Something completely different

AUSTRALIAN TV viewers were promised a "completely different" Logies this year.

AUSTRALIAN TV viewers were promised a "completely different" Logies this year.

And international stars who were not only happy to be here but knew why they were here was a good start.

Although American actor Jessica Alba made a dash to avoid the flashes on the red carpet, her Fantastic Four cast mates Ioan Gruffudd and Michael Chiklas lapped up the attention.

Chiklis, also a star of police drama The Shield, said he was enamoured by the "more flirty and wild" fans he encountered on the red carpet.

Australian actor Rachel Griffith, classy as ever in black although losing her voice, said she was at the awards to support the industry which made her a star.

"The industry needs all the love and tenderness it can get at the moment," she said.

In Australia for the next three months, the Brothers and Sisters star said she wanted to finish her career in Australia.

"I'll definitely die on these shores but not too soon I hope," she said.

NCIS star Michael Weatherley admitted he was unfamiliar with any Australian TV shows but committed to doing some research while in the country.

British pop star James Morrison said he was honoured to be a special guest at Australian TV's night of nights ahead of performing his smash hit Undiscovered, the title track from his debut album.

The glitzy start to the evening was as notable for its absences as it was its arrivals.

60 Minutes reporter Peter Overton played a straight bat to questions about his wife Jessica Rowe, who didn't appear tonight after it was announced she had been dumped from Nine's Today show while on maternity leave.

Of his wife, who was at home with their daughter Allegra, Overton said: "I'm just so proud of her ... that's how I feel now".

Nine Network chief executive Eddie McGuire kept mum on the latest reports which again question his future at the helm of the flailing network but was happy to spruik the Logies, a rare bright spark to air on Nine this year.

"I love the fact that everybody puts down their swords for one night and we all have a bit of fun and catch up with colleagues," he said.

Another notable absence was Gold Logie nominee Bert Newton's son Matthew, the Stupid Stupid Man actor who is about to face charges of assault against his former girlfriend, Brooke Satchwell.

He didn't join Bert, his mother Patti, sister Lauren and her new husband Matt Welsh on the red carpet.

Mother's Day also came a week early with several stars choosing their mum over a glamorous human handbag.

Rove McManus was supported by his mother Coralie as he took on his first Logies red carpet since the death of his wife Belinda Emmett.

He said he was going to throw Coralie into the deep end on his Network Ten show next week.

"She's going to be hosting the whole show," he said of his planned Mother's Day spectacular.

Gold Logie nominee Natalie Blair, a star of Ten soap Neighbours, and Daniel Macpherson, star of the upcoming Australian drama City Homicide also brought their mums.

In a rare appearance out of her families trademark colour of khaki, Bindi Irwin dubbed Glenn Robbins as her favourite Australian TV performer, more for his alter ego Russell Coight than his Kath and Kim character Kel Knight.

On the arm of her mother Terri, who would accept the Logies Hall of Fame honour on behalf of her late husband Steve, Bindi showed remarkable maturity in her dress which she "got from America".
"She's so fun to watch, she's a little eight-year-old kid until she gets on stage and all of a sudden she's on the money," Terri said.

Terri said the Hall of Fame award, the only award announced before the ceremony, was a great honour.

"I think Steve would have been first to be impressed by this recognition and so proud that Bindi could get up and present an award," she said.

AAP