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This afternoon Nova’s Christo and Katie announced Chris Leben’s creative short video iPhone Love as the winner of the national initiative Unhatched.

Unhatched is a partnership between Nova, The Comedy Channel and YouTube, presented by Cool Ridge Spring Water, to search for someone who can make us laugh on video in less than three minutes. 

Chris was one of 10 finalists selected by the judges to compete for the $10,000 cash to kick start their career.

The 10 finalists were Victorians Aaron with his video Forkvorine, Alki’s Fast Food Fun, Dan’s Cubert Seedy Singles Dating Video, Sean with The Shambles Spit Take Scene and Andrew’s Disgusting Toilet Apartment Ep 1. NSW was represented by Chris’ Iphone Love and Gray Bright’s Unhatched while the South Australian contingent was Julia Clarke’s Doughnuts and Cheezels and Scott’s Extreme Waiting and WA was represented by Marcus with Impersonations.

Some finalists went to creative lengths during the voting period in an attempt to secure public votes and win over the judging panel. Efforts included hitting Melbourne’s high traffic areas wearing a sandwich board, dancing through the streets of Sydney with a shopping trolley and boom box, creating YouTube video’s pleading for votes and sending boarding passes for time travel to executives at Nova, The Comedy Channel and Cool Ridge.  
 
An industry judging panel of representatives from Foxtel’s The Comedy Channel, Nova 100 and Cool Ridge, watched over 300 videos to select the Top 10 finalists. Four weeks later Chris Leben was determined the winner, by public and industry judging panel vote, and pockets $10,000 and an introduction to Creatives at The Comedy Channel. 

The Comedy Channel’s Alex Ristevski said, “Chris Leben is a true reflection of the Comedy Channel audience. He’s intelligent and discerning, politically and globally aware, but most importantly funny. This should hold him in great stead for a long and successful career in comedy. Like many great Australian comedy talent before him who have come through or doors and onto the small screen, the Comedy Channel is the perfect place to develop and showcase your craft.”

Murray Raeburn, Cool Ridge Assistant Brand Manager, said, “Cool Ridge congratulates Chris Leben for his hilarious winning entry- iPhone Love. Cool Ridge knows everything flows better when you’re hydrated and encourages people to express themselves. Chris has certainly expressed himself as Australia’s funniest nobody and made us laugh. The Australian public also agrees which is evident in the strong support Chris received through the voting results.”

A listener, Allison from Victoria, scored $2000 just for voting for her favourite Unhatched finalist at www.unhatched.com.au.  
 

15/06/2011 by janeelliott