Logies
Newton has been a part of the Logie Awards since the awards started in 1959. He has been nominated for many Logie Awards and has won several:
Awards won:
- Four Gold Logies: 1979, 1981, 1982, 1984 (for his roles in The Don Lane Show and New Faces)
- Hall of Fame: 1988
- Three 'Best Compere' awards: 1972, 1973, 1974 (for his role in In Melbourne Tonight and The Graham Kennedy Show)
Awards nominated:
- Gold Logie: 1978 (for The Don Lane Show); 1983 (for The Don Lane Show and New Faces), 2006 (for Good Morning Australia) and 2007 (for 20 to 1 and Bert's Family Feud).
- Most Popular Light Entertainment Personality: 1993 (for his role in Good Morning Australia)
Newton has also hosted the Logies (1968–1980, 1982, 1984, 1989, 1993 and 2010, and co-host in 2006). He holds the record for both the most Logies hosted and the most Logies hosted in a continuous run. Some notable moments of his hosting include:
- At the 1979 Logies awards Newton said to Muhammad Ali "I like the boy", not knowing that "boy" could be taken as a racial slur. Ali responded "Did he call me Roy?" and members of the audience, including Don Lane, shouted to Newton to say "Yes, Roy". Newton looked puzzled and later explained to the media that he did not realise that "boy" was used as a racial slur. Ali at least realised Newton's use was unintended and they kissed and made up. Newton also made light of the incident by saying: "I'll change my name, my religion ... anything.", referring to Ali's change of name from Cassius Clay when he adopted Islam in 1964.
- In 1973, American actor Michael Cole, best known for his role in the TV series The Mod Squad, accepted an award while obviously drunk and ended his barely coherent thank-you speech with the word "shit".
- In 2006, after the awards, he had a fall and injured himself. The injury was visible for a number of Bert's Family Feud episodes.
Read more about this topic: Bert Newton