Billy T Award

"The Billy T Award" is New Zealand’s most prestigious comedy award recognizing 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 up until 2001 when it became a solo award. [NZ On Air, Press Release: ‘New Zealand Laughs On Air’ 23/4/02.]

The awards are an initiative of the New Zealand Comedy Trust to ‘foster and encourage outstanding New Zealand talent.' [NZ International Comedy festival, Press Release: ‘2007 Billy T Nominees’ 16/1/2007]

Billy T James

The Billy T Awards were named in honour of one of New Zealand's greatest comedians, the late Billy T James. The winner receives ‘the yellow towel’ in tribute to the towel worn by James in some of his most famous sketches. [NZ On Air, Press Release: ‘New Zealand Laughs On Air’ 23/4/02.]

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. [NZ International Comedy festival, Press Release: ‘2007 Billy T Nominees’ 16/1/2007]

Billy T Award Winners and Nominees

1997 – Cal Wilson/Ewen Gilmour:Mike King, Brendhan Lovegrove, Radar, and Raybon Kan

1998 – Brendhan Lovegrove/Radar (Andrew Lumsden)/Sugar and Spice (Jonathan Brugh and Jason Hoyte):Sugar and Spice, Radar, Phillip Patston, Brendhan Lovegrove, and Jaq Tweedie

1999 – Philip Patston/The Humourbeasts (Jemaine Clement and Taika Cohen):Philip Patston, Paul Ego, Irene Pink, Jon Stubbs, and The Humourbeasts

2000 – Mike Loder/ Paul Ego:Jan Maree, Mike Loder, Irene Pink, Paul Ego, and Benjamin Crellin

2001 – Jan Maree:Jan Maree, Jeremy Elwood, Rhys Darby, Jon Stubbs, and Benjamin Crellin

2002 – Dai Henwood:Rhys Darby, Tarun Mohanbhai, Benjamin Crellin, Dai Henwood, and GARY (Brett O'Gorman, Jamie Bowen and Mick Andrews)

2003 – Justine Smith:Penny Ashton, Justine Smith, Sully O'Sullivan, GARY, and Benjamin Crellin

2004 – Ben Hurley:Cohen Holloway, Ezequiel Balmori, Jamie Bowen, Penny Ashton, and Ben Hurley

2005 – Sam Wills:Cori Gonzalez-Macuer, Darren Jardine, James Nokise, Jo Randerson, and Sam Wills

2006 – Cori Gonzalez-Macuer:Cori Gonzalez-Macuer, James Nokise, Jerome Chandrahasen, Cameron Blair, and Gish (Justin Hansen)

2007 – Mrs Peacock (Jarrod Baker and Dave Smith):Alex Hawley, Jamie Bowen, Grant Lobban, and Mrs Peacock

2008 – Steve Wrigley :Steve Wrigley, Simon McKinney, Grant Lobban, The Lonesome Buckwhips, and Jim Brown

Controversy

2003 – Mike Loder (winner 2000) wrote letters to nominees Penny Ashton and Sully O’Sullivan advising them they had won the award and asking them to keep the news to themselves. Justine Smith won the award. Loder was blacklisted from the 2004 festival. [Richardson, Amie, ‘Prank-pulling comedian finds the joke’s on him,’ (Sunday Star Times: 1/6/03)]

2005 – Philip Patston (winner 1999) who is gay and disabled, volunteered to give up his award. The comment was made as a parody of the National Party’s appointment of MP Wayne Mapp as its ‘political correctness eradicator’. Patston criticized Mapp and Party leader, Don Brash. Sarcastically, he claimed we should eradicate the gay and the disabled. He went on to say that he had chosen to be disabled and that all episodes of Shortland Street featuring him should be destroyed. [Scoop.co.nz, press release: ‘Eradicate me: gay and disabled comedian,’ 30/10/05.]

Trivia

* Cori Gonzalez-Macuer (2006) and Dai Henwood (2002) are the youngest recipients of the award at 24.
* Every nominated duo has gone on to win the award.
* Benjamin Crellin (2000 - 2003) and Jamie Bowen (2002 - 2004, 2007) share the record for most nominations (four).

ee also

* New Zealand International Comedy Festival

References