The Project‘s Waleed Aly is now the proud owner of a shiny new Gold Logie (his Wikipedia has already been updated to prove it) after taking out the coveted statue at the 58th annual Awards in Melbourne.
The celebrated journo beat out tough competition to bag the night’s biggest gong, including his The Project co-host Carrie Bickmore, SBS newsreader/national treasure Lee Lin Chin, The Block host Scott Cam, Essie Davis from the ABC and Family Feud‘s Grant Denyer.
“Do not adjust your sets,” Aly told the audience during his acceptance speech. “There’s nothing wrong with the picture. I’m sure there’s an Instagram filter you can use to return things to normal, you’ll be fine. This is happening. It’s true. Finally a male presenter on commercial TV has won the Gold Logie.”
Waleed’s win comes off the back of a year that saw the 37-year-old join The Project team and establish himself as one of the most charismatic and intelligent voices on Australian TV, offering insightful commentary on some of the nation’s most controversial topics.
One of the highlights of which was his impassioned, articulate and logical call for calm and reason in the face of the devastating Paris terror attacks, which went viral internationally.
A swashbuckler of social issues, a Walkley-nominated wordsmith and able to nail complex Pink Floyd guitar solos in a single bound, Waleed has defied the haters, smashed the glass ceiling and paved the way for people of color to have a commanding voice on Australian commercial TV.
And as if that wasn’t enough, earlier in the evening he also bagged the Silver Logie for Best Presenter, while The Project won in the Best News Panel or Current Affairs Program category.
Viewers were also pleased to note that the Logies had a few other genuinely poignant moments to break up the traditional circlejerk, one of which was Play School alumnus Noni Hazlehurst’s inspiring Hall Of Fame induction speech.
The actress called for more diversity and inclusion in the industry, and more positive news stories to balance out the negative ones:
+ “No child is born a bigot.” Noni preaching a construct of love over fear. Brilliant speech. #Logies2016
— Adriano Di Prato (@DiPrato) May 8, 2016
My 10mins of Logies and I catch Noni Hazlehurst -what a class act. Articulate, thought provoking and beautiful words. #Logies2016
— Lou Spargo (@LASpargo) May 8, 2016
Sorry Waleed Aly you have to give up your hammer because Noni just NAILED IT #Logies2016
— Casey Briggs (@CaseyBriggs) May 8, 2016
I wonder if Noni realises that she’s the mother hen for a whole generation of Australians
— salsa dog (@courtwhip) May 8, 2016
Noni Hazlehurst for PM #Logies2016
— Dom Alessio (@domalessio) May 8, 2016
Catch the full list of 2016 Logie winners below.
Gold Logie – Best Personality On Australian TV
Carrie Bickmore – The Project, Network Ten
Essie Davis – Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, ABC
Grant Denyer – Family Feud/The Great Australian Spelling Bee, Network Ten
Lee Lin Chin – SBS World News/The Feed, SBS
Scott Cam – The Block/Reno Rumble, Nine Network
WINNER: Waleed Aly – The Project, Network Ten
Best Actor
Craig McLachlan – The Doctor Blake Mysteries, ABC
WINNER: Erik Thomson – 800 Words, Channel Seven
Firass Dirani – House Husbands, Nine Network
Josh Thomas – Please Like Me, ABC
Stephen Peacocke – Home and Away, Channel Seven
Best Actress
Bonnie Sveen – Home and Away, Channel Seven
Essie Davis – Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, ABC
WINNER: Jessica Marais – Love Child, Nine Network
Julia Morris – House Husbands, Nine Network
Marta Dusseldorp – A Place To Call Home, Foxtel; Soho
Best Presenter
Amanda Keller – The Living Room, Network Ten
Carrie Bickmore – The Project, Network Ten
Grant Denyer – Family Feud/The Great Australian Spelling Bee, Network Ten
Lee Lin Chin – SBS World News/The Feed, SBS
WINNER: Waleed Aly – The Project, Network Ten
Best New Talent
WINNER: Adam Dovile – Better Homes And Gardens, Channel Seven
Benson Jack Anthony – 800 Words, Channel Seven
Dan Reilly – The Block, Nine Network
Joel Jackson – Deadline Gallipoli/ Peter Allen: Not The Boy Next Door, Foxtel; Showcase/Channel Seven
Pia Miller – Home And Away, Channel Seven
Best Drama Program
800 Words, Channel Seven
A Place To Call Home, Foxtel; Soho
WINNER: Home And Away, Channel Seven
House Husbands, Nine Network
Love Child, Nine Network
Best Entertainment Program
WINNER: Family Feud, Network Ten
Gruen, ABC
Have You Been Paying Attention?, Network Ten
The Voice, Nine Network
The X Factor Australia, Channel Seven
Best Entertainment Program
WINNER: Family Feud, Network Ten
Gruen, ABC
Have You Been Paying Attention?, Network Ten
The Voice, Nine Network
The X Factor Australia, Channel Seven
Best News Panel Or Current Affairs Program
60 Minutes, Nine Network
Q&A, ABC
Sunrise, Channel Seven
WINNER: The Project, Network Ten
Today, Nine Network
Best Reality Program
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, Network Ten
MasterChef Australia, Network Ten
My Kitchen Rules, Channel Seven
The Bachelorette, Network Ten
WINNER: The Block, Nine Network
Best Sports Program
AFL 360, Foxtel; Fox Footy
Marngrook Footy Show, NITV
The AFL Footy Show, Nine Network
WINNER: The NRL Footy Show, Nine Network
Wide World Of Sports, Nine Network
Best Lifestyle Program
Better Homes And Gardens, Channel Seven
Gardening Australia, ABC
Getaway, Nine Network
Selling Houses Australia, Foxtel; The Lifestyle Channel
WINNER: The Living Room, Network Ten
Best Factual Program
Australian Story, ABC
Bondi Rescue, Network Ten
Bondi Vet, Network Ten
WINNER: Gogglebox, Foxtel; The Lifestyle Channel/Network Ten
Who Do You Think You Are?, SBS
Most Outstanding Actor
WINNER: Alex Dimitriades – Matt Bashir; The Principal, SBS
Hugh Dancy – Ellis Ashmead Bartlett; Deadline Gallipoli, Foxtel; Showcase
Malcolm Kennard – Ivan Milat; Catching Milat, Channel Seven
Patrick Brammal – James Hayes; Glitch, ABC
Sam Neill – Lang Hancock; House Of Hancock, Nine Network
Most Outstanding Actress
WINNER: Deborah Mailman – Lorraine; Redfern Now: Promise Me, ABC
Essie Davis – Phryne Fisher; Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, ABC
Mandy McElhinney – Gina Rinehart; House Of Hancock, Nine Network
Pamela Rabe – Joan Ferguson; Wentworth, Foxtel; Soho
Sarah Snook – Anna Ivin; The Beautiful Lie, ABC
Most Outstanding Supporting Actor
Dan Wyllie – Jimmy; No Activity, Stan
David Berry – James Bligh; A Place To Call Home, Foxtel; Soho
Ryan Corr – Corporal Macdonald, Banished, Foxtel; BBC First
WINNER: Tim Minchin – Smasher Sullivan; The Secret River, ABC
Tim Minchin – Jacob; No Activity, Stan
Most Outstanding Supporting Actress
WINNER: Celia Ireland – Liz Birdsworth; Wentworth, Foxtel; Soho
Emily Barclay – Sarah Hayes; Glitch, ABC
Harriet Dyer – Patricia Saunders; Love Child, Nine Network
Jenni Baird – Regina Standish; A Place To Call Home, Foxtel; Soho
Rarriwuy Hick – Robyn Davis; Redfern Now: Promise Me, ABC
Most Outstanding Drama Series
800 Words, Channel Seven
A Place To Call Home, Foxtel; Soho
WINNER: Glitch, ABC
Love Child, Nine Network
Wentworth, Foxtel; Soho
Most Outstanding Miniseries or Telemovie
Deadline Gallipoli, Foxtel; Showcase
House Of Hancock, Nine Network
Peter Allen: Not The Boy Next Door, Channel Seven
The Beautiful Lie, ABC
WINNER: The Secret River, ABC
Most Outstanding Entertainment Program
WINNER: Gruen, ABC
Have You Been Paying Attention?, Network Ten
The Voice, Nine Network
The Weekly With Charlie Pickering, ABC
The X Factor Australia, Channel Seven
Most Outstanding Comedy Program
No Activity, Stan
Open Slather, Foxtel – The Comedy Channel
Please Like Me, ABC
WINNER: Shaun Micallef’s Mad As Hell, ABC
Utopia, ABC
Most Outstanding Children’s Program
Bottersnikes & Gumbles, Channel Seven
Bushwhacked!, ABC3
Little Lunch, ABC3
Play Along With Sam, Foxtel – Nick Jr.
WINNER: Ready For This, ABC3
Most Outstanding Sports Coverage
2015 Australian Open, Channel Seven/7Two
Emirates Melbourne Cup, Channel Seven
WINNER: KFC T20 Big Bash League, Network Ten
NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final, Nine Network
Holden State Of Origin II, Nine Network
Most Outstanding News Coverage
“Iraq-Syria War Coverage” – ABC 7pm News, ABC
“Liberal Leadership Crisis: Abbott V Turnbull”, Foxtel – Sky News Live
“Migrant Crisis – Special Report” – ABC 7pm News, ABC
“Paris Attack” – Seven News, Channel Seven
WINNER: “Parramatta Shooting” – Seven News, Channel Seven
Most Outstanding Public Affairs Report
“Catching A Monster” – 60 Minutes, Nine Network
“Hitting Home” – Hitting Home, ABC
“Making A Killing” – Four Corners, ABC
WINNER: “The Killing Season” – The Killing Season, ABC
“The Siege Survivors” – 60 Minutes, Nine Network
