Cross talks and short sketches have gone through the fourth round of auditions for the 2010 Spring Festival Gala.

With just a month to go, the country's top comedians gathered at China Central Television, hoping to be included in the final lineup.

Cross-talk actor Feng Gong is a familiar face with the Spring Festival Gala audience. Since his debut in 1986, he hasn't missed one.

Feng's comedy sketch for this year's gala is titled "Don't Let Him Go". It's already received positive feedback from previous auditions. The play uses trendy Internet-speak to cater for a younger audience.

Ever since their first collaboration in 1993, Guo Da and Cai Ming have been a golden couple onstage. This year, they're tackling a hot topic - employment for college graduates.

Veteran Huang Hong is also vying for a place in the 2010 Gala lineup. Inspired by a mini novel, Huang teams up with Gong Hanlin to deliver a funny yet thought-provoking story.

They're among the most popular auditions so far. Gala Director Jin Yue says there's merit in keeping the performance topics close to the daily lives of ordinary people.

Jin Yue said, "As I have observed from former galas, audiences love short sketches and cross talks most. Not only because they are a collection of antics and humor, but also because they echo the most concerning issues in daily life. This also sets the bar to decide which are in and which are out."

The final bill for the gala will be decided in late January, before performers begin rehearsals.

The 2010 Spring Festival Gala will be aired live on China Central Television on February 13, the Chinese New Year's Eve.