The biggest winner from last night’s Logies Awards was Waleed Aly, who took out the Gold Logie for best personality as well as the Silver Logie for Best Presenter.
The Project host’s acceptance speech addressed the controversy surrounding his nomination.
He assured viewers that his nomination and success was completely normal, regardless of his background or skin colour.
“There’s nothing wrong with the picture. If you are in the room I’m sure there’s an Instagram filter to return things to normal,” Aly said in his acceptance speech.
“It will be fine. This is happening,” Aly said.
He went on to dedicate his Gold Logie to his wife and to all those with an “unpronounceable name”.
“It matters to them for a particular reason,” he said.
“Someone who is in this room, and I’m not going to use the name they use in the industry, came up to me, introduced themselves and said to me, ‘I really hope you win. My name is Mustafa. But I can’t use that name because I won’t get a job.’”
This year saw the first two ethnic nominees in the Gold Logie line-up ever, with Aly nominated alongside SBS presenter Lee Lin Chin.
While Chin may not have won the award, she took Waleed’s victory in stride… sort of.
Congratulations to Waleed, as a newsreader I respect the hell out of you. As a narcissist I will bathe in your blood.
— Lee Lin Chin (@LeeLinChinSBS) May 8, 2016
Social media gags aside, Chin was genuine in her praise of Aly.
As much as I would have loved to won the Logie, I would have never been as articulate as him. Australian TV needs more of you.
— Lee Lin Chin (@LeeLinChinSBS) May 8, 2016
Women recognised
It was also a big night for women at the Logies as Noni Hazlehurst became the second woman to be inducted into the Logies Hall of Fame, after veteran Ruth Cracknell in 2001.
Hazlehurst’s touched on this in her own acceptance speech.
“I fear that our hearts are growing cold,” she said.
“The fact that I’m only the second women to be given this honour is merely a reflection of the prevailing zeitgeist.”
Hazlehurst also recognised that things are changing in the television industry, albeit not quickly.
“Things are clearly changing, but they are changing glacially slowly,” she said.
“The great thing about glaciers is that if you aren’t on them you go under. I’ve been riding that glacier for 40 years and I’m staying on top of it.”
An evening of controversy
Controversy came from other avenues too, with Dave Hughes’ opening monologue raising some eyebrows with digs made at Channel Nine and the 60 Minutes Beirut incident.
“I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! Did quite well, no doubt about it. Did so well, Channel Nine decided to do their own version with 60 Minutes in Beirut,” Hughes said.
Hughes and fellow comedian Peter Helliar were well received on Twitter.
Dave Hughes and Pete Helliar both hilarious on #TVWEEKLogies
— Jacob Landsmeer (@jlandsme_93) May 8, 2016
that ‘im a celebrity get me out of here’ and ’60 minutes drama’ is the best joke i’ve heard come out of dave hughes mouth imo
— Ashley (@hausofashh) May 8, 2016
Dave Hughes should be able to host the Logies as long as he wants. #Logies2016
— Hoogs (@h00gs) May 8, 2016
You just knocked the #logies opening out of the park @DHughesy funny, sharp, but warm, respectful…made the night
— Virginia Gordon (@chatsbury) May 8, 2016
The same couldn’t be said for Craig McLachlan, whose jokes about his age awkward banter with co-host Miranda Tapsell scratching their heads.
Craig McLachlan reminds me of the drunk guy in the suit that you run into at 9:30 on Friday night, completely off his face. #TVWEEKLogies
— Jasmine (@blueirony) May 8, 2016
Well done to @missmirandatap for keeping her cool with an off-tap Craig McLachlan. #Logies
— mickrad (@mickrad) May 8, 2016
Craig McLachlan just bombed harder on the Logies than Craig McLachlan did on Hey Hey back in the day. He’s achieved the impossible.
— EMMET (@emmet_80) May 8, 2016
Shane Warne also created controversy after an altercation with Fairfax Media on the red carpet.
‘F— The Age’: Shane Warne was in no mood for us at #Logies2016 https://t.co/7gfn8xAW2T pic.twitter.com/EaF54DXQqh
— The Age (@theage) May 8, 2016
One award recipient in particular also left some viewers scratching their heads.
Up against the likes of television programmes ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ and ‘The Australian Story’, ‘GoggleBox’ was named winner for ‘Best Factual Program’ for 2016.
Gogglebox won Best Factual Program?
Is that even a real category?— ShamusJohn (@ShamusJon) May 8, 2016
After this year’s controversy, what will next year’s Logies bring for television stars and fans?
Here’s a list of all of last nights winners.
WINNERS
Best Reality Program
The Block
Best Actor
Erik Thomson, 800 Words
Best Entertainment Program
Family Feud
Most Outstanding Comedy Program
Shaun Micallef’s Mad as Hell
Silver Logie for Best Actress
Jessica Marais, Love Child.
Best Drama Program
Home & Away
Best New Talent
Adam Dovile, Better Homes & Gardens
Most Outstanding Sports Coverage
KFC T20 Big Bash League
Most Outstanding Supporting Actor
Tim Minchin, The Secret River
Best Presenter
Waleed Aly, The Project.
Best Lifestyle Program
The Living Room
Best Factual Program
Gogglebox
Best Supporting Actress
Celia Ireland, Wentworth
Best Sports Program
The NRL Footy Show
Most Outstanding News Coverage
Parramatta Shooting, Seven News
Most Outstanding Entertainment Program
The Gruen Transfer
The Most Outstanding Miniseries or Telemovie
The Secret River
Best News Panel or Current Affairs Program
The Project
Most Outstanding Drama
Glitch
Most Outstanding Actor
Alex Dimitriades, The Principal
Most Outstanding Actress
Deborah Mailman, Redfern Now: Promise Me
Gold Logie for Best Personality
Waleed Aly
Brittany Lyons is a third year Journalism student at La Trobe and staff writer for upstart. You can follow her on twitter: @brittlyons_
Featured image: Screenshot from Channel 9
