The 21st Annual TV Week Logie Awards were presented on Friday 16 March 1979 at Hilton Hotel in Melbourne and broadcast on the Nine Network. Bert Newton was the Master of Ceremonies. American boxer Muhammad Ali, film stars Henry Silva and Cicely Tyson, television actors Robin Williams, Susan Seaforth, Bill Hayes and Lauren Tewes, British actor David Hemmings and television actors Yootha Joyce and Brian Murphy appeared as guests.
Awards
Winners of Logie Awards (Australian television) for 1979:
Gold Logie
- Most Popular Personality on Australian Television
Presented by Muhammad Ali
- Winner:
- Bert Newton, The Don Lane Show, Nine Network
Silver Logies
- Most Popular Lead Actor on Australian Television
- Winner:
- Paul Cronin, The Sullivans, Nine Network
- Most Popular Lead Actress on Australian Television
- Winner:
- Lorraine Bayly, The Sullivans, Nine Network
National
- Most Popular Drama Series
- Winner:
- The Sullivans, Nine Network
- Best New Talent In Australia
- Winner:
- Jon English, Against The Wind, Seven Network
- Most Popular Australian TV Teenage Personality
- Winner:
- John Paul Young
- Most Popular Australian Variety Or Panel Show
- Winner:
- The Don Lane Show, Nine Network
- Most Popular Comedy Show
- Winner:
- The Paul Hogan Show, Nine Network
- Best Performormance By An Actor In A Major Role
- Winner:
- John Meillon, Bit Part, ABC
- Best Performance By An Actress In A Major Role
- Winner:
- Kerry McGuire, Against The Wind, Seven Network
- Best Performance By An Actor In A Supporting Role
- Winner:
- Peter Adams, Cop Shop, Seven Network
- Best Performance By An Actress In A Supporting Role
- Winner:
- Chantal Contouri, The Sullivans, Nine Network
- Best New Drama
- Winner:
- Against The Wind, Seven Network
- Best Television Script
- Winner:
- Michael Aitkens, Neutral Ground
- Best Miniseries/Telemovie
- Winner:
- Bit Part, ABC
- Best News Report
- Winner:
- Bank siege and chase, Nine Network News
- TV Reporter Of The Year
- Winner:
- Bill Bennett, Willesee at Seven, Seven Network
- Best Documentary Series
- Winner:
- A Big Country, ABC
- Best Single Documentary
- Winner:
- The Last Tasmanian, Network Ten
- Outstanding Coverage Of A Sports Event
- Winner:
- Bathurst Hardie Ferodo motor race, Seven Network
- Best Sports Report/Documentary
- Winner:
- Surfabout, Nine Network
- Best Performance By A Juvenile
- Winner:
- Warwick Poulsen, Because He's My Friend, ABC
- Outstanding Contribution To Children's TV
- Winner:
- Rainbow
- Outstanding Contribution To Community Service
- Winner:
- "Have A Go" campaign, Network Ten
- Outstanding Contribution By A Regional Station
- Winner:
- Goin' Down The Road, CBN8 Orange
Victoria
- Most Popular Male
- Winner:
- Bert Newton
- Most Popular Female
- Winner:
- Mary Hardy
- Most Popular Show
- Winner:
- The Don Lane Show, Nine Network
New South Wales
- Most Popular Male
- Winner:
- Mike Walsh
- Most Popular Female
- Winner:
- Noeline Brown
- Most Popular Show
- Winner:
- The Mike Walsh Show, Nine Network
Queensland
- Most Popular Male
- Winner:
- Paul Griffin, Nine Network
- Most Popular Female
- Winner:
- Jacki MacDonald
- Most Popular Show
- Winner:
- Country Homestead, Nine Network
South Australia
- Most Popular Male
- Winner:
- Ernie Sigley
- Most Popular Female
- Winner:
- Pam Tamblyn
- Most Popular Show
- Winner:
- The Ernie Sigley Show, Nine Network
Tasmania
- Most Popular Male
- Winner:
- Jim Cox
- Most Popular Female
- Winner:
- Kerry Smith
- Most Popular Show
- Winner:
- Saturday Night Show, TNT-9
Western Australia
- Most Popular Male
- Winner:
- Terry Willesee
- Most Popular Female
- Winner:
- Stephanie Quinlan
- Most Popular Show
- Winner:
- Channel Nine News, STW9
Controversies during Logies Night
Before he won the Gold Logie, Bert Newton said to Muhammad Ali, 'I Like The Boy'