December 21, 2016
NZ COMEDY AWARDS TOP HONOURS FOR THE FUNNIEST PEOPLE IN AOTEAROA THIS YEAR!
A packed Classic Comedy Bar on Auckland’s Queen St saw the 2016 New Zealand Comedy Guild Awards last night, and it proved to be a belter of a show. With nominees and winners across a broad range of categories from Best Gag of the Year to Best MC, the night was a brilliant cap off to the year for a growing and ever more inclusive industry.
Hosted by last year’s winner of Best MC, Justine Smith, and ably assisted by Rhys Matthewson, it was a hilarious and slick show with plenty of in jokes tailored to the crowd of comedians.
The 2016 Guildies saw the inclusion of a new award “The Ewie”, named in honor of Kiwi comedy legend Ewen Gilmour. Given as a Lifetime Achievement Award, the inaugural winner was fittingly Ewen himself. Much missed by his comedy whanau, the award was presented by his manager and long time friend Hilary Coe and collected by his brother Lyal and mother Janet.
The awards were attended by comedians, friends and family such as Rhys Darby (Hunt For the Wilder People, Flight of the Conchords), Jacinda Ardern (Labour Spokesperson for Arts Culture and Heritage) and Laura Daniel (Funny Girls, Jono & Ben).
Chair of the NZ Comedy Guild Debs McSmith said “It was such a great event and showed how far we have developed as an industry. It was particularly special to recognise Scott Blanks, owner of the Classic and regarded as the Godfather of New Zealand Comedy, with the NZ Comedy Guild Medal for his commitment, drive, and dedication to comedy for more than 20 years.”
The awards are voted for by members of the Comedy Guild and a panel of industry judges. The annual awards have been celebrating the achievements of the comedy industry since 2001.
The event was generously sponsored by Karma Cola, Omny Studio and Bigpipe Broadband. Their investment ensured this was the best ceremony in many years.
NZ Comedy Guild Awards 2016 – Winners
Outstanding Contribution to the Comedy Industry
Vaughan King
The Green Roomer
Paul Douglas
“The Classic” Best Comedy Venue
VKs
Best International Guest
Rich Wilson
Comic Originality
Jesse Griffin
Best Comedy Writer – Live Performance
Rhys Mathewson
Best Improv
Snort
Best Live Show
Rhys Mathewson – Nouveau Rhys
Best Newcomer
Ray O’Leary
Breakthrough Comic of the Year
Patch Lambert
Best MC
Justine Smith
Best Male Comedian
Ben Hurley
Best Female Comedian
Urzila Carlson
Gag of the Year
Pax Assadi
Andrew Kovacevich Memorial Cup for Most Offensive Gag
Brendhan Lovegrove
Kevin Smith Award for International Achievement
Sam Wills / Tape Face
Best Comedy Writing for Film or TV
Taika Waititi – Hunt for the Wilderpeople
Best Comedy TV Performance
Brendhan Lovegrove – Flick Electric Co Comedy Gala
Best Comedy TV Series or Event
7 Days
Best Comedy Web or Radio series, Podcast
Tim Batt & Guy Montgomery – Worst Idea of All Time
Best Comedy Twitterer
Melanie Bracewell – @meladoodle
Best Comedy Blog / Column
Raybon Kan
Best Online Comedy Presence
Frickin’ Dangerous Bro
The ‘Ewie’ Award for Lifetime Achievement
Ewen Gilmour
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