Forget the Logies, Vote in the Fuglies

The Second Annual TV Fugly Awards or Fuglies as they are affectionately known, have began taking votes over the Internet in categories that highlight the bad, yet also celebrate some good things about Australian television shows and personalities.

Brisbane, QLD, AUSTRALIA -- April 15, 2003 -- Australian television personalities and network executives will no doubt be a little on edge over the next four weeks. Why? The cynical, sarcastic and humorous alternative to the Logies has begun and will formally recognise the worst that Australian television has offered viewers over the last 12 months.

After receiving wide spread media coverage and 11,691 votes for the first event in 2002, the Second Annual TV Fugly Awards or Fuglies as they are affectionately known, have began taking votes over the Internet in categories that highlight the bad, yet also celebrate some good things about Australian television shows and personalities.

This years Fuglies were kicked off, with the first vote being cast by presenter Joanne Shoebridge from ABCs rural affairs program Landline. In 2002, Landline was recognised in one of the positive categories as voters determined it the most under acknowledged Television Show.

Incidentally, Joanne voted ex-pat Aussie Simon Baker as the spunkiest Male TV personality, Laurie Oakes for being the Australian celebrity who she would have rather seen in the celebrity Big Brother house and Chris Bath from Channel 7s Sunday Sunrise as the Most Under Acknowledged TV Personality.

"The awards are not meant to be taken too seriously" says TV Fugly Awards creator Anthony Dever. "Its all done for a bit of a laugh. Although, I do feel that some of the awful stuff that appears on television needs to be recognised, I dont want to put anyone out of a job".

Notable "winners" from last years awards included Home and Away for being voted Worst TV Show, Phil Gould was awarded the Most Biased Sporting Commentator and Eddie McGuire seen as the Most Over-Exposed TV personality.

Despite these dishonorable achievers, Mike Monroe, who was sacked from hosting A Current Affair earlier this year, was the standout Fuglies performer in 2002. He took away the paper certificate for Worst Male TV Personality and his former show, was awarded Most Sensational Current Affairs program.

Though it should be stressed that not all the awards focus on negative aspects of the television industry. Categories like Most Under-Acknowledged TV Show, Most Spankable Female TV Personality and Most Under-Acknowledged TV Personality bring some balance to this alternative event.

"There are many advantages the Fuglies have over the Logies" says Dever, "You dont have to buy a magazine to vote, voters are not retricted by selected pre-nominees and can vote for whoever they want, we have categories that make you laugh and at the end of the day you actually want to see who wins a Fugly".

Two new categories included this year are "Least talented TV Personality turned POP Star" and "Australian celebrity who you would have rather seen in the Celebrity Big Brother".

This year, as an added incentive to get people involved and vote, TV Fugly Awards t-shirts are also being sold through the events web site, with proceeds being allocated to three charities also being decided by the Fuglies voters.

2003 Fugly Awards voting closes at midnight May 7 and the final results will be announced in Melbourne on May 9, two days before the official Logie Awards ceremony. "Winners" will then be sent their paper certificate to commemorate the acheivment of being part Australian Television history.

Complete list of Categories for the 2nd Annual TV Fugly Awards
_ Worst TV Show
_ Worst Male TV Personality
_ Worst Female TV Personality
_ Most Biased Sporting Commentator
_ Worst Sporting Coverage
_ Spunkiest Male TV Personality
_ Most Spankable Female TV Personality
_ Best Piss Take of Other TV Show/s
_ Most Sensational Current Affairs Program
_ Least Talented TV Personality turned POP Star
_ Australian Personality who you would have rather seen in the celebrity Big Brother
_ Best Personality Who Appears on a Dodgy TV Show
_ Most Under Acknowledged TV Show
_ Most Under Acknowledged TV Personality
_ Most Over Exposed TV Personality
_ Overseas TV Show that you Wish Would Just Disappear

So if you love, hate or love to hate Australian television shows and personalities, log-on to http://www.fugly.com.au and make your Fuglies vote count in some categories that are unlikely to ever be seen on the Logies voting form.

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About Joanne Shoebridge:
Joanne Shoebridge is based in Brisbane and is the Presenter for Landline. Joanne has been a reporter for B-Sky-B's Sky News, BBC-World TV, ABC news and Lateline.

About Anthony Dever:
Anthony Dever is twenty three and based in Toowoomba and Brisbane. He created the TV Fugly Awards because he didnt want to buy TV Week magazine just to vote in the Logies, needed a creative outlet and thought the word Fugly was funny. He currently combines organising the Fuglies with study and running a small Internet business he owns.

For further information and interview requests please contact:

        Anthony Dever
            Phone:     07 4639 3970
Mobile:     0421 876 914
Email:    awards@fugly.com.au
         Web:         http://www.fugly.com.au