Comedy

Flick Electric Co.

She won comedy's top award for her jaw-dropping show about eloping to the UK as a teen. In a new podcast, that story is fleshed out in all its shocking glory. 

The not so secret life of Angella Dravid

Who's the man under the mo'? Alex Casey meets Heath Franklin, aka Chopper. 

How Heath Franklin became Chopper

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After a truly dismal year, the comedian is back onstage with his new show, Sorry Bout It.

Tofiga isn’t sorry about it

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In this special episode, we welcome you back to Waterdeep Mountain High, a Dungeons & Dragons podcast set in a below average school in the mystical land of Faerun.

Waterdeep Mountain High: Welcome to the Home of the Dragon Burger

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This year’s International Comedy Festival was a roaring success, but some comedians have turned the spotlight on audiences. Are they too timid? Do our hecklers suck? Josie Adams sizes things up

The quiet problem with New Zealand’s comedy audiences

Welcome back (for the final time!) to Waterdeep Mountain High, a Dungeons & Dragons podcast set in a below average school in the mystical land of Faerun.

Waterdeep Mountain High: School’s Out… Forever? Part 3

Welcome back to Waterdeep Mountain High, a Dungeons & Dragons podcast set in a below average school in the mystical land of Faerun.

Waterdeep Mountain High: School’s Out… Forever? Part 2

Waterdeep Mountain High: School’s Out… Forever? Part 1

Waterdeep Mountain High: Bullies and Fungus, part 2

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The NZ International Comedy Festival kicked off last night with its traditional opener, the NZ Comedy Gala. But this year, among the local and international comedians, there was a whole lot of racism. 

It’s 2018 and a white comedian mimicked a Thai woman at the NZ Comedy Gala

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Podcast host, comedian and big-brained Brit Andy Zaltzman will be coming to New Zealand later this year for the comedy festival. He spoke to Alex Braae about politics, satire, and the game he can't get enough of.<br />
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Podcast: Andy Zaltzman can’t stop talking cricket

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The 2018 Billy T Award Nominees were announced today. Sam Brooks goes deep on who they are, and why this slate is so great.

The 2018 Billy T nominees are here, and they’re pretty damn great

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The NZ International Comedy Festival is over for another year, and so our two Comedy co-editors Sam Brooks and Natasha Hoyland take their final bows. Read on for their farewell messages. 

That’s a wrap! Comedy editors Sam and Natasha look back at this year’s Comedy Festival

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Spinoff Comedy co-editor Sam Brooks takes a look at the recent history of the Billy T Award, what felt different about this year's nominees, and what that means for New Zealand's comedy industry as a whole.

What does The Billy T Award mean in 2017?

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Urzila Carlson is straight up the biggest comedian in the country today. Spinoff Comedy co-editor Sam Brooks talks to her about how she got so good at being funny.

‘I don’t leave the door open for bullshit to come in’: A conversation with Urzila Carlson

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There’s the Billy T Award, there’s the Fred Award, but now we’ve got comedy co-editor Sam Brooks’ completely biased and very serious comedy festival awards.

The Brooks Awards: Sam Brooks hands out his very serious Comedy Fest gongs

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For the fourth and final episode of our comedy festival podcast, actor, writer and comedy expert Chelsea McEwan Millar is joined by comedy co-editors Sam Brooks and Natasha Hoyland. 

The Laugh-Off’s fourth and final episode: the wrap up

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For years New Zealand comedy has – with some notable exceptions – had a reputation as something of a boys' club. Last night its three key awards were all won by women for the first time. Natasha Hoyland, a young comedian herself, describes how that moment felt.

If women aren’t funny, how come they took out all the awards at Last Laughs?

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Rose Matafeo won the Fred Award last night. It's New Zealand's most prestigious comedy award, along with the Billy T Award (which she has also won). Sam Brooks talks to her about her comedy, life overseas, and their shared passion for musical flop Nine.

‘Performing to 50 women and 10 men is the ideal ratio’: Rose Matafeo on making award-winning comedy

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On the heels of today's Fred nominee announcements, comedian Jonny Potts digs deep into the non-Fred Dagg work of John Clarke, including a book, a podcast and some handy YouTube clips.

Beyond the gumboot: The non-Dagg work of John Clarke

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Madeleine Chapman reflects on the week that was.

The Weekend: What would you march for?

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Is there any statistical proof behind the stereotype that poets can't drive? A non-driving poet attempts to find out. 

Can poets drive? A sociocultural investigation

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A close read of three seven-lines poems by Zen teacher Richard von Sturmer.

How to read a poem: selections from Slender Volumes by Richard von Sturmer

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'I don't know what the chant in the second half of this song means, but by golly it slaps hard and feels good!'

‘By golly it slaps’: Arthur Ahbez’s perfect weekend playlist

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The Friday Poem: ‘Boyhood’ by Art Nahill

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Dolly-mania, new Murakami, and a brilliant local debut. 

The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending November 22

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A cat and mouse thriller that's worth putting your phone down for. 

Review: The Day of the Jackal is a riveting and ridiculous ride

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Treasury says the recession will be deeper and last longer than predicted.

Hold the roosters, no economic dawn yet

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Can a united front hold through to election time?

This week three parties stood together – can they withstand the storm to come?

During the New Zealand International Comedy Festival, ‘Behind the LOLs’ will reveal the inner workings of some of our finest comedy talent. Today, Hamish Parkinson reveals his four-step process for comedy success.

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Book tickets to 2015 Billy T Award winner Hamish Parkinson’s NZ International Comedy Festival Show:

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Hamish Parkinson reveals his sought after four-step process for comedy success.

The Spinoff

ComedyApril 26, 2016

Behind the LOLs: Hamish Parkinson illustrates his comedy writing process

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ComedyApril 26, 2016

Behind the LOLs: Hamish Parkinson illustrates his comedy writing process

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