Who our experts think should win the Logies
While TV’s finest should be gathering for the Logie Awards, our experts have defied COVID-19’s event-crushing doom to name the nominations that should have been, and winners that may well be, when TV’s night of nights returns in 2021. But do you agree with them?
Confidential
Don't miss out on the headlines from Confidential. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The lights are out on the Logies this year, but that’s no excuse not to recognise and celebrate an incredible year of Australian television and talent.
With the VIP red carpet rolled up, and racks of designer frocks untouched, entertainment industry experts Holly Byrnes, Colin Vickery and Nui Te Koha have defied COVID-19’s event-crushing doom to nominate the Logie nominations that should have been, and winners that may well be, when television’s night of nights returns in 2021.
Indeed, for now, we humble three present the unofficial 2020 Logies — the Rogue-ies, if you will.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE EXPERTS’ WINNERS
The selection process was based on a stellar year of shows, from Mystery Road and MasterChef, to Upright and Wentworth, and exceptional talent, from Aaron Pedersen and Jessica De Gouw, to Ewen Leslie and Melissa Leong.
Admittedly, we were a little loose with the qualifying period for votes, but only because there were several trailblazing moments on TV after the 2019 nomination cut-off date.
But they’re all worthy inclusions that will highly likely get a gong, if not a perch at the victory podium, in 2021.
Logies organisers Bauer Media, parent company of TV Week, cancelled this year’s event due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Logies is loved because it is a live event, with viewers at home enjoying seeing the red-carpet glamour and the entertainment community coming together,” Bauer Media’s Fiona Connolly said.
She added: “The 2021 Logies will be an epic event that will take into consideration the 12 months of television just past, as well as all programs that will air for the remainder of this year.”
For now, there’s industry agreement on this: Tom Gleeson, who was accused of making a mockery of the TV awards after his campaign and tongue-in-cheek acceptance speech, will remain Gold Logie king for another year, unchallenged.
“Grant Denyer said it was the last Logies ever if I’d won … then a year later, no one could predict it would be cancelled,” Gleeson said.
Denyer joked that Gleeson “will be bored out of his skin” as the reigning champion, adding: “He’s got nothing to do for 12 months. There’s no campaigning required.”
Meanwhile, showbiz queen Rhonda Burchmore is still keen to frock up tonight.
“Fashion is 99 per cent of why people tune in to watch,’’ Burchmore said. “Someone can be judging best on the kitchen floor or who does the best loungeroom twirl.”
In these COVID times, multiple Gold Logie winner Lisa McCune joked she might bequeath a glittering trophy as a philanthropic gesture.
She laughed: “As someone who has four Gold Logies, I should have the right to anoint a winner.”
AND THE WINNERS ARE ...
BEST DRAMA
FINALISTS:
Upright (Foxtel)
Stateless (ABC)
Doctor, Doctor (Nine)
Five Bedrooms (Ten)
Colin: Most dramas are running on fumes by the time they get to seven seasons but not Wentworth. The makers find ingenious ways to keep upping the stakes.
WINNER: Wentworth (Foxtel)
BEST SPORTS PROGRAM
FINALISTS:
AFL 360 (Foxtel/Fox Footy)
NRL 360 (Foxtel/Fox League)
The Bounce (Foxtel/Fox Footy)
Wide World Of Sports (Nine)
Nui: From web show to prime time glory, The Front Bar achieves that rare combo of being big league while keeping it grassroots and, most importantly, fun.
WINNER: The Front Bar (Seven)
BEST ENTERTAINMENT/REALITY PROGRAM
FINALISTS:
Lego Masters (Nine)
The Masked Singer (Ten)
Survivor All Stars (Ten)
Have You Been Paying Attention? (Ten)
Holly: The madeover MasterChef has been absolutely glorious to watch. Call it the COVID-19 effect, but the warmth of the show’s new hosts and returning favourites make this the best in comfort TV in a crazy, mixed-up 2020.
WINNER: MasterChef Australia (Ten)
BEST LIFESTYLE PROGRAM
FINALISTS:
Better Homes and Gardens (Seven)
Gardening Australia (ABC)
Selling Houses Australia (Foxtel/LifeStyle)
The Living Room (Ten)
Holly: It was hard to split my two lifestyle faves, The Living Room and Love It or List It. But add the extraordinary makeovers with some of the best on-screen chemistry between Neale Whitaker and Andrew Winter and LIOLI gets the nod.
WINNER: Love It or List It Australia (Foxtel/LifeStyle)
BEST FACTUAL PROGRAM
FINALISTS:
Australian Story (ABC)
Gogglebox Australia (Foxtel/ Ten)
Who Do You Think You Are? (SBS)
Home Delivery with Julia Zemiro (ABC)
Colin: If there is a more charming show that Heather Ewart’s look at the characters and issues of rural Australia, I can’t think of it.
WINNER: Back Roads (ABC)
BEST NEWS/CURRENT AFFAIRS PROGRAM
FINALISTS:
The Feed (SBS)
The Latest (Seven)
ABC News Breakfast (ABC)
Insight (SBS)
Holly: The flagship ABC current affairs series has proved its worth time and again this year, with the scope of its special reports digging deep into everything from the Black Summer bushfires to the grooming of students at a private boys’ school in Melbourne.
WINNER: Four Corners (ABC)
BEST PRESENTER
Hamish Blake (LEGO Masters, Nine)
Joh Griggs (Better Homes & Gardens, Seven)
Andrew Winter (Selling Houses Australia, Love It or List It, Foxtel)
Mick Molloy (The Front Bar)
Holly: Let’s start by saying what we’re all thinking: Amanda Keller was robbed for Gold last year and we all know it. She got our vote then and she gets it now.
WINNER: Amanda Keller (The Living Room, Ten)
BEST NEW TALENT
FINALISTS:
Milly Adcock (Upright, The Gloaming, Reckoning, Les Norton, Foxtel/ABC/Stan)
Kavitha Anandasivam (The Hunting, SBS)
Jock Zonfrillo (MasterChef Australia, Ten)
Carina Hoang (The Heights, ABC)
Nui: Fresh and fierce, it’s been a real joy seeing food writer Leong explode to life on the small screen. Strong opinions, expert knowledge and a killer wardrobe made her the surprise TV package of 2020.
WINNER: Melissa Leong (MasterChef Australia, Ten)
WHO SHOULD HAVE WON? HAVE YOUR SAY
HALL OF FAME
FINALISTS:
Amanda Keller (The Living Room, Ten)
Sandra Sully (Ten News First, Ten)
Caroline Jones (Australian Story, ABC)
Geraldine Doogue (Compass, ABC)
Holly: A trio of fabulous women who have led the way in comedy, drama and factual entertainment. They gave us Kath and Kim and Sharon, who are loved the world over — way before Kim Kardashian got in on their act.
WINNER: Gina Riley, Magda Szubanski and Jane Turner (Kath & Kim, Big Girl’s Blouse, Full Frontal)
WHO SHOULD HAVE WON? HAVE YOUR SAY
BEST ACTOR
FINALISTS:
Tim Minchin (Upright, Foxtel)
Ewen Leslie (Operation Buffalo, The Gloaming, ABC/Stan)
Ryan Corr (The Commons, The Secrets She Keeps, Stan/Ten)
Rodger Corser (Doctor, Doctor, Nine)
Nui: Not only has Pedersen found the character of his career with gruff Aussie outback detective Jay Swan, but he’s truly emerged as a strong and bankable leading man.
WINNER: Aaron Pedersen (Mystery Road, ABC)
WHO SHOULD HAVE WON? HAVE YOUR SAY
BEST ACTRESS
FINALISTS:
Pamela Rabe (Wentworth, Foxtel)
Asher Keddie (The Hunting, SBS)
Jessica De Gouw (The Secrets She Keeps, The Hunting, Ten/SBS)
Cate Blanchett (Stateless, Mrs America, ABC/Foxtel)
Colin: Whenever Aussies see Mailman’s name attached to a local drama we know it’s quality. Total Control was no exception. Redfern Now, The Sapphires, The Secret Life of Us, Offspring, Mabo, Mystery Road and more.
A national treasure.
WINNER: Deborah Mailman (Total Control, ABC)
WHO SHOULD HAVE WON? HAVE YOUR SAY
GOLD ROGIE
Best Personality On Australian TV
Deborah Mailman (Total Control, ABC)
Amanda Keller (The Living Room, Dancing with the Stars, Ten)
Shaynna Blaze (The Block, Selling Houses Australia, Nine/Foxtel)
Craig Foster (The World Game, SBS)
Holly: In the darkest days of Australia’s Black Summer, a one-woman force of nature stepped up to use her TV influence for good. Celeste Barber’s extraordinary fundraising efforts, as well as the good cheer she brought to the charity concert, Fire Fight Australia, makes her our unanimous pick for Gold.
AND THE WINNER IS: Celeste Barber (Fire Fight Australia, Seven/Foxtel)
WHO SHOULD HAVE WON? HAVE YOUR SAY
OUR PANEL OF EXPERTS
Holly Byrnes is the national TV editor at News Corp Australia
Colin vickery is a former national TV writer at News Corp Australia and former network TV publicist
Nui Te Koha is an entertainment editor and former LA correspondent for News Corp Australia
Originally published as Who our experts think should win the Logies