| Logie Award | |
|---|---|
TV Week Logie Award |
|
| Awarded for | Excellence in Australian television |
| Presented by | TV Week |
| Location | Melbourne (held in Sydney 4 times) |
| Country | Australia |
| First awarded | 15 January 1959 |
| Official website | Logie Awards |
| Television coverage | |
| Network | Nine Network (1959-present) ABC (1961-1965) Seven Network (1989-1995) Network Ten (1981-1993) |
The TV Week Logie Awards are the Australian television industry awards, which have been presented annually since 1959. Renamed by Graham Kennedy in 1960 after he won the first 'Star Of The Year' award,[1] the name 'Logie' awards honours John Logie Baird, a Scotsman who invented the television as a practical medium. Awards are given in many categories, but the most widely-publicized award is the Gold Logie, which is awarded to the 'most popular personality on Australian television'. The Logie Award is the most prestigious award that could be received by an Australian actor in television.
Home and Away is the most successful program in Logies history, having won 34 awards since it premiered in 1988, followed by Neighbours with 30 Logies since it began in 1985, A Country Practice (29 awards over 12 years), and Blue Heelers (25 Logies over 12 years).
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The first awards, known as the TV Week Awards, were instigated by TV Week magazine after the first voting coupons were released in the magazine in late 1958, two years after the introduction of television in Australia. The first awards saw no formal ceremony; they were presented on 15 January 1959 on an episode of In Melbourne Tonight. Only Melbourne television personalities were nominated and awards were given in eight categories, including two for American programs.[2]
The following year, Kennedy coined the name 'Logie Awards'. In the same year, the first Gold Logie, considered by some to be equivalent to the 'Star of the Year Award' presented in 1959, was presented.
The Logie statuette was designed by Alec De Lacy, chief designer for Melbourne-based trophy makers KG Luke Ltd.
In 1961 the awards ceremony was televised for the first time, with the ABC screening the first half hour of the awards in Sydney.
In 1973 the media were invited for the first time to attend the Logies.
In 1984 the Hall of Fame Logie was introduced by TV Week to recognise outstanding and continued contribution to television by an individual or program with the induction of Hector Crawford.
In 1988 future international pop star Kylie Minogue became the youngest person to win a Gold Logie (aged 19), and in 2010 Ray Meagher became oldest person to win the award (age 66).
| Year | Venue | Host | Broadcaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Awards presented on In Melbourne Tonight | (Googie Withers - Guest Presenter) | GTV-9 |
| 1960 | Savoy Hotel, Brighton, Melbourne | Hugh O'Brien | |
| 1961 | Chevron-Hilton Hotel, Sydney | Jimmy Edwards | ABC |
| 1962 | Chevron Hotel, Melbourne | Gerald Lyons (Awards Presented by Bob Dyer) | ABC |
| 1963 | Chevron-Hilton Hotel, Sydney | Tony Hancock with Marie McDonald | |
| 1964 | On board the Lloyd Triestino Liner 'Marconi' | ? | |
| 1965 | Palais De Dance, Melbourne | Gerald Lyons (Donna Douglas - Guest Presenter) | ABC |
| 1966 | Southern Cross Hotel, Melbourne | ? | Nine Network |
| 1967 | The Zodiac Room on cruise liner the Fairstar | Bert Newton (Vic Morrow - Guest Presenter) | GTV-9 |
| 1968 | Southern Cross Hotel, Melbourne | Bert Newton | Nine Network |
| 1969 | Southern Cross Hotel, Melbourne | Bert Newton | Nine Network |
| 1970 | Southern Cross Hotel, Melbourne | Bert Newton | Nine Network |
| 1971 | Southern Cross Hotel, Melbourne | Bert Newton | Nine Network |
| 1972 | Southern Cross Hotel, Melbourne | Bert Newton | Nine Network |
| 1973 | Southern Cross Hotel, Melbourne | Bert Newton | Nine Network |
| 1974 | Southern Cross Hotel, Melbourne | Bert Newton | Nine Network |
| 1975 | Southern Cross Hotel, Melbourne | Bert Newton | Nine Network |
| 1976 | Southern Cross Hotel, Melbourne | Bert Newton | Nine Network |
| 1977 | Southern Cross Hotel, Melbourne | Bert Newton | Nine Network |
| 1978 | Southern Cross Hotel, Melbourne | Bert Newton | Nine Network |
| 1979 | Hilton Hotel, Melbourne | Bert Newton | Nine Network |
| 1980 | Hilton Hotel, Melbourne | Bert Newton | Nine Network |
| 1981 | Centrepoint Convention Centre, Sydney | Michael Parkinson | Network Ten |
| 1982 | Hilton Hotel, Melbourne | Bert Newton | Nine Network |
| 1983 | Wentworth Regent Hotel, Melbourne | Mike Willesee | Network Ten |
| 1984 | Hilton Hotel Melbourne | Bert Newton | Nine Network |
| 1985 | World Trade Centre, Melbourne | Greg Evans | Network Ten |
| 1986 | State Theatre, Sydney | Mike Willesee | Nine Network |
| 1987 | Hyatt on Collins, Melbourne | Don Lane | Network Ten |
| 1988 | Hyatt on Collins, Melbourne | Daryl Somers | Nine Network |
| 1989 | Hyatt on Collins, Melbourne | Bert Newton | Seven Network |
| 1990 | Hyatt on Collins, Melbourne | Mark Mitchell | Network Ten |
| 1991 | World Congress Centre, Melbourne | Daryl Somers | Nine Network |
| 1992 | Radisson President Hotel, Melbourne | Steve Vizard | Seven Network |
| 1993 | Grand Hyatt, Melbourne | Bert Newton | Network Ten |
| 1994 | World Congress Centre, Melbourne | Ray Martin | Nine Network |
| 1995 | Concert Hall, Melbourne | Andrew Daddo Noni Hazlehurst |
Seven Network |
| 1996 | Melbourne Park Centre, Melbourne | Daryl Somers | Nine Network |
| 1997 | Palladium Ballroom, Crown Towers, Melbourne | Daryl Somers | Nine Network |
| 1998 | Palladium Ballroom, Crown Towers, Melbourne | Daryl Somers | Nine Network |
| 1999 | Palladium Ballroom, Crown Towers, Melbourne | Andrew Denton | Nine Network |
| 2000 | Palladium Ballroom, Crown Towers, Melbourne | Andrew Denton | Nine Network |
| 2001 | Palladium Ballroom, Crown Towers, Melbourne | Shaun Micallef | Nine Network |
| 2002 | Palladium Ballroom, Crown Towers, Melbourne | Wendy Harmer | Nine Network |
| 2003 | Palladium Ballroom, Crown Towers, Melbourne | Eddie McGuire | Nine Network |
| 2004 | Palladium Ballroom, Crown Towers, Melbourne | Eddie McGuire | Nine Network |
| 2005 | Palladium Ballroom, Crown Towers, Melbourne | Eddie McGuire Rove McManus Andrew O'Keefe |
Nine Network |
| 2006 | Palladium Ballroom, Crown Towers, Melbourne | Bert Newton Ray Martin Daryl Somers Lisa McCune Georgie Parker |
Nine Network |
| 2007 | Palladium Ballroom, Crown Towers, Melbourne | Adam Hills Dave Hughes Fifi Box |
Nine Network |
| 2008 | Palladium Ballroom, Crown Towers, Melbourne | Various Hosts | Nine Network |
| 2009 | Palladium Ballroom, Crown Towers, Melbourne | Gretel Killeen | Nine Network |
| 2010 | Palladium Ballroom, Crown Towers, Melbourne | Bert Newton | Nine Network |
| 2011 | Palladium Ballroom, Crown Towers, Melbourne | Shane Bourne | Nine Network |
Many of the Logie categories are voted by the readers of TV Week magazine using coupons in the magazine and online forms. SMS (short message service) was introduced in 2006. Thus, the majority of Logie Awards are fan awards. The readership of TV Week is a relatively small proportion of the Australian population, and skews heavily to teenage girls.[3] The 'Most Outstanding' categories are voted on by a jury comprising members of the Australian TV industry and are thus industry awards.
In 2008, internet votes could be cast for the first time without having to buy a copy of the TV Week magazine.[4]
To be eligible to receive a Logie, a programme must be Australian produced, set in Australia and have a predominantly Australian cast. Although in other years there has been a Logie for Most Popular Foreign Programme, this award was not part of the 2007 or 2008 awards.
People eligible for a Logie must have appeared on an Australian-produced show that was broadcast on Australian television in the previous year. It's unknown whether someone who isn't an Australian but appears on an Australian-produced show that was broadcast on Australian television can be eligible for the award.
There are long-held suspicions that network publicists engage in mass voting to rig the results. However, no hard evidence has emerged for this, other than the experiment by the satirical newspaper The Chaser, who attempted to have low-profile SBS newsreader Anton Enus nominated for the Gold Logie. They did so by getting their small readership to buy copies of TV Week and vote for Enus for the award. While the attempt failed (they came "reasonably close", to earning a nomination for Enus, according to a "TV Week Insider"), their failure gives some cause for the widespread derision in the industry (particularly the 'quality' end) towards the popular-vote awards.[5]
There is nothing stopping Channel 31 personalities and shows being nominated for Logies, however since their audiences are far smaller than those of the commercial channels and public broadcasters, they are at a tremendous disadvantage. They do, however, have their own community television awards, known as the Antennas. Despite this, in 2009 The Logies were dogged by minor controversy after organisers refused to allow an acclaimed community television show, The Bazura Project, to be nominated in the category of Outstanding Comedy Show [1]. The ABC's Media Watch program first reported the story on Monday 9 March 2009 [2], with many media outlets covering the growing support for the community television program since.
The Logies ceremony is televised, and has generally become more elaborate in recent years. The awards have for the past 11 years been held in a ballroom in Melbourne's Crown Casino (rather than a theatre, which is common for the Emmy Awards and Academy Awards). Dinner is served just before the ceremony and drinks are served during the ceremony.
Bert Newton has been strongly associated with the history of the Logies. As well as winning the Gold Logie four times, he hosted the awards a total of 19 times. He has also performed in well-received guest appearances. One notable appearance was with Muhammad Ali as co-presenter in 1979. Newton made a comment "I like the boy!" (in reference to a series of TV advertisements Bert had recently done), that was seen as racist by Ali, although Newton claimed this was not his intention. Ali was upset at the comment and a full apology was issued by Newton and the Awards producers.
In 1973, American actor Michael Cole generated controversy after accepting an award while apparently drunk, uttering the word "shit" in a short, incoherent acceptance speech. This was the first time the word had been said on Australian television.[6]
GTV-9/Nine Network is also strongly associated with the history of the Logies, particularly since the parent company Publishing and Broadcasting Limited now also owns TV Week. Nine has hosted the awards 35 times in their 49-year history.
Public voting for the awards lasts for four weeks, usually beginning in early February, while the ceremony itself is in late April or early May. However, the voting for the 2011 Logie Awards began in December 2010 and ran for 12 weeks.
In 2011 Katy Perry performed a opening number and then presented the Best Children's show award with comedy personalities Hamish and Andy. The 2011 ceremony also featured Shaun Micallef, Roy & HG, The Chaser and was hosted by Shane Bourne.
Logies are currently awarded in the following categories:
As of (and including) the 2010 Logies, Home and Away is the most successful program in Logies history, having won 36 awards since it premiered in 1988. Neighbours is the second most successful having won 30 Logies since it began in 1985. A Country Practice follows as the third most successful programme, having won 29 awards throughout its twelve year run. Blue Heelers is fourth with 25 Logies.
Television personalities with the most national wins (excluding state-based Logie awards) are:
| Rank | Name | Total Wins | Awards Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rove McManus | 10 | 3 Gold Logies (2003 – 05) and 7 consecutive Most Popular Presenter (2003 – 09) |
| 2 | Bert Newton | 9 | 4 Gold Logies (1979, 1981, 1982, 1984), 4 Best Compere (1970, 1972 – 74), Hall of Fame inductee (1988) |
| =3 | Graham Kennedy | 8 | 6 Gold Logies (1959, 1960, 1967, 1969; 1974, 1978), 1 Special Gold Logie - Star of the Decade (1967), Hall of Fame inductee (1998), 10 state Logies |
| =3 | Daryl Somers | 8 | 3 Gold Logies (1983, 1986, 1989), 3 Most Popular Light Entertainment Personality (1993, 1995 – 97), 1 Most Popular Light Entertainment/Comedy Personality (1990) and 1 Most Popular Comedy Personality (1995) |
| =3 | Ray Martin | 8 | 5 Gold Logies (1987, 1993 – 96), 2 TV Reporter of the Year (1981, 1983), 1 Most Popular Light Entertainment Personality (1995) |
Actors / Actresses with the most national wins:
| Rank | Name | Total Wins | Awards Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lisa McCune | 10 | 1 New Talent (1995), 5 Most Popular Actress (1996 – 2000) and 4 Gold Logies (1997 – 2000) |
| 2 | Georgie Parker | 7 | 1 New Talent (1990), 4 Most Popular Actress (1991 – 1993, 2001), 2 Gold Logies (2001, 2002) |
| =3 | Kate Ritchie | 5 | 2 Gold Logies (2007, 2008), 3 Most Popular Actress (2006 – 2008) |
| =3 | Martin Sacks | 5 | 5 Most Popular Actor (1997 – 2001) |
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