LOGIES BUZZ BEGINS
LA CASTRA RELIVES TV GLORY DAYS
THE Gold Coast is earning its Aussie Hollywood title, as the TV Week Logie awards buzz builds to a crescendo.
Bigger and better were the words being used by organisers at Nineteen at The Star, Broadbeach, yesterday as they launched the public voting component for the 2019 awards to name the most popular personality on Australian TV.
The Block’s Shelley Craft, Wentworth’s Susie Porter and A Current Affair’s Leila McKinnon brought the glamour to the national announcement – but for Councillor Bob La Castra, as a former actor and writer, the return of the Logies is a little more personal.
Unable to attend the ceremony last year, he said he had a suit on standby – should he get the call-up.
A writer behind children’s classic Bananas in Pyjamas and the host of Wombat, Cr La Castra said promoting the Coast as a play and creative space was a benefit for all.
“As a city we have quite a number of blockbusters and TV shows under our belt, so we are attracting so much more profit here as a serious place to do business, so why shouldn’t we be part of the awards,” he said.
This year’s award ceremony is expected to generate $800 million to the state’s economy.
“Even the arts programs on the Coast are growing,” Cr La Castra said. “We want those working in this space to have something to aspire to.
“I think the Gold Coast and the Logies go hand-inhand.”
TV Week editor Thomas Woodgate said the Gold Coast was once again “bringing the goods”.
“Last year was an incredible success for us and I mean this when I say we had incredible feedback, so we are here again,” he said.
While Mr Woodgate remained tight-lipped on exactly what bigger and better may mean for the Gold Coast he said the city was placed to again wow Australian and international celebrities.
The 61st TV Week Logie Awards will take place on Sunday, June 30 at The Star Gold Coast.
Votes can be lodged on the TV Week website and a shortlist of nominees will be announced on May 26.