And so with a New Year comes gong season, which means it’s time for the awards that literally nobody in Hollywood has been waiting for – The Marksies.

The Golden Globes may have Ricky Gervais and yes, a billion people will be watching the Oscars but the first annual ‘Marksies’ pays homage to those people who are over-looked by many but who, in the past 12 months, have entertained me with their creativity, humour and passion.

Hollywood is awash with talented people looking for their big break, and this is how a lot of them are doing it: at home, on a budget and from a hastily sound-proofed closet.

Here are the rules (such as they are): if it’s low or no budget, made me laugh or has my friends in it, then you’re in with a chance. Like thousands of others, this lot have thrown their creativity out into cyberspace with the hope of raising a cheeky smile or possibly landing a three-picture deal with a major studio. So let’s get down to business…

The first award for Irritatingly Catchy Song of the Year goes to Toby Turner’s ‘Needy Dog‘. Featuring Gypsy, a dog who clearly has many needs, this short ditty has had almost 130,000 hits on Toby’s YouTube channel, Tobuscus. Be warned, it will stick in your head for a long time. It’s quite annoying actually.

They Hit-the-Nail-on-the-Head Spoof Trailer Award goes to a couple of comedians called Mark and Andy who, like many others, saw the trailer for the movie, The Box and thought, ‘Huh?’. So they made this, The Button. Nearly 300,000 views on Funny or Die and most of them are me.

My nominations for the Podcast You Can’t Bike Without are split between Sowerby and Luff, who (disclaimer!) taught me how to do stand-up comedy in London. Their Big Bang is a regular treat, while here in America, This American Life, with Ira Glass, has been a regular on my shuffle. This weekly slice-of-life show is funded by the public (donate now!) and in the style of John Peel’s much missed BBC show, Home Truths, is simply the best programme on American radio.

Last year Sony decided to throw a ton of money at a web series called The Bannen Way. I visited the set and was charmed by everybody involved in the production, so they win for Best Lunch on the Set of a Web Series. The show officially launches this week and is glossier than a shampoo commercial.

The ‘Make It So’ Best Comedy Short (Featuring A Cat) award, goes to writer/comedian Danforth France and his cat Gloria for ‘Star Trek: The Game Night’. If ever a cat was born to be a star, it’s Gloria. She has instinctive comic timing, looks great on camera and can roll a dice on cue. Oh, and Danforth’s not bad either. In fact, he’s very funny. There, I’ve said it.

Tanya Bershadsky and Toby Turner’s series of comedy shorts ‘Russian Recommendation for Recession with Roman and Regina‘ win Most Blatant Plug for a Friend - although to be fair, they are often upstaged by Roman’s mono-brow, Regina’s cleavage and the dogs playing poker in the wall-hanging. (Tanya will probably kill me for that.)

The Meme That Keeps On Giving award goes to Keyboard Cat and my particular favourite, Play Her Off (Miss South Carolina). Just watch. I say that because frankly, it leaves me speechless every time. But if you don’t know who Keyboard Cat is, then a) where have you BEEN? and b) watch this link first.

And finally, the much coveted When Fast Food Replaces A Vampire award goes to ‘Twilight with Cheeseburgers’ from the Upright Citizens Brigade Midnight Show gang. Directed by ‘up and coming director’ Peter Atencio, it has been nominated by my 17-year-old god-daughter Tascha because all her friends love it – and frankly, that’s good enough for me. You see, easily swayed.

Those who have made off with a ‘Marksie’ get an imperceptible nod of the head and a winning smile the next time I see them. It’s prestige that money can’t buy.

Good luck to anyone trying to crack this crazy town – may your dreams come true in 2010!