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I felt that that was the least that I could do for the show.
So I said, All right, let me just do it.
Let me self-fund it.
So Ive self-submitted for all of the awards this year.
And I think I ended up with 11 or 12.
I wrote the taglines and hired a graphic designer to make the designs.
Because my budget was so small, I really prioritized my own commute.
I would want to personally be able to see them.
Especially when last year there were Informational Series nominated likeComedians in Cars Getting Coffee.
Last year, it was Informational Series.
Last year, the shows up against us were: Anthony Bourdain, yes, obviously.
[Surviving R. Kellywas also nominated, andBourdains show took home the Emmy.]
But those other shows, those are Netflix comedies.
I dont think theyre breaking the rules.
Because, to be clear, this is a Creative Arts Emmy.
This is not televisions biggest night.
This is the Wednesdaybeforetelevisions biggest night.
Thats why we have so many categories, so we can spread the awards around.
because people thought of Netflix as a website.
The reason they went to the Emmys was because they were trying to prove, No, were television.
Were a television data pipe; we should be eligible for this.
I dont frankly have a problem with Netflix doing that.
This is the game: put money into marketing.
But the effect has been that small shows like ours on basic cable get sweeped.
We cant really compete with the massive amounts of money that are being spent.
The other thing that we dont have is just straight-up name recognition.
Like David Lettermans show: Youve got that track record, youve got that celebrity.
Occasionally theres a breakthrough, likePEN15.But again, Hulu spent massive amounts of money on that nomination.
Your Adam Ruins Awards Shows segment focused mostly on the Oscars and Golden Globes.
Theres the big billboards, and you could take out ads inEmmy Magazineor whatever.
As opposed to the Golden Globes, where this small group of people get really intensely campaigned to.
With the Television Academy, basically anyone who works in television can join it.
Its just like $200.
So they just have so many members that theres no event to go to.
Its tens of thousands [of members] total.
And all those people, theyre not watching every single show.
Theres way too many shows.
So if people are voting, theyre just going, Oh hell yeah, I love David Letterman.
Ive loved him for 20 years.
I havent even seen the show, but let me give him a vote.
And I had heard tell of frustration in the animation community becauseThe Simpsonswins every year.
BoJackat least receives nominations.Adam Ruins Everything,all I want for the show is to get a nomination.
I want a nomination for a Creative Arts Emmy for Outstanding Nonfiction Hosted Series.
I did this whole segment about how the whole system is bullshit.
Because if any of my crew received a nomination, it would change our careers.
My cinematographer Matt Garrett, whos incredible we submitted for Best Cinematography in a Nonfiction Show.
I think its some of the best cinematography in a nonfiction hosted show.
Our hair teams doing period hair.
Our makeup team does prosthetics.
We make a run at make it really beautiful for our fans.
So for both myself and for them, we gotta try!
But we have to try in the context of this completely fucked-up system where we have almost no power.
Youre one of a million shows trying to get a little bit of attention.
So youre sitting there going,I made a really good show.
Isnt that enough?And its actually not.
Because thats not what the system runs on.
And you sort of have to accept that.
Were a show that people love.
Teachers show the show in their classrooms.
People watch it on Netflix.
The shows that receive those nominations are so often the descendants of Jon Stewarts show and his style.
And I count myself as being a post-Jon Stewart comedian in many ways.
Jon Stewart was like my Johnny Carson figure, who really showed me what comedy could be.
But that format is what prestige comedy looks like in the voters minds.
Just like in Oscars season, the conversation aroundBlack Panthergetting a nomination.
Its like, Thats not the kind of movie we give awards to.
Were not working in that direct prestige format.
Its one of the weirdest shows on television.
Its amazing the shows even on television.
I still give immense credit to truTV for taking a chance on our show at all.
I want to be very clear: I dont want to win.
I do not expect to win.
It really does matter to the crew.
And thats why I embarked on this campaign … Andalsofor my own ego and career.
