MIA FREEDMAN: 'Every question you have about attending the Logie Awards, answered.'

1. How long is the Logies red carpet and are you standing around waiting for a long time?

The red carpet started at 3pm and we didn't sit down inside the venue until around 5:30pm. Some people did up to three hours on the red carpet which feels like an endurance event before the actual event even starts. I reckon the carpet went for about 500 metres and there were sooo many different media outlets including Mamamia.

The big stars like Gold Logie nominees and people like Hamish Blake all have publicists with them from whatever network they're representing and those minders move them down the line, making sure they talk to all the important media. It's very efficient.

What I noticed this year is that lots of media had jokes or bits they wanted you to do, I guess to get their viral moment. Like, one reporter asked Bruna and I to read out a tongue twister and then the Mamamia crew were asking people for their breakup advice because one of our reporters had just been dumped. They were the only two interviews we did but I actually think it probably makes it more fun for the famous people who have to do dozens of interviews in a row. Better than being asked "Are you excited to be nominated?" or "Who do you think will win the Gold?"

Watch: A snippet of Mamamia's social producer asking Aussie celebs for heartbreak advice on the 2024 Logies red carpet. Post continues after video.

2. Did you fan-girl over anyone?

Yes, I saw Heather Mitchell who played Asher Keddie's mother in Fake and I'd seen her in an incredible one-woman play about Ruth Bader Ginsberg so I loved meeting her when she came over to our table to say hi to Asher. Also, you just see random people you know on TV which is so fun.

Mia Freedman with Tina Bursil, who plays Asher's mother in Strife, and Costa Georgiadis from Gardening Australia. Image: Supplied.

Strife had a couple of tables and we were on the one with Asher Keddie and her husband Vincent Fantauzzo who I adore plus me and Bruna Papandrea, our writer and EP, Sarah Scheller, Asher's agent Lee-Anne Higgins, Ali Hubert-Burns from Binge, Alex Dimitrades, Emma Lung and Matt Day. Because Asher was a Gold Logie nominee, our table was front and centre so the view was incredible.

Mia Freedman with Bruna Papandrea, Asher Keddie and Asher Keddie's husband, Vincent Fantauzzo. Image: Supplied.

I'm vegetarian so the options are rarely great but it was actually pretty good. Entrée for everyone else was beef carpaccio or raw fish and for vegos it was a burrata salad and then eggplant for the main. I was starving by the time we sat down even though it was only 5:30pm. And then starving again by 11pm when I kept wishing they'd bring around hot chips. But there was dessert and a cheese plate.

5. Was there a gift bag?

No gift bag. Although I did get handed a bottle of water to drink as I left.

6. Are phones allowed at the Logies?

Yes, absolutely no restrictions. Everyone was taking selfies and texting all night. They didn't even tell us to switch our phones to silent.

7. Were there seat fillers at the Logies?

Yes. Here is me with my friend the seat filler whose name I've forgotten. Every time a seat filler came to sit at our table we'd ask them how they got the gig. This lovely guy had just finished school last year, and he was a fashion design student. Someone else's mother was in the crew. They appeared out of nowhere as soon as anyone got up and then they vanished. It was seamless and impressive.

Mia Freedman with one of the 'seat warmers' at the Logies. Image: Supplied.

Yes, and no? It's a lot like any industry awards night, I guess except with famous people. What's funny is how surreal it is because everywhere you look is a celebrity bit out of their natural environment of their own TV show and often chatting to someone from a totally different type of fame. So it would be Dr Harry from Harry's practice talking to Lisa Millar from ABC Breakfast and then Larry Emdur would be chatting with someone from SAS Australia or MAFS. It's kind of hard for the brain to process all at once.

And then there was just the fun of everyone jumping up and belting You're The Voice and dancing in their frocks and suits together like the basic b**ches we all are. That was epic.

9. When did you take your shoes off?

Not until I got home! I had Bandaids in my bag as well as Panadol because I'm always prepared and I shared my stash.

10. Did it feel as long as it was?

Yes. Like a long-haul flight but when it was over, you still had to actually get home. The annoying part was that after the red carpet, we went inside and sat down and they wanted to feed us before the broadcast started because the sound of cutlery banging was annoying so the servers did an amazing job of getting the food out fast but it meant we were sitting there for more than two hours before the show even started and everyone was exhausted. I felt particularly sorry for the Strife cast and crew who had to be on set by 7am the next morning. The room was sort of divided into people who just got drunk and people who got more annoyed by how long it was taking.

11. What is the most surprising thing about the Logies?

How moving it is in the room. It's easy to be cynical at home and I always am, when watching. But when you're there, you can see that it really means a lot for people to be acknowledged for the work they do because of course it does. Just because they're famous or on TV doesn't make it less validating for them, even the people who you would assume might be jaded like Deb Mailman or Rebecca Gibney or Larry Emdur. Everyone is also really friendly towards one another, it's very communal, even between rival networks or shows. It's much more fun and silly and loose and relaxed than I expected it to be.

12. Are there any rules or anything you're not allowed to do or bring to the Logies?

Not that I know of? Some people brought little bottles of tequila which they chugged from and others took beta-blockers because they get so nervous about doing the red carpet or presenting. I know that a few years ago people used to live-tweet it and be snarky but I don't think people do that anymore because it would be so mean-spirited. The vibe was very celebratory and supportive.

13. Did you go to the 2024 Logies afterparty?

Have you met me?

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Read Mamamia's recap of the 2024 Logies:

• How does Logies voting work? Why the rules and categories changed in 2024.
• The 13 off-screen moments you didn't see during the 2024 Logies.
• Bizarre acceptance speeches and a surprise guest: All the biggest moments from the 2024 Logies.

Feature image: Supplied.