Post by Inside Australian Idol on May 4, 2005 0:48:54 GMT 10
The Tribal Mind
By David Dale
May 3, 2005
Rove with his Logies.
Photo: Penny Stephens
It may be tacky, tedious and ultimately meaningless, but it's ours. That's why Logies night - an event where "everyone is baked and slightly inappropriate", in the words of visiting American star Kathryn Morris - usually gathers a huge TV audience, not all of whom are masochists.
But this year the numbers were down: 1.97 million viewers in the mainland capitals, compared with 2.27 million last year. Are Australians losing their passion for what Channel Ten likes to call "event bigness"? Was there, perhaps, a problem with this year's three-host strategy? Or do viewers think the Logies are starting to take themselves too seriously?
Rove McManus knows how to deliver a joke, which is why he deserves a Gold Logie. Andrew O'Keefe is still learning. Eddie McGuire only knows how to drag out a game show, which is why it's a mystery that he has ever been allowed near a podium.
Fast Eddie almost ruined the dirtiest joke of the evening, despite a perfect set-up from McManus. They were discussing the lowest score in the recent season of Dancing With the Stars.
McManus (innocent tone): "Judge Todd McKinney gave Nikki Webster one."
McGuire (partly drowned by rising laughter): "Apparently it was a first for both of them."
The writers had a dilemma. If they had given the line to O'Keefe, he might have ruined it by going over the top. Presumably they gave it to McGuire in the hope his monotone might pass for deadpan.
The saddest thing about this year's Logies was not the relentless product placements, or the parade of bimbos thanking family pets, or Ian Thorpe's haircut, or the terrible singing, or that The O.C. could be declared "most popular overseas program" without rating in the top 50.
It was the revelation that our biggest annual entertainment event apparently cannot find, or cannot afford, writers capable of producing more than five minutes of witty commentary about an industry sorely in need of satire.
In the only interesting speech of the night, John Wood sought increased funding for Australian drama. On Sunday's evidence, it is clear the money would be better directed towards rebuilding Australian comedy.
THE LAND OF EVENT BIGNESS
Most-watched non-sporting moments this century
1. Australian Idol final verdict 2004 (10) 3.35m
2. Australian Idol final 2003 (10) 3.30m
3. The Block auction 2003 (9) 3.11m
4. Big Brother winner announced 2004 (10) 2.86m
5. Big Brother final 2001 (10) 2.78m
6. The National IQ Test 2002 (9) 2.78 m
7. Desperate Housewives premiere 2005 (7) 2.48m
8. Celebrity Big Brother premiere 2002 (10) 2.45m
9. Logie Awards 2001 (9) 2.41m
10. World Idol performance show 2003 (10) 2.40m
11. Lost premiere 2005 (7) 2.34m
12. Dancing With The Stars final 2005 (7) 2.33m
13. Big Brother final eviction 2002 (10) 2.30m
14. The Block II auction 2004 (9) 2.28m
15. Big Brother final eviction 2003 (10) 2.27m
16. Logie Awards 2004 (9) 2.27 m
17. Survivor 2: The Australian Outback final 2001 (9) 2.25m
18. Popstars 2001 (7) 2.23m
19. Logie arrivals 2005 (9) 2.15m
20. Logie arrivals 2004 2.12m
21. Dancing With The Stars final 2004 (7) 2.12m
22. Logie Awards 2005 (9) 1.97m
Has Australia lost its sense of humour? Does television need a regular satire show? What's wrong with the Logies anyway? Send your theories to The Tribal Mind at ddale@fairfax.com.au
www.smh.com.au/news/The-Tribal-Mind/The-Tribal-Mind/2005/05/02/1114886315107.html
By David Dale
May 3, 2005
Rove with his Logies.
Photo: Penny Stephens
It may be tacky, tedious and ultimately meaningless, but it's ours. That's why Logies night - an event where "everyone is baked and slightly inappropriate", in the words of visiting American star Kathryn Morris - usually gathers a huge TV audience, not all of whom are masochists.
But this year the numbers were down: 1.97 million viewers in the mainland capitals, compared with 2.27 million last year. Are Australians losing their passion for what Channel Ten likes to call "event bigness"? Was there, perhaps, a problem with this year's three-host strategy? Or do viewers think the Logies are starting to take themselves too seriously?
Rove McManus knows how to deliver a joke, which is why he deserves a Gold Logie. Andrew O'Keefe is still learning. Eddie McGuire only knows how to drag out a game show, which is why it's a mystery that he has ever been allowed near a podium.
Fast Eddie almost ruined the dirtiest joke of the evening, despite a perfect set-up from McManus. They were discussing the lowest score in the recent season of Dancing With the Stars.
McManus (innocent tone): "Judge Todd McKinney gave Nikki Webster one."
McGuire (partly drowned by rising laughter): "Apparently it was a first for both of them."
The writers had a dilemma. If they had given the line to O'Keefe, he might have ruined it by going over the top. Presumably they gave it to McGuire in the hope his monotone might pass for deadpan.
The saddest thing about this year's Logies was not the relentless product placements, or the parade of bimbos thanking family pets, or Ian Thorpe's haircut, or the terrible singing, or that The O.C. could be declared "most popular overseas program" without rating in the top 50.
It was the revelation that our biggest annual entertainment event apparently cannot find, or cannot afford, writers capable of producing more than five minutes of witty commentary about an industry sorely in need of satire.
In the only interesting speech of the night, John Wood sought increased funding for Australian drama. On Sunday's evidence, it is clear the money would be better directed towards rebuilding Australian comedy.
THE LAND OF EVENT BIGNESS
Most-watched non-sporting moments this century
1. Australian Idol final verdict 2004 (10) 3.35m
2. Australian Idol final 2003 (10) 3.30m
3. The Block auction 2003 (9) 3.11m
4. Big Brother winner announced 2004 (10) 2.86m
5. Big Brother final 2001 (10) 2.78m
6. The National IQ Test 2002 (9) 2.78 m
7. Desperate Housewives premiere 2005 (7) 2.48m
8. Celebrity Big Brother premiere 2002 (10) 2.45m
9. Logie Awards 2001 (9) 2.41m
10. World Idol performance show 2003 (10) 2.40m
11. Lost premiere 2005 (7) 2.34m
12. Dancing With The Stars final 2005 (7) 2.33m
13. Big Brother final eviction 2002 (10) 2.30m
14. The Block II auction 2004 (9) 2.28m
15. Big Brother final eviction 2003 (10) 2.27m
16. Logie Awards 2004 (9) 2.27 m
17. Survivor 2: The Australian Outback final 2001 (9) 2.25m
18. Popstars 2001 (7) 2.23m
19. Logie arrivals 2005 (9) 2.15m
20. Logie arrivals 2004 2.12m
21. Dancing With The Stars final 2004 (7) 2.12m
22. Logie Awards 2005 (9) 1.97m
Has Australia lost its sense of humour? Does television need a regular satire show? What's wrong with the Logies anyway? Send your theories to The Tribal Mind at ddale@fairfax.com.au
www.smh.com.au/news/The-Tribal-Mind/The-Tribal-Mind/2005/05/02/1114886315107.html