The Gurgler Remembers – Billy J Smith

We were saddened to hear the passing of Billy J Smith today, someone who qualifies under our website mission statement of celebrating the forgotten.

Billy J Smith is best known for his fine work on one of the greatest TV Shows of all time – It’s A Knockout.

It’s a Knockout was a wonderful piece of entertainment, that could only work in the 1980’s, and with Billy J Smith involved. 

They tried to replicate it, but nothing beats the original in most cases, and this case.

Billy J Smith, along with Fiona McDonald provided all the commentary and interview, and it was not contrived or over the top, it was genuine commentary from people who loved their work. And why wouldn’t they.

The “He’s Fallen Over” was genuine, as was the guffaws, it was a simpler time.

We celebrated It’s A Knockout Week a while ago, and maybe it’s time to celebrate that again.

But it wasn’t just all penguin suits, giants, and pillow fights above a pool, Billy J Smith was a great sports commentator, mainly on the Brisbane scene.

He was the commentator for no less a sporting event than the very first State of Origin. Although not as good as our favourite Alan “He Had the Ball Said Wally” Thomas, but it was of course still miles better than what passes for today’s work.

Talking of being better than modern-day Channel Nein, many may have forgotten that Brisbane used to have its own Footy Show on a Thursday night, and Billy J Smith was the original host. We have included a trip down memory lane courtesy of Youtube for those interested.

He went on to do a massive amount of MC work, mostly sport related, and it is in that capacity that we will end with an anecdote. about our only meeting with the great man.

We were lucky enough to win a ticket to watch the Queensland Origin side train at Langlands Park around the turn of the century. After the training session was over, there was a catered event which included a meet and greet with the Origin players, with Billy J Smith playing the ever professional MC.

Fans were given Team posters to get the athlete’s signatures, but after much consideration we decided there was only one signature we wanted as long-term It’s a Knockout fans.

Billy J Smith duly obliged, and even signed it “It’s A Knockout” along with his name at our request. What a man.

Vale Billy J Smith, we salute you.

BILLY J SMITH BEST WORK ON YOUTUBE

Why not relive some of his best work from Youtube.

The original Brisbane Footy Show

And here’s the first State of Origin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghKVoDp1ltk