Fourth wall

From Encyclopedia Dramatica

This article needs less fail. You can help by adding less fail.

This article needs moar lulz. You can help by adding moar lulz.

In theatre, walls are broken in reverse numerical order. This is an example of breaking the fourth, third, second and first walls.

If you look very closely, you still can't see the fourth wall.

The fourth wall is an idea from the magically gay world of theatre. As such the idea itself, like all ideas, is gay. In theatre, the stage will be set up to resemble a room with three walls with the fourth wall taken out. This non-existent fourth wall is our magical portal through which we view the lives of our beautifully dressed characters with perfect hair and make-up who always say exactly the right thing. Did I mention it was gay? I did? Good. It's gay.

Talking to the camera, like in that cop show with Bruce Willis, or otherwise acknowledging the existence of an audience is known as "breaking the fourth wall".

Seen in webcomics as an easy way to make a gag. Its ease of use is rivaled only by its banality.

In the cases of basement dwelling, computer-addicted individuals, "the fourth wall" would make a great epithet for the wall opposite the wall the computer is against. This has never caught on.

In reality TV, the fourth wall has taken a new meaning. In most of these shows, it relates to interaction between the cast and crew.

A rare example of building the fourth wall.

• On the Real World, the fourth wall was broken by a slut of a cast-member and an ugly, mulleted producer.
• Paula Abdul doing lines of coke off contestants in American Idol.
• Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth savagely devouring the souls of three cameramen on The Apprentice.
• Dan blowing the producers repeatedly for more chances at appearing on Real World/Road Rules Challenge and all its incarnations, even though he clearly sucks.
• Deadpool, semi-lulzy Marvel Comics character.