Billy T Award

Billy T Award
Billy T Award
Awarded for	Kiwi comedian with "outstanding potential" at the NZICF
Sponsored by	New Zealand Comedy Trust
Location	SkyCity Auckland
Country	New Zealand
Presented by	Previous winner
Reward(s)	NZ$5,000
First awarded	1997; 27 years ago
Most nominations	Jamie Bowen (4); Benjamin Crellin (4)
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.^[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]

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, It's In the Bag^[3]	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, The Justine Smith Hour	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, Dance Monkey Dance: The Evolution of 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, The First Time^[4]	Simon McKinney Grant Lobban The Lonesome Buckwhips Jim Brown
2009	Chris Brain, In a Better Place^[5]	Jim Brown James Keating Vaughan King Dave Wiggins
2010	Rhys Mathewson, Rhyspect^[6]	Jarred Fell Clayton Carrick-Leslie Vaughan King TJ McDonald
2011	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]
2012	Guy Williams, On the Verge of Nothing^[11]	Tom Furniss, The Free Ice Cream Show^[11] Tevita Manukia, Knock Knock Rose Matafeo, Scout's Honour TJ McDonald, My Life Has Been a Series of Poorly Made Decisions
2013	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]
2014	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
2015	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
2016	David Correos, Second Place Winner^[21]	Alice Brine, Brinestorm^[22] Laura Daniel, Pressure Makes Diamonds James Malcolm, Marry Me Chris Warner^[22] Matt Stellingwerf, Bachelor of Arts
2017	Angella Dravid, Down the Rabbit Hole^[23]	Li'i Alaimoana, Minority Rapport^[23] Patch Lambert, Terrordactyl^[24] Ray O'Leary, A Pessimist's Guide to Optimism Paul Williams, Summer Time Love
2018	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]
2019	Kura Forrester, Kura Shoulda Woulda^[30]	Donna Brookbanks, Heroic^[30] James Mustapic, The Blair Witch Projector Ray Shipley, All This Crying Is Making Me Hungry Tom Sainsbury, Tom Foolery^[31]
2020	No award — festival cancelled	Josh 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]
2021	Brynley Stent, Soft Carnage^[32]	James Mustapic Josh Davies Lana Walters^[34]
2023	Abby Howells, La Soupco^[35]^[36]	Gabby Anderson, Bad-ish Teacher^[36] Jack Ansett, Are You Taking The Piss? Janaye Henry, Crush Season Maria Williams, ADHD... The Musical!?!
2024	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]
2025	Not yet awarded	David Stuart Hoani Hotene Itay Dom Lesa MacLeod-Whiting Booth the Clown/Jak Darling

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

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 ^b NZ On Air, Press Release: ‘New Zealand Laughs On Air’ 23/4/02.
^ ^a ^b NZ 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 ^b NZ 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 ^b Sills, 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.
^ "Advait Kirtikar - New Show, Who Dis?". NZICF.
^ "Rhiannon McCall - Toxic Shock Bimbo". NZICF. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
^ "Liv McKenzie - Crybaby". NZICF. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
^ "Tough Tiger Fist - Star-Crossed Brothers". NZICF. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
^ Richardson, Amie, ‘Prank-pulling comedian finds the joke’s on him,’ (Sunday Star Times: 1/6/03)
^ Scoop.co.nz, press release: ‘Eradicate me: gay and disabled comedian,’ 30/10/05.

[ReferenceA-1] NZ On Air, Press Release: ‘New Zealand Laughs On Air’ 23/4/02.

[ReferenceB-2] NZ International Comedy festival, Press Release: ‘2007 Billy T Nominees’ 16 January 2007

[kushen-2010-3] 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".

[tr-first-time-08-4] "NZ INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL 2008 AWARDS". Theatreview. 13 May 2008. Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2023.

[tr-2009-win-5] "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-tr-2010-6] Smith, Hannah. "POST-ADOLESCENT MUSINGS AMUSE". Theatreview. Archived from the original on 20 May 2010. Retrieved 7 September 2023.

[gibb-2011-7] "Nick Gibb: Pakehas Be All Like This". Theatreview. Retrieved 27 August 2023.

[truth-carlson-8] "The Truth According to Urzila Carlson". Theatreview. Retrieved 27 August 2023.

[logical-oddity-9] "Cameron Murray In Logical Oddity". Theatreview. Retrieved 27 August 2023.

[r-and-j-11-10] "Nick Rado in Rado and Juliet". Theatreview. Retrieved 27 August 2023.

[nzicf-12-arch-11] "Guy Williams On the Verge of Nothing". NZ International Comedy Festival. Archived from the original on 5 May 2012.

[cf-herald-13-12] "Comedy Festival 2013: Rose Matafeo". NZ Herald. 27 April 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2023.

[pmcr-13-13] Grenar, Ingrid (16 May 2013). "Pax – Pax's Magic Carpet Ride – Review". Keeping Up With NZ. Retrieved 27 August 2023.

[leaf-cooper-13-14] Grenar, Ingrid (16 May 2013). "Tom Furniss – The Diary of Gordon Leaf-Cooper – Review". Keeping Up with NZ. Retrieved 27 August 2023.

[prop-great-13-15] "Comedy Festival 2013: Eli Matthewson". NZ Herald. 26 April 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2023.

[daj-13-16] Golds, Liam (14 May 2013). "Joseph Moore – Dope Ass Jokes – Review". Retrieved 27 August 2023.

[kunz-14-17] "Interview – 2014 Billy T Nominees". Keeping Up With NZ. 19 March 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2023.

[kunz-2015-18] "Hamish Parkinson wins Billy T Award 2015". Keeping Up With NZ. 18 May 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2023.

[faith-wenley-19] Wenley, James (14 May 2015). "Faith (Eli Matthewson) (NZ International Comedy Festival 2015)". Theatre Scenes. Retrieved 27 August 2023.

[mckee-15-20] McKee, Hannah (30 April 2015). "Nic Sampson: From Power Rangers to Jono and Ben". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 27 August 2023.

[kunz-may-16-21] Brookland, Nic (16 May 2016). "David Correos and Rhys Mathewson win at Last Laughs". Keeping Up With NZ. Retrieved 26 August 2023.

[pa-2016-programme-22] NZ Comedy Trust (2016). "Laughing Matters". 2016 NZ International Comedy Festival Programme: 45.

[billy-t-noms-2017-23] "Meet the 2017 Billy T Nominees". 7 March 2017. Archived from the original on 16 April 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2023.

[24] "Finalists for the 2017 Billy T Award have been announced". Stuff. Fairfax Media. 13 October 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.

[nzh-dooley-bracewell-25] Dooley, Gary (15 May 2018). "Comedy review: Melanie Bracewell, Melodrama". NZ Herald.

[ydyb-review-26] Sills, Ethan (15 May 2018). "Comedy review: Donna Brookbanks, You Do You Babes". NZ Herald.

[nichol-18-27] Nichol, Tess (15 May 2018). "Comedy review: A hit and miss hour with James Malcolm". NZ Herald. Retrieved 27 August 2023.

[snedden-stv2-28] Sutch, Lord. "Comedy fest review: Alice Snedden in Self-titled: Volume II". The Ruminator.

[29] Minards-Black, Charlotte. "Congratulations to the 2018 Billy T Award nominees". Facebook. NZ International Comedy Festival. Retrieved 13 October 2017.

[cal-2019-nzicf-30] "2019 Comedy Fest Calendar - Wellington Shows". NZ International Comedy Festival. Retrieved 27 August 2023.

[31] "And the winners are... Billy T and FRED winners announced | Scoop News".

[cal-2020-32] "2020 Comedy Fest Calendar - Wellington Shows". NZ International Comedy Festival. 26 February 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2023.

[btj-19-33] "Billy T Nominees for 2020 announced, Billy T Jams on sale now!". NZ International Comedy Festival. 14 October 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2023.

[34] "Billy T Nominees for 2020 Announced". scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 17 April 2020.

[scoop-23-35] "2023 Billy T Nominees Take To The Stage At Billy T Jams". Scoop. 2 February 2023.

[nzh-sills-23-36] Sills, 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.

[nz-int-24-37] 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.

[new-show-who-dis-38] "Advait Kirtikar - New Show, Who Dis?". NZICF.

[rm-toxic-39] "Rhiannon McCall - Toxic Shock Bimbo". NZICF. Retrieved 7 June 2024.

[lm-crybaby-40] "Liv McKenzie - Crybaby". NZICF. Retrieved 7 June 2024.

[ttf-star-41] "Tough Tiger Fist - Star-Crossed Brothers". NZICF. Retrieved 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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Billy T Award

Billy T James

Judging

Winners and nominees

Controversy

Trivia

References

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