Interestingness - Exhibit A

During the 1980s, Billy T James was far and away NZ's preeminent comedian.

Comedy is, almost by definition, a genre we look to for creativity. Its force rests on subverting expectations.

But Billy's material wasn't particularly funny or clever. At best, you could see the punchline coming a several miles off, at worst he trafficked jokes that ought to have been retired when the music halls shut down.

But we loved him, to such a extent than NZ's annual comedy awards are called the "Billy Ts".

Why? I reckon it was because he was so exceptionally charming.