news articles 2 may 2005

[Inside Australian Idol]

Rove keeps Midas touch
Darren Devlyn and Robert Fidgeon
02may05

VARIETY show host Rove McManus shocked the industry and upstaged a TV starlet last night in winning his third successive Gold Logie.

While Channel 10's main man beat hot favourite Delta Goodrem in 2004, Home and Away's Bec Cartwright was expected to outpoll McManus for this year's gong.

Cartwright is riding high on the success of her Summer Bay role and that of Dancing with the Stars, and her romance with Australian tennis player Lleyton Hewitt.

McManus's run of success did not end with the gold statuette for most popular TV personality.

The host of Rove Live, who arrived at the Crown Palladium ceremony with wife of three months Belinda Emmett, also won silver Logies for most popular TV presenter and most popular light entertainment program, pipping ratings juggernaut Dancing With the Stars and the ABC's hit comedy Kath & Kim.

"I'm stunned, and at the same time delighted," the pint-sized host said.

Cartwright did win the silver Logie for most popular actress.

And Blue Heelers' John Wood, nominated for gold for the ninth successive year, won his first Logie -- a silver for most popular actor -- since starring on Rafferty's Rules in 1989.

The 47th Logies belonged to Ten.

The network won 10 Logies, including a Hall of Fame award for Neighbours. Nine and Seven won four Logies, the ABC three, and SBS and Foxtel claimed one each.

There is a strong feeling that Ten's Logies success can be attributed to the introduction of SMS voting.

The theory is that Ten's target demographic (16-39) is more enthusiastic about the voting than the older viewers of Nine and Seven, who are less familiar with SMS technology and therefore vote in smaller numbers by filling out coupons.

Ten's The OC gained the award for most popular overseas program ahead of the hugely successful Friends and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

Australian Idol won the most popular reality program Logie, while Natalie Blair (Neighbours) and Chris Hemsworth from Seven's Home And Away were awarded most popular new talent Logies.

Nine's McLeod's Daughters, Backyard Blitz, and the Sydney, rugby league version of The Footy Show won popularity awards.

The network's coverage of the Asian tsunami won for most outstanding news coverage (voted on by a TV industry panel of experts).

The Logie for most outstanding drama series was claimed by Foxtel's Love My Way. It is the first time a pay-TV series has won a Logie.

Miranda Otto won the most outstanding actress award for her portrayal of Lindy Chamberlain in Seven's mini-series Through My Eyes.

Gold Logie presenter Sam Neill was announced most outstanding actor for his role as a drunken lawyer in the Ten mini-series Jessica, which also won for most outstanding mini-series/telemovie.

The ceremony was co-hosted by Eddie McGuire, Andrew O'Keefe and McManus.


www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,15146909%255E2902,00.html

[Inside Australian Idol]

Rove's golden night taking Logie trifecta
By TV Writer SIMON YEAMAN
02may05

VARIETY show host Rove McManus has upset the tipsters again – beating hot favourite Bec Cartwright last night to win his third straight Gold Logie.

Despite lower ratings for Channel 10's Rove Live in 2005, McManus took home the Logies trifecta three years running – Gold for Most Popular Personality, Silver for Most Popular TV Presenter and another Logie for Most Popular Light Entertainment Program (over Dancing with the Stars).

Home and Away golden girl Cartwright scored a consolation prize with Silver for Most Popular Actress, beating McLeod's Daughters star Bridie Carter and Kath & Kim duo Gina Riley and Magda Szubanski.

Blue Heelers patriarch John Wood failed to take the gold for a ninth time, but didn't walk away empty handed. He won Silver for Most Popular Actor.

The surprise Gold Logie result mirrored 2004, when Delta Goodrem was everyone's tip to win, only to lose to McManus.

In another upset, Miranda Otto's portrayal of Lindy Chamberlain in Channel 7 mini-series Through My Eyes beat hotly favoured Claudia Karvan (Foxtel's Love My Way) for the industry-judged Silver Logie as Most Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series.

But Love My Way won the Logie for Most Outstanding Drama Series, the first time a pay-TV series has won a Logie in the history of the awards.

Sam Neill won Silver for Most Outstanding Actor for Channel 10 mini-series Jessica.

McLeod's Daughters won Most Popular Australian Drama, while low-rating teen drama The OC won Most Popular Overseas Program, against top-rating CSI.

Australian Idol topped Big Brother and My Restaurant Rules for Most Popular Reality Program and there was no defiant last hurrah for Don Burke. Backyard Blitz won Most Popular Lifestyle Program over the axed Burke's Backyard.

Sydney's rugby league version of The Footy Show beat the AFL Footy Show to be the Most Popular Sports Program.

Outstanding Logies went to The Chaser Decides for comedy (over Kath & Kim) and The President Versus David Hicks for documentary (featuring Adelaide man Terry Hicks retracing his incarcerated son's footsteps in Pakistan and Afghanistan).

Neighbours celebrated 20 years on television with an induction into the Logies Hall of Fame, while Neighbours newcomer Natalie Blair won Most Popular New Talent in the female division (Home and Away's Chris Hemsworth won the male category).

ABC's AFI award-winning drama Out There won Most Outstanding Children's Program, over Hi-5 and Bambaloo.


www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,15147871%255E911,00.html

[Inside Australian Idol]

Not enough class
By Janice Breen Burns
Fashion Editor
May 2, 2005

How sad to look average on Logies night. Those who chose subtle over bombshell fashion faded like wallflowers in Crown's white carpet while all around them necklines plunged, thigh splits parted and laced corsets defined Hollywood waistlines.

Baby-faced Home and Away star Isabel Lucas was "Best in Show" among the mostly modest under-20s in a gold satin goddess gown and with tangled tendrils of white hair caught in a halo circlet of diamonds.

Tahyna Tozzi, soon to appear in the ABC drama Blue Water High, was as glorious, lavishly strapless in coffee and green satin by Sydney label Miramandic.

Asked to pause a moment, she straightened, smiled regally and thrust a perfectly tanned leg out of a crotch-high split in her heavy silk skirt. Such class!

Which could not be said of the many blokes who persisted with that most peculiar of Logie night traditions, defining "black tie" as, in fact, a tie-less lounge suit combo with unbuttoned slack-collared cotton shirt.

In their defence, they made the blokes who did bother - such as Australian Idol runner-up Anthony Callea in zipped black Versace, Lleyton Hewitt in dark hand-finished Calibre and Ian Thorpe in striped silk swelling over those amazing biceps - look absolutely smashing.

Even the perpetually daggy John Wood smartened up for this one, in a chalk-striped double-breasted. Never mind his blue shirt and odd bow tie. Call it sartorial exuberance, which affected more women than blokes. They hoped double-sided tape and missing frock bits would render their frocks "sexy". "Tacky", unfortunately, won out for so many in the end.


www.theage.com.au/news/TV--Radio/Not-enough-class/2005/05/01/1114886254702.html

[Inside Australian Idol]

Idols in the spotlight again
02may05

AUSTRALIAN Idol host Andrew G looked as if he could hardly believe his luck with new girlfriend Noa Tishby.


Casey Donovan

The Israeli-born LA-based actor and model did look ravishing in red, but it was Andrew's attire that was more interesting.

His one-off T-shirt was emblazoned with Noa's face and read Noa, Luvva across it.

"(T-shirt company) Tight Knickers always have hot chicks on their T-shirts, so I rang my mate and said, 'I'm taking the hottest chick to the Logies', so he made me this."

Boot girl

NO one does accessorising like Idol winner Casey Donovan.

Amid the fake tan, shimmering diamonds and silk gowns, Donovan sported a Kurt Cobain tin lunchbox as a handbag and Doc Marten boots. Very refreshing.


www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,15147580%255E28957,00.html

[Inside Australian Idol]

Opinion
Casey in concert
Issue 79

As a Casey Donovan fan, I would like to thank NIT for publishing letters from fans, and letting people know how abominably this young talented singer has been treated by not only her management but also SonyBMG since winning Australian Idol 2004.

SonyBMG have finally updated their website, adding Casey’s concerts to the site. She will be at St Mary’s League’s Club on May 20 ($22, ring 02 9677 7777) and Revesby Workers Club on May 21 ($22, book online at http://www.revesbyworkers.com.au).

I believe that all the hard work and effort from the Casey Donovan fans with their letter writing campaign, writing articles and having some of these articles posted in this paper and some others has helped us Casey Donovan fans to finally encourage SonyBMG to update the official Casey Donovan web page.

So some small positive steps and the Message Stick program on ABC “About A Girl” was a great bonus at a time where we need to get some more positive publicity.

I can’t wait to hear how her trip to the Northern Territory went as she is up there with the Fred Hollows Foundation - should be a great experience for her.

Anyways, I just wanted to thank you for helping Casey fans with our letter writing campaign and hope for the best for her future.

Janette Smith
via www.nit.com.au

www.nit.com.au/opinion/story.aspx?id=4901

[Inside Australian Idol]

Opinion
A fan’s responsibility
Issue 79

In reply to Sarah Beattie’s letter regarding Casey Donovan, I assure that everything in my letter was factual.

Norm, Casey’s step-dad might be the nicest person, but he was very critical of Casey’s management, both to the media and in Casey’s forum.

I can send you the articles if you wish.

Look, this is not about Casey’s management or even about Casey.

It’s a heart-felt plea to Casey’s fans to get behind her and support her, not by criticising her management but by writing letters requesting appearances and airplay, buying her singles and albums by the truckload and by purchasing tickets to as many concerts as possible.

Anthony’s fans have been diligent in this regard, therefore Anthony has eight sold-out concerts in May, a number one album for three weeks in the charts, the highest selling Australian single of all time, and has had numerous appearances on television.

His fans are still bombarding radio stations with requests for airplay.

Casey’s fans will make or break her, not her management, nor Anthony’s fans, nor the media.

By the way, Casey’s concert appearances do appear on her website.

Margie Raynor
via www.nit.com.au


www.nit.com.au/opinion/story.aspx?id=4904

[Inside Australian Idol]

Opinion
The Casey debate continues
Issue 79

I would like to respond to the opinion letter “Some Casey ‘facts’” (Letters to the Editor, April 14, 2005).

The author of the letter, Sarah Beattie, opens her letter by expressing her anger that you would print something that is not backed up by correct facts, yet you will find that she herself has done that very same thing.

In the paragraph in which she compares Casey’s sales to Anthony Callea’s sales, she first states that Casey’s album has gone three times platinum. A common misconception with the ARIA charts is that an artist has sold the amount of copies that the charts say the CD has gone gold or platinum by - this is not the case.

Platinum/gold accreditations simply indicate how many copies have been shipped by the record companies to record stores, not how many CDs have actually been bought by consumers.

Although exact sales figures are only known by the record companies, the fact that Casey’s album very quickly dropped out of the charts indicates that it did not sell the three times platinum figure it is credited with.

Sarah Beattie then goes on to state that Casey’s first single, ‘Listen With Your Heart’, was number one for several weeks, and that Anthony’s second single ‘Rain/Bridge Over Troubled Water’ was number one for only one week and has since dropped quickly down the chart. This is incorrect.

Listen With Your Heart’ and ‘Rain’ were both number one for two weeks on the charts. It should also be noted that ‘Rain’ only began to drop down the chart the week Anthony’s album was released, which is, at the present time, still number one after three weeks of release.

I personally think that Sarah raises some very good points in her article in regards to Casey’s management and publicity, yet as an Anthony Callea fan I feel it is unnecessary to draw comparisons between the two, considering that the only thing they have in common musically in the fact that they both competed on Idol- in all other respects they are different.

They have different fan bases, and therefore comparisons between their sales figures are unfair.

People wanting to compare Casey to other artists would be better off comparing her to other young female artists on the charts today, such as Avril Lavigne and Ashlee Simpson.

Meagan Date
via www.nit.com.au


www.nit.com.au/opinion/story.aspx?id=4900

[Inside Australian Idol]

Casey takes the challenge for Fred Hollows
Issue 79

With The Fred Hollows Foundation, you can see the world while helping the world see.

And Australian Idol Casey Donovan is doing just that this month, joining See Australia Challenge participants on a nine-day visit to the Northern Territory.

They will spend time with Indigenous communities, hike in Kakadu National Park and kayak on the Katherine River.

Ms Donovan said the trip would help participants better understand “the issues that Indigenous Australians are facing”.

The See Australia and See the World challenges work like this:

Organise a fund-raiser for the Foundation, whose aim is “a world where no one is needlessly blind, and an Australia where Indigenous people enjoy the same health facilities as their fellow-countrymen”.

When your fund-raising for a country or region reaches a certain amount, you are rewarded with a trip to that country, with flights, accommodation and most meals included.

On the journey, not only do fundraisers see for themselves the foundation’s work among people in remote areas with eyesight and other health problems, they also, as tourists, enjoy activities such as guided trekking, kayaking and cycling.

Participants have described the See the World and See Australia challenges as “life-changing”.

One Brisbane man was so enthusiastic, he had the Fred Hollows Foundation logo tattooed on his back.

The challenge is open to individuals, businesses and community groups and links with foundation projects helping Aboriginals in remote areas of the Northern Territory of Australia, and projects in India, Nepal and Vietnam.

Fundraising targets are $6,000 for India, $5,500 for Nepal, $5,000 for Vietnam and $4,000 for the Northern Territory.

The six-year-old Challenge program is organised with the help of Thai International and Vietnam Airlines, and the World Expeditions travel company.

It began in 1999 when the See Nepal Wilderness Challenge raised $A150,000 in its first year.

Since then it has grown to become the See the World and See Australia challenges with 540 participants raising more than $A650,000.

The foundation says getting an insight into what life is really like in these communities gives those taking part a whole new view on the world.

Said John Harris of his See Nepal trip: “It was one of the most life-changing experiences I have ever had - and I still get a lump in my throat every time I see anything to do with Nepal”.

To enter the See The World or See Australia challenges, you need to pay a $550 deposit and reach the target amount by a certain date.

For details call Nicola Bailey at The Fred Hollows Foundation on [phone] or visit website www.hollows.org - AAP


www.nit.com.au/News/story.aspx?id=4880