It’s Australia’s night of nights. Honouring our ever growing television industry and broadcasting the acceptable drunken behaviour of our favourite tv personalities (We’re looking at you Karl). This year though it seems the awards have once again secured a place for themselves in the world of entertainment relevance.
Waleed Aly took home the coveted Gold Logie last night, dedicating the award to “everyone with an unpronounceable name”. His acceptance speech was a perfect mix of heart and humour.
“Do not adjust your sets. There’s nothing wrong with the picture,”
“This is happening. Finally a male presenter on commercial TV has won a Gold Logie.”
Acknowledging his fellow nominees (Co Star Carrie Bickmore, The Block’s Scott Cam, Family Feud’s Grant Denyer, Miss Fisher’s Essie Davis and national treasure/SBS newscaster Lee Lin Chin)
The other nominees were gracious in defeat, even Chin who entered the night hungry for blood.
The award recognises not only the immense impact that Aly has had on broadcast television in the past year but the painfully slow yet definite progress Australia is making towards acceptance.“If tonight means anything, it’s that the Australian public, our audience, as far as they’re concerned, there is absolutely no reason why that can’t change”. This idea was brought to the forefront of the awards show earlier in the night when Noni Hazelhurst, actress, TV personality, Play School star and Australia’s surrogate mother/ideal PM was inducted into the television hall of fame.
Introduced by Cate Blancett via video message Noni’s speech delved into an array of issues, beautifully presented and insightfully collected. Talking about the impact PlaySchool had on her career and life “I started to see a world through the preschoolers eyes to see how free and unafraid they are to just be,” she said. “They haven’t yet been conditioned. No child is born a bigot.”
Hazelhurst took the time to remind viewers of the importance of optimism, that though it is easy to get bogged down in the negative news stories, this years awards was proof that the industry is slowly but surely moving in the right direction, comparing the speed in which it’s doing so to a glacier. “The great thing about glaciers is if you’re not on them you go under. I’ve been riding that glacier for 40 years. And I’m staying on top of it.”
It wasn’t all inspirational speeches and life changing messages however; Dave Hughes, Kitty Flannagan, Peter Helliar and Shaun Micallef provided us with an array of laughs throughout the evening, poking fun at everything you hoped they would. Rolf Harris, the 60 Minutes Beirut incident and our obsession love of international celebrity chefs.
Potentially securing her place as next year’s host Julia Morris graced us with an impromptu karaoke performance of Bonnie Tyler’s 80’s hit I need a Hero after it was brought to our attention that she first performed the number on 1985’s New Faces talent show.
“You know what, I tied first and then I lost the tie-breaker to a girl’s marching band, so I never got to sing the song again because you got to sing the song again in the grand final.”
What are the Logies if not an opportunity to live your teenage dreams. Now we start the long and harrowing countdown to next years awards. To prepare, watch as much television as you can and spring that $5 on TV WEEK. It’ll be worth it in the long run.
Check out the full list of winners below
WINNERS
Best Reality Program
The Block
Best Actor
Erik Thomson, 800 Words
Best Entertainment Program
Family Feud
Most Outstanding Comedy Program
Shaun Micallef’s Mad as Hell
Silver Logie for Best Actress
Jessica Marais, Love Child.
Best Drama Program
Home & Away
Best New Talent
Adam Dovile, Better Homes & Gardens
Most Outstanding Sports Coverage
KFC T20 Big Bash League
Most Outstanding Supporting Actor
Tim Minchin, The Secret River
Best Presenter
Waleed Aly, The Project.
Best Lifestyle Program
The Living Room
Best Factual Program
Gogglebox
Best Supporting Actress
Celia Ireland, Wentworth
Best Sports Program
The NRL Footy Show
Most Outstanding News Coverage
Parramatta Shooting, Seven News
Most Outstanding Entertainment Program
The Gruen transfer
The Most Outstanding Miniseries or Telemovie
The Secret River
Best News Panel or Current Affairs Program
The Project
Most Outstanding Drama
Glitch
Most Outstanding Actor
Alex Dimitriades, The Principal
Most Outstanding Actress
Deborah Mailman, Redfern Now: Promise Me
Gold Logie for Best Personality
Waleed Aly