Logies 2023: What people thought about Sam Pang’s hosting

Logies host Sam Pang drew audible gasps when he took a shot at Lisa Wilkinson’s infamous Brittany Higgins speech. Have your say.

The votes are in and Logies host Sam Pang – the first to solo helm the ceremony in more than a decade – smashed it out of the park.

The Have You Been Paying Attention regular and Front Bar host kicked off the night with a hilariously pointed monologue.

“I would like to acknowledge a win for diversity tonight. I am the first host in the history of the Logies to be half and half – half Channel 7 and half Channel 10,” Pang said.

“Let’s be honest, it’s just great to have an Asian on Channel 7 who isn’t trying to smuggle live birds through border security.”

Sam Pang was a hit at the 2023 Logies. Picture: Channel 7

And the clever jokes continued. As he thanked those he claimed had turned down the hosting gig, including Hamish Blake:

“I appreciate it, mate, some of us have a mortgage,” he told Blake, who with his wife Zoe Foster Blake owns a very fancy house in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

“By the way, a mortgage is when the bank loans … Ah, don’t worry about it.”

He joked that Kenny star Shane Jacobson said yes to hosting, “before even knowing what the question was”.

“Mick Molloy said yes. And then Channel 7 lawyers said no,” Pang said. “And eventually it came down to two, and then Rolf Harris died so here I am.”

The comedian then turned his attention to Australia’s plethora of reality shows, with a series of rapid-fire gags.

“The Voice is nominated tonight, despite Peter Dutton’s strong opposition to the nomination …”

“The Block shows Australians what it is like to own their own home, making it the greatest fantasy series since Game of Thrones.”

Sam Pang jokes about Karl Stefanovic’s Kochie joke tanking. Picture: Channel 7

Pang said I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! was “a wonderful show where we find out which Australian celebrities haven’t been adding to their super. Hi Kerri-Anne,” referencing Kennerley’s large pay cheque and very short stint on the show.

Celebrities took it all in their stride, including recently retired Sunrise host David Koch, who threw back his head and laughed as Pang said he “changed breakfast television forever. Warmth, humour, personality … you needed none of those”.

Quips continued throughout the ceremony including a pointed reminder “to all the winners out there, make sure that you don’t mix your acceptance speech with an active court case”.

The comment was a likely dig at Lisa Wilkinson for her disastrous Logies acceptance speech last year that caused the Bruce Lehrmann rape trial to be delayed.

At the time, Mr Lehrmann, a former political staffer, was facing trial for the alleged rape of his ex-colleague Brittany Higgins.

The sexual assault charge was ultimately dropped after the trial collapsed when a juror brought an academic paper on rape into the jury room. Mr Lehrmann maintains his innocence.

Sam Pang hosts the 2023 Logies. Picture: Channel 7

Pang rounded out the night on a high, with an Ashes cricket score and a final quip.

“I have a cricket score, Australia are back in and they are 0/32. I should have done that earlier, but it has been on Channel 9 the whole night, sorry about that,” he said.

“We have had a wonderful night. thank you so much for coming. I have been Sam Pang if you had a good night. If you didn’t have a good night., I have been Lawrence Mooney.”

Sam Pang jokes about the show ending early. Picture: Channel 7

It was all positive for Pang on social media.

One viewer tweeted: “OK. 5 mins in and we need to lock in Sam Pang to host every Australian awards night moving forward. KILLING IT.”

Another questioned the vibe in the room itself though, posting: “Sam Pang is bloody hilarious best host the Logies has had in ages. Are people in the room laughing louder than can be heard on TV or does no one there have a sense of humour?”

While another tweeted: “Sam Pang smashed that opening! Tough gig but he had so many good gags. Well done to him and the writers.”

And another: “Did Mick Molloy co-write the jokes with Sam Pang? Loving this opening. Feels like The Front Bar with a bit less footy.”

Originally published as Logies 2023: What people thought about Sam Pang’s hosting