Susie O’Brien: 2023 Logies laud lack of genuine top-drawer talent like never before

From D-list celebrities in rented ball gowns to incoherent presenters to hapless has-beens, the 2023 Logies was a four-hour snoozefest.

Irrelevant, inward-looking and cringe-worthy.

Welcome to the 2023 Logies.

From D-list celebrities in rented ball gowns to incoherent presenters to hapless has-beens, the telecast was a four-hour snoozefest.

Never before has the lack of genuine top-drawer talent on Australian screens been so lauded.

The awarding of the Gold Logie to Sonia Kruger was mystifying.

While Kruger should be congratulated for her staying power and impressive physique, it’s hard to be inspired by her work on tired old formats such as The Voice, Dancing with the Stars and Big Brother.

While Sonia Kruger should be congratulated for her staying power and impressive physique, it’s hard to be inspired by her work. Picture: Channel 7

Logies 2023 ceremony - Sam Pang. Picture: Channel 7

Such categories were dominated by fading reality hits recycled year after year by networks too afraid to take risks on new shows.

The Silver Logie nominees were crowded out by Home and Away actors, with the show going on to win Most Popular Drama Series. How that could beat Heartbreak High, Mystery Road or Savage River?

The awards also highlight the continuing demise of free-to-air TV shows.

It’s telling that Colin from Accounts, a show not even on network TV, was a big winner, scooping Most Outstanding Comedy, and Most Outstanding Actress for Harriet Dyer.

Apart from the comedic talents of host Sam Pang, the only high point was that Lisa Wilkinson had the good sense to stay away. Picture: Channel 7

Some of the outcomes were frankly ludicrous — how could international hit Bluey lose to Crazy Fun Park, a show that’s airing on ABC ME?

The Most Popular New Talent gong went to Australian Idol judge Amy Shark. How could being the judge on an ailing talent show regularly watched by half as many views as other shows make you the most popular?

Same goes for Tony Armstrong, granted Most Popular Presenter for his work on the lowest-rating network breakfast show, as well as fronting A Dog’s World. The latter is a likeable show, but they’ve made just three episodes totalling 162 minutes.

Karl Stefanovic delivered the flattest joke at the Logies. Picture: Channel 7

Daryl Somers can claime the Most Pointless Rambling Speech for 25 years in a row. Picture: Channel 7

Here are my suggestions for the awards people should have won:

Most Inebriated Presenter, which would have gone to TV chef Colin Fassnidge.

Most Pointless Rambling Speech — won for 25 years in a row by Daryl Somers.

Flattest Joke? Karl Stefanovic, of course.

Lamest line? Jonathan LaPaglia’s “the tribe has spoken” quip.

Where were the big-name overseas stars? Sam Neill came but even he seemed confused about why he was there.

Apart from the comedic talents of host Sam Pang, the only high point was that Lisa Wilkinson had the good sense to stay away.