Comedy award nominees announced

17 January 2005

NZ’s most contested Comedy award nominees announced.

It is with great pleasure the ODDFELLOWS NZ International Comedy Festival, announce the nominees for the 2005 ODDFELLOWS Billy T Award. Named in honour of New Zealand’s best-loved comedian, Billy T James, the Billy T’s are an initiative of the New Zealand Comedy Trust; with the aim to ensure continued growth of live comedy in New Zealand.

The nominees for 2005 are:

Cori Gonzalez-Macuer Darren Jardine
James Nokise Jo Randerson Sam Wills
These awards recognise and support New Zealand comedians with outstanding potential who display commitment to their given comedy field. The ODDFELLOWS Billy T Award is a $7000 cash grant.
The Awards are now in their ninth year and are a proven benchmark for new comedians. Previous winners have included; Cal Wilson, Ewen Gilmour, Te Radar, Sugar and Spice, Brendhan Lovegrove, Jan Maree and Ben Hurley.

The nominees were chosen on their proven comedic ability, talent, dedication, current form and potential, and will be judged on all aspects of their festival show. Final judging will take place on Sunday the 15th of May, at a showcase held at the Winter Garden, The Civic, THE EDGE®, in Auckland
The Billy’s are an initiative of the NZ Comedy Trust and aim to ensure the growth of NZ Comedy and are proudly sponsored by ODDFELLOWS.
And the Nominees Are…

Cori Gonzalez-Macuer Cori is a fresh face on the NZ comedy scene. Starting as a stand up in 2003, he won the coveted Raw Comedy Quest after only 5 gigs! He is currently working as Adrian Brophy’s body double on King Kong.

I Have A Big Poster is his first solo show in the ODDFELLOWS NZ International Comedy Festival and Cori will be performing in Auckland and Wellington

Darren Jardine Originally from Ireland now resident in Auckland, Darren made his mark on TV2’s Pulp Comedy in 2002. This is his second ODDFELLOWS NZ International Comedy Festival, after the sell out season of his 2004 show The 9.30 O'Clock News.

Darren will be performing in Just A Buck Eejit in Auckland and Wellington during the festival.

James Nokise Samoan comedian James Nokise has recently returned from a 3-month tour of the UK, including performances at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He has featured on TV2's Pulp Comedy and in the 2003 tour of Laughing with Samoans.

Enter The Jandal is his first solo show in the Festival and this is his first ODDFELLOWS Billy T Nomination.

Jo Randerson Wellington based Jo Randerson was nominated for Best Female Comedian at the 2004 NZ Comedy Guild Awards. In 2003 Jo performed Cracks In The Garden with Gentiane Lupi, winning the Best Comedy at the Melbourne Fringe Festival. And with brother Jeremy won the Golden Gibbo Award at the 2004 Melbourne International Comedy Festival for Carry On Randerson.

Jo Randerson’s Skazzle Dazzle will play in Auckland and Wellington

Sam Wills Sam Wills is the resident MC at SKYCITY’s New City Bar Comedy Hour and has performed on Pulp Comedy and in the ODDFELLOWS Comedy Gala. He recently was invited to Tonga to perform for the King.

Sam will perform Dance Monkey Dance in Auckland and Wellington.

ENDS

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