PrankvsPrank

PrankvsPrank
Jennifer Smith and Jesse Wellens in 2023
Personal information
Born
Jesse Michael Wellens
Jennifer Smith
OriginPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupations
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2007–present[1]
Genre(s)Pranks, comedy
Subscribers19.7 million (with both channels)[2]
Total views4.9 billion (with both channels)[2]
100,000 subscribers2010
1,000,000 subscribers2012
10,000,000 subscribers2016
Last updated: February 2, 2017

PrankvsPrank, also known as PvP, is a YouTube channel created by Jesse Michael Wellens[3] and his then-girlfriend Jennifer "Jeana" Smith.[4][5] In 2007, the two began to play pranks on each other and post videos of the pranks on websites, eventually forming a channel on YouTube. They became one of the most-watched channels.[6] The channel has more than 1.8 billion video views and more than 10.2 million subscribers as of February 2017.[7] After Wellens and Smith split in May 2016, Wellens became the sole user of the channel.

History

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Jennifer Smith and Jesse Wellens at VidCon 2014

Wellens had filmed Smith attempting the cinnamon challenge and posted a video on the Internet, starting the serial pranking of each other. The videos show how they prepare the pranks for each other and record their reaction afterwards.

In 2012, Wellens and Smith appeared as Spartan King Leonidas I and Queen Gorgo in the web series Epic Rap Battles of History, in season two, episode 2 "Master Chief vs. Leonidas".[8]

On April 1, 2013, USA Today rated PrankvsPrank YouTube's best pranksters.[9]

On September 25, 2013, Wellens (as "Chip Chocolate") released a rap song on iTunes called "Cookie Dance". Produced by Les Professionnels,[10] the song peaked at #68 on the UK Singles Chart and was number one in Sweden for a couple of weeks.[11][12]

On September 17, 2015, PrankvsPrank won the Streamy Award for the Best Prank Show.[13]

In 2016, Wellens and Smith hosted a YouTube Red original series titled Prank Academy, where they taught celebrities how to pull off pranks and graded the individual outcomes. The series premiered on March 30, 2016, and concluded on July 20, 2016. While the full-length episodes were only available to YouTube Red subscribers, Wellens and Smith provided condensed versions featuring the highlights of the pranks free of charge to the public.

On April 11, 2016, PrankvsPrank won the Shorty Award for the Best YouTube Ensemble.[14]

After Wellens and Smith split in May 2016, Wellens continued posting on PrankvsPrank as a solo effort, while Smith posted on BFvsGF.

BFvsGF

[edit]

Smith and Wellens also have a channel on YouTube called BFvsGF. On BFvsGF, they posted videos about their lives on a daily basis from 2012 until May 19, 2016.[4] The videos often show them walking around Philadelphia, visiting New York City, or traveling with Contiki Tours. The videos also have frequent guest appearances by other YouTubers, including Louis Cole, Roman Atwood, Alli Speed, Andy Milonakis and Charles Trippy.

It was on this channel that Smith and Wellens introduced the character Chip Chocolate with the video "Fruit Assassin".[15] BFvsGF has more than 9.3 million subscribers and 2.7 billion video views, as of February 2017.[16]

On May 18, 2016, Wellens and Smith announced on BFvsGF they have decided to place their relationship on "hiatus" and they would be taking a break from vlogging for the foreseeable future. They cited relationship problems and stress from daily vlogging as factors for this break. Wellens announced he would be moving to New York, with Smith remaining in Philadelphia.[17]

On March 5, 2019, Smith announced that she will be launching an online talk show on BFvsGF, titled Jenuine Talk, where she will discuss various real-life topics with guest stars, having shot two episodes over the winter.[18]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Show Category Result Ref
2015 Streamy Award Best Prank Show Won [19]
2016 Shorty Award Best YouTube Ensemble Won [20]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "PrankvsPrank". YouTube. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "About PrankvsPrank". YouTube.
  3. ^ "HULK DON'T LIKE SOCKS!!". BFvsGF. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  4. ^ a b Berman, John (March 28, 2012). "Prank Wars Online: Meet YouTube's 'Craziest Couple'". ABC News.
  5. ^ Gregoire, Carolyn (January 22, 2013). "'PrankvsPrank': Teens React To Hilarious Viral YouTube Series (VIDEO)". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on January 25, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  6. ^ "'PrankvsPrank': Teens React To Hilarious Viral YouTube Series (VIDEO)". Huffington Post. January 22, 2013. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  7. ^ "PrankvsPrank". PrankvsPrank. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
  8. ^ Watercutter, Angela (February 1, 2012). "Video: Master Chief Faces Off Against Leonidas in Epic Rap Battle". Wired. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
  9. ^ Mallenbaum, Carly; Hurwitz, Daniel (March 31, 2013). "TV on the Web: YouTube's top 10 pranksters". USA Today. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  10. ^ Bonghi, Gabrielle (November 21, 2013). "Philly producers Les Professionnels hit big time with viral hit 'Cookie Dance'". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
  11. ^ Highfill, Samantha. "Chip Chocolate talks 'Cookie Dance', bathing in milk, and a rap battle with the Cookie Monster". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 26, 2016. I think the song is real big in Sweden right now. It was number one in Sweden for a while. When they dropped the song it was number one on the hip-hop charts in Sweden for at least a week or two.
  12. ^ "CHIP CHOCOLATE". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  13. ^ "5th Annual Winners & Nominees The Streamys". Streamys. September 17, 2015.
  14. ^ "Ultimate YouTube Guide". Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  15. ^ Stusinski, Melissa (November 13, 2013). "'Cookie Dance' Is Weird, But Strangely Catchy". Social News Daily. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  16. ^ "BFvsGF". PrankvsPrank. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
  17. ^ A NEW CHAPTER. May 18, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2016 – via YouTube.
  18. ^ My Biggest Reveal. March 5, 2019. Retrieved March 6, 2019 – via YouTube.
  19. ^ "Streamy Awards: 5th Annual Winners & Nominees". www.streamys.org. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  20. ^ "BEST YOUTUBE ENSEMBLE". shortyawards.com. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
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