Logies 2022: Random Acts of Carpetness

April Rose Pengilly, Neighbours.

The Logie Awards returned to the Gold Coast after three years as talent and creatives from ABC, Seven, Nine, 10, SBS, Foxtel and Streaming platforms rubbed shoulders on the Red Carpet.

Once again here is TV Tonight‘s random take on the mayhem with bite-size quotes in between a media frenzy, snappers, publicists and excited fans….

Buckle up.

Rebekah Elmaloglou on what might be Neighbours legacy in terms of its soapie stories.

“The fact that Neighbours is set in a suburb that people can relate with… having local neighbours and a local coffee shop… I think that’s what people will take away with them. Being an everyday sort of place.

“My character was always giving big talks to the younger kids, or her relationship with Susan. People can relate to a lot of those conversations.”

The Block‘s Shaynna Blaze on what to expect in Tree Change season:

“There’s lots of mud! But the amount of personality in these houses is the most I’ve ever seen. Some series has personality in 1 or 2 contestants, but there’s a lot in these.

Judge Darren Palmer adds, “It’s authentic Australiana, 10 acres, big homes, countryside and the most distance we’ve ever had on The Block.”

Shaynna: Because it’s so muddy we have to get driven around. It’s a fair distance. You can’t just pop over, easily.”

Scott Cam on renovating his own home this season:

“The opportunity was there because there was an old homestead. I love historic homes so we thought ‘Let’s do it up and fix it’ and it gives (contestants) an idea about what’s possible. I’ve got a really good team. The Block Shop is helping me, there’s a couple of ex-contestants doing some carpentry, it’s fantastic.

“I’m spending a lot of time there and I’m too old for 13 hour days.”

And what keeps him filming 16 seasons?

“It’s everything I love: television and building. I love the building industry and apprentices.”

Foreman Dan Reilly: “We need tradies. It’s supply & demand. There’s too much work going on out there. Why would you leave Melbourne and drive there, when all the work is there?

Foreman Keith Schleiger adds, “But in saying that The Block is going better than ever. The farm’s coming up a treat, and the best houses we’ve ever built by a mile.”

Johanna Griggs on seeing everybody again after a 3 year absence.

“It started at the airport and then on the flight. It’s such a small industry, but we’ve all worked together, so catching up with absolutely everyone is great.”

And on upcoming Commmonwealth Games production:

“Bruce McAvaney and Tamsin will go to do commentary at the athletics, but everything else will be done out of Sydney.”

Bump‘s Angus Samson turns the tables and interviews TV Tonight:

Who’s given the most articulate answer so far?

TVT: “Ryan Moloney.”

What’s your favourite part about being at the Logies?

TVT: “I like seeing network meet network. Getting a photo of a Seven and a Nine person together, because they’re always so separate. And you know the US is never like that. Why is Australia like that?”

Sampson also teases the new Bump season.

“We shot Season 2 and 3 back to back, it’s coming out I believe on December 1……Claudia thinks it’s the best series yet. Hopefully the audience will too.”

Stars Nathalie Morris and Carlos Sanson on their flying visit to the GC from a holiday in Italy.

Carlos: “22 hours to get here, and then we go back tomorrow.”
Nathalie: “We wanted to celebrate with everybody from the cast and crew.”
Carlos: “It’s our first nomination, first time at the Logies, so it’s special.”

Carlos says of his casting:

“It was a dream audition that came through: a 17 year old Chilean-Australian, school jock. That was literally me when I was 17. When I read the brief I thought if I can do half of what I’m capable of, I’d get the job.”

Sam Pang on why he doesn’t do many interviews:

“These two are better at it than me. They represent the show better.”

Tom Gleisner: “We don’t like him going off script.”

Ed Kavalee: “He’s about to start plugging his crypto-coin.”

Sam on winning TV Tonight Awards: “It’s a very big honour, I’d like to thank readers and it’s wonderful to hear. And in front of these two hearing it, it means even more.”

Ed Kavalee on topping entertainment shows last week:

“It was a slow week. I believe David Attenborough was doing Slug Week, which is always good for us.”

Tim McDonald on The Cheap Seats:

“We’re having a lot fun, building an audience mainly through word of mouth. I think it’s my mum. So as long as she gets around to 20 more million people in the metro and regions we’ll be all good.”

Who does he want to meet at his first Logies?

“No-one in particular. Just the head of programming from Channel 9 and Channel 7. It’s been a long-held desire of mine to meet them. I’ve got a couple of ideas for shows. I want to see if Rescue Dogs can cook. That’s where TV is going.”

On The Cheap Seats occasionally editing its clips in order to get to the humour:

“Occasionally the network lawyer steps in. The show would be 4 hours but given everything we say it’s reduced to 5 minutes. In a couple of weeks it will be a short 5 second TikTok.”

Kate Box on rumours she might front a Wentworth spin-off one day:

“I didn’t hate the job so if they came knocking absolutely I’d want to do it.”

Jane Hall adds, “I had my neck snapped. I don’t know if you can come back from that!”

Bernard Curry on upcoming ABC drama, Savage River:

“I play a town pharmacist. It’s a great big ensemble cast with Katharine Langford as the lead. Jacqui McKenzie, Robert Grubb, which is coming up later in the year.”

And an upcoming role in Crazy Fun Park:

“(Producer) Jo Werner has a habit of making things that hit a certain zeitgeist. I’m excited because it’s a show my kids can watch, whereas Wentworth is not.

After Celebrity Big Brother would he do more reality?

“I’m putting my feelers out for things like Survivor. I’ve got to try and find (producer) Amelia Fisk because I want to I host Million Dollar Island.”

Hamish Blake on whether he has two speeches ready or says it all in one speech, just in case:

“It is the eternal question. I don’t have any plan. …. The biggest thing for me is not forgetting to thank the people who make the actual show. I’m just the guy who rolls around dressed as a dog.

“The next thing for me is enjoying a bit of downtime before Lego Masters S5. That will start in October.”

And will he do more Celebrity Gogglebox?

“Gogglebox was a one-off…..But I think they are rotating people. I’m happy to share it around. I wouldn’t want to hog the couch.”

Leigh Sales on what’s next?

“I am coming back next year, but I have literally not pitched anything and not been offered anything. I absolutely need a break. I’ve got to use that to refuel and work out some ideas. I’m so exhausted after 12 years of daily current affairs.

“I’m going to make a list about what I like about my job and not like. Once I’ve got that I can come up with some ideas that tick all the ‘like’ boxes.”

And what happened to her fiction book Any Ordinary Day being adapted by Jungle Entertainent?

“That’s still in development. They’re negotiating over that but it’s progressing along. But I won’t be heavily involved in that.”

Celebrity Apprentice‘s Janine Allis on the differences between working at 10 and Nine?

“Both stations have really good people, all just trying to navigate their way through the crazy world we’re living in.

“Nine is a bit more ‘blingy’ and 10 is more down to earth, but both are good.”

And whether Shark Tank might ever return?

“I don’t know. You’d have to speak to whoever wants to do it.”

Does Kat Stewart think Five Bedrooms missed a nomination because it is on Paramount+?

“I don’t know. We’re very proud of it and pleased we’re doing a 4th series and the international reception it’s had. But I’m very happy to be here to celebrate Austraian television after 3 years away.”

Filming is in “September or October.”

Costa Georgiadis:

“If ever there was a time when gardening was important, people leaned on nature in the last 3 years. The most important thing about these Logies is recognising the people whoa ren’t here -the production teams.

“How they produced 80 episodes in isolation in Melbourne, field producers in Tassie or Sydney -unbelievable.”

Tom Gleeson on how many Hard Quiz episodes are stockpiled?

“Around 10 in the can then I’m back in the studio in August to record another 30.

“Our co-executive producer was holding auditions in Brisbane yesterday and 2 caught my ear -one was cricket bats and the Joh Bjelke Petersen government.

“We didn’t really advertise it on the show but during the pandemic a lot of the time we could only use Victorian contestants, so now we have auditions in all the capitals.

“I think the thing that really gets up the commercial networks’ noses is that we don’t give away money. It doesn’t make a difference to the entertainment value.”

Upright‘s Tim Minchin:

Upright S2 comes out in November. We just wrapped on it and we’re editing. When I did S1 I thought I was done, and then we sat down and talked about what the season could be and I just fell in love with the idea.

“Milly Alcock is back from filming the Game of Thrones prequel and it’s another huge adventure that will make you laugh and cry.

“There is a piano but it’s not on the journey with them this time.”

Michelle Vergara Moore from The Unusual Suspects on shooting La Brea S2.

“I’m playing an American in Melbourne. No spoilers but let’s just say I’ve never done action / adventure / scifi and I’m loving it.”

Love Me cast on S2.

Heather Mitchell, “They’re talking about filming in September.”

Bojana Novakovic, “I know it starts with meeting Peter’s mother. That’s all I know.”

Matt Nable on The Twelve:

“The first episode is establishing so many characters. It’s such a big cast. But it was great fun with people I hadn’t worked with before… Marta, Sam Neill, so it was a real buzz.”

Andy Lee on filming more of The Hundred in August:

“We’ve got a chance to do some different games, which we’ve been working on. But the best part of the show is everyday Australians over-sharing their stories. More and more people are signing up to be on. We’re over 10,000 or 12,000.”

Matt Evans on Home & Away:

“I’m loving Home & Away. It’s the best experience ever and everybody is so nice and awesome.

“I’m learning so much day by day. It’s a great big roller coaster.

“I’m going to try and release some music while I’m on the show.”

Home & Away‘s Ray Meagher on Neighbours ending:

“It’s devastating. It’s really sad. It was a trailblazer in that genre. 5 episodes a week, sales to BBC were a first for a soap. They were hugely successful, not just here but all around the world. It’s a real travesty that its’s come to an end.

“We’ve got a few years to go before we catch up to them, assuming we do. Who knows in this day and age?

“I’ve always thought when out show is as healthy as it is at the moment, that even if it fell into the hands of complete idiots it would take three years to kill it.”