Karl Stefanovic slams 'woke' and 'beige' Logie Awards as he calls for the return of 'drunken tomfoolery' at TV's night of nights - after his infamous 2009 Today hangover
The Today host, 50, who was famously feeling the after-effects of the 2009 awards on Nine's breakfast news programme, declared the Logies need to dial back the awareness and add in a good dose of tomfoolery.
He made the observation at the 65th edition of the awards at Sydney's The Star last Sunday after years of being a favourite face at the event.
'They have got a bit woke, the Logies, haven't they?" he told the Herald Sun on the red carpet.
'Everyone is a bit conscious of doing the wrong thing, and that is TV in general.
Stefanovic said although he loves the Logies, the night risks being too "beige", before calling for the return of "drunk biffo buffoonery".
The TV presenter then implored other familiar faces of TV to loosen up, adding: "What is wrong with the world?"
Karl won the coveted Gold Logie in 2011 when the long-running awards ceremony featured international artists Katy Perry and Maroon 5.
Since then, the Seven Network and TV Week have shifted towards addressing gender imbalances and cultural diversity in nominations.
Industry insiders are now doubtful the Logies could continue on the same trajectory and revealed this year's ceremony could possibly be the last.
"It's just not viable anymore," a very high-level TV insider told Daily Mail.
"No one wants to pay for it, no one's watching, and the people behind it are already looking for an exit.
"You remember when the Logies had international stars, outrageous moments, drama?"
The insider said the awards are now a far cry from those glory days, likening recent years' ceremonies to a "glorified promo reel for local TV".
They said the Logies "rinse and repeat" the likes of Karl Stefanovic, Sonia Kruger, and Hamish Blake every year, with the audience bored and "tired".
Seven took over the broadcasting rights of the Logies from the Nine Network in 2023, following Seven's last broadcast of the awards in 1995.
The insider said Seven thought they were buying back a national treasure, but what they really got was a "very expensive nostalgia trip".
Lynne McGranger won the Gold Logie at the awards last Sunday evening, marking a celebrated end to the 72-year-old's three-decade-long role playing Irene Roberts on the famed Australian soap Home and Away.
Todd Woodbridge claimed the gong for Popular Presenter.
Guy Montgomery won Best New Talent, and Magda Szubanski took home the Logie Hall of Fame.
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