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.[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]
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
Rhys Mathewson 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
^ a bNZ On Air, Press Release: ‘New Zealand Laughs On Air’ 23/4/02.
^ a bNZ International Comedy festival, Press Release: ‘2007 Billy T Nominees’ 16 January 2007
^Kushen, Karyn (3 May 2010). "The Best of the Billys 2010". Theatreview. 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".
^"NZ INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL 2008 AWARDS". Theatreview. 13 May 2008. Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
^"CHRIS BRAIN and TE RADAR lead the field". Theatreview. 25 May 2009. Archived from the original on 19 May 2010. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
^Smith, Hannah. "POST-ADOLESCENT MUSINGS AMUSE". Theatreview. Archived from the original on 20 May 2010. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
^"Nick Gibb: Pakehas Be All Like This". Theatreview. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
^"The Truth According to Urzila Carlson". Theatreview. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
^"Cameron Murray In Logical Oddity". Theatreview. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
^"Nick Rado in Rado and Juliet". Theatreview. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
^ a b"Guy Williams On the Verge of Nothing". NZ International Comedy Festival. Archived from the original on 5 May 2012.
^"Comedy Festival 2013: Rose Matafeo". NZ Herald. 27 April 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
^Grenar, Ingrid (16 May 2013). "Pax – Pax's Magic Carpet Ride – Review". Keeping Up With NZ. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
^Grenar, Ingrid (16 May 2013). "Tom Furniss – The Diary of Gordon Leaf-Cooper – Review". Keeping Up with NZ. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
^"Comedy Festival 2013: Eli Matthewson". NZ Herald. 26 April 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
^Golds, Liam (14 May 2013). "Joseph Moore – Dope Ass Jokes – Review". Retrieved 27 August 2023.
^"Interview – 2014 Billy T Nominees". Keeping Up With NZ. 19 March 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
^"Hamish Parkinson wins Billy T Award 2015". Keeping Up With NZ. 18 May 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
^Wenley, James (14 May 2015). "Faith (Eli Matthewson) (NZ International Comedy Festival 2015)". Theatre Scenes. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
^McKee, Hannah (30 April 2015). "Nic Sampson: From Power Rangers to Jono and Ben". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
^Brookland, Nic (16 May 2016). "David Correos and Rhys Mathewson win at Last Laughs". Keeping Up With NZ. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
^ a bNZ Comedy Trust (2016). "Laughing Matters". 2016 NZ International Comedy Festival Programme: 45.
^ a b"Meet the 2017 Billy T Nominees". 7 March 2017. Archived from the original on 16 April 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
^"Finalists for the 2017 Billy T Award have been announced". Stuff. Fairfax Media. 13 October 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
^Dooley, Gary (15 May 2018). "Comedy review: Melanie Bracewell, Melodrama". NZ Herald.
^Sills, Ethan (15 May 2018). "Comedy review: Donna Brookbanks, You Do You Babes". NZ Herald.
^Nichol, Tess (15 May 2018). "Comedy review: A hit and miss hour with James Malcolm". NZ Herald. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
^Sutch, Lord. "Comedy fest review: Alice Snedden in Self-titled: Volume II". The Ruminator.
^Minards-Black, Charlotte. "Congratulations to the 2018 Billy T Award nominees". Facebook. NZ International Comedy Festival. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
^ a b"2019 Comedy Fest Calendar - Wellington Shows". NZ International Comedy Festival. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
^"And the winners are... Billy T and FRED winners announced | Scoop News".
^ a b"2020 Comedy Fest Calendar - Wellington Shows". NZ International Comedy Festival. 26 February 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
^"Billy T Nominees for 2020 announced, Billy T Jams on sale now!". NZ International Comedy Festival. 14 October 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
^"Billy T Nominees for 2020 Announced". scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
^"2023 Billy T Nominees Take To The Stage At Billy T Jams". Scoop. 2 February 2023.
^ a bSills, Ethan (25 May 2023). "Billy T 2023 nominees reviewed: Abby Howells, Gabby Anderson, Jack Ansett, Janaye Henry and Maria Williams". NZ Herald. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
^Sills, Ethan (26 May 2024). "Lana Walters, Barnie Duncan and Trygve Wakenshaw win top prizes at NZ International Comedy Festival". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
