LMU Faculty, Alumni Garner Awards at Primetime Emmys

At the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, LMU-trained artists earned nominations and awards across television, entertainment, and creative arts categories, with three taking home the statuette: Kelly Younger '94, Linda Cardellini '97, and Dave Meyers '94.

Kelly Younger '94, professor of English and affiliate in theatre arts and screenwriting faculty, won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special for his work on "The Muppet Show" - his first nomination and first win.

The special, produced by Seth Rogen and starring Sabrina Carpenter, also celebrates the 50th anniversary of "The Muppets," which debuted in 1976 and introduced generations of audiences to beloved characters including Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, and, of course, Kermit the Frog. The special won four Emmys overall.

"It's an honor just to be nominated, but it turns out it's also really great to win! Getting to walk onto that stage with this extraordinary group of writers was completely surreal," said Younger. "The Muppets have meant so much to me for so long, so to be recognized for helping carry their particular brand of joy, silliness, and heart forward made the whole night something I'll never forget. Oh, and I got to meet Queen Latifah!"

Younger previously co-created and co-executive produced "Muppets Now" and co-wrote and co-executive produced "Muppets Haunted Mansion," which earned four Emmy nominations, won an Emmy Award, and received the 2022 Producers Guild of America Award for Outstanding Children's Programming.

Linda Cardellini '97 theatre arts won her first Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie playing Carol Love-Smernitch in "DTF St. Louis."

Nominated for four Emmys in her career, Cardellini's breakthrough role was in "Freaks and Geeks," which won an Emmy for Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series. In 2013, Cardellini received her first personal Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Sylvia Rosen in "Mad Men."

"LMU was an incredible playground and building block for my career and my life in Los Angeles," Cardellini said of her acting education at LMU. "The teachers, staff and students gave me a community of creative, collaborative, and wonderful people to rely on as I ventured out into the unknown as an aspiring actor. I didn't have to start over in a new town like so many do when they come to Los Angeles. I still have my college friends."

Dave Meyers '94 film production won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) for his work as a co-executive producer on The Apple Music "Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny." Bad Bunny headlined the sporting event's renowned halftime show, amassing a global viewership of more than 4 billion views within 24 hours, setting the record for most-watched Super Bowl halftime show, ever. Meyers has been the director of music videos for artists from Kendrick Lamar to Harry Styles to Blackpink to Sabrina Carpenter.

If you want to watch our winners win their Emmys, the Creative Arts telecast will air on FXX on Saturday, Sept. 12 and be available to stream on Hulu beginning Sunday, Sept. 13. The remaining Emmys categories, where Abbott Elementary executive producer Brian Rubenstein '01 is up for Outstanding Comedy Series, will be presented live on Monday, September 14 on NBC and Peacock.