THE embattled local drama industry has received another fillip with some surprise nominees at this year's 2007 Logie Awards.
Just as Seven's All Saints and Nine's McLeod's Daughters are enjoying a surge in the ratings, two stars of Nine's rural drama have also nabbed Gold Logie nominations for the Most Popular Personality on TV.In previous years, Simone Jade Mackinnon and Rachael Carpani bet between themselves that the other would perhaps win a Silver Logie nomination as Most Popular Actress.
This year, not only have they both done that, the duo is also up for television's top prize against old stagers John Wood, John Howard and Bert Newton, Home Away's Kate Ritchie, Neighbours' Natalie Blair and three-time winner, Rove McManus.
Shock describes the feeling quite adequately, smiled Carpani.
It just never crossed my mind for gold, added Ms Mackinnon.
But now I'll have to go back on set (in South Australia) and play the diva. Not even my horse will be allowed to step in poo on the farm now!
The acclamation is a particular boost for Ms Carpani, whose character met a fiery demise on McLeod's Daughters last week.
She's already filmed a US drama pilot, Law Dogs, for producers Ridley and Tony Scott and will return to Hollywood soon.
But both were more willing to count it as an affirmation for local drama.
It's great but we still need more shows, more competition so the American shows can go - except Rachael's - and be replaced by more Australian drama, said Ms Mackinnon.
Four-time Gold Logie winner, Bert Newton managed three nominations, with Bert's Family Feud and 20 To 1 nominated as Most Popular Light Entertainment Program.
He admitted he could not be blase about the Logies, no matter how many nominations.
No, the thing that's kept me going is passion, he said.
I promised myself I'd leave this business, unless I got the tap on the shoulder, as soon as I lost the passion.
In a turbulent year for television, axed programs Blue Heelers and Backyard Blitz received nominations and subscription TV grabbed its highest number of nominations ever with 11.
Its drama Love My Way earned seven nominations, including Brendan Cowell's as Most Popular Actor, the first time an actor from a subscription TV program has been acclaimed in a popular-voted category.
Rove McManus, who had his biggest ever audience of 1.69 million viewers for Sunday's return of Rove Live, will be favourite for the Gold Logie, presented in Melbourne on May 6.
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