AACTA Award for Best Television Comedy Series

AACTA Award for
Best Television Comedy Series

Country| Australia
Presented by| Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA)
First award| 2003
Currently held by| Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell (2022)
Most awards|

* Review with Myles Barlow
* Utopia
* The Letdown

Most nominations|

* Rosehaven
* Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell

Website| http://www.aacta.org

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]

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

[edit]

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
2023
(13th)
Colin from Accounts | Ian Collie, Rob Gibson, Patrick Brammall, Harriet Dyer | Binge, Foxtel
Deadloch | Kate McCartney, Kate McLennan, Andrew Walker, Kevin Whyte
Fisk | Vincent Sheehan, Kitty Flanagan | ABC
Gold Diggers | Ujuk Linda, John-Paul Sarni, Muffy Potter, Kate Butler  | ABC
Upright | Jason Stephens, Meg O'Connell, Tim Minchin, Helen Bowden  | Foxtel
Utopia | Michael Hirsh, Deb Herman  | ABC
2024
(14th)
Fisk | Nicole Minchin, Kitty Flanagan, Vincent Sheehan, Tom Peterson | ABC
Austin | Catherine Nebauer, Joe Weatherstone, Darren Ashton, Ben Miller | ABC
Bump | Dan Edwards, John Edwards, Claudia Karvan, Kelsey Munro  | Stan
Colin from Accounts | Kevin Greene, Ian Collie, Rob Gibson  | Binge, Foxtel
Strife | Steve Hutensky, Jodi Matterson, Asher Keddie, Mia Freedman, Sarah Scheller, Lorelle Adamson  | Binge, Foxtel
The Office | Sophia Zachariou, Kylie Washington, Linda Micsko  | Amazon Prime Video

## See also

[edit]

* AACTA Awards

## References

[edit]

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

* Shining a Light: 50 Years of the Australian Film Institute. Australian Teachers of Media. 2009. ISBN 978-1-876467-20-3.
* "IMDb Australian Film Institute Awards". The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 19 January 2011.

* v
* t
* e

AACTA Award for Best Television Comedy Series

* John Safran's Music Jamboree (2003)
* Double the Fist (2004)
* John Safran vs God (2005)
* The Chaser's War on Everything (2006)
* Wilfred (2007)
* Summer Heights High (2008)
* Review with Myles Barlow (2009)
* Review with Myles Barlow (series 2) (2010)
* Laid (2011)
* Lowdown (series 2) (2012)
* Please Like Me (series 1)(a) (2013)
* Utopia (2014)
* Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell (2015)
* Upper Middle Bogan (2016)
* Utopia (2017)
* The Letdown (2018)
* The Letdown (2019)
* Upright (2020)
* Fisk (2021)
* Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell (2022)
* Colin from Accounts (2023)
* Fisk (2024)

Key: (a) = Winner of Best Television Comedy or Light Entertainment Series

* v
* t
* e

AACTA Awards

* Australian Film Institute (AFI)
* Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA)

Australian
Feature film|

* Best Film
* Best Indie Film
* Best Direction
* Best Adapted Screenplay
* Best Original Screenplay
* Best Actor
* Best Actress
* Best Supporting Actor
* Best Supporting Actress
* Best Cinematography
* Best Costume Design
* Best Editing
* Best Original Score
* Best Production Design
* Best Sound
* Best Casting in Film

International
Feature film|

* Best Film – International
* Best Actor – International
* Best Actress – International
* Best Supporting Actor – International
* Best Supporting Actress – International
* Best Direction – International
* Best Screenplay – International

Television|

* Best Comedy Series
* Best Drama Series
* Best Children's Series
* Best Children's Animation
* Best Telefeature, Mini Series or Short Run Series
* Best Light Entertainment Series
* Best Reality Series
* Best Comedy Performance
* Best Actor - Drama
* Best Actress - Drama
* Best Guest or Supporting Actor - Drama
* Best Guest or Supporting Actress - Drama
* Best Direction - Drama or Comedy
* Best Direction - Light Entertainment or Reality Series
* Best Screenplay
* Best Cinematography
* Best Costume Design
* Best Editing
* Best Original Score
* Best Production Design
* Best Sound

Documentary
and Short film|

* Best Feature Length Documentary
* Best Documentary Television Program
* Best Short Animation
* Best Short Fiction Film
* Best Cinematography - Documentary
* Best Director - Documentary
* Best Editing - Documentary
* Best Original Music Score- Documentary
* Best Sound - Documentary

Special awards|

* Byron Kennedy Award
* Longford Lyell Award
* Best Visual Effects or Animation
* Best Hair and Makeup

Retired awards|

* AFI Members' Choice Award
* Best Documentary
* Best Documentary Under One Hour
* Best Experimental Film
* Best Foreign Film
* Global Achievement Award
* International Best Actor
* International Best Actress
* International Award Excellence in Filmmaking
* Jury Prize
* Best Screenplay
* Best Screenplay in a Short Film
* Best Sponsored Documentary
* Best Television Documentary
* Best Young Actor
* Screen Content Innovation Award
* Outstanding Achievement in Television Screen Craft
* Outstanding Achievement in Short Film Screen Craft

Ceremonies|

| AFI Awards|

* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974–75
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010

|

AACTA Awards
(Australia)|

* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

AACTA Awards
(International)|

* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

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