TV Week Logie Awards: 25 years ago

Blue Heelers star Lisa McCune won her third consecutive Gold Logie at the 41st annual TV Week Logie Awards, held at Melbourne’s Crown Palladium on 11 April 1999.

McCune won the Gold ahead of her fellow nominees Belinda Emmett (Home And Away), Kerri-Anne Kennerley (Midday With Kerri-Anne), Georgie Parker (All Saints) and John Wood (Blue Heelers).

McCune also won the Silver Logie for Most Popular Actress, while her co-star Martin Sacks won the Silver Logie for Most Popular Actor. Blue Heelers, a hit for the Seven Network since 1994, won the Silver Logie for Most Popular Program for the third consecutive year.

There were two wins for the Nine Network’s Hey Hey It’s Saturday — Most Popular Light Entertainment Program and Most Popular Comedy Program. As the show was approaching its 28th anniversary, host Daryl Somers acknowledged Hey Hey It’s Saturday‘s success as a team effort: “It’s tremendous to be recognised after all this time. Everyone works so hard and it’s wonderful to be relevant in 1999!” Despite Somers’ enthusiasm, the Nine Network cancelled the show later that year.

The Seven Network’s Better Homes And Gardens won the Logie for Most Popular Lifestyle Program for the fourth year running.

Neighbours star Daniel MacPherson won the Logie for Most Popular New Male Talent, and Kimberley Cooper from Home And Away won Most Popular New Female Talent.

Among the industry-voted categories, ABC dominated the field with wins by ABC News, Foreign Correspondent and Seachange, and journalist Maxine McKew awarded Most Outstanding News/Public Affairs Broadcaster. The Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Actor was a tie between Tony Martin (Wildside) and David Wenham (Seachange). Rachael Blake (Wildside) won the Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Actress.

Each of the commercial networks also claimed an award in the industry-voted section. Nine’s coverage of the XVI Commonwealth Games won Most Outstanding Sports Program. Seven Network commentator Bruce McAvaney won Most Outstanding Sports Broadcaster, and Network Ten’s The Day Of The Roses won Most Outstanding Telemovie/Mini-Series.

Former daytime TV host Mike Walsh was inducted into the TV Week Logie Awards Hall of Fame. A former radio announcer who made the switch to television in the 1960s on variety show 66 And All That and early versions of Today and The Mike Walsh Show. But it was the daytime version of The Mike Walsh Show, launched in 1973, that became a hit with afternoon audiences craving something different to the usual line-up of cheap game shows, vintage movies and American soaps. Although it had a focus on variety, The Mike Walsh Show also tackled interviews and discussion on political, medical and social issues. During the course of The Mike Walsh Show‘s long run, Walsh collected over 20 Logies, including the Gold Logie in 1980 (pictured). “I have retired and television isn’t part of my life anymore, so it was very nice to be asked and a surprise. It was a nice wrap,” he said in accepting the Hall of Fame award.

Hosting the 41st annual TV Week Logie Awards was Andrew Denton, formerly of ABC and the Seven Network. Denton’s comedic style was a definite shift away from the more traditional style of past hosts Daryl Somers, Ray Martin and Bert Newton but was well received by members of the audience:

Jesse Spencer (Neighbours): “It’s much better this year. Usually at the Logies we sit outside but this one has been fantastic.”
Glenn Ridge (Sale Of The Century): “A refreshing change and showing good humour. I think it has been a good change.”
Dan Paris (Neighbours): “I think Andrew is fantastic. I think he is just a laugh-a-minute. I can’t wait for the next thing he is going to come up with. We are having a great time.”
Libby Tanner (All Saints): “If anyone can save the Logies, he can. He is a legend.”
Jeanne Little (Beauty And The Beast): “I have been rivetted and excited from the word go. I think Andrew Denton is such a talent and I think we are going to see him host at least a dozen more.”

International guests at the awards included comedian Kathy Griffin (Suddenly Susan), singer-songwriter Isaac Hayes (South Park), Aussie ex-pat actress Portia de Rossi (Ally McBeal) and Hercules‘ star Kevin Sorbo.

The Nine Network telecast of the awards was watched by 2,948,000 viewers (AC Nielsen Australia, 5 cities) and was the fourth most watched program for the week 11-17 April 1999. (Friends, at 3,469,000, Million Dollar Chance Of A Lifetime (3,191,000) and Blue Heelers (3,401,000) topped the week’s ratings)

TV Week Logie Award Winners 1999: Public Voting Categories:

Gold Logie — Most Popular Personality On Australian TV: Lisa McCune

Silver Logie — Most Popular Actor: Martin Sacks (Blue Heelers)
Silver Logie — Most Popular Actress: Lisa McCune (Blue Heelers)
Silver Logie — Most Popular Program: Blue Heelers

Most Popular Light Entertainment Program: Hey Hey It’s Saturday
Most Popular Comedy Program: Hey Hey It’s Saturday
Most Popular Lifestyle Program: Better Homes And Gardens

Most Popular New Male Talent: Daniel MacPherson (Neighbours)
Most Popular New Female Talent: Kimberley Cooper (Home And Away)

TV Week Logie Award Winners 1999: Industry Voted Categories:

Gold Logie — TV Week Logie Awards Hall Of Fame: Mike Walsh

Silver Logie — Most Outstanding Actor: Tony Martin (Wildside) and David Wenham (Seachange)
Silver Logie — Most Outstanding Actress: Rachael Blake (Wildside)

Most Outstanding News Coverage: “Indonesia Crisis”, ABC News
Most Outstanding Public Affairs Program: “Balibo Five”, Foreign Correspondent
Most Outstanding Documentary: Miracle At Sea: The Rescue Of Tony Bullimore
Most Outstanding News/Public Affairs Broadcaster: Maxine McKew (ABC)
Most Outstanding Sports Program: XVI Commonwealth Games (Nine Network)
Most Outstanding Sports Broadcaster: Bruce McAvaney (Seven Network)
Most Outstanding Drama Series: Seachange (ABC)
Most Outstanding Telemovie/Mini-Series: The Day Of The Roses (Network Ten)