The Logies: ‘Embarrassing’ Gold nominees get poor reception from television industry

IT’S Australian television’s most coveted gong but the batch of talent nominated for this year’s Gold Logie has left the TV industry scratching their heads.

• CARRIE BICKMORE: I CAN PARTY MY ARSE OFF!

IT’S Australian television’s most coveted gong but the batch of talent nominated for this year’s Gold Logie has left the TV industry scratching their heads.

Waleed Aly, Scott Cam, Essie Davis, Grant Denyer and Lee Lin Chin have all been given a nod for the publicly-voted award, which reflects the most popular person on Australian TV.

A well-placed TV insider said that this year’s bunch of nominees came as a big surprise to him and other industry figures.

The Project's Waleed Aly ‘does an editorial every now and then’. Picture: Andrew Tauber

SBS News Presenter, Lee Lin Chin has a cult social media following.

“The Logies are an embarrassment. It is a complete joke. What has Waleed ever done? Because he does an editorial slapping someone down every now and then, does that qualify him for a Gold Logie? And is The Project successful? No.”

His concerns were echoed by another TV industry source, who told The Daily Telegraph:

“The thing with the Logies these days is it’s nothing to do with how popular the show is but how well you run an online campaign or how much traction a show has on social media”.

Carrie Bickmore won the gold last year but her show only gets in half a million punters. Picture: Julie Kiriacoudis

Scott Cam has plenty of reasons to look happy except for the fact his show has been punted from prime timebut in a range of pose. Picture: Tim Carrafa

The ratings back these criticisms up. The last episode of SBS World News, which Chin only hosts on the weekends, was watched by a paltry 168,000 — less than the Sunday night crowd tuning into Call The Midwife and a repeat of Joanna Lumley’s Trans-Siberian Adventure.

“Lee Lin Chin has developed a huge cult following on social media and that seems to have got her the nomination ... you have to wonder how many of those people who voted for her actually watch SBS World News,” said the TV source.

Essie Davis in a costume from Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries.

Grant Denyer. Picture: Julie Kiriacoudis

Mediaweek editor and media commentator James Manning agreed that Chin was a surprising choice.

“I’m not sure of what TV Week would think of her representing the awards. I can’t imagine they’ve covered her too many times in TV Week,” he said.

Waleed Aly and Carrie Bickmore’s The Project typically sees half a million tune in — less than shows like Home And Away and A Current Affair, while Scott Cam’s Reno Rumble has this week been axed from its prime time slot thanks to disappointing ratings.

They may be able to boast of much better ratings but Today Show hosts Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson don’t get a look in for a Gold Logie. Picture: Lachie Millard

Top-rating network Channel Seven, which boasts the most popular show MKR and blockbuster biopics Molly and Peter Allen: Not The Boy Next Door, didn’t manage to pick up a nod for the coveted gold statuette.

Today’s Karl Stefanovic — himself a winner of the award in 2011 — voiced his concerns on air yesterday.

“Lisa’s too white,” he said in response to Ben Fordham’s question about why his co-host Lisa Wilkinson failed to rate a mention.

“I got a spray tan and everything and still didn’t make it,” added Wilkinson.

MKR judges Manu Fieldel and Pete Evans are no chance of a Gold Logie ... their show rates too well. Image courtesy of Seven