Comedian Sam Pang once again had a room full of Aussie celebrities laughing and wincing with a razor-sharp opening monologue at the 64th TV WEEK Logie Awards on August 18.
So popular was Pang’s opening roast at the 2023 Logies that he was invited to host again this year, no doubt leaving many an Australian celebrity trembling.
Would they be in the firing line? Or would they come through the opening speech – and the rest of the night – without being skewered by the Have You Been Paying Attention star?
Not even long-term icons of the industry were spared in Pang’s opening speech last year, with the likes of former Sunrise co-host David ”Kochie” Koch and Karl Stefanovic roasted over a red-hot comedy spit.
”You only roast the ones you love,” the comedian said later. So, let’s see who Sam Pang was loving this year.
What did Sam Pang say at this year’s Logies?
Once again, Pang was on fire, joking that he wasn’t officially hosting for the second time – ”last year’s ceremony just hasn’t finished”.
A joke about this year’s The Voice judges took aim at one of America’s better-known country singers – but suggested that perhaps she wasn’t quite so well known here in Australia.
”The Voice is nominated for Best Entertainment Program and they’re changing it up this season. Joining Guy Sebastian are two new superstar coaches – Adam Lambert, who you’d know from Queen, and LeAnn Rimes, who you’d know from Googling, ”Who is LeAnn Rimes?’,” he joked.
Home and Away legend Ray Meagher, 80, wasn’t safe from Pang’s acid tongue either.
”I love you, mate. Big night for you, Ray, just sitting there nervously, waiting to see if you’re included in the In Memoriam package,” Pang quipped.
”Just keep your fluids up, mate, for the next couple of hours.”
And the barbs kept coming.
”Now, in terms of star power, have a listen to these nominees. Bryan Brown, Rachel Griffiths, Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce, Simon Baker and Sigourney Weaver – all nominated tonight. All nominated in the category, ‘Oh look, there’s a Hollywood Writer’s Strike On!’,” he joked.
Pang didn’t let the hosting network, Channel 7, off the hook after a recent Four Corners expose about its non-disclosure agreements with former staff members.
”Channel 7, well, I’m just letting you all know I’m going to say whatever I want tonight. I stand before you, safe in the knowledge that whatever I say, this network will defend me in court,” he said.
He also aimed fire at Deal or No Deal‘s Grant Denyer for hosting ”a show where contestants get to open a briefcase and try to guess how much money the network is losing each week,” prompting nervous laughter around the room.
‘We’re all looking forward to your speech’
Sonia Kruger’s messy Gold Logie acceptance speech in 2023 also came in for a bit of gentle ribbing, too.
”Sonia, if you win tonight, we’re all looking forward to your speech,” Pang said as the camera panned across to a grinning Kruger.
Pang’s final roast was reserved for Gold Logie nominee Larry Emdur.
”As host of The Chase and The Morning Show, Larry has an incredible connection with viewers trapped in nursing homes, hospital waiting rooms and the long-term unemployed,” Pang joked.
”They’re your people, Larry.”
What did Sam Pang say about hosting the Logies again in 2024?
Hosting an awards ceremony is a famously tough gig, but Pang passed the 2023 test with flying colours.
So popular was his turn last year that he was practically a shoe-in for a repeat spot in 2024.
The internet lit up last year with fans begging Pang to host the Logies for the rest of eternity.
”Okay, five minutes in and we need to lock in Sam Pang to host every Australian awards night moving forward,” one person wrote on X.
”KILLING IT.”
”Why do we have to have all these awards given out? Can’t we just have three hours of Sam Pang ripping the Australian TV industry to shreds?” asked another.
Fans got what they wished for when it was confirmed Pang would indeed be hosting the Logies again in 2024.
”Hosting the Logies last year was an amazing experience and I’m thrilled to return in 2024,” the comedian said as the news was made official.
”Adding to the excitement, (Network) Seven have also given me the green light to try new things this year, so I’m really looking forward to displaying my underappreciated and severely undeveloped song and dance skills.’
Who did Sam Pang roast at the 2023 Logies?
Who didn’t he roast? Pang took pot-shots at industry big names including David Koch, Karl Stefanovic and Tom Gleeson.
But he didn’t just take aim at individuals – he also roasted the lack of diversity in mainstream network television.
”I would like to acknowledge a win for diversity tonight,” he began his opening speech.
”I am the first host in the history of the Logies to be half and half – half Channel 7 and half Channel 10” (Pang appears on 7’s The Front Bar and 10’s Have You Been Paying Attention?).
Pang dared to go where others may not have, making fun of Karl Stefanovic’s very public bust-up with Michael Clarke in January 2023.
He said the Today co-host had said yes to hosting the Logies ”as long as the show was held in a park in Noosa,” which is where the stoush had unfolded.
He joked that The Block showed Australians what it was like to own their own home, ”making it the greatest fantasy series since Game of Thrones.”
David Koch ”changed breakfast television forever,” Pang said. ”Warmth, humour, personality … you needed none of those!”
He even cast aspersions on Kerri-Anne Kennerley’s finances during a dig at reality TV show I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!
Pang described it as ”a wonderful show where we find out which Australian celebrities haven’t been adding to their super. Hello Kerri-Anne!”
And he joked that the Logies had moved from Queensland back to Sydney because Hard Quiz host Tom Gleeson went outside during the day on the Gold Coast ”and caught on fire”.
Bring on the 2025 Logies.
