So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye!
Today is a sad day for all as this will be the last ever Editor's Blog on 4Laughs. After three years, hundreds of sketches and videos, two Secret Policeman's Ball appearances, one Friday Night Project appearance (in drag and) a BAFTA nomination it's with great sadness we have to announce we're closing the site.
We've had a great time working on 4Laughs, and we hope we've helped some of you along the way as well. Hopefully we'll return at some point in the not-too distant future!
But before we go, I'd like to announce the winners of the last Caption Competition...
I think an obese cat really sets the tone for the last Caption Competition. I hope everyone has had as much enjoyment as I have reading, giggling and choking on tea at all your captions. Here's the pick of the bunch...
Shirl the Whirl: " Obviously, Mrs Slocombe's grand-daughter had to have a very large one! "
Jamhot83: "Cat balloons! The must have toy this Christmas"
Terry P.J: "8 out of 10 cats prefer mars bars!"
Ocelot Wildly: "Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Kate had already swallowed a spider to catch the fly. I don't know why, she swallowed the fly..."
Shirl, Shirl, Shirl I guess someone had to mention Mrs. Slocombe's 'pussy', but I wouldn't have thought it would be you! I love the stuff from the newer members, its shame I'll not get see you flex your comedy muscles in a real competition. However, you didn't let me down - some great captions as always from the gang, some very different takes on such a porky pussy...
I just want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has stuck with 4Laughs through the good times and the amazing times. Its YOU, the users, who've made the site what it is, with your commitment to the cause, dedication to the forum community and downright fantastic sense of humour 4Laughs has become a unique comedy experience. A huge congratulations goes to those of you who've won a WOO (Window of Opportunity) and to everyone who entered - we have seen some original and inspiring stuff over the years. Thank you to users who've submitted and uploaded a video, audio, image, script and sketch to the site - we hope this has given you the confidence to carry on creating and producing top quality comedy.
Finally, I'd like to thank everyone for reading this blog! Please don't stop writing, filming and trying out your comedy ideas - put your stuff on YouTube, Constant Comedy, MySpace, Comedy Box and other comedy sites - get your stuff seen!
Hopefully we'll bump into each other again in the future, but until then,
Thanks for the laughs,
Something is weeping in the corner. Aww, it's the HOUSE OF AVERY...
Well, all good things must come to an end.
I've enjoyed sharing my warped view of the world with you all over the last 4 months, despite my initial reluctance to write anything resembling a blog. I just hope that the bigwigs in charge of discontinuing this little corner of the internet have taken my mental wellbeing into account - I sincerely hope that the lack of an arena to vent my views and quibbles doesn't lead to me getting into any fights in Sainsbury over the next couple of weeks.
I am sure we will meet again - if East 17 can reform then nothing is out of the question anymore. And if you're in Sainsbury's and you see a scuffle developing in the frozen food aisle, it's probably me so I'd appreciate some back up.
Adieu.
It's the time for picking out a tree! (which will shed pine needles all over the floor the moment you get it home and will act as a giant cat toy for a month).
WELCOME the the Christmassy Editor's Blog! Here you'll find the weeks festive comedy cream of the crop, including seasonal news, reviews, guest blogs, the mighty yuletide Caption Competition, the new Little (baby Jesus) Laughs and lots of reviewable 'gifts' especially for you...
I can't decide if I pity people with birthdays in December, or I despise them. There is something wholly unfair about the situation no matter which way you look at it...
FINALLY, we have a winner of The Fix WOO (Window of Opportunity)! And the winner is UHT MILK! Congratulations! Here is the winning Resignantion Letter entry...
Dear Mr Deansway,
Notice of resignation.
I'll start at the beginning...
When I went to Harry Hill's house - his wife welcomed me in but she had to change out of her bunny costume, so Harry came in to the lounge. He wore a majestic purple eiderdown robe, carrying a tray of tea and bourbons - jokingly he said , "Reverend Green did it with the rope "... and then it all just came out, I started crying. "Ooh poor leetle gurl" he said in a comforting Russian accent. Harry was really understanding, as he knows a life in comedy can be a mummifying affair, making one turn up for work dressed in rude kitchen aprons. He gently patted me on my bare scalp and placed a warm wrap of porridge oats onto my left forearm. "I've dried up" I said, Harry immediately checked the wrap, but it wasn't that - it was me, I had lost my funny - "like Ross & Brand" I said. Harry' s wife came back dressed in figs and nuts, they didn't have to say anything, I could see by their wild stares that they were worried. Harry knew what to do, he packed my Graham Norton sandwich box with fruity suggestions, folded foil over my scalp for warmth and sent me to the remote monastic order of heart cockling.
So here I am, in a Chuckle Brothers Panto, Porthcawl Pavilion, Wales. It's what I was born for.
Yours,
Sophie
(P.S. You can keep the aprons).
Well done to UHT MILK, he'll be off for a days slavery...er... 'work' at The Fix magazine in the Big Smoke!
Back in October October a plucky band of 4Laughers decided to add to their collection of odd films with another. Now the materpiece is finish and YOU can view it HERE!
Back in November, I was to be asked to write a comedy blog for North East Movies. I really enjoyed watching the fab comedy flicks and was even more chuffed when the organisers (Magic If) invited me up to Newcastle to judge the annual 4 Hour Film Challenge!
11 teams battled it out to make the best flick in only 4hours. But, as we all know, only the best can win. Here's a list of the lucky few who picked up prizes:
WINNER: "Trouble" by James Harris, Jessica Greene, Philip Unger, Danielle Baker. Actors: Paula Penman & Lisa McGrillis.
2ND PLACE: " Last Night" by Chris Brackley, Jermaine Blair, Jonathan Heskett, Barry Kirkham, Jack Rosenthal. Actors: Vicki Elliot & Alex Kinsey.
3RD PLACE: "Lucky" by Josepha-yasumi Kremke, Andy Hewitson, G Whittaker, Jay Jones. Actors: Gary Kitching & Laura Norten.
BEST CINAMATOGRAPHY: "EnRoute" by Roy Muncey-Varty & Graham Frost.
BEST ACTRESS: Paula Penman
BEST ACTOR: Alex Kinsey
The day went incredibly well and fun was had by all - well done! A big thank you to Magic If, everyone who entered and most of all thank you for inviting me! Now, check out a few pics of our day making flicks...
(All films will be available to watch shortly on the North East Movies - so keep your eyes peeled!)
Congratulations to everyone in Newcastle! Now, et's get cracking with the lastest laugh out loud funnies from the forum...
P Coltrane: "While out shopping, Tara sees the perfect winter coat."
CrookedWeasel: "She was mighty dissapointed to find out that it wasn't the Dalai Lama who was turning on the Christmas lights this year."
Sabriel: "Dyslexics vote in a Llama as President in the state of Louisiana."
Interesting takes on 'llama' guys, and a few interesting spellings on the forum too - LOL!
"Hi Mrs. Vet, I'd like to buy some... OMG what the crouching Saint Christopher are you holding..?
All entries for this week's Caption Comp should be posted in the Forum Thread 5 December Caption Comp.
The winner for this Caption Comp will appear in next Friday's Editor's Blog - 12 December. Good Luck!
WOOT! It's the festive edition of the world's favourite Comedy Report! With co-host WOO (Window of Opportunity) Winner Danny Banks at the helm with Sam, get ready for some seasonal surprises! (Not suitable for people of a nervous dispostition or those who are easily offended by gyrating Santas and bad acting)
Thought I'd throw it out there last week with the topic of PANEL SHOWS. This is what I caught...
TODAY IN PARLIAMENT (RADIO 4)' review - by Bruceboy
Hilarious spoof gameshow in which the panels satirise political parties. The Elton-esque MC posits a controversial issue and the contestants have to improvise daft responses - only if they hesitate their opponents scream the place down as said MC struggles to maintain order! A crazy amalgam of 'Whose Line Is It Anyway?', Monty Python and The News At Ten.
This week I want your reviews of comedy CHRISTMAS VIRALS in the thread LITTLE LAUGHS - 5 December. You can review any CHRISTMAS VIRALS you've seen or heard (on TV, virals, websites, radio, press...) that you loved or hated - TELL ME, I NEED TO KNOW!
The reviews should be around 70 words - but don't over do it.
Ever wondered what a TV drama show would be like if it was in the real world? Well, JamHot83 sets about Cabott Cove's (murder capital of Maine) leading lady in his sketch COURT REPORTER...
EXT. EARLY EVENING. A NEWS REPORTER IS STANDING OUTSIDE A COURTHOUSE PRESENTING HIS REPORT FOR TELEVISION.
REPORTER: "Today marked the start of the defence's case in the McGavin murder trial as arresting officer Det. Inspector Henderson took to the stand. In an unprecidented move the prosecution chose not to contest the facts of the case but instead questioned the Det. Inspectors methods. The Inspector stated for the record that his attention was brought to the case initially over the theft of the Hemmington jewels but, after following the standard police procedures, he was approached by a female novel writer, one Jessica Fletcher. The Inspector maintained that she had written several 'corking' crime novels and once she showed an interest, he saw no choice but to allow her to collect evidence and interview suspects. Further to this the defence claimed that Miss Fletcher was related to one of the initial suspects in the case and only intervened in order that his name be cleared. The day ended with the prosecution holding up Miss Fletcher as an expert witness while the defence claimed she was, quote: 'An intefering old bat with nothing better to do.'"
"The Judge adjourned the court to consider the legal points of today and to await tomorrow's testimony of character witness John Le Carre..."
CUT AWAY
END.
Who want's to review...
Desmond's Series 1 - DVD
The World of Lee Evans - DVDx2
8 Out of 10 Cats: Claws Out - DVD
Don't Mess with the Zohan - DVD
Rachel Johnson's Shire Hell- BOOK
If you want to review one of these lovelies (PLEASE REVIEW THEM!), then simply email me with the name of the goodie you'd like with your name and address here 4Laughs@channel4.com
Anyway, that's all from me this week, but if you have any questions about any features in the blog or want to tell me about something you've done - just give me a shout at 4Laughs@channel4.com.
Cheerio
IT'S BEEN ONE HELL OF A WEEK FOR DRIVING.
I've done about 600 miles in my old banger over the last 5 days so I've seen my fair share of motorway service stations. I used to love these places when I was a wee slip of a lad, probably because they were on their way to a scorching holiday location like Rhyll (they do say the journey is better than the destination) but recently my love affair seems to be dwindling somewhat.
For a start, I'm normally there at night and a service station after midnight is not a place for fun and frolics. It's a place for a piss, pasty and petrol in that order. When it's a really late one and I'm hastily jumping out of my wheels in a deathly silent car park I often feel like I'm about to go dogging. (N.B. Never mix a Ginsters and a threesome - just think of the mess to tidy up afterwards.)
In desperate attempts to wake myself up I've tried to engage in witty banter with the shop assistants on many occasions. Generally, they're not the kind of people who are comfortable enjoying tales of my faux-dogging experience in the car park five minutes previously.
I even tried chatting to a gentleman in the toilet this week. Not in a pervy-George-Michael-kind-of-way, but he looked like an affable chap, so why not?
Well, probably because he clearly took offence at my attempt to reach out to my fellow human and gave me the same look that Ray Winstone uses a lot in Scum.
My bottle went, as did my aim. I probably shouldn't have been wearing suede shoes anyway.
Tune in for more of Sam's yuletide gibberish next week...
