There was much confusion late last week when Tom Gleeson suddenly announced he was quitting as host of the ABC’s hugely successful Hard Quiz and discontinuing production of the show.
“The demands of hosting a show has meant I was unable to spend as much time as I would like to performing stand up,” the comic said in a statement.
The ABC, in particular, was confused about the announcement, stating it was “news to us”.
But it turns out Gleeson was simply trying to “pull a Denyer” and win the Gold Logie without a show.
I’M UP FOR THE GOLD LOGIE! Last year proved you can only win if you don’t have a show. That’s why I axed myself. When I win Gold, I promise I will un-axe #HardQuiz immediately. Please forgive me HARD! Voting opens June 24. #Gleeson4Gold #tvweeklogies pic.twitter.com/vYj9Z9Sono
— Tom Gleeson (@nonstoptom) May 26, 2019
Gleeson was the mastermind behind the social media campaign that helped Grant Denyer win the Gold Logie last year, despite his show Family Feud being axed in the lead up to the awards.
Gleeson is up against Amanda Keller, Waleed Aly, Rodger Corser, Eve Morey, Costa Georgiadis and Sam Mac to take out the gong.
And it seems Gleeson sees his ABC colleague Georgiadis as his biggest threat.
“Costa’s got a nomination for the Gold, and it’s tricky because he’s going to split the ABC vote,” he told news.com.au.
“People have to remember that he’s a gardener, he’s not even in show business. He’s one step up from mowing a lawn, really. I host an actual show in prime time and he does an infomercial on Fridays on the ABC that doesn’t rate anywhere near mine.”
Despite helping the former Channel Ten host win last year, Gleeson holds concerns about being repaid for the favour.
“If he (Denyer) has a moral compass he will fall in behind me, but I don’t think he does, that’s the problem,” Gleeson said.
The Logies will be held on Sunday 30 June.
