Billy T' Billy
NZME
The Billy T Award is one of the most prestigious honours a New Zealand comedian can win. Named after the legendary comedian Billy T James, this award celebrates the best emerging performer at each year’s Comedy Festival. Since 1997, the prize has been won by comedians that have gone on to become household names – including Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement, Rose Matafeo and Dai Henwood
On this season of Billy T' Billy, the New Zealand Herald is spotlighting this year’s nominees – Abby Howells, Gabby Anderson, Jack Ansett, Janaye Henry and Maria Williams - in conversation with previous Billy T and Fred Dagg award winner, as well as celebrating 30 years of the New Zealand International Comedy Festival.
Location:
United States
Networks:
NZME
Description:
The Billy T Award is one of the most prestigious honours a New Zealand comedian can win. Named after the legendary comedian Billy T James, this award celebrates the best emerging performer at each year’s Comedy Festival. Since 1997, the prize has been won by comedians that have gone on to become household names – including Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement, Rose Matafeo and Dai Henwood On this season of Billy T' Billy, the New Zealand Herald is spotlighting this year’s nominees – Abby Howells, Gabby Anderson, Jack Ansett, Janaye Henry and Maria Williams - in conversation with previous Billy T and Fred Dagg award winner, as well as celebrating 30 years of the New Zealand International Comedy Festival.
Language:
English
Episodes
Abby Howells and 2024 winner Lana Walters
5/28/2024
In this special one-off bonus episode, 2023 winner Abby Howells hands over the yellow towel to 2024 winner, Lana Walters. They discuss their experiences winning and the aftermath, their writing and standup processes, how Abby has found winning the award, what Lana has found being a new mum and a standup, and how still needs to change for women in comedy.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:49:32
Brynley Stent and 2023 winner Abby Howells
5/30/2023
2021 Billy T winner Brynley Stent trades jumbo-sized towel tips with this year's winner Abby Howells. The comedic champs talk about Howells' award-winning show, her being open on stage about being on the autism spectrum, and Stent embracing her frigid reputation.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:50:40
Comedy today - James Roque, Joseph Moore and Urzila Carlson
5/22/2023
Billy T' Billy has made it to the last ten years of New Zealand comedy. Taking us on today's tour are scene standouts Joseph Moore and James Roque.
Then, host Rhys Mathewson talks to Urzila Carlson, who in just over a decade has risen to be a star in both Aotearoa and Australia.
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Duration:00:51:53
The turn of the century - Dai Henwood, Justine Smith, Irene Pink and Rhys Darby
5/15/2023
Standup stalwarts Irene Pink, Dai Henwood, and Justine Smith take Rhys Mathewson through what was good and bad about comedy twenty years ago and what has changed for the better. Hint: It's got way more people performing that aren't straight dudes.
On the international side, Rhys Darby explains how encouragement from British performers convinced him to spread his wings and pursue his comedic craft outside of our island nation
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Duration:00:59:56
Back to the '90s - Jeremy Corbett, Michele A'Court and Paul Horan
5/8/2023
Veteran comedians Jeremy Corbett, Michele A'Court take host Rhys Mathewson through the beginning of Aotearoa's standup scene, and writer and co-founder of the NZ International Comedy Festival and The Classic Comedy Club Paul Horan explains how overseas comics like Bill Bailey and Simon Pegg were enticed to our shores.
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Duration:01:00:32
Maria Williams and Guy Williams
5/1/2023
2023 Billy T nominee Maria Williams is joined by 2012 Billy T winner - and her brother - Guy Wiliams to discuss their family's comedy roots, mental health and politics in comedy, the highs and lows of musical theatre, and Guy's advice Maria isn't in.
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Duration:00:42:07
Janaye Henry and Eli Matthewson
4/24/2023
2023 Billy T nominee Janaye Henry is joined by 2021 Fred winner Eli Matthewson to discuss their writing, rehearsing and standup styles, performing for queer audiences, talking about exes and partners in their sets, and competing against friends for awards.
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Duration:00:52:14
Jack Ansett and Jonny Brugh
4/17/2023
2023 Billy T nominee Jack Ansett is joined by 1998 Billy T winner Jonny Brugh to discuss New Zealand comedy in the 90s, sketch versus standup, if awards are important, TikTok, and Jonny's experiences on the set of Thor.
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Duration:00:37:45
Gabby Anderson and James Nokise
4/10/2023
2023 Billy T nominee Gabby Anderson is joined by 2019 Fred Award winner James Nokise to discuss the Wellington comedy scene, their religious backgrounds, Gabby's other career as a teacher - and the gig that's haunted James for a decade.
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Duration:00:39:54
Abby Howells and Melanie Bracewell
4/3/2023
2023 Billy T nominee Abby Howells is joined by 2018 Billy T winner Melanie Bracewell to discuss being comedy nerds, bad first gigs, being a woman in comedy and the joys of Tumblr and Monty Python.
Find tickets to Abby and Melanie's International Comedy Festival shows here: https://www.comedyfestival.co.nz/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:42:38
Kura Forrester and 2021 winner Brynley Stent
5/27/2021
2019 Billy T winner Kura Forrester hands over the yellow towel to her successor Brynley Stent, and they discuss the continued success of female comedians and the joys of performing on stageSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:39:27
Josh Davies and David Correos
5/12/2021
Josh Davies and David Correos discuss how to write a good joke, and why bringing a documentary crew to your worst ever gig isn't a great ideaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:45:48
Lana Walters and Rhys Mathewson
5/11/2021
Lana Walters and Rhys Matthewson talk about the highs and lows of organising a comedy show, and writing comedy while pregnant.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:42:38
James Mustapic and Guy Montgomery
5/10/2021
James Mustapic and Guy Montgomery talk about the pressure of public competition, and how much of your personal life you can use to fuel your comedy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:40:41
Brynley Stent and Angella Dravid
5/6/2021
Angella Dravid and Brynley Stent talk about how they found their own comedic style, and the highs and lows of performing it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:34:32