Australian TV’s night of nights has rolled around again — but who will take out those coveted Logie awards this year? It’s going to be a close-fought race — particularly when it comes to Gold. Last year’s winner Sonia Kruger is once again chasing the top award. Can she make it two for two? Comedian Andy Lee is also nominated for the top gong, 11 years after his only other nomination.
His long-time collaborator Hamish Blake is a two-time winner, and both are taking on Kruger in the best TV presenter category. Who the country likes best is still unknown. This year, The Logies has had a shake-up, with industry-voted “most outstanding” awards dismantled in favour of a more inclusive “best” award, determined by public votes, audience metrics and assessment criteria.
How this will shake up the race is still unknown, but it’s shaping up to be a nail-biter. The drama and acting categories are wide open, with hits from streaming giants Netflix and Prime Video Boy Swallows Universe and The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart going head to head with big names from all major networks. It’s going to be a tough race to call, but here’s who I’m tipping to walk away victorious.
Clare’s Pick: Larry Emdur Who I’d like to see win and who could potentially take home this year’s Gold are very different propositions. Robert Irwin’s broad appeal and monstrous social media following may see him edge to the front of the pack (after all, this is essentially a popularity contest), but surely it’s Larry’s time to take out the top award — how is this his first nomination? Laz for Gold! Clare’s Pick: Felix Cameron This will be a closely run race, but Rob Collins surely deserves this one — he’s nominated in two categories. That said, teen actor Felix Cameron was undeniably sensational as Eli Bell in the Netflix adaptation of Trent Dalton’s celebrated Aussie novel.
Clare’s pick: Sigourney Weaver The TV critic in me says Phoebe Tonkin is due this for the episode that saw her character Frankie withdraw from drugs — truly one of the most affecting pieces of television I’ve seen this year. That said, Sigourney Weaver’s star power alone will likely get her across the line on this one. Clare’s pick: Ben Feldman Ryan Corr and Bob Morley were both terrific in the underrated In Limbo.
But there’s no denying US actor Ben Feldman was also excellent as “fish out of water” Andy. Extra points for the fact he’s in pretty much every scene — I’m giving this one to him. Clare’s pick: Kate Box Clare’s pick: Bryan Brown While I’d love to award this one to Perth’s Lee Tiger Halley for his wonderful portrayal of Eli’s brother Gus in Boy Swallows Universe, this award simply must go to Bryan Brown, whose wonderfully evocative portrayal of convicted-killer-turned-babysitter Slim had us all reminiscing about ’80s men in stubbies and thongs.
Clare’s pick: Leah Purcell Clare’s pick: Alyla Browne and Felix Cameron I can’t choose between these two extraordinary young actors. Alyla Browne was sensational as young Alice Hart in The Lost Flowers and I’m still thinking about Felix Cameron’s performance as Eli Bell months after finishing watching Boy Swallows Universe. A dead heat.
Clare’s Pick: Robert Irwin Julia Morris is reliably fab in I’m A Celebrity, but something tells me this year’s award will end up going to her co-star, Robert Irwin, who is not only nominated in this category, but also in line for the prestigious Gold award. His popularity with younger viewers looking for something fresh could well see him get across the line here. Clare’s Pick: Total Control While I loved the sheer bells-and-whistles bombasity of big-budget NCIS: Sydney, this one is a no-brainer for me: it HAS to go to Total Control, a show which never failed to stun me with its sucker-punch performances and art-imitates-life relevance.
Clare’s pick: The Lost Flowers Of Alice Hart This is a close category for me, with Boy Swallows Universe and The Lost Flowers Of Alice Hart clear frontrunners. In the end, it has to be the latter for the sheer beauty of its cinematography and performances — brilliant and devastating to a fault. Clare’s pick: Take 5 With Zan Rowe As a loyal Take 5 podcast listener and card-carrying Zan Rowe fangirl, I can’t not put forth her brilliant music program for this one.
The show’s format means its guests can be more open than regular chat show formats. Genuinely enlightening. Clare’s pick: Deadloch This will be close, and I truly can’t pick which way it will go.
Personally, I’m hoping Deadloch edges out the competition, if only for the fact it was one of the very few Aussie comedies that genuinely had me laughing out loud. Clare’s Pick: Thank God You’re Here Bringing back a beloved format like Thank God You’re Here was always a risk for Ten. But the Working Dog team nailed their rebooted improv comedy show, sticking the landing by choosing comedian Celia Pacquola to helm the show.
Nominees Clare’s pick: The Block With 20 years under its belt, it’s tempting to discount The Block as a show with little new to offer. But last year’s season proved there’s still juice in the tank, providing viewers with plenty of drama, especially in that nailbiting auction finale. Clare’s pick: Michael Usher This is certainly a stacked field, with some of the biggest names in current affairs getting a look-in.
We’re putting our support behind Perth-raised Michael Usher, who consistently delivers cutting-edge, agenda-setting reportage. WA represent! Clare’s Pick: Married At First Sight While I personally loved spending time with the gaggle of Muster Dogs featured on ABC’s great reality program, there can be no denying that when it comes to powerhouse programs in this genre, you can’t go past Nine’s MAFS juggernaut. A behemoth.
Clare’s Pick: Travel Guides I’m a sucker for a good Friday night gardening show, and regularly spend my evenings flicking between Better Homes and Gardening Australia. But in this category, I think viewer favourite Travel Guides will end up edging out the competition..
