David McPhail as Mr Gormsby used to fucking kill me I swear my mates my brothers and me would be in tears at this character. Along with Steve from Guidance haha. Just the teachers in general all their antics so well played! Being of island descent a lot of it was super relatable lol.
You wouldn't get away with those lines in this day and age it was a different time back then.
Rhys Darby is pretty good and The Laughing Samoans are mean too.
I haven't checked in with dai henwood for a while I know he is/was battling cancer but he and everyone else involved with 7 days is great even if it has passed it's prime
Yeah but the last few seasons were "revamped" to make it less crude and "blokey" and have revolving captains, etc. So its still there and still funny and I still watch it, its just not as savage as it used to be which is a shame IMO
He's part of the Alternative Commentary Collective covering rugby league for them.
I always liked Dai but became an even bigger fan after seeing at Warriors games during the shit years.
Not ncessarily a comedian but does "comedy bits". Eating Media Lunch and the Unauthorised History of NZ were great pieces of television made by Jeremy Wells. A lot of people brush off the stuff he does as "lad" humour but I think he uses his platform to point a mirror at lad culture and show the ridiculousness of their prejudices.
Like him and Havoc's "dirty old gay man's Gore" wasn't trying to make fun of gay people but they knew it would whip Gore men in a frenzy that there dare be gay people in Gore
The recent 4 part deep dive into the incidents surrounding Gore on Matt and Jerry’s podcast was pretty good..
They even got Havoc out to go through it.
Second this eating media lunch was an all timer. That show where he tried to test small town tv channel prejudices by seeing how many tena koutous he could say before being cut off lmao. Also the whole anal mana hoax
Yeh he kinda fell off the radar a while back. He’s had divorces and court fines etc to deal with at times, and his boy is heavily autistic, so it’s probably the right time for him to stop chasing a career in the spotlight.
I miss him on bfm drive tho. Never has a man been more perfectly suited to a position.
YES. I wasn't even old enough to watch back when it was airing but I dug up some of the episodes on Youtube a while back and still found them really good even though I didn't remember the majority of the events
This is the only answer really
Edit: just saw the dai henwood comment and yes Dai is also very funny, but actually his allure is he is such a nice genuine bloke too
Not nationality known, but the court theatre jesters here in chch develop plenty of fantastic comics, and can be found plying their craft Friday nights at scared scriptless, fantastic improv comedy.
Dai Henwood, As a child I distinctly remember watching him do his tour of New Zealand on a tv series called "Roll the Dai" and finding it hilarious but also learning about New Zealand at the same time. I've enjoyed everything he s done since
Rose Matafeo is so good. Watching her grow from awkward stand-up beginnings to her writing and producing some really good tv shows has been great.
And let's not forget the fush poster. In the shud.
As a kiwi in Edinburgh I feel spoiled I get to see her perform so often. Must have seen her over here easily 6-7 times now! She’s fab and it’s been amazing to see her growth
Guy Montgomery is great too.
Have you seen the Les Mis act at Melbourne comedy festival? Bunch of Kiwis do an awesome (and funny) rendition of "do you hear the people sing"
Found a link!
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C55UueVLcjv/?igsh=MXFyaHpwanQ0OGxhcA==
I havnt seen Leigh Hart mentioned yet.
(As well as old Hoytej, and JWells)
Late Night Big Breakfast is something I tend to rewatch every 6months.
I think the ACC (as a group) is doing amazing things for NZ comedy, and bringing people into watching NZ sport…
Yeah…
His Twitter leaves a pretty bad taste in my mouth.
And I have heard a few stories (and not even really hidden) of having a bit of a drinking issue.
He's a cunt but he's also fucking hilarious. I think it's still on youtube, the footage of him trolling a bigfoot convention in the USA is one of the funniest things I've ever seen in my life.
Does anyone remember the spot they did on Space, Arts Whole? The episode on DJs was burned into my brain as a 15 year old. Graffiti one was good too with the guy tagging in the bathroom
I really want to find all the eps of Pooman and Weez but ridiculously they're not available anywhere, nor is much of BOTY itself
Periodically a good Samaritan on here will upload them, but they're always taken down again.
A travesty
“Get ready for big tits and cocaine because we’re going to the North Island!”
I was at Otago uni around the same time as these guys and their videos they made for the student film making competition (mothras) were always pretty cool!
The underground scene is pretty strong in NZ.
The problem is that the TV stations just use the same ones over and over. There's more talent hiding in the regions that never gets a chance.
This is quite niche but comedian Al Pitcher is a kiwi who lives and does comedy in Sweden, mostly in English with a bit of swedish thrown in. The way he makes fun of swedish culture from a kiwi perspective kills.
I have really enjoyed watching James Mustapic grow from his teenage years on YouTube.
There’s some really great talent coming out of the Manawatū-Whanganui region at the moment. Support your local comedy shows!
Saw him at a corporate gig last year and he was super dark but very funny. Then a few days later another one had Mike Puru and he was so corporately bland.
Having been pretty involved for a while (not any more) it's actually hard to say.
Go down to the Classic Comedy Club on a Wednesday, Thursday or the late Saturday show and find your new favourite up and comer.
The Comedy Festival is about to kick off, so no better time!
I second those here who say to get out and see some live comedy - you simply can’t judge based on TV appearances where it’s filtered so heavily through editing and scripting and what not.
Guy Montgomery is a favourite of mine. Ray O’Leary too. Among newer talent, Tony Lyall is great live, and Joe Daymond is good too.
Flight of the Conchords and Billy T will always be the goats, as far as more modern, even though she's in oz now Melanie Bracewell. When I lived in auckland my partner at the time and I would go to the occasional stand up and Mel's was easily the hardest either of us laughed at any show we saw.
Special shoutout also to Rose Matafeo
I don't rate any in far as being a stand up but a few I like as comedians in their element.
I loved both Josh Thompson and Chris Parker in Taskmaster. They can be hit and miss on panel shows though. I couldn't watch them in stand up.
Guy Williams I think is great in his NZ Today role. Rhys Darby in his TV roles in his specific character of dry bumbling persona. Angela Dravitt too in her very niche persona.
Dai Henwood is my OG favourite, he and Rhys Darby did a show called The Everyman back in 2006, it was the first live comedy I had seen, his characters were incredible, following that Insert Video Here, Roll the Dai, and of course 7 Days. He’s the GOAT. Current favourite is David Correos, the lunacy of his live shows have me in stitches each time, his time on Taskmaster was hilarious too.
I have no clue why David Correos hasn’t been named yet. The man is insane and sweet and funny like a mayonnaise and cheese sandwich left out in the sun tastes. He’d also eat that sandwich to get a laugh.
Haven't seen Guy Williams name pop up much. It a wonder how he has so much exposure/tv shows.
Besides that there is some very talented NZ comedians around at the moment, maybe a legacy of the old TVNZ U days. Shame there isn't such a pathway now
There used to be this talented comic called Ryan Shiffman. He did spots on Lovegrove's shows at Little Easy as well as The Classic etc.
Anyone know what he's up to?
You didn’t say living comedian, so I’m going to bring Billy T James back from the dead:
How do you catch a unique animal?
- Unique up on it (tee hee).
How do you catch a tame animal?
- Tame way (tee hee hee).
I love Guy Williams, I don't know what it is but I could see him over and over.
I would love to see Wilson Dixon & Justine Smith. But back in the mid to late 90s in the esrly days of Pulp Comedy, my favorites were Ewan Gilmore, Raymond Kan, and I once watched a performance by Jaq Tweedie that had me rolling on my lounge floor in tears, "Fuck Me Red lipstick" is a phrase I'll never forget.
David McPhail as Mr Gormsby used to fucking kill me I swear my mates my brothers and me would be in tears at this character. Along with Steve from Guidance haha. Just the teachers in general all their antics so well played! Being of island descent a lot of it was super relatable lol. You wouldn't get away with those lines in this day and age it was a different time back then. Rhys Darby is pretty good and The Laughing Samoans are mean too.
The gormsby buggery scene was top notch
Ohh man that's an often quoted one that scene love it!
Nobody will ever beat Mr. Gormsby. That scene where he says he’s going to bum the student. I’m dying of laughter now 😂
Far out I just rewatched that beauty and it STILL hits haha!
While you’re on the buzz don’t forget about letters to blanchy!!
Mr Gormsby making his students sing coon tunes will forever be one of my favourite bits. Would never go over today:
Faaaaar out Im losing it man 🤣 one of the greatest yeah man absolutely would not fly today.
Uh sorry. A "coon why ata"
Jason Hoyte is legitimately so funny so I'm glad he's involved with the correct answer. From guidance.
I haven't checked in with dai henwood for a while I know he is/was battling cancer but he and everyone else involved with 7 days is great even if it has passed it's prime
7 Days was one of the best that NZ comedy has to offer, none of the other NZ quiz/panel shows compare and it’s left a big hole.
Is 7 days not still on?
There was an episode yesterday
Yeah but the last few seasons were "revamped" to make it less crude and "blokey" and have revolving captains, etc. So its still there and still funny and I still watch it, its just not as savage as it used to be which is a shame IMO
I think the new club tropicana segment is pretty good though. But yeah, I agree with the savageness on the older ones, was much better
He's part of the Alternative Commentary Collective covering rugby league for them. I always liked Dai but became an even bigger fan after seeing at Warriors games during the shit years.
I find him abit dry but the poor is definitely going through some tough stuff. Glad he's still around 🥰
I used to watch 7 Days every week years ago, tried watching a new episode recently and didn't laugh once. Have they turned it G rated or something?
Ray O’Leary, Guy Montgomery, David Correos, Taylor Ruddle, Angella Dravid, Paul Williams, Urzila Carlson, Laura Daniel, Justine Smith, Matt Lilley.
I wish Paul's stuff was more accessible, the stuff I've seen is great. Bring back the advanced analytics podcast.
Paul Williams needs to re-release his music, or at least un-private it from youtube. Remember your roots Paul, I've got Nelson on my Mind.
> Matt Lilley Fuck yeah!
Seen him a few times at Good Times in ChCh and he’s solid every time. Really hope he makes it.
Same! He's got so much natural charisma, and he's putting the work in with joke writing as well... excited to see how he goes
Not ncessarily a comedian but does "comedy bits". Eating Media Lunch and the Unauthorised History of NZ were great pieces of television made by Jeremy Wells. A lot of people brush off the stuff he does as "lad" humour but I think he uses his platform to point a mirror at lad culture and show the ridiculousness of their prejudices. Like him and Havoc's "dirty old gay man's Gore" wasn't trying to make fun of gay people but they knew it would whip Gore men in a frenzy that there dare be gay people in Gore
The recent 4 part deep dive into the incidents surrounding Gore on Matt and Jerry’s podcast was pretty good.. They even got Havoc out to go through it.
Fuck this was so good. I pushed all the parts to the top of my listen queue so I could hear them all in one go.
Second this eating media lunch was an all timer. That show where he tried to test small town tv channel prejudices by seeing how many tena koutous he could say before being cut off lmao. Also the whole anal mana hoax
I’m sick in bed and just reading “dirty old gay man’s Gore” gave me a coughing fit from laughing
Down behind the bike sheds with your mucky hands and your mucky fingers, gay man's Gore. A classic.
They came to my school in the 90s. Was awesome. Haven't heard much of havoc since then, but cool to see Jeremy's career grow.
Yeh he kinda fell off the radar a while back. He’s had divorces and court fines etc to deal with at times, and his boy is heavily autistic, so it’s probably the right time for him to stop chasing a career in the spotlight. I miss him on bfm drive tho. Never has a man been more perfectly suited to a position.
Playing a DJ gig in Whanganui tonight
YES. I wasn't even old enough to watch back when it was airing but I dug up some of the episodes on Youtube a while back and still found them really good even though I didn't remember the majority of the events
second this! all the episodes are on youtube - great watch
Dear god-nobody has yet mentioned John Clarke /Fred Dagg?
Fred Dagg is a old boys comic, these yunguns don't know
Probably would get canceled these days. Much like billy t James, rip!
They're products of their times. Had they been around today their comedy would've suited the social norms.
Absolute legend. I know him from Clarke and Dawe in Australia, which I highly recommend for brilliant satire. Miss him terribly!
I was saying to someone the other day that I'd have loved to see what Clarke & Dawe would make of the present day.
The series they did - Utopia and The Games are absolutely class
I 'member.
His cameo scene in Never Say Die stole the movie.
John Clarke
Flight of the conchords.
This is the only answer really Edit: just saw the dai henwood comment and yes Dai is also very funny, but actually his allure is he is such a nice genuine bloke too
Viva La Dirt League can be quite funny if you're into that sort of stuff.
Do they ever do anything outside social media? They seem talented and decently funded, but I only ever see them on faceberk.
Have a whole YouTube channel, which is how I see their stuff
Jemaine Clement
Guy Montgomery
His Spelling Bee is top tier NZ comedy, and he was excellent on Taskmaster.
Best taskmaster season for me.
100%. I’ve probably rewatched it more than any others.
I believe Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont-Spelling Bee has another season coming, unless it's getting caught up in the cuts.
He has a full hour on YouTube, it’s excellent
Well, he is the peoples champion
Saw him live last year and with Rose Matafeo in 2020. The two best stand up shows I’ve seen in NZ by far
Billy T James of course.look at The Maori way to buy a car!!!
Or Te news, remember came a hot Friday?
The weather skit or "where'd I get my bag" are perfection, chur to the O.G of kiwi comedy.
"Where'd I get my bag? I pinched it! [Billy T laugh]"
He taught me how to say hello the British way. Ear, hair, lair. Came in handy when I moved to the UK!
Me too, managed to find some of his dvds in an op shop which was awesome, the youtube clips I’ve found are terrible quality
Not nationality known, but the court theatre jesters here in chch develop plenty of fantastic comics, and can be found plying their craft Friday nights at scared scriptless, fantastic improv comedy.
Dai Henwood, As a child I distinctly remember watching him do his tour of New Zealand on a tv series called "Roll the Dai" and finding it hilarious but also learning about New Zealand at the same time. I've enjoyed everything he s done since
That autistic one is pretty funny. Abby Howes I think
Abby Howells. She's really cool, fantastic material on all sorts of stuff
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKsnCGLredI I feel her masked discomfort on a worryingly fundamental level
Ewen Gilmour
Flight of the conchords
Rose Matafeo is so good. Watching her grow from awkward stand-up beginnings to her writing and producing some really good tv shows has been great. And let's not forget the fush poster. In the shud.
As a kiwi in Edinburgh I feel spoiled I get to see her perform so often. Must have seen her over here easily 6-7 times now! She’s fab and it’s been amazing to see her growth
she seems to be killing it in the UK! popping up on all the regular shows
Billy t James (rip)
Melanie Bracewell. Cheap seats is awesome.
Yes - she has absolutely ruined Whitcoulls for me.... my brain automatically goes to"Fitcoulls" now.
I was hoping someone would mention her! I’ve been a fan since she was just on tumblr, so seeing her on tv is really neat to me!
Guy Montgomery is great too. Have you seen the Les Mis act at Melbourne comedy festival? Bunch of Kiwis do an awesome (and funny) rendition of "do you hear the people sing" Found a link! https://www.instagram.com/reel/C55UueVLcjv/?igsh=MXFyaHpwanQ0OGxhcA==
Def my fave of the current crop.
I havnt seen Leigh Hart mentioned yet. (As well as old Hoytej, and JWells) Late Night Big Breakfast is something I tend to rewatch every 6months. I think the ACC (as a group) is doing amazing things for NZ comedy, and bringing people into watching NZ sport…
I think Leigh Hart is one of the funniest but some of the stories about him as a person have put me off him a little bit.
Yeah… His Twitter leaves a pretty bad taste in my mouth. And I have heard a few stories (and not even really hidden) of having a bit of a drinking issue.
He's a cunt but he's also fucking hilarious. I think it's still on youtube, the footage of him trolling a bigfoot convention in the USA is one of the funniest things I've ever seen in my life.
This! Late Night Big Breakfast had me in stitches every episode without fail.
Back of the y masterpiece television is the greatest show to come out of New Zealand
Found Matt Heaths alt account. But nah, that was premium viewing when I was a young lad.
I drink turps and piss it into a jar. I've got a yeast infection, and that gives it a full bodied flavour
Spanners Watson
Does anyone remember the spot they did on Space, Arts Whole? The episode on DJs was burned into my brain as a 15 year old. Graffiti one was good too with the guy tagging in the bathroom
I really want to find all the eps of Pooman and Weez but ridiculously they're not available anywhere, nor is much of BOTY itself Periodically a good Samaritan on here will upload them, but they're always taken down again. A travesty
“Get ready for big tits and cocaine because we’re going to the North Island!” I was at Otago uni around the same time as these guys and their videos they made for the student film making competition (mothras) were always pretty cool!
Billy T James. Cal Wilson. Ewen Gilmour. McPhail & Gadsby.
The Laughing Samoans
Jack anset is top notch
Christopher Luxon
Yea but he repeats his material more than Jay Leno
He's a joke, not a joker.
I like [Guy Montgomery](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfc6a7kmHbs) at the moment.
He’s certainly the superior of the Guys
Angella Dravid is such a weirdo, I think she's very funny and original.
she was awesome in TMNZ
The underground scene is pretty strong in NZ. The problem is that the TV stations just use the same ones over and over. There's more talent hiding in the regions that never gets a chance.
Can you name a few? Maybe they have some stuff on YouTube I can look at?
James Mustapic
This is quite niche but comedian Al Pitcher is a kiwi who lives and does comedy in Sweden, mostly in English with a bit of swedish thrown in. The way he makes fun of swedish culture from a kiwi perspective kills.
Billy T James
Donna Brookbanks is my favourite comedians and a good friend of mine.
I have really enjoyed watching James Mustapic grow from his teenage years on YouTube. There’s some really great talent coming out of the Manawatū-Whanganui region at the moment. Support your local comedy shows!
Alice Snedden is incredibly clever and underrated
Jason Hoyte
Pax Assadi is great and his TV show Raised by refugees is well worth watching
Dai Henwood has a special place in my heart. Met him a long time ago and he was very genuine and kind.
Rose Matafeo
Brendhan Lovegrove
Saw him at a corporate gig last year and he was super dark but very funny. Then a few days later another one had Mike Puru and he was so corporately bland.
Mike Puru isn’t a comedian…
Was looking for this comment. His observations are brilliant and perfectly delivered IMO
Having been pretty involved for a while (not any more) it's actually hard to say. Go down to the Classic Comedy Club on a Wednesday, Thursday or the late Saturday show and find your new favourite up and comer. The Comedy Festival is about to kick off, so no better time!
Guy Williams
I second those here who say to get out and see some live comedy - you simply can’t judge based on TV appearances where it’s filtered so heavily through editing and scripting and what not. Guy Montgomery is a favourite of mine. Ray O’Leary too. Among newer talent, Tony Lyall is great live, and Joe Daymond is good too.
Dai Henwood. Especially his bits that brought me back to owning origin jeans.
Cori Gonzalez-Macuer or Guy Montgomery
Clearly the winner is Billy T James. But I did like Ewan The Westie Gilmour too.
John Key he can pull my pony tail anytime
This. Looking for the ANZ chairman
Can’t believe no one has said Ursula Carlson, she’s great (counts as a kiwi surely)
She is terrible, honestly do not find her funny at all
OP did say he didn’t want to hear about this. Just saying.
Myself
Jarred Christmas is pretty funny
Mike king maybe? There is a few who try too hard. Mike is more focused on mental health these days, which is fantastic all on its own 😍
Fred Dag, Billy T James, McPhail & Gadsby.
Bret and Jemaine by far. Guy Williams is one of the few NZ based ones that makes me laugh consistently with most of his jokes so him too.
Guy Montgomery is good. I saw his show last year, and he’s great in Season 2 of Taskmaster NZ
Mike Hosking
I love Ray O'Leary. So dry and painful.
The present cabinet
Flight of the Conchords and Billy T will always be the goats, as far as more modern, even though she's in oz now Melanie Bracewell. When I lived in auckland my partner at the time and I would go to the occasional stand up and Mel's was easily the hardest either of us laughed at any show we saw. Special shoutout also to Rose Matafeo
Rhys Darby. Tofiga Fepulea'i.
Was Billy T, was Ewan Gilmore, I don't there is one that I find really funny atm, most are really annoying.
Chris Hipkins.
Not guy williams
Christopher Luxon
I don't rate any in far as being a stand up but a few I like as comedians in their element. I loved both Josh Thompson and Chris Parker in Taskmaster. They can be hit and miss on panel shows though. I couldn't watch them in stand up. Guy Williams I think is great in his NZ Today role. Rhys Darby in his TV roles in his specific character of dry bumbling persona. Angela Dravitt too in her very niche persona.
Some of Josh Thompsons rants on 7 days before they tamed it down were freakin hilarious
When he gets in a roll he's awesome. It's wierd niche comedy that's hard to explain to others.
That series Josh Thompson did about his dad is fucking incredible.
David Seymour, the man is so comical he can't see beyond his own jokes
No faves, I think they're all amazing.
Tough one but this Moon TV bit is possibly my favourite comedy sketch: [Moon TV - The Same Axe - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIdUEzQKyJo)
The Havoc and Newsboy show. Peak NZ comedy
Billy T James
Late Night Big Breakfast
Brooke west
I think there's 5 to choose from
Humour Beasts.
The government
Billy T James or Mike King
Loved Billy!
Always Westie. Can't go wrong. Died way too soon.
The first that springs to mind is Leigh Hart
Does anyone remember that TV series Spin Doctors? It has McPhail and Gadsby, along with Mark Ferguson and Elizabeth Hawthorne.
Dai henwood
I miss guy williams
Quite enjoyed Nick Rado when he opened for Russell Howard
I can’t pick a single favourite but my top 3 in no particular order would be Dai Henwood, Pax Assadi & David Correos
Dai Henwood is my OG favourite, he and Rhys Darby did a show called The Everyman back in 2006, it was the first live comedy I had seen, his characters were incredible, following that Insert Video Here, Roll the Dai, and of course 7 Days. He’s the GOAT. Current favourite is David Correos, the lunacy of his live shows have me in stitches each time, his time on Taskmaster was hilarious too.
Gish is worth a chuckle.
Rose Matafeo, Guy Williams, Alice Snedden, Tim Batt, Guy Montgomery
Flight of the Concords Mikey Havoc and Newsboy Leigh Hart, esp on Sports Cafe Murray Ball (I know, but…)
I have no clue why David Correos hasn’t been named yet. The man is insane and sweet and funny like a mayonnaise and cheese sandwich left out in the sun tastes. He’d also eat that sandwich to get a laugh.
Haven't seen Guy Williams name pop up much. It a wonder how he has so much exposure/tv shows. Besides that there is some very talented NZ comedians around at the moment, maybe a legacy of the old TVNZ U days. Shame there isn't such a pathway now
There used to be this talented comic called Ryan Shiffman. He did spots on Lovegrove's shows at Little Easy as well as The Classic etc. Anyone know what he's up to?
Guy Williams when he was on the Jono and ben show, use to crack me up.
You didn’t say living comedian, so I’m going to bring Billy T James back from the dead: How do you catch a unique animal? - Unique up on it (tee hee). How do you catch a tame animal? - Tame way (tee hee hee).
Nic Sampson and Guy Williams (I’ve met him he’s really nice)
Dai Henwood always cracks me up. His expressions and mannerisms are spot on.
Chris Parker.
Christopher Luxon. That fullas jokes are hilarious. It's a shame he just had to demote a couple, though.
Billy T. Absolute classic, relevant, does not need to rely on F-bombs to be funny, never gets old. RIP
Jan maree Pulp sport had some awesome sketches and back of the Y was 👌
Until he went down the Twitter rabbit hole, I would’ve said Leigh Hart. So I’ll go Jase Hoyte.
Winston Peters
luxon
I'm just here to say that Billy T did the funniest segment about getting a job and the acronym for each step spelt out WINZ
David Coreos. He's got a big range, isn't a dick, and is really funny.
David Correos
I'm quite enjoying the Luxon circus at the mo
I love Guy Williams, I don't know what it is but I could see him over and over. I would love to see Wilson Dixon & Justine Smith. But back in the mid to late 90s in the esrly days of Pulp Comedy, my favorites were Ewan Gilmore, Raymond Kan, and I once watched a performance by Jaq Tweedie that had me rolling on my lounge floor in tears, "Fuck Me Red lipstick" is a phrase I'll never forget.
Dai Henwood
Christopher Luxon