Fonejacker

Fonejacker

Series 1 DVD or 'Doovdé' Cover
Directed by Ed Tracy
Kayvan Novak
Starring Kayvan Novak
Country of origin United Kingdom
Original language(s) English
No. of series 2
No. of episodes 14 + 2 Christmas specials
(List of episodes)
Production
Running time 23 min per episode
Release
Original network E4
Original release 9 May 2006 – 22 October 2008, 6 May 2010 & 22 August 2012 (one-off)
Chronology
Followed by Facejacker
External links
Website

Fonejacker is a British comedy programme broadcast on E4 featuring a series of prank calls involving a number of different characters performed by British Iranian television actor Kayvan Novak. It first appeared in May 2006 and became a full series in 2007.

In 2005 Kayvan Novak and Ed Tracy created, wrote and directed Fonejacker,[1] a prank call show, as part of Channel 4 Comedy Lab. After making the pilot together[1] they were given a Christmas special and a six-part series which began airing in the UK on 5 July 2007 on E4 and lasted 6 episodes. They went on to make a second series which began airing on 17 September 2008 on E4, and started on Channel 4 on 6 November 2008.[2][3] Kayvan Novak said that he was "not sure there will be a third series of Fonejacker" but despite this, several websites reported in October 2009 that a third series would air in May 2010.

In November 2009, the third series was officially announced, with the news that it would be called "Fonejacker 3D" and feature Kayvan Novak portraying both old and new Fonejacker characters face-to-face in the public domain.[4] Renamed Facejacker, the new show began airing on 16 April 2010.[5]

Fonejacker won the BAFTA award for the "Best Comedy Programme" in 2008.[6] Novak plans to create a film based on the show's characters, and is currently in talks with Film4 and Hat Trick Productions.[7]

Synopsis

The show features a masked prank caller (Kayvan Novak) who phones unsuspecting members of the public under various guises, in an attempt to confuse or 'wind up' the recipient. The audio is accompanied by on-screen imagery, consisting of pictures of people animated in a similar style to Terry Gilliam's work with Monty Python, in which their mouths move in an up and down motion, in time with the words spoken, or by undercover filming in which Novak is in a street calling a company nearby, usually from inside a public phone booth or from a rickshaw. Occasionally short videos with actors are used instead of images; examples include a sketch where a man is robbing a bank, or one where men in hazmat suits are removing a pigeon from a bank vault. Novak is always seen wearing a red and white balaclava (black in the Pilot) and sunglasses. In a new pilot for series 2, he is seen wearing a woolly hat with the initials G.P.R. and a black Mitre Premier League coat. Although Novak's appearance is not seen as the Fonejacker, he appears during Mr Doovdé's calls as a model advertising various items.

Each episode begins with "fonejack" and the definition, to seize control of a telephone conversation by farce esp. to divert it from reason and logic, usually followed by Novak calling Directory Enquiries as Mr Doovdé on an American pay phone. The rooftop where the pre-title sequence fonejack takes place is on top of Guy's Hospital, in Central London.

The final episode of the first series revealed that Novak does not inform all victims that their calls were pranks. Two separate victims had made contact with Novak for the second time both reporting calls. One called Novak back after being fonejacked by George Agdgdgwngo, where he guised himself as Terry Tibbs, and the second incident occurred when a detective character rang a man informing him of an African scammer (George), and "coincidentally" the man reported a call from George. This also implies that not all calls are broadcast, as the people had not been seen in previous episodes. This was further established when on Soccer AM, Kayvan was interviewed on the show, and revealed that he tried a prank with Kidderminster Harriers in the guise of Terry Tibbs, but as the prank did not work due to the chairman being unavailable, the call was not broadcast.

Broadcast

The show began as a pilot for Comedy Lab, a Channel 4 show that showcases new comic talent, in 2006. After much popularity, it was given a six-part series in October 2006 which was initially intended for broadcast on E4 in April in the following year. It was also given a Christmas special that was broadcast on 25 December 2006 entitled Fonejacker's Christmas Message which was a five-minute short version of the pilot. The end of the show displayed Fonejacker: Coming April 2007 - Don't Pick Up The Phone.

In March, a teaser trailer started to air on Channel 4 and E4, which consisted of clips of the pilot put together into a thirty-second advert, ending with e4.com/fonejacker, which redirected users to the Fonejacker MySpace page. However, for undisclosed reasons, the show was put on hold, and wasn't aired in April. New trailers aired in June which saw the Fonejacker in his own flat performing various calls, and a television tuned into the news reporting "new sightings of the Fonejacker". The advert ended with the catchphrase "Don't Pick Up The Phone" and finished with the same E4 website. This was followed a couple of days after by a newer alternative advert.

Hours before the show's first broadcast, Novak called into Big Brother's Little Brother as Terry Tibbs, talking to contestant Jonathan about distinctive eyebrows. However, there was no mention of Fonejacker as presenter Dermot O'Leary seemed puzzled. As part of the advertising for the show, "Fonejacker Tonight 10.30" was displayed throughout the night under E4's on-screen graphic.

A 2007 Christmas special was broadcast on 20 December 2007 and a second series for 2008 was commissioned.[8]

DVD releases

FoneJacker Series 1: The DVD of the first series of Fonejacker was released on 8 October 2007 and includes features such as behind the scenes, outtakes and character interviews. It also includes the pilot episode and the E4 Christmas Message.

Fonejacker Series 2: The DVD of the second series released on 27 October 2008 and includes an interview with Kayvan Novak, unseen footage, E4 Christmas Special Episode and commentaries.

A "Fonejacker Series 1 and 2" box set has also been released. It was released on the same date as Series 2.

A "Facejacker" series one DVD has been released, boxed with series one and two of "Fonejacker".

Release dates

DVD Title Discs Year No. of Ep. DVD release Notes
Region 2
Complete Series 1 1 2006 - 2007 7 8 October 2007 Includes Comedy Lab pilot
Complete Series 2 1 2007 - 2008 7 27 October 2008 Includes the 2007 Christmas special
Complete Series 1 - 2 2 2006 - 2008 14 27 October 2008 Includes the Comedy Lab pilot & the 2007 Christmas special

Other appearances

Kayvan Novak had two interviews under the cover of his characters on the night show of Kerrang Radio, and then for what was believed to be a UK first, spoke out of character about various things.

On Saturday 6 September 2008 he also appeared on Sky Sports football show Soccer AM.

On Monday 15 September 2008 he appeared on Kiss 100 radio station.

On Thursday 13 November 2008 Kayvan Novak appeared on the Channel 4 show 8 out of 10 Cats.

On Sunday 28 December 2008, Kayvan as the Fonejacker wearing his trademark balaclava provided on video the answer to a question, regarding Jeremy Clarkson publishing his bank account details in a newspaper, on the Channel 4 show The Big Fat Quiz of the Year.

Kayvan rang into the Big Brother fanzone show (Big Brother's Little Brother) in 2007 portraying his character of Terry Tibbs

In 2010, Fonejacker took part in Channel 4's Comedy Gala, a benefit show held in aid of Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, filmed live at the O2 Arena in London on 30 March.

On 6 May 2010, during Channel 4's Alternative Election Night, a series of Fonejacker clips were made for the show, mainly his Sajnu character phoning people on who they would like to vote for or trying to get them to vote for a party.

Characters

There are many characters on Fonejacker, some who make multiple appearances. Below is a list of the characters that have appeared on the show so far:

Recurring cast

First Appearance: Comedy Lab Pilot

First Appearance: Comedy Lab Pilot

First Appearance: Comedy Lab Pilot

First Appearance: 2006 Christmas Message

First Appearance: Series 1

First Appearance: Series 1 Episode 1

First Appearance: Series 1 Episode 1

First Appearance: Series 1 Episode 1

First Appearance: Series 1 Episode 1

First Appearance: Series 1 Episode 1

First Appearance as the Flat Line: Series 1 Episode 1 First Appearance as the Ticket Line: Series 2 Episode 2

First Appearance: Series 1 Episode 2

First Appearance: Series 1 Episode 3

First Appearance: Series 1 Episode 3

First Appearance: Series 1 Episode 5

First Appearance: Series 2 Episode 1

First Appearance: Series 2 Episode 2

First Appearance: Series 2 Episode 3

First Appearance: Series 2 Episode 3

One-off

Appearance: Comedy Lab Pilot

Appearance: Comedy Lab Pilot

Appearances: Comedy Lab Pilot

Appearance: Series 1 Episode 1

Appearance: Series 1 Episode 3

Appearance: Series 1 Episode 4

Appearance: Series 1 Episode 4

Appearance: Series 1 Episode 4

Appearance: Series 1 Episode 5

Appearance: Series 1 Episode 6

Appearance: Series 2 Episode 1

Appearance: Series 2 Episode 1

Appearance: Series 2 Episode 1

Appearance: Series 2 Episode 2

Appearance: Series 2 Episode 3

Appearance: Series 2 Episode 3

Appearance: Series 2 Episode 3

Appearance: Series 2 Episode 4

Appearance: Series 2 Episode 4

Appearance: Series 2 Episode 5

Appearance: Series 2 Episode 5

Appearance: Series 2 Episode 6

Appearance: One-off prank call titled "Walking the Cat" as part of Channel 4's "Funny Fortnight". Screened on 22 August 2012.

Episodes

The first standalone series started on 5 July 2007. Due to its popularity, it was repeated on Channel 4 from 7 September 2007. A Christmas Special was then aired on 20 December 2007, with a second series airing from 18 September - 22 October 2008.

References and notes

General
Specific

External links

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