Logie Awards
Logie Award | |
---|---|
Description | Excellence in Australian television |
Sponsored by | TV Week |
Location | Gold Coast, Australia |
Country | Australia |
Presented by | TV Week |
First awarded | 1960 |
Website | Logies official site |
Television/radio coverage | |
Network | Nine Network (1959–present) ABC (1961–1965) Seven Network (1989–1995) Network Ten (1981–1993) |
Runtime | 3 hours |
The Logie Awards (officially the TV Week Logie Awards) is an annual institution celebrating Australian television, which have been since 1960, and sponsored and organized by magazine TV Week. Coined by entertainer Graham Kennedy after he won the first Star of the Year award in 1959,[1] the name Logie awards honour's British engineer and innovator John Logie Baird, who invented mechanical television as a practical medium. Awards are given in many categories, but the most widely publicized award and highest honour is the Gold Logie, which is awarded to the most popular personality on Australian television for the previous calendar year, with the record for most wins going to Kennedy and Ray Martin. The event has been strongly associated with showbiz personality Bert Newton, who has hosted the ceremony on the most occasions. Like the AFL, the Logies were a Melbourne institution, but in 2017, it was announced that after 30 years, the event will no longer be hosted in the Victorian state, with the proposed new location on the Gold Coast, Queensland, the Government had previously injected 1 million dollars into the event.
Logies Hall of Fame productions and winners
The prestigious Logie Hall of Fame was first introduced in 1982, former conductor, turned television producer and pioneer and founder of Crawford Productions, Hector Crawford was the first inductee. The induction was a postumous honour for TV cameraman Neil Davis, actor Maurie Fields, conservationist Steve Irwin, news anchor Brian Naylor and journalist Peter Harvey. The most recent induction in 2017 was Kerri-Anne Kennerley, who is only the third women to be inducted after Ruth Cracknell and Noni Hazlehurst. Four Corners, Neighbours, Play School and Home and Away are the only programs that have been inducted collectively into the Hall of Fame.[2]
History
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 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.[3]
The following year, Kennedy coined the name 'Logie Awards', after the Scottish contributor to the development of television John Logie Baird. 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. The Latest ceremony the Logie Awards of 2017 were held on 23 March 2017, with the Gold Logie winner being Samuel Johnson.
Logie Institutions
In 1960, the ceremony is coined "Logies" to honour inventor John Logie Baird, by Graham Kennedy, after he won what was previously known as the "Star of the Year awards"
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 1962, Australian variety presenter, singer and actress Lorrae Desmond, best known for her role as Shirley Gilroy on A Country Practice was the first female star to win a Gold Logie, this being for her music variety program The Lorrae Desmond Show
In 1968, there was no award for the Most Popular Female in Television. According to Bert Newton, who was hosting that year, "it appears no one was deemed worthy enough to receive it". He pleaded with the producers to never be put in that position again.[4]
In 1973, the media was invited for the first time to attend the Logies
In 1974, Number 96 star Pat McDonald became the first "soap star" actress (not television personality) to win the Gold Logie
In 1976, the first and only fictional character to win a Logie was Norman Gunston, with the award being presented to portrayor Garry McDonald, who appeared to except the award in character
In 1984, the Hall of Fame Logie was introduced by TV Week, awarded to recognize outstanding and continued contribution to television by an individual or program with the first induction being former conductor turned producer and television pioneer Hector Crawford (see above, under Logie Hall of Fame)
In 1988, Actress and future international pop star Kylie Minogue became the youngest person to win a Gold Logie (aged 19) for her role as Charlene Mitchell in Neighbours
In 2010, Ray Meagher became the oldest person to win the award (age 66), for his portrayal of Alf Stewart in Home and Away
Jamie Dunn is the only undefeated man in Logie's history, having won 7 consecutive Logie's in 7 consecutive nominations for Agro's Cartoon Connection
In 2006, a new Logie's category was introduced, named Graham Kennedy Award for Most Outstanding Newcomer, to honour Kennedy's career and legacy and to commemorate the 50th year of broadcasting of television in Australia
In 2016, the Logie's accepts nominations from locally produced digital content.
In 2017, the Logie's committee announcers that after 30 years, the event will no longer be held in Melbourne, marking the end of an era.
Nomination and voting procedures
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.[5] The 'Most Outstanding' categories are voted on by a jury comprising members of the Australian TV industry and are thus industry awards.
Digital content
In 2008, internet votes could be cast for the first time without having to buy a copy of the TV Week magazine.[6]
Eligibility
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. The winners do not have to be Australian - New Zealander John Clarke and American Michael Cole have won Logies.
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.[7]
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, stating; As TV Week does not cover community television within the magazine, we are unable to consider individual programs on this platform. The ABC's Media Watch program first reported the story on Monday 9 March 2009,[8] with many media outlets covering the growing support for the community television program since.
Logies Ceremonies by Year
Awards ceremony
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 at Crown Melbourne (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, 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.
Controversies
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.[12] According to Bert Newton, Channel Nine received thousands of complaints about the use of the word, however, when it was edited for the repeat transmission "they got double the calls complaining it had been dropped."[4]
However, the most difficult guest to interact with, according to Newton was Vic Morrow in 1967. He would just stand there saying nothing, silently handing out the Logies. According to Bert, "every so often, I'd say 'how are you going, Vic?' and he would just nod his head."[4]
Broadcast
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
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. Most recently, the voting for the 2016 Logie Awards began in November 2015 and ran for over 11 weeks.
Performers
In 2011 Katy Perry performed an 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.
2012 saw One Direction and Delta Goodrem perform on the night and appearances of Flo Rida, Tony Bennett and Seal.
Award categories
Public Voted Categories
Gold Logie
Silver Awards
Program Best Awards
- Best Entertainment Program
- Best Reality Program
- Best Sports Program
- Best Lifestyle Program
- Best Factual Program (2008–2013, 2016-)
- Best News Panel or a Current Affairs Program (from 2016)
Industry voted categories
- Logie Hall of Fame
- Most Outstanding Actor
- Most Outstanding Actress
- Most Outstanding Newcomer
- Most Outstanding Drama Series
- Most Outstanding Miniseries or Telemovie
- Most Outstanding News Coverage
- Most Outstanding Public Affairs Report
- Most Outstanding Comedy Program
- Most Outstanding Light Entertainment Program
- Most Outstanding Sports Coverage
- Most Outstanding Children's Program
- Most Outstanding Factual Program
- Most Outstanding Supporting Actor (from 2016)[13]
- Most Outstanding Supporting Actress (from 2016)[13]
- Most Outstanding Factual or Documentary Program (from 2017)
Former categories
- Best Australian Drama (1961–1976)
- Best Variety Show (1961-??)
- Most Popular Australian Program (1961–2004)
- Most Popular Live Show (1966–1967)
- Most Popular Variety Program
- Most Popular Children's Program
- Most Popular Game Show (2002)
- Most Popular Overseas Program (2003, 2005)
- Most Popular Overseas Drama (2004)
- Most Popular Overseas Comedy (2004)
- Most Popular Comedy Personality
- Most Popular Light Entertainment Personality
- Most Popular Comedy Program
- Most Outstanding Sportscaster
- Most Popular Sports Event
- Most Popular Telemovie or Miniseries
- Most Popular Public Affairs Program
- Most Outstanding News or Public Affairs Broadcaster
- Most Popular New Male Talent (1999–2013)
- Most Popular New Female Talent (1999–2013)
Most Wins
Programs
As of 2017, Home and Away is the most successful program in Logies history, having won 46 awards since it premiered in 1988. Neighbours is the second most successful having won 31 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.
People
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 | Asher Keddie | 7 | 5 Most Popular Actress (2011–2015), 1 Most Outstanding Actress in a Series (2014), 1 Gold Logie (2013) |
4 | Kate Ritchie | 5 | 2 Gold Logies (2007, 2008), 3 Most Popular Actress (2006–2008) |
4 | Martin Sacks | 5 | 5 Most Popular Actor (1997–2001) |
See also
References
- ^ "Graham Kennedy Award for Most Outstanding New Talent". ninemsn.com.au. Archived from the original on 31 August 2009.
- ^ Jonathon Moran (19 April 2015). "Logies Hall of Fame awaits Australia's favourite soap Home and Away". The Sunday Telegraph.
- ^ Crook, Frank (2 May 2008). "Logies celebrate 50 years". The Daily Telegraph. News.com.au. Archived from the original on 7 March 2009. Retrieved 23 May 2008.
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suggested) (help) - ^ a b c TV Week magazine, 13 March 1993, pages 16–18. "The Way We Were" text by Bert Newtson, edited by Chrissie Camp.
- ^ "TV Week Media Kit" (PDF) (Press release). ACP. Retrieved 4 September 2007.
- ^ "Logies voting switch a boon". Herald Sun. News.com.au. 4 February 2008. Retrieved 24 May 2008.
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(help) - ^ Taylor, Chris (17 May 2003). "The insider". smh.com.au. Retrieved 4 September 2007.
- ^ "Project Logies, Media Watch Episode 05". 9 March 2009.
- ^ http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article104592569
- ^ http://televisionau.com/2013/04/tv-week-logie-awards-50-years-ago-3.html
- ^ http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article104591297
- ^ "The Logies". ABC.
- ^ a b Knox, David (4 November 2015). "Logies announce new categories, voting to open shortly". TV Tonight. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
Other references
- "The Insider", Chris Taylor, Sydney Morning Herald, 17 May 2003 – article describing the Logies, as well as a comic attempt to rig the Gold Logie voting process
- IMDB page on the Logie Awards