Logies producer: Q & A

There are just days to go before Australian television stars, producers, execs, publicists, media and even a few “plus ones” converge on Crown’s Palladium for the 56th TV Week Logie Awards.

The man charged with producing the big night is Executive Producer Brent Williams -a task that will attract plenty of comment, and even criticism, come Monday morning.

Working to a looming deadline, he took time to answer some Q&A style questions for TV Tonight:

How many years have you been producing the Logies?

This is my 3rd Logies.

Television’s night of nights has a long history to it. Tell us what goes into the planning and what kind of considerations you have to juggle?

The planning seems to start for next year the minute the show finishes. Music acts and international presenters are locked in months in advance. We toss around hundreds of names for potential presenters, how each award will be presented and in which order, where music acts appear during the show and a tonne of logistics. It is all about trying to find the best balance and make the most entertaining Logies possible.

What steps do you take to fairly represent all the networks? It must be a bit of a nightmare.

It is certainly a challenge. We do our best to find the right balance of all networks and all genres. That is the beauty of the Logies, there is a place for comedians, actors, presenters, entertainers and journalists from all networks.

No host again this year? Is it really TV’s poisoned chalice?

Not at all. A few years ago we decided to do the first Logies without a traditional host and it was extremely well received. There certainly isn’t a lack of candidates to host if that is the way we wanted to go but I think our ensemble cast of presenters enjoy being able to contribute their part to the show without having to take on board the additional pressure of being branded the host.

Who is still on your wish list to present or host?

Do Ricky Gervais or Seth MacFarlane count?

Talk us through the broadcast on the night itself. What’s the biggest challenge?

We have 3 days of full-on rehearsals so that come show time hopefully any potential problems, either talent or technical issues have all been sorted. Once the show starts the biggest challenge is making sure people are where they need to be when we need them to be there. With 1,200 industry people in the room often nominees or presenters can be catching up with friends halfway across the room when we need them at their table or backstage.

Knocking the Logies seems to be a bit of an Australian sport. Does it go too far, is everyone a critic?

I think no matter what there are always going to be those that criticise, which is a shame. This is a night of celebration for our industry and to recognise the outstanding television production we are capable of in this country.

How hard is it to plan a surprise and keep it under wraps? Have they all gone to plan?

Everything has gone to plan over the last few years, touch wood. Sometimes they aren’t always planned but we are always trying to find “moments” throughout the show. The moments people will be speaking about the next day. Last year Molly Meldrum walking on stage to a standing ovation was a moment. Deborah Mailman winning Most Outstanding Actress for her portrayal of Bonita Mabo with Bonita sitting in the room beside her was the moment of the night for me.

Can you share something unique about this year’s ceremony that isn’t out there yet?

You will just have to tune in on April 27 to see.

Logie Awards air from 7:30pm Sunday on Nine.