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James Mustapic
Born1995 or 1996
Dunedin, New Zealand
EducationJohn McGlashan College
OccupationComedian
FatherDan Mustapic

James Mustapic (born 1995 or 1996[1]) is a New Zealand comedian and YouTuber. He has created the television shows Abandonment Issues, James Must-a-pic His Mum a Man, has starred in the show Queer Academy, and has been a reporter for Seven Sharp. He won Celebrity Treasure Island 2023.

Personal life

Mustapic was born in Dunedin in 1995 or 1996.[1] Mustapic's father is former curler champion Dan Mustapic.[2] For most of his childhood James Mustapic was raised by only his mother.[3] He attended John McGlashan College. In 2012 he won the New Zealand International Science Festival 'Science Idol' competition after creating a parody of a Justin Bieber song.[4][5] The same year he made a Kony 2012 parody on YouTube which won a competition by the Otago School of Business.[6] He moved to Auckland 2015.[7] Mustapic is gay.[8]

Career

Mustapic started his film career by starting a YouTube channel when he was 15.[9][1] He created the channel Shortland Street Scandal which started by making recaps of Shortland Street episodes.[10] In 2015 he released a song about the show, named "Hold Your Hand in Mine Harry Warner". It was inspired by an interaction between Chris Warner and Harry.[11] He later hosted The Spinoff's webseries Repressed Memories.[12]

Mustapic first started stand-up comedy in 2015. His first solo show was in 2018 at the Dunedin Fringe Festival.[7] In 2019 Mustapic performed stand up comedy in the show The Blair Witch Projector at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival.[13] He also performed at that festival in 2023.[14]

Mustapic was nominated for the Billy T Award in 2019 and 2021.[12] In 2021 he became a Seven Sharp reporter.[15][16]

In 2022 Mustapic launched the show Abandonment Issues, in which he tracks down New Zealand celebrities who have decreased in popularity,[17] focussing on iconic television moments of the 2000s.[18] The Spinoff reported that it "tread[s] a very fine line between making fun of his guests and having a laugh with them."[19][20]

James Mustapic competed in Celebrity Treasure Island 2023, and won. He joked that he planned on being the last blond, white and gay winner as the previous winners Matty McLean and Chris Parker were in that category. The prize money was donated to the charity Gender Minorities Aotearoa.[8] He said that "I was very stressed the whole time on the island, but I hope people know I was also having a delightful time".[18]

In 2023 Mustapic hosted the television show Queer Academy, which was written and directed by Re: News.[21][22] He has also been on the game show game show Have You Been Paying Attention? and the comedy panel show Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont-Spelling Bee.[23]

In 2024 Mustapic launched the comedy television show James Must-a-pic His Mum a Man in which he puts his single mother, Janet, on dates. Janet initially did not want to take part in the programme, and said that "I spent a couple of months with my fingers crossed hoping [the programme] would not get funding".[24][25] One of the Janet's dates was politician David Seymour, who will become the deputy prime minister in 2025.[3] The programme features other well-known individuals such as entertainer Suzy Cato and comedian Ray O'Leary. One topic in the show is finding Mustapic a new father. Mustapic's father is an "omnipresent villain" in the programme, although he does not make an appearance.[3] His father made a complaint to the Broadcasting Standards Authority against TVNZ, saying that the show unfairly represented him and breached his privacy.[26] The authority upheld the complaint.[27]

References

  1. ^ a b c "James Mustapic's Celebrity Treasure Island obsession". The Post. 1 October 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  2. ^ "Comedian James Mustapic's father accuses TVNZ of privacy breach". The New Zealand Herald. 19 April 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Why comedian James Mustapic set his mum up with David Seymour". Stuff. 6 March 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  4. ^ "Showing scientific swagger". Otago Daily Times. 25 June 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  5. ^ "Bieber parody wins 'Science Idol'". Otago Daily Times. 9 July 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  6. ^ "Video's popularity well worth effort". Otago Daily Times. 23 October 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Playing it for laughs". Otago Daily Times. 17 February 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  8. ^ a b "James Mustapic plans on being the final white, blonde and gay winner of Celebrity Treasure Island". Stuff. 26 October 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  9. ^ "Bookmarks with James Mustapic". RNZ. 10 July 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  10. ^ "Important news: Shorty Street Scandal is back from the grave for one night only". The Spinoff. 15 December 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  11. ^ "Television: An Interview with James Mustapic About His Debut Harry Warner-Themed Single". The Spinoff. 9 December 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Billy T' Billy Episode Two: James Mustapic and Guy Montgomery". The New Zealand Herald. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  13. ^ "James Mustapic comedy review: Newcomer already absurdly confident". Metro Magazine. 22 May 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  14. ^ "Everyone we saw at the NZ International Comedy Festival 2023, part one". The Spinoff. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  15. ^ "'Chinese Hypnotist' trains Seven Sharp's newest reporter to become more confident". Seven Sharp. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  16. ^ "Star of 'traumatising' Fruit-E Bars ACC ad talks scars, 'legendary' status". Seven Sharp. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  17. ^ "Comedian James Mustapic indulges in things that are 'very boring'". Stuff. 26 May 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  18. ^ a b "From fan to frontrunner: How comedian James Mustapic stole our hearts, and the show on Celebrity Treasure Island". The New Zealand Herald. 22 October 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  19. ^ "How James Mustapic got away with mocking celebrities for Abandonment Issues". The New Zealand Herald. 13 April 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  20. ^ "How James Mustapic gets away with making fun of C-list celebrities". The Spinoff. 11 April 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  21. ^ "Celebrity Treasure Island winner James Mustapic goes back to school". RNZ. 12 November 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  22. ^ "'I have 2 different lives': finding my chosen whānau | Queer Academy". Re: News. 14 November 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  23. ^ "NZ Comedy Festival: Night of smiles and laughs at Te Raukura ki Kāpiti". Kapiti News. 24 April 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  24. ^ "Can comedian James Mustapic find love for his mum?". 1News. 13 March 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  25. ^ "James Must-a-pic His Mum a Man: Can comedian James Mustapic find love for his mum in new dating show?". The New Zealand Herald. 5 March 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  26. ^ "Comedian James Mustapic's father accuses TVNZ of privacy breach". The New Zealand Herald. 19 April 2024.
  27. ^ "Dan Mustapic wins Broadcasting Standards Authority complaint against TVNZ for unfair treatment in son's show". The New Zealand Herald. 3 September 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
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