Sam Pang wins gold Logie as Robert Irwin unleashes the reptiles

Comedian Sam Pang secured the coveted Gold Logie at the 66th TV Week Logie Awards, an honor he accepted with a mix of surprise and deep gratitude. Pang, who has hosted the awards show for three consecutive years, reflected on his unlikely journey into television, stating he never imagined being on screen while growing up.

"I grew up watching television at the feet of my parents," Pang said during his acceptance speech. "But you're watching television in this country, you never think that you're going to be on it … I'm very, very lucky and very, very grateful to be a part of it." Pang is only the second person of color to win the Gold Logie, following Waleed Aly in 2016.

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I grew up watching television at the feet of my parents. But you're watching television in this country, you never think that you're going to be on it … I'm very, very lucky and very, very grateful to be a part of it.

Co-host Robert Irwin, who also clinched the Bert Newton Award for Most Popular Presenter, kicked off the evening with an energetic monologue. Drawing on his recent win in the US "Dancing with the Stars," Irwin, the youngest person to host the Logies, incorporated humor about fellow nominees and presenters, including Karl Stefanovic and Dave Hughes. He also brought out a python, draping it around comedian Luke McGregor.

The ceremony also celebrated Andrew Denton's induction into the Hall of Fame. His speech was widely lauded on social media, with users calling it "world class."

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I grew up watching this ceremony. My mum would let me stay up way past my bedtime. I'd sit there in front of the telly, wide-eyed, just thinking, gee, Sam Pang is hilarious.