Logies - 2018 - My Picks

My picks in Red + BOLD, let's see how I go, when the Logies go to the Gold Coast, fucking hell, Australian TV what have you become!

TV WEEK GOLD LOGIE – MOST POPULAR PERSONALITY ON AUSTRALIAN TV

Amanda Keller (The Living Room, Network Ten)
Andrew Winter (Love It Or List It Australia/Selling Houses Australia, Foxtel – Lifestyle)
Grant Denyer (Family Feud/All Star Family Feud, Network Ten)
Jessica Marais (Love Child, Nine Network; The Wrong Girl, Network Ten)
Rodger Corser (Doctor Doctor, Nine Network)
Tracy Grimshaw (A Current Affair, Nine Network)

FIRST COMMENT - Who the ACTUAL fuck is Andrew Winter? He is on Wikipedia as Andrew Winter (Real Estate)!



MOST POPULAR ACTOR

Aaron Jeffery (Underbelly Files: Chopper, Nine Network)
Erik Thomson (800 Words, Channel Seven)
Luke McGregor (Rosehaven, ABC)
Ray Meagher (Home And Away, Channel Seven)
Rodger Corser (Doctor Doctor, Nine Network)


SECOND COMMENT - Wentworth stars? Romper Stomper? WTF



MOST POPULAR ACTRESS

Asher Keddie (Offspring, Network Ten)
Celia Pacquola (Rosehaven/Utopia, ABC)
Deborah Mailman (Cleverman, ABC)
Jessica Marais (Love Child, Nine Network; The Wrong Girl, Network Ten)
Julia Morris (House Husbands, Nine Network)


SECOND (REPEAT) COMMENT - Wentworth stars? Romper Stomper? WTF




MOST POPULAR PRESENTER

Amanda Keller (The Living Room, Network Ten)
Andrew Winter (Love It Or List It Australia/Selling Houses Australia, Foxtel – Lifestyle)
Carrie Bickmore (The Project, Network Ten)
Grant Denyer (Family Feud/All Star Family Feud, Network Ten)
Tracy Grimshaw (A Current Affair, Nine Network)

GRAHAM KENNEDY AWARD FOR MOST POPULAR NEW TALENT

Dilruk Jayasinha (CRAM!, Network Ten; Utopia, ABC)
Matty Johnson (The Living Room, Network Ten)
Sam Frost (Home And Away, Channel Seven)
Sophia Forrest (Love Child, Nine Network)
Sophie Dillman (Home And Away, Channel Seven)


THIRD COMMENT - No idea who any of these folks are, Home and Away rates so let's give it to Sam Frost, is that the Bachie one??




MOST POPULAR DRAMA PROGRAM

Doctor Doctor (Nine Network)
Home And Away (Channel Seven)
Love Child (Nine Network)
Offspring (Network Ten)
Wentworth (Foxtel – Showcase)



MOST POPULAR ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAM

Anh’s Brush With Fame (ABC)
Family Feud (Network Ten)
Gogglebox Australia (Foxtel/Network Ten)
Hard Quiz (ABC)
The Project (Network Ten)



MOST POPULAR COMEDY PROGRAM

Have You Been Paying Attention? (Network Ten)
Here Come The Habibs (Nine Network)
Hughesy, We Have A Problem (Network Ten)
Shaun Micallef’s Mad As Hell (ABC)
True Story With Hamish & Andy (Nine Network)




MOST POPULAR REALITY PROGRAM

I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! (Network Ten)
Married At First Sight (Nine Network)
My Kitchen Rules (Channel Seven)
The Block (Nine Network)
Travel Guides (Nine Network)



MOST POPULAR LIFESTYLE PROGRAM

Better Homes And Gardens (Channel Seven)
Gardening Australia (ABC)
Selling Houses Australia (Foxtel – Lifestyle)
The Checkout (ABC)
The Living Room (Network Ten)



MOST OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES

A Place To Call Home (Foxtel – Showcase)
Doctor Doctor (Nine Network)
Harrow (ABC)
Top Of The Lake: China Girl (Foxtel – BBC First)
Wentworth (Foxtel – Showcase)



MOST OUTSTANDING MINISERIES OR TELEMOVIE

Romper Stomper (Stan)
Safe Harbour (SBS)
Seven Types Of Ambiguity (ABC)
Underbelly Files: Chopper (Nine Network)
Wake In Fright (Network Ten)



MOST OUTSTANDING ACTOR

Damon Herriman (Lance Gowland, Riot, ABC)
Ewen Leslie (Ryan Gallagher, Safe Harbour, SBS)
Hugo Weaving (Alex Klima, Seven Types Of Ambiguity, ABC)
Lachy Hulme (Blake Farron, Romper Stomper, Stan)
Rodger Corser (Hugh Knight, Doctor Doctor, Nine Network)



MOST OUTSTANDING ACTRESS

Elisabeth Moss (Robin Griffin, Top Of The Lake: China Girl, Foxtel – BBC First)
Kate Atkinson (Vera Bennett, Wentworth, Foxtel – Showcase)
Kate Box (Marg McCann, Riot, ABC)
Leeanna Walsman (Bree Gallagher, Safe Harbour, SBS)
Pamela Rabe (Joan Ferguson, Wentworth, Foxtel – Showcase)



MOST OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR

Aaron Pedersen (Frank Gibbs, A Place To Call Home, Foxtel – Showcase)
Alex Dimitriades (Doc Tydon, Wake In Fright, Network Ten)
Anthony Hayes (Mitch, Seven Types Of Ambiguity, ABC)
David Wenham (Jago Zoric, Romper Stomper, Stan)
Hazem Shammas (Ismail Al-Bayati, Safe Harbour, SBS)



MOST OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Celia Ireland (Liz Birdsworth, Wentworth, Foxtel – Showcase)
Elsa Cocquerel (Michelle, Wolf Creek, Stan)
Jacqueline McKenzie (Gabe Jordan, Romper Stomper, Stan)
Jenni Baird (Regina Standish, A Place To Call Home, Foxtel – Showcase)
Nicole Chamoun (Zahra Al-Bayati, Safe Harbour, SBS)


FOURTH COMMENT - Sophie Lowe???



MOST OUTSTANDING CHILDREN’S PROGRAM

Crash The Bash (Foxtel – Nickelodeon)
Get Arty (Channel Seven)
Grace Beside Me (NITV)
Little J & Big Cuz (NITV)
Mustangs FC (ABC ME)

MOST OUTSTANDING SPORTS COVERAGE

2017 AFL Grand Final (Channel Seven)
2017 Australian Open Men’s Final (Channel Seven)
Bathurst 1000 (Network Ten)
Jeff Horn v Manny Pacquiao (Foxtel – MAIN EVENT)
The 2017/2018 Ashes (Nine Network)



MOST OUTSTANDING NEWS COVERAGE OR PUBLIC AFFAIRS REPORT

“Don Burke Special” (A Current Affair, Nine Network)
“Escape From Salt Creek” (60 Minutes, Nine Network)
“Haiti Uncovered” (Sunday Night, Channel Seven)
“Pumped” (Four Corners, ABC)
“The Siege” (Four Corners, ABC)



MOST OUTSTANDING FACTUAL OR DOCUMENTARY PROGRAM

Michael Hutchence: The Last Rockstar (Channel Seven)
Struggle Street (SBS)
The Queen & Zak Grieve (Foxtel – Crime + Investigation)
War On Waste (ABC)
You Can’t Ask That (ABC)

Movie Matinee Madness - Life of the Party

SPOILER ALERT - this film does not suck, here is the trailer...



Unlike some of McCarthy's recent films, this actually is a feel good film, maybe not super funny, but you leave feeling warm and rather cheesy (there are a lot of cheese references in this film, trigger warning if you can't deal with diary like me).

With a truly all star cast McCarthy is joined by husband and writer of the film Ben Falcone who plays a lovely Uber driver in the film, and a string of male HBO comedy kings including JIAN YANG! Yes! Jimmy O. Yang joins the crew along with Mike from Veep, actually Matt Welsh. Now here is the real spoiler, Christina Aguilera actually appears in the film, yes X-Tina!

Maya Rudolph also joins the fun as McCarthy's best friend and the team of young girls (like in Blockers) showcase the power of women together as one.

Like I Feel Pretty this is a girl power film in the middle of the #MeToo movement. It's never been more important for strong female roles on the big screen. We already have a number on the small screen like Claire Danes leading Homeland, Priyanka Chopra leading the recently cancelled Quantico, Glenn Close (referenced in this very film) and Rose Byrne fronting the brilliant classic legal series Damages, the entire cast of Claws (returning next month), Cookie and Take Three girls in Empire and Star respectively and Viola Davis fronting the brilliant How to Get away with Murder.

Not including local Australian series showcasing brilliant women like the entire cast of Wentworth (returning next month, FINALLY), the cast of the slightly disappointing Picnic at Hanging Rock and all Australian commercial local dramas featuring Rebecca Gibney.

This film (as I wrote earlier) is not super funny, but a lot of fun, the appearance by Christina Aguilera and dance sequences/dress ups and can I just saw Jackie Weaver as McCarthy's mother, priceless!

I liked this, a lot, a lot more than I expected, 4 Stars, fun for all, important messages shared and positivity galore, YASS, Yass, YASS!!!

Movie Matinee Madness - Deadpool 2

Ryan Reynolds and Marvel are back with the R Rated (MA rated in Australia) anti superhero film, Deadpool 2.



Marvel are not 100% happy with controlling all screens, all sessions in Australia with the Avengers film, so it's the second superhero film for May 2018.

Whilst I have not seen the new Avengers film, I feel a little worn out with the comic book stars, after demolishing the fourth season of S.H.I.E.L.D. I feel I need a wee break. However Deadpool is no regular superhero affair, it has plenty of F bombs (and in this films case C bombs) plus the violence is off the hook, literally full metal racket off the hook.

Joining Ryan Reynolds is a cast of thousands this time around. Like X-Men and Avengers films, whats better than one superhero? Many superheros.

Josh Brolin plays Cable who isn't really a bad guy and NZ youngster Julian Dennison gets his international/big break as Firefist and their are cameos galore for the comic book tragics out there.

Now I loved Deadpool's original film, however this one for me was a bit much of a muchness. Also the avenging of a loved one is so Death Wish a few months ago.

Maybe I am getting old or just want something original on the big or small screen, but this was not the best superhero film I have seen of late. Black Panther was such a better more classy effort, also with better (original) music. Using Celine Dion and tragic old school hits is cute but done before.

I also saw Life of the Party which I had low to no exceptions almost right after so I am a little swayed with my reviews for the two films this weekend.

No one cares what I think or what other reviewers think, this film is going to be a hit, actually it already is. Taking in over 370 million thus far against a budget of 110 million.

Deadpool 2, a third is definitely coming, jumping on board the Marvel gravy train and a cinema complex near you. Also we don't have long till July, when Ant-Man and the Wasp will be coming to a cinema near you.

Deadpool is funny in parts and does pack a punch with some fun action scenes and fun it pokes at it's own genre so I am going to be generous and give it three F bomb Stars.

(Mini) Sunday Spotlight: Eves Karydas

Today we shine the spotlight on Aussie talent Eves Karydas, formerly Eves the Behaviour.

Playing Splendour in the Grass 2018, it's a big year for young Eves. Couch is only one of the most addictive songs on the radio right now and heres hoping an album or EP is on the way.

So take some time this Sunday to discover some outstanding new music. Winter is on the way so warm up with Eves on ya Sunday....

Star, Finale

Along with Empire, having the WORST crossover of the season (leave it to The CW and the DC series) this season we saw some new additions to the show, but lost a few folks along the way too, if you don't want any spoilers stop here and then return.

OK for those up to date after this week's explosive finale, where damn Brandy is a bad ass bitch! Shit! And lives were once again in the balance (again after saying farewell to Jahil Rivera (Benjamin Bratt) last week), strap yourself in this was up their with the Dynasty finale.

So this year the music got better, Star got sassy (well more sassy) and honestly I feel like this show deals with so many more current issues it's more likely to become a long remembered cult hit. Maybe even more than Cookie's glory days in Empire.

I have laid sass on Empire this season, however Star is lucky is only two seasons in and has not yet jumped the shark with visions of the dead. Yet.

Let's look/listen to some of the season 2 music before one last long wait until Season 3 commences (most likely September this year).








Strap yourselves in kids, I reckon season three is going to get lit! Yass! Who survives Miss Carlotta or Brandy playing Miss Cassie Brown? Who was on the plane? WTF!!!!

Empire, Finale

The finales are lining up left, right and centre over the last few weeks, we have had sudden deaths, fires, weddings, lives in the balances and musical dramas like Empire. I will shine the spotlight on the sister series Star tomorrow.

So Empire season four, what's happened? We have lost Xzibit as a regular (yep he gone), the Lyons boys have all struggled with romance with Hakeem still being rather popular with the ladies and Demi Moore and her daughter Rumer Willis have also both left.

We got to see Queen Latifah crossover in one of the worst TV crossovers with Star, Funkmaster Flex guest starred as himself and it looks like Taye Diggs might have finally left as he joins the new CW series All American.

The finale had all the drama of a regular episode with two departures. I mentioned one earlier but for a full SPOILER alert go HERE, it's a great recap on one of TV's most watched musical dramas.

The show has already been renewed for a fifth season (Star too has been renewed for a third outing) so it's onwards and upwards for the series.

Who will join season five? Where is Jamal off to? And what happens to Hakeem, Tiana and newcomer Blake? Lot's of questions which I am sure will be revealed in part one of the series in September this year. Yes the show has just wrapped but programmers will be looking for series return dates real soon.

Empire which generally (like the Walking Dead) airs in two blocks of nine episodes, one block before Christmas and one around later March. It's nice we get the series almost in two consecutive blocks of nine episodes. Unlike some other series which breaks every other week.

FOX has struggled this year ratings wise, so it's lucky Empire still has a fairly loyal following despite the storylines getting more and more random. Thank god for Cookie as she still steals every scene she is in and those outfits, SHIT!

Empire it's been real in 2017-2018, I eagerly await season five.

Penny Wong hits another home run...

No swearing, no agro, just classic Wong taking on someone who should know better.