They say history is written by the victors. Television history, in contrast, is more likely written by those who wore the worst outfits, those who made the most ridiculous speeches and those who made the most memorable gaffes.
The Logie Awards, writ large in the annals of bad hairdos and sometimes startling frock choices, have a history peppered with memorably strange moments – like the time American actor Michael Cole said “shit” on national television.
But the history books don’t always tell the story. At least, they don’t always capture the right moments – those which were genuinely meaningful, or those which are remembered as properly hilarious.
This isn’t an exhaustive list of the most memorable moments from the Logies, but once you sweep aside the regulars – Bert Newton and Muhammad Ali, Andrew Denton on James Packer’s lap – what is left is a mix of the strange, surreal and occasionally heartfelt.
1962: Lorrae Desmond is the first woman to win the Gold Logie.
Desmond would go on to become the much loved star of the iconic soap opera A Country Practice, playing nurse Shirley Gilroy from 1981 until 1992, but at the time of her historic win, she was hosting her own variety show, The Lorrae Desmond Show (1960-1964), which aired on the ABC.
Norman Gunston (alias Garry McDonald) with Denise Drysdale after his 1976 Logie win.Credit:Bruce Postle
1973: Hollywood actor Glenn Ford, a conservative Republican, refused to sit next to Mannix actress Gail Fisher because she was black.
To add insult to injury, he would not shake hands with Labor senator (and media minister) Doug McClelland, who was also a guest. The US ambassador at the time, Walter Rice, later apologised for Ford’s behaviour.
1976: Norman Gunston’s Gold Logie campaign and winning speech.
People with short memories would like to think Tom Gleeson pioneered the applecart-upsetting Gold Logie campaign that saw him finish the night trophy in hand, and the room draped in shivering discomfort. In fact, the iconic but beautifully fictional Norman Gunston, alias Garry McDonald, did it first.
1988: Kylie Minogue becomes the youngest recipient of the Gold Logie.
In an illustration of how surreal the Logies can get, there were only four nominees and three of them – Minogue, Jason Donovan and Peter O’Brien – were all on Neighbours. (The fourth was television perennial, Daryl Somers.) “I hope I can do the industry proud in some way, I know I am just learning,” Minogue said. “I know I can learn a lot from you all.”
2006: Joan Rivers goes wildly off script, or does she?
The media reported she might have been “under the weather” but more likely is that the world-class comedian knew just how to skewer the room. “They don’t know who the shit I am,” she told Richard Wilkins, her co-presenter, as he introduced her. “I don’t know why the f— I’m here. I know you’re all famous and I hope you all win.”
Shaun Micallef with his Silver Logie in 2010.
2006: The Chaser’s Chas Licciardello photobombs the Logies.
Set the task of sneaking into camera shots at least 20 times, Licciardello managed to hit his target almost without effort. But he then upped the ante and got into the backstage green room and then joined the cast of Blue Water High on stage as they accepted their Logie for outstanding children’s program. All up, Licciardello appeared in 25 camera shots.
2010: Shaun Micallef reads Laurence Olivier’s 1979 Academy Award acceptance speech.
Winning for most popular presenter, Micallef took to the stage saying he felt a prepared speech would seem cocky, but at the same time did not want to be unprepared for a win. So instead he read Olivier’s verbose, florid and often hilarious acceptance speech from the 1979 Oscars.
2015: Julia Morris, presenting outstanding entertainment program, announces The Voice’s win before reading the nominees.
“Did I forget to talk about the nominees?” she said, returning to the microphone with a shocked expression. “It’s live. Don’t tell anyone. We can cut it out later. We’re going to talk about the nominees later when I am in really big trouble. It’s just inappropriate to talk about who they are now, isn’t it?”
Waleed Aly in 2017.Credit:Eddie Jim
2016: Tim Minchin’s acceptance speech after winning the Logie for outstanding supporting actor for his work on The Secret River.
“It’s incredibly important we keep telling the story of the true history of Australia. It’s extremely complicated and painful and it’s hard to know how to tell a story respectfully and how to make sure we amplify the right voices, but I do know that ‘let’s get over it and move on’ doesn’t cut it and never has in any culture in the history of the world.”
2016: Waleed Aly wins the Gold Logie and addresses racism in the industry.
“Each nominee brilliantly distils some separate piece of Australia and I think it’s an amazing thing that that can be assembled on this night in this way,” he said. “A lot of people … have made it clear to me that me being here right now really matters to them. If tonight means anything, and I don’t know if it does, there’s absolutely no reason why [things] can’t change.”
The 62nd annual TV Week Logie Awards air on Sunday, June 19 at 7pm on Channel 9 and 9Now. Join our live blog from 3:30pm on Sunday.
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