This article does not cite any references or sources. (September 2007) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

Billy T. James, MBE (born William James Taitoko, 1948; died August 7, 1991) was a well known and much loved entertainer and comedian from New Zealand. He was famous for his black singlet, yellow towel around the neck and a characteristic chuckle that he claimed was inspired by Māori children. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions; in decreasing order of seniority, these are Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross (GBE) Knight Commander... Year 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 219th day of the year (220th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the Māori people of New Zealand. ...

Never a man to take himself seriously, he once said: 'I'm half Māori and half Scottish: one half of me wants to get pissed and the other half doesn't want to pay for it.' When Maori activist Hana Jackson, lamenting the Māori suicide rate, said that each suicide should each take a white person with them (widely misquoted as "Kill a white") he joked, 'What about a half-caste like me? What do I do, just wound myself?'

According to his daughter Cherie, on one occasion when someone arrived at his farm with a loaded shotgun, he treated it as if it were a game.

In the 1970s, James joined the musical showband, the Māori Volcanics, and toured internationally. While in Australia, he began his solo career and later returned to his native New Zealand. He changed his name due to pronunciation difficulties he apparently confronted in Australia, to "... something the Aussies could pronounce." The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ...

In the 1980s, Billy T became a household name through variety show Radio Times and the eponymousThe Billy T. James Show in 1984–6. His film career blossomed around this time, too, with a notable role in Ian Mune's Came a Hot Friday (as the Tainui Kid, a Māori who believes he is a Mexican bandito). In 1985, New Zealanders named him 'Entertainer of the Decade'. The 1980s refers to the years from 1980 to 1989. ... This article is about the year. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... Ian Mune (born 1941) is a New Zealand character actor and director. ... Came a Hot Friday is a 1985 New Zealand made comedy film starring some of New Zealands most well-known actors and comedians. ... This article is about the year. ...

On Television New Zealand, he lampooned many of the sacred cows: the US Entertainment This Week became 'Entertainment That's Weak'. The TVNZ Television Centre in Central Auckland. ... For other uses of terms redirecting here, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation) Motto In God We Trust(since 1956) (From Many, One; Latin, traditional) Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City National language English (de facto)1 Demonym American... Entertainment Tonight is a daily television entertainment news show that is syndicated by CBS Paramount Domestic Television throughout the United States, Canada, on the Nine Network in Australia and on UBC Inside in Thailand. ...

His other spoofs, well-known amongst New Zealanders of his generation included, ‘Turangi Vice’ (where the ‘Vice Squad’ crack down on illegal trout fishing), ‘Chocky IV’ (an eating competition held in a boxing ring) and a memorable version of the American cop show 'CHiPs'.

In all these, he appeared with his collaborator Peter Rowley. Tony Holden directed the most memorable episodes in 1984. Tony Holden is a fictional character on the Australian soap opera Home and Away,and is portrayed by Jon Sivewright. ...

James was an all-round entertainer. A talented singer and musician he also had a knack for drawing, which was used successfully in his shows.

After the 1985–6 season, his show was not renewed on TVNZ. It had appeared more expensive with location filming, and few of his cabaret-style segments.

He dubbed voices in the feature cartoon Footrot Flats: the Dog's Tale, in 1987. The very first edition of Footrot Flats released in 1978. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ...

He also wrote two books of comic strips , Billy T. James' Real Hard-Case Book (volumes 1 and 2), which appeared in the late 1980s. This article is about the comic strip, the sequential art form as published in newspapers and on the Internet. ...

He wrote and starred in a short-lived sitcom (created with studio exec Tom Parkinson of Isambard Productions), also called The Billy T. James Show, on then-fledgling New Zealand network TV3 in 1989–90. He starred opposite Ilona Rodgers and Mark Hadlow. A sitcom or situation comedy is a genre of comedy performance originally devised for radio but today typically found on television. ... TV3 is a commercial television station in New Zealand. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... Ilona Rodgers (born April 28, 1942) is a British actress and television presenter who has lived and worked in several countries. ... Mark Hadlow is a New Zealand actor and comedian. ...

His poor health resulted in a heart transplant in 1988, after which he returned in a TV special, Billy T. James: Alive and Gigging, with special guest Sir Howard Morrison, to whom he was related. Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... Howard Morrison (born 18 August 1935, New Zealand) is a New Zealand Māori entertainer, who first came to prominence singing as a member of the Howard Morrison Quartet. ...

James died of a heart attack in 1991 and there was some controversy over where he was to be buried.

William Tupu Awa, kaumatua (elder) of the Ngati Whawhakia hapu of Tainui travelled to the entertainer's residence and removed the body to a marae before its burial on the sacred Taupiri mountain near Turangawaewae marae, Ngaruawahia. This was contrary to the wishes of close relatives who had arranged a church service prior to transport to another marae. Taputapuātea, an ancient marae at Raiātea in the Society Islands, restored in 1994. ... Turangawaewae is the National Marae of New Zealand. ...

His legacy lives on, not just in the memories of New Zealanders who remember him with great affection, but in events such as the Billy T Award where aspiring comedians compete to win the famous yellow towel. The Billy T Award is New Zealand’s most prestigious comedy award recognising New Zealand comedians with outstanding potential. ...

Billy's daughter, Cherie James has followed in her father's footsteps, twice being nominated for best actress in the New Zealand TV awards.

Māori Television revived some of his work in its first few weeks in 2004. Māori television is a New Zealand TV station broadcasting programmes that make a significant contribution to the revitalisation of te reo and tikanga Māori. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Famous Gags

• Learning Japanese

Billy T's most recognisable gags was his one about learning Japanese. "You know what I like doing? (No what?) I like learning Japanese. Remember that show "Showgun"? There are three basic steps to learning Japanese. First you have to learn how to feel the cold (shivering sound). Secondly, you must have experienced constipation. This is to get that painful, groan. Then finally, you must have experienced amnesia, this is to make you forget everything you ever learnt. So, after you have mastered all of these, you put them altogether." Constipation or irregularity, is a condition of the digestive system where a person (or animal) experiences hard feces that are difficult to egest; it may be extremely painful, and in severe cases (fecal impaction) lead to symptoms of bowel obstruction. ... For other uses, see Amnesia (disambiguation). ...

• Growing up

"Our mother use to get our clothes from the war surplus stores. You know its tough for a kid aged six going to school dressed as a Japanese General".

• Being part Maori, Part Scottish

"Like I'm part Maori, part Scottish. Half of me wants to get pissed (drunk), the other doesn't want to pay for it". Te Puni, Māori Chief Māori is the name of the indigenous people of New Zealand, and their language. ... Te Puni, Māori Chief Māori is the name of the indigenous people of New Zealand, and their language. ...

External links

• Billy T. James at the Internet Movie Database
• Director Ian Mune on Came a Hot Friday and working with James