Latest news with #Logie
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
This Netflix drama is up for seven Logies on Sunday, but mystery surrounds its second season
For Greg Mclean, director of the Netflix drama series Territory, the day the Logie nominations were announced was rather bittersweet. The outback soapie about a succession struggle for the world's largest cattle station is the second most nominated drama of the year, with seven nods (Apple Cider Vinegar has eight). It was a bona fide hit for the streamer, making the top 10 list in 70 countries around the world, and becoming the most watched Australian original yet, with more than 26 million views to date of the entire seven-episode season. And yet, it was also cancelled, when a second season had clearly been set up and anticipated by everyone involved. 'If it played well, we kind of assumed we would get a second season,' says McLean. 'There's a story, a world to soak in, there are characters people fall in love with. Obviously, nothing is guaranteed, but it's certainly disappointing for everyone involved.' Netflix Australia's former head of originals, Que Minh Luu, is no longer at the company, and precisely why she didn't order a second season remains unclear. But McLean is reasonably philosophical about it all. 'The reality is, there are so many decisions made at different levels about types of programming, how long things take to get on screen, loss of audience between delivery of one series and the next. And it's not a small show, so it would have taken at least a year and a half to get the second season out.' It's not like Territory is the only show to get the chop despite doing well, either. 'I read recently that The Residence, which was a huge Netflix show and I believe a huge hit, also got cancelled,' he says. 'There are so many factors that go into these things.' And there's some solace, perhaps, in Territory fulfilling the old showbiz adage of always leaving the audience wanting more. 'I feel like we will be a James Dean show, where we die young, leave a beautiful corpse, and people will look at it as the great thing that it was,' he says. Loading McLean isn't personally nominated for Territory, despite directing all seven of its episodes; the Logies do not recognise technical categories such as directing, editing, cinematography (the AACTA awards, which were held in February, do; Territory received three nominations – for best sound, cinematography and for Anna Torv as best actress – but won none). Torv is again up for best lead actress, while three of the male cast – Michael Dorman, Robert Taylor and Sam Corlett – will duke it out for best lead actor. Sam Delich is up for best supporting actor and Kylah Day for the Graham Kennedy Award for most popular new talent. If the show wins as best drama, it will likely be creators Ben Davies and Timothy Lee and producer Rob Gibson who take to the stage. But if it does, McLean promises, 'I'm going to just go up anyway. I'll be in the background and push my way to the front for the photo.' And how do you rate your chances? 'This is a very, very good year. There's a lot of really good stuff up, so who knows if we'll get anything,' he says. 'But it'd be hugely satisfying to see the actors get something, because I'm a huge fan of all the cast. They deserve it.' But if they go home empty-handed, he will still treasure the fact they got to make something a little mad, wild, ambitious – and successful. A 'meticulously researched' show inspired by the real-life characters of the Northern Territory, a 'Wild West' place unlike anywhere else on the planet. 'We were making a soap opera, granted. But we were at pains to say we wanted it to be really Aussie,' he says. 'We didn't want to over-Americanise it, or try and soften it for anyone else. It was broad Australian accents, it was dealing with the issues of the NT – it was about indigenous history to some degree, it was about the mining industry, it was about the cattle industry, and specifically the Australian cattle industry. We were trying to make it as Australian as we could and not compromise, and I think that flavour is what made it travel around the world. 'The fact that we got to make a show like that is extremely satisfying,' he adds. 'We took a very big swing with this to say we're going to do a big romantic Australian drama about this place that there really hasn't been a drama of that scale done in. 'To do that, to pull it off, and to feel like we were all proud of the show, that's kind of enough in some ways.'
The Age
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
This Netflix drama is up for seven Logies on Sunday, but mystery surrounds its second season
For Greg Mclean, director of the Netflix drama series Territory, the day the Logie nominations were announced was rather bittersweet. The outback soapie about a succession struggle for the world's largest cattle station is the second most nominated drama of the year, with seven nods (Apple Cider Vinegar has eight). It was a bona fide hit for the streamer, making the top 10 list in 70 countries around the world, and becoming the most watched Australian original yet, with more than 26 million views to date of the entire seven-episode season. And yet, it was also cancelled, when a second season had clearly been set up and anticipated by everyone involved. 'If it played well, we kind of assumed we would get a second season,' says McLean. 'There's a story, a world to soak in, there are characters people fall in love with. Obviously, nothing is guaranteed, but it's certainly disappointing for everyone involved.' Netflix Australia's former head of originals, Que Minh Luu, is no longer at the company, and precisely why she didn't order a second season remains unclear. But McLean is reasonably philosophical about it all. 'The reality is, there are so many decisions made at different levels about types of programming, how long things take to get on screen, loss of audience between delivery of one series and the next. And it's not a small show, so it would have taken at least a year and a half to get the second season out.' It's not like Territory is the only show to get the chop despite doing well, either. 'I read recently that The Residence, which was a huge Netflix show and I believe a huge hit, also got cancelled,' he says. 'There are so many factors that go into these things.' And there's some solace, perhaps, in Territory fulfilling the old showbiz adage of always leaving the audience wanting more. 'I feel like we will be a James Dean show, where we die young, leave a beautiful corpse, and people will look at it as the great thing that it was,' he says. Loading McLean isn't personally nominated for Territory, despite directing all seven of its episodes; the Logies do not recognise technical categories such as directing, editing, cinematography (the AACTA awards, which were held in February, do; Territory received three nominations – for best sound, cinematography and for Anna Torv as best actress – but won none). Torv is again up for best lead actress, while three of the male cast – Michael Dorman, Robert Taylor and Sam Corlett – will duke it out for best lead actor. Sam Delich is up for best supporting actor and Kylah Day for the Graham Kennedy Award for most popular new talent. If the show wins as best drama, it will likely be creators Ben Davies and Timothy Lee and producer Rob Gibson who take to the stage. But if it does, McLean promises, 'I'm going to just go up anyway. I'll be in the background and push my way to the front for the photo.' And how do you rate your chances? 'This is a very, very good year. There's a lot of really good stuff up, so who knows if we'll get anything,' he says. 'But it'd be hugely satisfying to see the actors get something, because I'm a huge fan of all the cast. They deserve it.' But if they go home empty-handed, he will still treasure the fact they got to make something a little mad, wild, ambitious – and successful. A 'meticulously researched' show inspired by the real-life characters of the Northern Territory, a 'Wild West' place unlike anywhere else on the planet. 'We were making a soap opera, granted. But we were at pains to say we wanted it to be really Aussie,' he says. 'We didn't want to over-Americanise it, or try and soften it for anyone else. It was broad Australian accents, it was dealing with the issues of the NT – it was about indigenous history to some degree, it was about the mining industry, it was about the cattle industry, and specifically the Australian cattle industry. We were trying to make it as Australian as we could and not compromise, and I think that flavour is what made it travel around the world. 'The fact that we got to make a show like that is extremely satisfying,' he adds. 'We took a very big swing with this to say we're going to do a big romantic Australian drama about this place that there really hasn't been a drama of that scale done in. 'To do that, to pull it off, and to feel like we were all proud of the show, that's kind of enough in some ways.'
Courier-Mail
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Courier-Mail
Real Housewives of Sydney are shattered at Logie Awards
Don't miss out on the headlines from TV. Followed categories will be added to My News. Seven of Foxtel's eight Real Housewives of Sydney (RHOS) are understood to be shattered at being informed just one member of the program's cast will be going to this year's Logie Awards. Fashion-obsessed program stars Krissy Marsh, Nicole Gazal-O'Neil, Terry Biviano, Caroline Gaultier, Dr. Kate Adams, Victoria Montano, Martine Chippendale and Sally Obermeder had spent months contemplating their couture options for television's glamorous night of nights when a brief missive from an executive, the head of unscripted/development at RHOS co-production partner Matchbox, arrived in their inboxes. In the letter, the executive begins by softening the women up with a note of congratulations. 'Congratulations to each of you on the Logies nomination for RHOS,' she wrote. 'It's a show we are very proud of and we are grateful for all your hard work that helped make it such a great series.' Seven of the eight RHOS cast members missed out on invites to the Logies. Picture: Supplied MORE: Real Housewives of Sydney's secret stash Then came the bitter pill. 'We have one ticket only available for a RHOS cast member … I know this will be disappointing news for many of you..' the email continued. Rather than conduct a ballot or a random draw to determine who the golden ticket would go to, the producers announced they'd drawn a line under the lobbying begun months earlier and made the decision about a Logies representative themselves. The ticket would go to the most anodyne of the group. The woman least likely to cause offence. The woman least likely to get ugly-drunk or hurl abuse should the trophy go to another in Best Structured Reality Program category, a category which sees RHOS in contention with Farmer Wants a Wife, Gogglebox Australia, Married At First Sight, Muster Dogs and Shark Tank. The woman least likely to jump Hamish Blake on the red carpet or try to souvenir a Logie or a kelpie pup. In short, it would go to the most unlikely and least intriguing Housewife of them all. It would go to.... Sally Obermeder. Sally Obermeder was the RHOS cast member picked to go to the Logies. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard MORE: Real Housewives star: No one would give me $1300 Victoria Montana spoke for her castmates when she took to social media this week to blast the decision to give two tickets to TV producers: 'I was under no misconceptions about the fact that production would prioritise themselves over the stars of the show. The ladies, who for almost no pay at all, open their lives to the public so that production can make money from our lives.' Channel 7 news feud over Logies snub Seven newsreader Mark Ferguson is said to be steaming that his longtime understudy Michael Usher has been nominated by bosses for a Logie Award. According to network sources, Ferguson feels slighted Usher has been nominated over the prime time news anchor for a Logie in a new category, the Ray Martin Award for Most Popular News or Public Affairs Presenter. The award will be presented for the first time on Sunday night and sees Usher, Seven's only nominee in the category, pitted against Nine's Ally Langdon, Tara Brown and Peter Overton and the ABC's Sarah Ferguson and David Speers. The nomination comes after Usher was tapped to appear on the current series of Seven's reality program Dancing With The Stars where he has emerged as a fan-favourite and, remarkably, a finals contender. Channel 7 news anchor Mark Ferguson with co-host Angela Cox. Ferguson is said to be steaming bosses nominated Michael Usher ahead of him for a Logie. Picture: Jeremy Piper On Thursday insiders told that as a result of the simmering rivalry between the two veteran newsreaders, Ferguson had declined an invitation to attend the upcoming 65th Logie Awards which are set to screen on Seven. The snub comes a week after Seven's commercial rival Nine claimed the news ratings in the Sydney market for 2025, a market Seven has not won since Ferguson was appointed anchor of its 6pm news bulletin in January 2014. Nine also claimed the first half of the ratings year nationally in five capital cities. Ferguson's tenure has long been debated internally at Seven as the network's year-on-year losses to Nine in the news hour have mounted up. As far back as 2016 Seven's longtime director of news Craig McPherson publicly championed Ferguson, telling media outlets the Tamworth reporter with the film-star good looks could have the job 'for as long as he wanted it'. Michael Usher is also winning on the dance floor as a finals contender on Dancing with the Stars. Picture: DWTS/ Seven However McPherson would come under increasing pressure from engaged Seven proprietor Kerry Stokes to introduce changes to the nightly news bulletin. In September 2024, following McPherson's departure in April that year, Stokes persuaded Macpherson's acquiescent replacement Anthony De Ceglie to welcome a joint-anchor, Angela Cox, to the desk. The decision is said to have bruised Ferguson. According to sources the relationship between the two newsreaders has not been an easy one and now Stokes is once again agitating for change. Sources are adamant the Seven chairman wants to see Usher, who now enjoys a national profile courtesy of his Dancing with the Stars turn, appointed to the plum role. Hamish schmoozes the room following ratings crash Broadcaster and networker par excellence Hamish Macdonald looks confident of having a big bright future at the ABC despite shedding 16 per cent market share in the latest radio ratings survey. Macdonald's sustained ratings nosedive on ABC Sydney was confirmed last week six-months after he replaced Sarah Macdonald at the microphone in January. Given his losses were greater than any of his stablemates in the latest radio survey, there was a sense that Macdonald, renowned for moving on fast from media gigs, might prove a no-show at last weekend's Andrew Olle Media Lecture, held on Friday July 25, just three days after his latest ratings capitulation was exposed. However it was an exuberant Macdonald who turned out for the Olle Lecture at the W (Hotel) Sydney, the ABC-hosted event perhaps too tasty a networking opportunity for Macdonald, who recently lost his lucrative sideline gig on Ten's cancelled The Project, to miss. ABC chairman Kim Williams at the Andrew Olle Media Lecture. Picture: Instagram With a gig on ABC local radio and a second on the ABC's Radio National where he presents a program called Global Roaming on his CV, Macdonald has no lack of options at the ABC. It allows him to choose the company he keeps. And so it was with interest that our sources noted Macdonald's decision not to sit his colleagues from the struggling local radio division but instead with the stars and bosses of the national broadcaster's more prestigious counterpart, Radio National. He looked at home, this column hears, sitting with the presenter of this year's Olle lecture Geraldine Doogue, a friend, and the controversial ABC executive who recruited Macdonald to local radio, Ben Latimer, the ABC's head of audio content who played a role in Antoinette Lattouf's unfair dismissal case. Hugh Marks and Alexi Baker at the Andrew Olle Media Lecture. Picture: Instagram Meanwhile Macdonald's ABC Sydney colleagues including breakfast host Craig Reucassel, drive presenter Chris Bath, retired drive host Richard Glover (Bath and Glover joined by spouses Jim Wilson and Debra Oswald), and a cast of execs and producers including the beloved Peter Wall sat at one of a series of tables earmarked for the local radio team. Also eager to be associated with the high profile oration was ABC chairman Kim Williams and ABC managing director Hugh 'I've been rumoured to be linked to many women' Marks, the former Nine CEO who has said he was unaware Nine had a culture problem when he was running that shop. On his arm at the Olle Lecture was the woman he romanced while playing culture captain at Nine, his former Nine subordinate Alexi Baker. Hegarty spied at Nine 60 Minutes' reporter Adam Hegarty appears to have been welcomed back into the fold following a long interstate sabbatical. Mystery surrounds the decision for Hegarty to up stumps and relocate from Sydney to Melbourne earlier this year though we're informed it followed his break-up with a girlfriend. Hegarty was involved with fellow Nine staffer Amber Johnston in 2024 and into the early months of 2025. 60 Minutes reporter Adam Hegarty is back after an interstate sabbatical. Picture: Supplied. According to sources Hegarty, one of only two male reporters still on the books at 60, then took extended leave from the show although few wanted to furnish us with details on what prompted it. Sources initially claimed he wouldn't be returning to the current affairs program yet a week ago he was spotted back in the Nine bunker. As previously reported by this columnist, not everyone was thrilled when Hegarty was recruited to 60 Minutes at the start of 2024 with some telling us Hegarty's appointment irked some colleagues. Pub icon departs Sydney publican Margaret Hargreaves was given a fond farewell at St Mary's Catholic Church in North Sydney on Tuesday following her death on July 15 at age 90. The longtime proprietor of hotels The Strawberry Hills and The Shakespeare, Hargreaves' pubs were a home away from home for tribes of journalists through the years as well as detectives from the police fraud squad and an array Sydney identities who she collected through the decades and who thought of her as a surrogate mother. Publican Margaret Hargreaves at the bar of her Shakespeare Hotel in Surry Hills. Among those paying respects at her funeral was troubled former game show host Andrew O'Keefe, Foxtel chief Patrick Delany and Real Housewives of Sydney cast member Krissy Marsh. Pallbearers included one-time real estate heavyweight James Dack and car salesman John Altomonte. Hargreaves is survived by her husband John, and four children Elizabeth, Kelly, John-Paul and Angie. Originally published as Aussie reality show stars fuming over Logies snub
West Australian
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Logies 2025: Kate Miller-Heidke on her first nomination and new coaches on The Voice
Kate Miller-Heidke has gone from performing at the Logies two years ago to being nominated for a prestigious award as a coach on The Voice. The 43-year-old singer, who grew up in Brisbane 'far away from the showbiz world', said she was 'absolutely chuffed' to be nominated for her first Logie in the most popular new talent category. She is up for the award alongside Guy Montgomery from his ABC spelling bee series, Home and Away's Hailey Pinto, Jenny Tian from Taskmaster, Kylah Day for her role in Netflix show Territory and MasterChef's Sofia Levin. The winners will be announced at Sunday's ceremony in Sydney. The Caught in the Crowd singer said she felt like a bit of a 'fraud' to be nominated as a new talent nearly 20 years after her first album and TV appearance. 'TV is not my world. As a musician, it was something entirely new for me when I started on The Voice last year, but it's just been so much fun and such a gift to my life,' she said. 'It's just amazing to be embraced by this new world.' While it's her first nomination, attending the Logies isn't her first rodeo, having sung Olivia Newton-John's Xanadu at the event two years ago as a tribute to the late star. She was also in attendance last year when The Voice took out the best entertainment program award. 'I love it. Personally, I think it's much more fun than the ARIAs,' she said. 'The after-party is pretty amazing. There are just so many interesting people and a really eclectic mix of people who write shows and create shows, actors and comedians and people in the news.' Miller-Heidke said it would be 'incredible' if she won, but was 'keeping my expectations low'. The classically trained singer will enter another season of The Voice this year alongside a slew of new judges, including Ronan Keating, Spice Girls' Melanie C and Richard Marx. 'I was nervous to meet them all at first, because I was the only returning coach (and only Australian),' she said. 'I always have a bit of imposter syndrome when it comes to meeting these massive stars, because, you know, I'm just this little Australian singer-songwriter. And I'm sure they're thinking, 'Who the hell is this?' But they were all so warm and so lovely. We all became really great friends. 'I was incredibly star struck by Mel C, I grew up in the era of the Spice Girls, so that was massive. And I was a massive fan of Richard and Ronan's. And Ronan is just the most lovely, charming man you'll ever come across.' Despite all the coaches getting on and bringing the good vibes, Miller-Heidke said she definitely felt former coach Guy Sebastian's absence. 'It did feel sort of like the end of an era in that way, because he really sort of dominated that show for so long,' she said. Miller-Heidke said she loved being involved in the hit show due to its dedication to live music. 'I love being able to work with young artists and help them to realise what their strengths are,' she said. 'Some of them are just incredible. And I also love being part of a show that's one of the only shows on TV that still has live music.' While she is a mentor for aspiring singers, Miller-Heidke has found herself searching for her own mentors as she gets older. 'I think it can be invaluable,' she said. 'I've been lucky enough to have Tina Arena on speed dial for a few years now. She's always up for a good chat.' Away from The Voice, Miller-Heidke has been in the UK mixing her new record, which she hoped would be released at the end of the year. She also wrote songs for Muriel's Wedding the Musical, which just opened in Leicester to rave reviews.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Miller-Heidke ‘absolutely chuffed' with Logie nomination
Kate Miller-Heidke has gone from performing at the Logies two years ago to being nominated for a prestigious award as a coach on The Voice. The 43-year-old singer, who grew up in Brisbane 'far away from the showbiz world', said she was 'absolutely chuffed' to be nominated for her first Logie in the most popular new talent category. She is up for the award alongside Guy Montgomery from his ABC spelling bee series, Home and Away's Hailey Pinto, Jenny Tian from Taskmaster, Kylah Day for her role in Netflix show Territory and MasterChef's Sofia Levin. The winners will be announced at Sunday's ceremony in Sydney. The Caught in the Crowd singer said she felt like a bit of a 'fraud' to be nominated as a new talent nearly 20 years after her first album and TV appearance. 'TV is not my world. As a musician, it was something entirely new for me when I started on The Voice last year, but it's just been so much fun and such a gift to my life,' she said. 'It's just amazing to be embraced by this new world.' While it's her first nomination, attending the Logies isn't her first rodeo, having sung Olivia Newton-John's Xanadu at the event two years ago as a tribute to the late star. She was also in attendance last year when The Voice took out the best entertainment program award. 'I love it. Personally, I think it's much more fun than the ARIAs,' she said. 'The after-party is pretty amazing. There are just so many interesting people and a really eclectic mix of people who write shows and create shows, actors and comedians and people in the news.' Miller-Heidke said it would be 'incredible' if she won, but was 'keeping my expectations low'. The classically trained singer will enter another season of The Voice this year alongside a slew of new judges, including Ronan Keating, Spice Girls' Melanie C and Richard Marx. Kate Miller-Heidke. Credit: Jo Duck / TheWest 'I was nervous to meet them all at first, because I was the only returning coach (and only Australian),' she said. 'I always have a bit of imposter syndrome when it comes to meeting these massive stars, because, you know, I'm just this little Australian singer-songwriter. And I'm sure they're thinking, 'Who the hell is this?' But they were all so warm and so lovely. We all became really great friends. 'I was incredibly star struck by Mel C, I grew up in the era of the Spice Girls, so that was massive. And I was a massive fan of Richard and Ronan's. And Ronan is just the most lovely, charming man you'll ever come across.' Despite all the coaches getting on and bringing the good vibes, Miller-Heidke said she definitely felt former coach Guy Sebastian's absence. 'It did feel sort of like the end of an era in that way, because he really sort of dominated that show for so long,' she said. Miller-Heidke said she loved being involved in the hit show due to its dedication to live music. 'I love being able to work with young artists and help them to realise what their strengths are,' she said. 'Some of them are just incredible. And I also love being part of a show that's one of the only shows on TV that still has live music.' While she is a mentor for aspiring singers, Miller-Heidke has found herself searching for her own mentors as she gets older. 'I think it can be invaluable,' she said. 'I've been lucky enough to have Tina Arena on speed dial for a few years now. She's always up for a good chat.' Away from The Voice, Miller-Heidke has been in the UK mixing her new record, which she hoped would be released at the end of the year. She also wrote songs for Muriel's Wedding the Musical, which just opened in Leicester to rave reviews.
