Billy T Award Explained

Billy T Award
Location:SkyCity Auckland
Awarded For:Kiwi comedian with "outstanding potential" at the NZICF
Presenter:Previous winner
Most Nominations:Jamie Bowen (4)
Benjamin Crellin (4)
Sponsor:New Zealand Comedy Trust
Country:New Zealand
Reward:NZ$5,000
Website:Billy T Award

The Billy T Award is a New Zealand comedy award recognising up-and-coming New Zealand comedians with outstanding potential. It has been presented annually since its inception in 1997 when Cal Wilson and Ewen Gilmour shared the award. The Billy T was shared between two comedians until 2001 when it became a solo award.[1]

The Billy T Award is presented alongside the Fred Award as part of an initiative by the New Zealand Comedy Trust to "foster and encourage outstanding New Zealand talent".[2]

Billy T James

The Billy T Awards were named in honour of New Zealand comedian Billy T. James. The winner receives ‘the yellow towel’ in tribute to the towel worn by James in some of his most famous sketches.

Judging

The winner is selected from five nominees performing during the New Zealand International Comedy Festival. Five judges select a winner based on their proven comedic ability, talent, dedication and potential.[2]

Winners and nominees

Yearalign=left Billy T recipient(s)align=left Other nominees
valign=top 1997valign=top Cal Wilson
Ewen Gilmour		Mike King
Brendhan Lovegrove
Radar
Raybon Kan
valign=top 1998Brendhan Lovegrove
Radar (Andrew Lumsden)
Sugar and Spice (Jonathan Brugh and Jason Hoyte)		valign=top Philip Patston
Jaq Tweedie
valign=top 1999valign=top Philip Patston
The Humourbeasts (Jemaine Clement and Taika Cohen)		Paul Ego
Irene Pink
Jon Stubbs
valign=top 2000valign=top Mike Loder
Paul Ego		Jan Maree
Irene Pink
Benjamin Crellin
valign=top 2001valign=top Jan Maree, It's In the Bag[3] Jeremy Elwood
Rhys Darby
Jon Stubbs
Benjamin Crellin
valign=top 2002valign=top Dai HenwoodRhys Darby
Tarun Mohanbhai
Benjamin Crellin
GARY (Brett O'Gorman, Jamie Bowen and Mick Andrews)
valign=top 2003valign=top Justine Smith, The Justine Smith HourPenny Ashton
Sully O'Sullivan
Benjamin Crellin
GARY (Brett O'Gorman, Jamie Bowen and Mick Andrews)
valign=top 2004valign=top Ben HurleyCohen Holloway
Ezequiel Balmori
Jamie Bowen
Penny Ashton
valign=top 2005valign=top Sam Wills, Dance Monkey Dance: The Evolution of Sam WillsCori Gonzalez-Macuer
Darren Jardine
James Nokise
Jo Randerson
valign=top 2006valign=top Cori Gonzalez-MacuerJames Nokise
Jerome Chandrahasen
Cameron Blair
Gish (Justin Hansen)
valign=top 2007valign=top Mrs Peacock (Jarrod Baker and Dave Smith)Alex Hawley
Jamie Bowen
Grant Lobban
valign=top 2008valign=top Steve Wrigley, The First Time[4] Simon McKinney
Grant Lobban
The Lonesome Buckwhips
Jim Brown
valign=top 2009valign=top Chris Brain, In a Better Place[5] Jim Brown
James Keating
Vaughan King
Dave Wiggins
valign=top 2010valign=top Rhys Mathewson, Rhyspect[6] Jarred Fell
Clayton Carrick-Leslie
Vaughan King
TJ McDonald
valign=top 2011valign=top Nick Gibb, Pakehas Be All Like This[7] Urzila Carlson, The Truth According to Urzila Carlson[8]
Joseph Harper, Bikes I've Owned Versus Girls I've Fallen In Love With
Cameron Murray, Logical Oddity[9]
Nick Rado, Rado & Juliet[10]
valign=top 2012valign=top Guy Williams, On the Verge of Nothing[11] Tom Furniss, The Free Ice Cream Show
Tevita Manukia, Knock Knock
Rose Matafeo, Scout's Honour
TJ McDonald, My Life Has Been a Series of Poorly Made Decisions
valign=top 2013valign=top Rose Matafeo, The Rose Matafeo Variety Hour[12] Pax Assadi, Pax's Magic Carpet Ride[13]
Tom Furniss, The Diary of Gordon Leaf-Cooper[14]
Eli Matthewson, Proposition: Great![15]
Joseph Moore, Dope Ass Jokes[16]
valign=top 2014valign=top Guy Montgomery, Presents a Succinct and Concise Summary of How He Feels About Certain Things[17] Tim Batt, Tim Batt Saves Planet Earth
Brendon Green, Some More Mr Nice Guy
Jamaine Ross, Jamaine Says Funny Things
Stephen Witt, ODD
valign=top 2015valign=top Hamish Parkinson, Fly or Die[18] Tim Batt, Tim Batt In the Human Experience
Eli Matthewson, Faith[19]
Nic Sampson, National Treasure[20]
Matt Stellingwerf, PsychoBabble
valign=top 2016valign=top David Correos, Second Place Winner[21] Alice Brine, Brinestorm[22]
Laura Daniel, Pressure Makes Diamonds
James Malcolm, Marry Me Chris Warner
Matt Stellingwerf, Bachelor of Arts
valign=top 2017valign=top Angella Dravid, Down the Rabbit Hole[23] Li'i Alaimoana, Minority Rapport
Patch Lambert, Terrordactyl[24]
Ray O'Leary, A Pessimist's Guide to Optimism
Paul Williams, Summer Time Love
valign=top 2018valign=top Melanie Bracewell, Melodrama[25] Donna Brookbanks, You Do You Babes[26]
James Malcolm, Fameless[27]
Alice Snedden, Self Titled: Vol. II[28]
Two Hearts (Laura Daniel & Joseph Moore), Two Hearts[29]
valign=top 2019valign=top Kura Forrester, Kura Shoulda Woulda[30] Donna Brookbanks, Heroic
James Mustapic, The Blair Witch Projector
Ray Shipley, All This Crying Is Making Me Hungry
Tom Sainsbury, Tom Foolery[31]
valign=top 2020valign=top No award festival cancelledJosh Davies, Look! I'm Blind[32]
James Mustapic, James Mustapic Is Coming Out (From Under a Rock)
Ray O'Leary, Ray Against the Machine
Brynley Stent, Soft Carnage
Lana Walters, Problem Areas[33]
valign=top 2021valign=top Brynley Stent, Soft CarnageJames Mustapic
Josh Davies
Lana Walters[34]
valign=top 2023valign=top Abby Howells, La Soupco[35] [36] Gabby Anderson, Bad-ish Teacher
Jack Ansett, Are You Taking The Piss?
Janaye Henry, Crush Season
Maria Williams, ADHD...The Musical!?
valign=top 2024valign=top Lana Walters, Don't Lick That[37] Advait Kirtikar, New Show, Who Dis?[38]
Rhiannon McCall, Toxic Shock Bimbo[39]
Liv McKenzie, Crybaby[40]
Tough Tiger Fist, Star-Crossed Brothers[41]

Controversy

In 2003, Mike Loder was blacklisted from the 2004 festival after sending fake congratulatory letters to nominees Sully O’Sullivan and Penny Ashton.[42] In 2005, Philip Patston, the 1999 winner who is gay and disabled, volunteered to give up his award in response to the rhetoric and policies of the National Party under Don Brash.[43]

Trivia

References

  1. NZ On Air, Press Release: ‘New Zealand Laughs On Air’ 23/4/02.
  2. NZ International Comedy festival, Press Release: ‘2007 Billy T Nominees’ 16 January 2007
  3. Web site: Kushen . Karyn . The Best of the Billys 2010 . Theatreview . 3 May 2010 . Described as a “chauvinists’ nightmare Jan Maree went from stand-up comedian hoping to score free beer in 1994 to performing a wide range of live shows, which earned her the 2001 Billy T Award for “It’s In The Bag”..
  4. Web site: NZ INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL 2008 AWARDS . Theatreview . 7 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081014165553/http://www.theatreview.org.nz/news/news.php?id=167 . 2008-10-14 . 13 May 2008 . dead.
  5. Web site: CHRIS BRAIN and TE RADAR lead the field . Theatreview . 7 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100519060114/http://www.theatreview.org.nz/news/news.php?id=343 . 19 May 2010 . 25 May 2009 . dead.
  6. Web site: Smith . Hannah . POST-ADOLESCENT MUSINGS AMUSE . Theatreview . 7 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100520052113/http://theatreview.org.nz/reviews/review.php?id=3107 . 20 May 2010 . dead.
  7. Web site: Nick Gibb: Pakehas Be All Like This . Theatreview . 27 August 2023.
  8. Web site: The Truth According to Urzila Carlson . Theatreview . 27 August 2023.
  9. Web site: Cameron Murray In Logical Oddity . Theatreview . 27 August 2023.
  10. Web site: Nick Rado in Rado and Juliet . Theatreview . 27 August 2023.
  11. Web site: Guy Williams On the Verge of Nothing . NZ International Comedy Festival . https://web.archive.org/web/20120505142237/https://www.comedyfestival.co.nz/auckland/show/on-the-verge-of-nothing . 5 May 2012 . dead.
  12. Web site: Comedy Festival 2013: Rose Matafeo . NZ Herald . 27 August 2023 . 27 April 2013.
  13. Web site: Grenar . Ingrid . Pax – Pax’s Magic Carpet Ride – Review . Keeping Up With NZ . 27 August 2023 . 16 May 2013.
  14. Web site: Grenar . Ingrid . Tom Furniss – The Diary of Gordon Leaf-Cooper – Review . Keeping Up with NZ . 27 August 2023 . 16 May 2013.
  15. Web site: Comedy Festival 2013: Eli Matthewson . NZ Herald . 27 August 2023 . 26 April 2013.
  16. Web site: Golds . Liam . Joseph Moore – Dope Ass Jokes – Review . 27 August 2023 . 14 May 2013.
  17. Web site: Interview – 2014 Billy T Nominees . Keeping Up With NZ . 25 August 2023 . 19 March 2014.
  18. Web site: Hamish Parkinson wins Billy T Award 2015 . Keeping Up With NZ . 26 August 2023 . 18 May 2015.
  19. Web site: Wenley . James . Faith (Eli Matthewson) (NZ International Comedy Festival 2015) . Theatre Scenes . 27 August 2023 . 14 May 2015.
  20. Web site: McKee . Hannah . Nic Sampson: From Power Rangers to Jono and Ben . Stuff.co.nz . 27 August 2023 . 30 April 2015.
  21. Web site: Brookland . Nic . David Correos and Rhys Mathewson win at Last Laughs . Keeping Up With NZ . 26 August 2023 . 16 May 2016.
  22. NZ Comedy Trust . Laughing Matters . 2016 NZ International Comedy Festival Programme . 2016 . 45 .
  23. Web site: Meet the 2017 Billy T Nominees . 26 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170416132033/https://www.comedyfestival.co.nz/news-feed/meet-the-2017-billy-t-nominees/ . 2017-04-16 . 7 March 2017 . dead.
  24. Web site: Finalists for the 2017 Billy T Award have been announced. 13 October 2016. Stuff. Fairfax Media. 14 November 2016.
  25. News: Dooley . Gary . Comedy review: Melanie Bracewell, Melodrama . NZ Herald . 15 May 2018.
  26. Web site: Sills . Ethan . Comedy review: Donna Brookbanks, You Do You Babes . NZ Herald . 15 May 2018.
  27. Web site: Nichol . Tess . Comedy review: A hit and miss hour with James Malcolm . NZ Herald . 27 August 2023 . 15 May 2018.
  28. Web site: Sutch . Lord . Comedy fest review: Alice Snedden in Self-titled: Volume II . The Ruminator.
  29. Web site: Minards-Black. Charlotte. Congratulations to the 2018 Billy T Award nominees. Facebook. NZ International Comedy Festival. 13 October 2017.
  30. Web site: 2019 Comedy Fest Calendar - Wellington Shows . NZ International Comedy Festival . 27 August 2023.
  31. Web site: And the winners are... Billy T and FRED winners announced | Scoop News.
  32. Web site: 2020 Comedy Fest Calendar - Wellington Shows . NZ International Comedy Festival . 26 August 2023 . 26 February 2020.
  33. Web site: Billy T Nominees for 2020 announced, Billy T Jams on sale now! . NZ International Comedy Festival . 26 August 2023 . 14 October 2019.
  34. Web site: Billy T Nominees for 2020 Announced. scoop.co.nz. 17 April 2020.
  35. Web site: 2023 Billy T Nominees Take To The Stage At Billy T Jams . Scoop . 2 February 2023.
  36. Web site: Sills . Ethan . Billy T 2023 nominees reviewed: Abby Howells, Gabby Anderson, Jack Ansett, Janaye Henry and Maria Williams . NZ Herald . 27 August 2023 . 25 May 2023.
  37. News: Sills . Ethan . Lana Walters, Barnie Duncan and Trygve Wakenshaw win top prizes at NZ International Comedy Festival . 7 June 2024 . . 26 May 2024.
  38. Web site: Advait Kirtikar - New Show, Who Dis? . NZICF.
  39. Web site: Rhiannon McCall - Toxic Shock Bimbo . NZICF . 7 June 2024.
  40. Web site: Liv McKenzie - Crybaby . NZICF . 7 June 2024.
  41. Web site: Tough Tiger Fist - Star-Crossed Brothers . NZICF . 7 June 2024.
  42. Richardson, Amie, ‘Prank-pulling comedian finds the joke’s on him,’ (Sunday Star Times: 1/6/03)
  43. Scoop.co.nz, press release: ‘Eradicate me: gay and disabled comedian,’ 30/10/05.

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