[ddrake]

OK, this seems to work!

PHP Code:

ob_start();
  require_once('./includes/functions_user.php');
  require_once('./includes/functions_bigthree.php');
  // Get Need Reply Threads
$forums = array(4,9,10,11,12);
$allowed_forums = array();
foreach ($forums as $f)
{
  $forumperms = fetch_permissions($f);
  if ($forumperms & vB::$vbulletin->bf_ugp_forumpermissions['canview'])
  {
    $allowed_forums[] = $f;
  }
}
$allowed_forum_list = implode(",",$allowed_forums);

  $needreply_get = vB::$db->query_read("
    SELECT * FROM ".TABLE_PREFIX."thread
    WHERE visible=1 AND sticky=0 AND replycount=0 AND forumid in(" . $allowed_forum_list .")  ORDER BY replycount DESC
   LIMIT 5");
  $output_bits = '';
  while($needreply = vB::$db->fetch_array($needreply_get))
  {
        $output_bits .= '<a target="_self" href="showthread.php?t='.$needreply[threadid].'">'.$needreply[title].'</a><br />';
  }
  $output = $output_bits;
  ob_end_clean(); 


It seems a bit clumsy though... If anyone has a cleaner solution, I'd be glad to see it!