The AACTA Award for Best Performance in a Television Comedy is an accolade given by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA), a non-profit organisation whose aim is to "identify, award, promote and celebrate Australia's greatest achievements in film and television." The award is handed out at the annual AACTA Awards, which rewards achievements in Australian feature film, television, documentaries and short films. From 1986 to 2010, the category was presented by the Australian Film Institute (AFI), the Academy's parent organisation, at the annual Australian Film Institute Awards (known as the AFI Awards). When the AFI launched the Academy in 2011, it changed the annual ceremony to the AACTA Awards, with the current prize being a continuum of the AFI Award for Best Performance in a Television Comedy.
From 2003 to 2005, the award was given as a joint award with drama performances under the category Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Television Drama or Comedy. However, comedy performances was separated from the drama categories in 2006, when the award for Best Performance in a Television Comedy was created. Chris Lilley and Phil Lloyd have won the award the most times with two wins each.
Winners and nominees In the following table, winners are listed first, in boldface and highlighted in gold; those listed below the winner that are not in boldface or highlighted are the nominees.Winners and nominees by year: 2006: 2007: 2008: 2009: 2010:
AFI Awards Year Nominee Program Character(s) Series Network 2006(48th) Andrew Hansen The Chaser's War on Everything Himself Series 1 ABC 2006(48th) Paul McCarthy Comedy Inc: The Late Shift Various Series 4 Nine Network 2006(48th) Genevieve Morris Comedy Inc: The Late Shift Various Series 4 Nine Network 2006(48th) Kris McQuade Supernova Professor Pip Cartwright Series 2 UKTV 2007(49th) Adam Zwar Wilfred Adam Series 1 SBS One 2007(49th) Drew Forsythe David Tench Tonight David Tench Series 1 Network Ten 2007(49th) Jason Gann Wilfred Wilfred Series 1 SBS One 2007(49th) Peter Kowitz Supernova Max Talbot Series 2 UKTV 2008(50th) Chris Lilley Summer Heights High Various ABC 2008(50th) Rob Carlton Chandon Pictures Tom Chandon Series 1 Movie Extra 2008(50th) Robyn Butler The Librarians Frances O'Brien Series 1 ABC 2008(50th) Rob Sitch The Hollowmen Tony Series 1 ABC 2009(51st) Phil Lloyd Review with Myles Barlow Myles Barlow Series 1 ABC 2009(51st) Robyn Butler The Librarians Frances O'Brien Series 2 ABC 2009(51st) Kim Gyngell Very Small Business Ray Leonard Leonard Series 1 ABC1 2009(51st) Wayne Hope Very Small Business Don Angel Series 1 ABC1 2010(52nd) Phil Lloyd Review with Myles Barlow Myles Barlow Series 2 ABC 2010(52nd) Paul Denny Lowdown Bob Geraghty Series 1 SBS One 2010(52nd) Jason Gann Wilfred Wilfred Series 2 SBS One
AACTA Awards Year Nominee Program Character(s) Series Network 2011(1st) Chris Lilley Angry Boys Various ABC1 2011(1st) Alison Bell Laid Roo McVie Series 1 ABC1 2011(1st) Jess Harris Twentysomething Jess Series 1 ABC2 2011(1st) Celia Pacquola Laid EJ Series 1 ABC1 2012(2nd) Patrick Brammall A Moody Christmas Sean Moody Series 1 ABC1 2012(2nd) Barry Crocker The Strange Calls Gregor Series 1 ABC2 2012(2nd) Damon Herriman Laid Marcus Dwyer Series 2 ABC2 2012(2nd) Frank Woodley Woodley Woodley Series 1 ABC1 2013(3rd) Shaun Micallef Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell Himself Series 2 ABC1 2013(3rd) Lisa McCune It's a Date Em ABC1 2013(3rd) Robyn Nevin Upper Middle Bogan Margaret Denyer Series 1 ABC1 2013(3rd) Josh Thomas Please Like Me Josh Series 1 ABC2 2014(4th) Debra Lawrance Please Like Me Rose Series 2 ABC2 2014(4th) Patrick Brammall The Moodys Sean Moody Series 1 ABC 2014(4th) Celia Pacquola Utopia Nat Series 1 ABC1 2014(4th) Josh Thomas Please Like Me Josh Series 2 ABC2 2015(5th) Celia Pacquola Utopia Nat Series 2 ABC1 2015(5th) Nathan Lovejoy Sammy J & Randy in Ricketts Lane Borkman Series 1 ABC1 2015(5th) Randy Sammy J & Randy in Ricketts Lane Randy Series 1 ABC1 2015(5th) Emily Taheny Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell various Series 5 ABC2 2016(6th) Patrick Brammall No Activity Detective Hendy Series 1 Stan 2016(6th) Alison Bell ABC Comedy Showroom – The Letdown Audrey - ABC1 2016(6th) Fiona Choi The Family Law Jenny Law Series 1 SBS 2016(6th) Leah Purcell Black Comedy various Series 2 ABC1
See also AACTA Award for Best Television Comedy Series AACTA Awards
Notes
A: Comedy Inc: The Late Shift is a sketch comedy television series with various characters in each episode. B: In Summer Heights High, Chris Lilley portrayed the three main characters: Ja'mie King, Mr G and Jonah Takalua. C: Summer Heights High is a mockumentary, and therefore only one season was aired. D: In Angry Boys, Chris Lilley portrayed the main characters: Daniel and Nathan Sims, S.mouse, Jen Okazaki, Gran and Blake Oakfield. E: Angry Boys is a mockumentary, and therefore only one season was aired. F: Lisa McCune was nominated for her performance in the first episode of It's a Date titled, "When Should You Abandon A Date?"
References
External links The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Official website