Host Sam Pang packs the zingers as Logies get under way
Sonia Kruger, nominated for the Gold Logie, is up against red-hot favourite Hamish Blake. Photo: AAP
Comedian Sam Pang is the first solo Logies host in more than a decade, and he’s opened the night with one zinger after another.
“Welcome to the Logies… over the next two days we’re going to have a lot of fun,” he said.
“If you’re under 25, welcome to free-to-air television.”
He cautioned the celebrities present not to mix wine and beer, with extra advice for anyone else onstage.
“To all the winners out there, don’t mix your acceptance speech with an active court case,” he said.
The targets of his deadpan jokes included Gold Logie favourite Hamish Blake, presenter Karl Stefanovic and film star Sam Neill.
Not every crack was a winner, but his digs at reality television were well received.
“The Block shows Australians what it’s like to own their own home, making it the greatest fantasy program since Game of Thrones,” Pang said.
Of the early awards, most outstanding comedy has gone to Colin from Accounts, while the audience-voted most popular comedy Logie went to Have You Been Paying Attention?
Home and Away won most popular drama while Heartbreak High‘s Thomas Weatherall was named most outstanding supporting actor.
Lego Masters host Blake is favourite to win the Gold Logie for a third time.
He’s up against ABC current affairs host Leigh Sales, who has been nominated for the first time.
Voting will be open throughout the live broadcast until just before the winner is announced, so there could be all kinds of last-minute campaign shenanigans during speeches.
Other nominees for the coveted gold are Julia Morris from I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! and Taskmaster, Sonia Kruger from The Voice, and comedian Shaun Micallef.
Also vying for the prize are Osher Gunsberg from The Bachelor and The Masked Singer, and Mystery Road: Origin star Mark Coles Smith.
The awards are being held in Sydney for the first time in 37 years.
The 63rd TV Week Logie Awards are being broadcast on Seven, with Gold Logie voting open till 10.30pm Sunday.
Gold Logie nominees
Hamish Blake, Lego Masters Australia, Nine Network
Julia Morris, I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! & Taskmaster, Network 10
Leigh Sales, 7.30, ABC
Mark Coles Smith, Mystery Road: Origin, ABC
Osher Gunsberg, The Bachelor Australia & The Masked Singer Australia, Network 10
Shaun Micallef, Shaun Micallef’s Mad as Hell, ABC
Sonia Kruger, The Voice, Dancing with the Stars and Big Brother, Seven Network
-AAP
