Punch Lines Already Rolling in for 2008 Joke-telling Contest.
MILWAUKEE, Feb. 5 /PRNewswire/ — From a long list of some of the world’s most formidable joke-tellers, one was left standing in the global battle to be recognized as the world’s greatest joke teller. ComicWonder.com recently announced that Chris “Captainhilariousness” Cashman of Seattle tallied the most laughs in the first ever audio-based, online joke-telling contest.
Launched in December 2007, ComicWonder.com is an innovative Web site where people just type in their phone number and the site automatically calls them so they can record their joke — similar to leaving a voice mail message. Once the joke is on the site, the world listens to it, votes on it, shares it with others and ultimately decides who the best joke teller is.
With its motto being “A joke is not a joke until it’s told,” ComicWonder.com is on a mission to bring the ancient art of joke-telling back to life after it has suffered serious damage from an endless supply of text jokes, which have proven to be a sad surrogate for the real thing. It scoured the earth to discover the one hero who could be a beacon of light for its cause — the Luke Skywalker of Laughter, the Frodo of Funny — the Comic Wonder of the Year.
“Cashman’s joke-fu has proven to the world that a joke in the hands of a master can actually be a beautiful thing,” says Jeff Fitzsimmons, Comic Wonder Co-Founder. “As the Comic Wonder of the Year, he’s proven our point that a joke truly isn’t a joke until it’s told. As a result, we now hope that there is one less text joke in your inbox today.”
Along with the recent announcement, Cashman wasn’t showered with American Idol-ish gifts such as cars and multi-million dollar contracts. Instead, he was given a $2,500 cash prize and a kick ass T-shirt with the phrase, “I’m saving the joke. Ask me how.” emblazoned in real gold, and that, according to Cashman, was something he had to have. “Even though fame and fortune is looming,” says Cashman, “it was really all about that T-shirt.”
While this is Cashman’s first title recognizing his world-class joke-telling abilities, he’s no stranger to entertaining people. “I love making people laugh,” said Cashman, “especially when it’s on purpose! I’m also a big fan of anything that allows me to do goofy voices.” His career profile boasts four Emmy wins for his work as a host and emcee. Currently, he’s freelancing-producing webisodes for Microsoft, making videos, emceeing events and producing radio commercials.
“Cashman, otherwise known online as Captainhilariousness, has set the bar high, but there will be no rest for the victor,” says Fitzsimmons, “because, we now have the entire year to find the next Comic Wonder. We know that out there somewhere are worthy challengers — joke tellers who are working day and night to hone the talent that it will take to unseat the Comic Wonder and to be able to wear their very own custom, gold emblazoned T-shirt.”
