex Facts
53. Rich Preachers
54. Will You Have Sex with Me?
55. Bear Thief
56. WHO SHIT!?
57. Cake Smash
58. Amazing Sign Language Lady
59. Giant Baby
60. Lion Attacks Trainer
61. Baby Yoga
62. Fast Food Rapper
63. Jesse Pinkman, Bitch!
64. SHEEP PARTY
65. Russian Hovercraft Lands on Beach
66. Massive Sinkhole
67. Failed Wedding Proposal
68. Inappropriate Wedding?
69. Thugs Watch Fireworks tho
70. Stoned Patrick Stewart
71. Scary Raptor Prank
72. Mean Preacher
73. How To Make An Electric Guitar
74. Poop Trap
75. FIRE TWERKS!
76. Dat Face Tho
77. I'm Batman
78. SWEET VICTORY
79. Hooking Up at a Party
80. I'm American
81. Trash Talk
82. Halloween Special
83. Feel Good
84. YouTube and Google +
85. My Big Head
86. Bomb on a Plane
87. Skydiving Accident
88. Massive Snowball Fight
89. PLEASE STOP!
90. Good Luck
91. GOAL-->

Season 8 (2016)

The 2016 season was hosted by Carlos Santos and it premiered January 1st, 2016 with BEST OF YOUTUBE // week 4 - December 2015. For the first three months, it followed the new "Equals Six/Best of YouTube" format, which had a new episode being released each Friday. On March 15, 2016, Carlos decided to revert to the classic "Equals Three" format, which had three videos reviewed in one episode and an episode was released on Tuesday and Friday.

Production

Pre-Production

The host reviews videos he discovers either personally or through a user and usually keeps up-to-date by immediately broadcasting exceptionally viral videos in the following episode. However, more than once has he reviewed older, lesser-known videos he wishes to share.

During "pre-production" the host selects the videos and writes a script revolving around the three which may or may not be relevant to each other.

Ray has been aided officially in the writing of the episodes since his moving to Los Angeles by Phil Haney, Steve Greene, Martin Silbermintz, Erin Schmalfeld and Ilana Cohn.

Production

Shooting of Equals Three episodes has nearly always taken place at Ray's home by himself. It is shot generally inside, like in his first living room, in his New York City bedroom and in his Los Angeles apartment though on rare occasions they have been shot outside. Filming has transitioned in his later episodes to a Los Angeles studio.

At first simple, vlog-like productions, Equals Three episodes have been improved with time as Ray introduced the Watchmen wallpaper for example and then used superior lighting as well as upgraded video and audio recording hardware. Current episodes are available in 720p.

Post-Production

Post-production (mainly editing) of Equals Three episodes is what has evolved the most since the start of the show. At first edited by himself, Ray gave up editing to Brandon Perna since his moving to Los Angeles. But because of Brandon being apart of Maker Studios, Justin Johns now edits his videos.

Style

Originally the show was fast-paced with Ray speaking quickly while developing his thoughts and including only some puns for comedic value. The hectic pace gradually slowed down in regards to the international audience Ray gathered and nowadays the host emphasizes more on simply mocking or reacting to the content instead of speaking his mind.

Since the very beginning, Ray interacted indirectly with videos and reused the content in the context of the show in order to repeat a joke or underline a point. This manipulation of reviewed videos is more present in the latest episodes although now used near-exclusively for comedic effect.

From a cinematographic point of view, Equals Three has only very slightly changed since its debut in 2009. The camera is always fixed while Ray is sitting (in earlier episodes) or standing (in later episodes and currently) in front and facing the camera. He utilizes the jump cut method and leans left or right for each shot.