The Logie Awards are over for another year, but here’s a hot tip for next year: The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart (Prime Video).
This extraordinary new Aussie drama can be tough viewing at times because of its depictions of domestic violence (hence trigger warnings before watching). There’s a lot to unpack about why this is happening, but it is also hopeful and beautiful, thanks to stunning locations at a NSW coastal town, flower farm and volcanic crater in the outback, and an amazing cast.
The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart: Sigourney Weaver
Sigourney Weaver is magnificent, as are Alyla Browne and Alycia Debnam-Carey both playing her granddaughter. There’s brilliant support from Leah Purcell, Frankie Adams, Mexican TV superstar Sebastian Zurita, and Asher Keddie and Alexander England as a troubled couple, having last been seen living happily ever after on Offspring (Paramount+) when it ended in 2017.
The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart: Leah Purcell
I was amazed to discover on this week’s TV Gold podcast that the book The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart is based on was written by Holly Ringland, the co-host of the ABC nature series Back To Nature (iview). This adaptation of her novel, by showrunner Sarah Lambert, Kirsty Fisher and Kim Wilson, is something to be proud of. For more, don’t miss our extra special podcast about it.
Making the Logie Awards better
Now to the Logies where the move from Nine to Seven didn’t result in it being a better show. Therefore, a total overhaul is needed. Here are My Top 5 on what works, and what doesn’t at the Logie Awards:
• Sam Pang was terrific.
• As seen on The Cheap Seats this week, the scenes selected for Best Actor and Actress nominees are ridiculous. Every moment shows somebody crying, screaming or being stressed. How about showing some happy and tender moments that make people want to watch Aussie drama, rather than laughing at it?
• Barry Humphries got a longer In Memoriam dedication from Karl Stefanovic because his contribution to television was vast. Olivia Newton-John then got similar treatment from Natalie Barr but why? Olivia was an icon, no question, but her career was always more about charity work, music, and movies. However, Kate Miller-Heidke singing “Xanadu” during In Memoriam was perfection.
• The general consensus seems to be the Logies are cringeworthy – it could be because the telecast is so ridiculously disjointed and repetitive. How about splitting the show into two parts? Start with every Most Popular category, telling the audience how these are their people’s choice picks. Then in the second half, explain how the Most Outstanding awards are different because they are voted for by the industry. Then it ends with the Gold Logie.
• Daryl Somers was terrible. Never again.
Top image: Alyla Browne and Tilda Cobham-Hervey in The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart
Read more Mercado on TV here.
Welcome to TV Gold: Mediaweek’s weekly TV podcast
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Listen now on your favourite podcast platform for 30 minutes of TV reviews and recommendations every week from Mediaweek’s Andrew Mercado and James Manning.
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Two new TV Gold episodes this week
Bonus episode: Inside The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart
TV Gold takes you inside the biggest Australian drama of the year, Prime Video’s The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart. Join Sarah Christie (Prime Video) and Jodi Matterson (series executive producer) as they talk to Mediaweek’s Andrew Mercado and James Manning about adapting the bestseller and finding the key cast members – from Sigourney Weaver and Leah Purcell to Asher Keddie and Alycia Debnam-Carey. They reveal all the wonderful Australian places where the series was shot and talk about the special effects that created one of the iconic locations.
Listen here.
Regular weekly episode: Reviews of The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, Justified: City Primevil, Physical S3,
Logie Awards
After recording a bonus episode dedicated to The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart (Prime Video), Andrew and James give their own thoughts on how successful it is. (Spoiler: very) Also this week they review Justified: City Primevil (Disney+), Physical (S3) and they look at the 2023 TV Week Logie winners.
Email the hosts and tell us what you have been watching. The good and the bad. Emails to: [email protected]