The AACTA Award for Best Television Comedy Series 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."[1] The award is handed out at the annual AACTA Awards, which rewards achievements in Australian feature film, television, documentaries and short films.[2] From 2003 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).[3] 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 Television Comedy Series.[3]

AACTA Award for
Best Television Comedy Series
CountryAustralia
Presented byAustralian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA)
First awarded2003
Currently held byShaun Micallef's Mad as Hell (2022)
Most awards
Most nominations
Websitehttp://www.aacta.org

The award was first handed out in 2003 it was called Best Comedy Series – Sitcom or Sketch until 2005, when it was renamed Best Television Comedy Series.[4] In 2013, the Academy announced that because of a lack of funds, due to the loss of Samsung as a naming rights sponsor for the AACTA Awards, some categories were either merged or removed from the 2014 Awards. This included the award for Best Television Comedy Series which was merged with the Best Light Entertainment Television Series prize, under the name Best Television Comedy or Light Entertainment Series.[5] However, AACTA announced that it will split the category, and Best Television Comedy Series will be given as a stand-alone award once again for the 2015 presentation.[6]

The AACTA Award for Best Television Comedy Series is given to the producer of the winning production.[7] To be eligible for nomination, the program must be a situation comedy or sketch series, with no less than four substantially scripted episodes, no more than one hour in length. Each episode must contain either a "continuing story with an ongoing plot and characters" or "a series of unrelated sketches."[8]

Review with Myles Barlow, Utopia and The Letdown have earned two awards, more than any other program. Selin Yaman and John Safran are the most awarded producers with two wins, and Nicole Minchin, Adam Zwar, Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope have received the most nominations with four each.

Winners and nominees

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In the following table, the years listed correspond to the year that the television programme aired on Australian television; the ceremonies are usually held the following year.[A] The television series whose name is emphasised in boldface and highlighted in yellow has won the award. Those that are neither highlighted nor in bold are the nominees. When sorted chronologically, the table always lists the winning program first and then the other nominees.[9]

Contents
AFI Awards (2003–2010)
AACTA Awards (2011–present)
Year Program Producer(s) Network
2003
(45th)
John Safran's Music Jamboree Selin Yaman, John Safran SBS
Big Bite Michael Horrocks Seven Network
CNNNN Andrew Denton, Mark Fennessy ABC
Kath & Kim Gina Riley, Jane Turner, Mark Ruse ABC
2004
(46th)
Double the Fist Megan Harding ABC
Kath & Kim Gina Riley, Jane Turner, Mark Ruse ABC
SkitHOUSE Craig Campbell, Jodie Crawford-Fish, Rove McManus Network Ten
Stories from the Golf Robyn Butler, Wayne Hope SBS
2005
(47th)
John Safran vs God Selin Yaman, John Safran SBS
Comedy Inc.-The Late Shift David McDonald Nine Network
The Chaser Decides The Chaser ABC
We Can Be Heroes: Finding The Australian of the Year Laura Waters ABC
2006
(48th)
The Chaser's War on Everything Mark Fitzgerald, Julian Morrow, Andy Nehl ABC
Comedy Inc.-The Late Shift David McDonald Nine Network
Supernova David Maher, David G. Taylor, Beryl Vertue, Sue Vertue UKTV
2007
(49th)
Wilfred Jenny Livingston SBS
The Chaser's War on Everything Andy Nehl, Julian Morrow, Jo Wathen ABC
The New Inventors Anita Jorgensen, Jo Wathen ABC1
The Sideshow Ted Robinson, Pam Swain, Megan Harding ABC
2008
(50th)
Summer Heights High Chris Lilley, Laura Waters ABC
Chandon Pictures Rob Carlton Movie Extra
The Hollowmen Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner, Rob Sitch ABC1
The Librarians Robyn Butler, Wayne Hope ABC
2009
(51st)
Review with Myles Barlow Dean Bates ABC2
Chandon Pictures Rob Carlton Movie Extra
Lawrence Leung's Choose Your Own Adventure Nathan Earl, Andy Nehl ABC1
Very Small Business Robyn Butler, Wayne Hope ABC1
2010
(52nd)
Review with Myles Barlow (series 2) Dean Bates ABC2
Lowdown Nicole Minchin, Amanda Brotchie, Adam Zwar ABC1
Wilfred (series 2) Jenny Livingston, Tony Rogers, Adam Zwar, Jason Gann SBS
AACTA Awards
2011
(1st)
Laid Liz Watts ABC1
At Home With Julia Rick Kalowski, Greg Quail and Carol Hughes ABC1
Twentysomething Nicole Minchin ABC2
2012
(2nd)
Lowdown (series 2) Nicole Minchin, Amanda Brotchie and Adam Zwar ABC1
A Moody Christmas Andrew Walker ABC1
Danger 5 Kate Croser and Dario Russo SBS One
Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell Peter Beck ABC1
2013
(3rd)
Please Like Me Todd Abbott ABC2
The Agony of Life Nicole Minchin, Amanda Brotchie and Adam Zwar ABC1
Gruen Nation (series 2) Sophia Zachariou, Jo Wathen, Wil Anderson and Jon Casimir ABC1
Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell Peter Beck and Shaun Micallef ABC1
Upper Middle Bogan Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope ABC1
2014
(4th)
Utopia Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner, Michael Hirsh, and Rob Sitch ABC
It's a Date Laura Waters, Andrea Denholm, Paul Walton, and Peter Helliar ABC
The Moodys Chloe Rickard and Jason Burrows ABC
Please Like Me Todd Abbott, Josh Thomas, and Kevin Whyte ABC
Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell Peter Beck and Shaun Micallef ABC
2015
(5th)
Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell Peter Beck and Shaun Micallef ABC
Danger 5 (Series 2) Kate Croser and Dario Russo SBS
Sammy J & Randy in Ricketts Lane Donna Andrews and Stu Connolly ABC
Utopia Michael Hirsh, Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner and Rob Sitch ABC
2016
(6th)
Upper Middle Bogan Robyn Butler, Wayne Hope, Ben Grogan ABC
Black Comedy Kath Shelper, Mark O'Toole ABC
The Family Law Sophie Miller, Julie Eckersley, Debbie Lee, Tony Ayres SBS
Please Like Me Todd Abbott, Josh Thomas, Lisa Wang, Kevin Whyte ABC
2017
(7th)
Utopia Michael Hirsh, Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner and Rob Sitch ABC
No Activity Chloe Rickard Stan
Rosehaven Andrew Walker, Kevin Whyte, Celia Pacquola, Luke McGregor ABC
True Story with Hamish & Andy Tim Bartley, Andy Lee, Ryan Shelton, Andrew Walker Nine Network
2018
(8th)
The Letdown Julian Morrow, Sarah Scheller, Alison Bell ABC
Black Comedy Kath Shelper, Mark O'Toole ABC
Nanette Kevin Whyte, Kathleen McCarthy, Frank Bruzzese Netflix
Rosehaven Andrew Walker, Kevin Whyte, Celia Pacquola, Luke McGregor ABC
True Story with Hamish & Andy Tim Bartley, Andy Lee, Ryan Shelton, Andrew Walker Nine Network
2019
(9th)
The Letdown Julian Morrow, Sarah Scheller, Alison Bell ABC
Rosehaven Andrew Walker, Kevin Whyte, Celia Pacquola, Luke McGregor ABC
Frayed Clelia Mountford, Sharon Horgan, Nicole O'Donohue, Kevin Whyte ABC
Sammy J Sammy J, Michelle Buxton, Chris McDonald ABC
Utopia Michael Hirsh, Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner and Rob Sitch ABC
2020
(10th)
Upright Jason Stephens, Helen Bowden, Melissa Kelly, Chris Taylor, Tim Minchin Foxtel
At Home Alone Together Nick Hayden, Janet Gaeta, Nikita Agzarian, Dan Ilic ABC
Black Comedy Kath Shelper, Mark O'Toole, Nakkiah Lui, David Woodhead ABC
The Other Guy Angie Fielder, Polly Staniford, Jude Troy, Alice Willison Stan
Rosehaven Andrew Walker, Kevin Whyte, Celia Pacquola, Luke McGregor ABC
2021
(11th)
Fisk Vincent Sheehan ABC
Aftertaste Rebecca Summerton, Erik Thomson, Matthew Bate, Julie De Fina ABC
Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun Sam Lingham, Katherine Dale Netflix
Frayed Clelia Mountford, Sharon Horgan, Kevin Whyte, Nicole O'Donohue ABC
Preppers Liz Watts, Sylvia Warme ABC
Rosehaven Andrew Walker, Celia Pacquola, Luke McGregor, Kevin Whyte ABC
2022
(12th)
Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell Peter Beck, Beth Hart, Shaun Micallef ABC
Aftertaste Rebecca Summerton, Matthew Bate, Erik Thomson, Julie De Fina ABC
Five Bedrooms Christine Bartlett, Michael Lucas, Nathan Mayfield, Tracey Robertson Network Ten
Hard Quiz Chris Walker, Kevin Whyte, Tom Gleeson, John Tabbagh ABC
Spicks and Specks Rachel Millar, Anthony Watt ABC
Summer Love Wayne Hope, Robyn Butler ABC

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "AACTA – The Academy". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Archived from the original on 24 June 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  2. ^ "AACTA – The Academy – The Awards". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  3. ^ a b "AACTA – The Academy – Background". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 8 September 2013.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "AFI Award Winners Feature Categories 1958–2009". Australian Film Institute. 2009. Archived from the original on 7 March 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
  5. ^ "Australian Academy Calls for AACTA Awards Entrants, Announces New Television Awards" (PDF). Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). 16 May 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  6. ^ Bodey, Michael (9 July 2014). "AACTA carves comedy into league of its own". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  7. ^ "Part1: Rule 2.3 – Award Categories: Television Program" (PDF). 2013 AACTA Awards Rule Book. Australian Film Institute. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  8. ^ "Part2: Rule 8.1 – Special Conditions for Television Programs: Television Comedy Series" (PDF). 2013 AACTA Awards Rule Book. Australian Film Institute. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  9. ^ "AFI/AACTA Award, Winners and Nominees". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 8 January 2014. (User must click on the appropriate decades to access the winners and nominees of each year.)
Further reading