Billy T Award
The Billy T Award is a New Zealand comedy award recognizing 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 awards are an initiative of 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.[1]
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]
Billy T Award: winners and nominees
| Year | Billy T recipient(s) | Other nominees |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Cal Wilson Ewen Gilmour |
Mike King Brendhan Lovegrove Radar Raybon Kan |
| 1998 | Brendhan Lovegrove Radar (Andrew Lumsden) Sugar and Spice (Jonathan Brugh and Jason Hoyte) |
Philip Patston Jaq Tweedie |
| 1999 | Philip Patston The Humourbeasts (Jemaine Clement and Taika Cohen) |
Paul Ego Irene Pink Jon Stubbs |
| 2000 | Mike Loder Paul Ego |
Jan Maree Irene Pink Benjamin Crellin |
| 2001 | Jan Maree | Jeremy Elwood Rhys Darby Jon Stubbs Benjamin Crellin |
| 2002 | Dai Henwood | Rhys Darby Tarun Mohanbhai Benjamin Crellin GARY (Brett O'Gorman, Jamie Bowen and Mick Andrews) |
| 2003 | Justine Smith | Penny Ashton Sully O'Sullivan Benjamin Crellin GARY (Brett O'Gorman, Jamie Bowen and Mick Andrews) |
| 2004 | Ben Hurley | Cohen Holloway Ezequiel Balmori Jamie Bowen Penny Ashton |
| 2005 | Sam Wills | Cori Gonzalez-Macuer Darren Jardine James Nokise Jo Randerson |
| 2006 | Cori Gonzalez-Macuer | James Nokise Jerome Chandrahasen Cameron Blair Gish (Justin Hansen) |
| 2007 | Mrs Peacock (Jarrod Baker and Dave Smith) | Alex Hawley Jamie Bowen Grant Lobban |
| 2008 | Steve Wrigley | Simon McKinney Grant Lobban The Lonesome Buckwhips Jim Brown |
| 2009 | Chris Brain | Jim Brown James Keating Vaughan King Dave Wiggins |
| 2010 | Rhys Mathewson | Jarred Fell Clayton Carrick-Leslie Vaughan King TJ McDonald |
| 2011 | Nick Gibb | Joseph Harper Urzila Carlson Nick Rado Cameron Murray |
| 2012 | Guy Williams | Tom Furniss Rose Matafeo Tevita Manukia TJ McDonald |
| 2013 | Rose Matafeo | Tom Furniss Eli Matthewson Pax Assadi Joseph Moore |
| 2014 | Guy Montgomery | Brendon Green Jamaine Ross Stephen Witt Tim Batt |
| 2015 | Hamish Parkinson | Eli Matthewson Matt Stellingwerf Nic Sampson Tim Batt |
| 2016 | David Correos | Alice Brine James Malcolm Laura Daniel Matt Stellingwerf |
| 2017 | Angella Dravid | Paul Williams Li'i Alaimoana Ray O'Leary Patch Lambert[3] |
| 2018 | Melanie Bracewell | Alice Snedden Donna Brookbanks James Malcolm Two Hearts (Laura Daniel & Joseph Moore)[4] |
| 2019 | Kura Forrester | Donna Brookbanks James Mustapic Ray Shipley Tom Sainsbury[5] |
| 2020 | TBC (festival cancelled due to COVID-19) | Brynley Stent James Mustapic Josh Davies Lana Walters Ray O'Leary[6] |
Controversy
In 2003, Mike Loder was blacklisted from the 2004 festival after sending fake congratulatory letters to nominees Sully O’Sullivan and Penny Ashton.[7] 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.[8]
Trivia
- Rose Matafeo is the youngest recipient of the award at age 19.
- Benjamin Crellin (2000–03) and Jamie Bowen (2002–04, 2007) share the record for most nominations (four).
References
- NZ On Air, Press Release: ‘New Zealand Laughs On Air’ 23/4/02.
- NZ International Comedy festival, Press Release: ‘2007 Billy T Nominees’ 16/1/2007
- "Finalists for the 2017 Billy T Award have been announced". Stuff. Fairfax Media. 13 October 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- Minards-Black, Charlotte. "Congratulations to the 2018 Billy T Award nominees". Facebook. NZ International Comedy Festival. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
- http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1905/S00292/and-the-winners-are-billy-t-and-fred-winners-announced.htm
- "Billy T Nominees for 2020 Announced". scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
- Richardson, Amie, ‘Prank-pulling comedian finds the joke’s on him,’ (Sunday tar Times: 1/6/03)
- Scoop.co.nz, press release: ‘Eradicate me: gay and disabled comedian,’ 30/10/05.