Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio got multiple Emmy nominations for “George Carlin’s American Dream”: “We were going to do something worthy of George”

Comedian George Carlin has never won an Emmy during his illustrious career, but an HBO documentary about him could help offset this oversight.

George Carlin’s American DreamDirector Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio garnered five nominations today, including Best Documentary / Nonfiction and Honors Director for Apatow and Bonfiglio.

“East”Yes It’s really exciting to be recognized, “Bonfilio told Deadline in a joint FaceTime call with Apatow.” There have been so many amazing pieces this year. And it’s great that people are really in touch with George, his words and the its history.

Apatow added: “I think when you start a project like this, you really want to get the theme right. We were all very determined to do something worthy of George. So it makes me happy and excited that so many people are learning about him and connecting with. his work as a result of the documentary.

The two-part film explores Carlin’s difficult upbringing in New York and his rise in the world of comedy, first as part of the Jack Burns company and then, of course, as a solo artist. Carlin said it wasn’t until he took acid in the early ’70s that he realized his true calling was to be a comic outlaw, sort of a social commentator. These are just some of the things viewers learn about Carlin through the film.

“I don’t think anyone knew anything about his personal life,” Apatow said. “He Never spoke of it in his conduct; He was a very private person. I think people connected with his journey as someone who came from a traumatic childhood and turned to comedy as a way to navigate the world. He has had many struggles with drug addiction, which has affected his family. He and his wife Brenda worked very hard to get a better place. I think your family trip has meant a lot to people. Also, there are many people who did not know his position of him and did not realize how much he implied. [our] Although much of it was written many decades ago.

Apatow and Bonfilio win Emmy Awards for HBO 2018 documentary Garry Shandling’s Zen diaries, a film that explored the psyche of Shandling, Apatow’s late friend and mentor of the comedy. For the Carlin documentary, George’s daughter Kelly gave the filmmakers access to her voluminous personal archive that covers most of Carlin’s life.

“I’ll text Kelly this morning,” Apatow said. “We were both friends with Garry Shandling and he always feels Garry’s support, so it’s really nice for us to work together. He sent me a nice text saying he thought Gary would be happy today. “

Bonfiglio also referred to Kelly Carlin’s base.

“I talked to him and he was very excited because George had never won an Emmy. So he has another chance this year, “Bonfiglio said.

It was a happy Emmy day for Apatow. His friend Seth Rogen received a nomination for his co-star in the Hulu limited series. pam and tom. Y EuphoriaThe HBO drama, starring Apatow’s daughter Maude Apatow, has also received a lot of love from Emmy voters, including the standout drama series.

“The parade is coming Euphoria “He did very well today,” said Apatow, “so we’re all very proud of him and his work on this.”

Rogen category and many of them in which Euphoria There is a contestant who will perform at the “mainstream” Primetime Emmy Awards on September 12 in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, the documentary categories will be presented at the slightly less star-studded Creative Arts ceremony over the weekend of 3-4 September. It is no less an honor to win gold at a creative arts event, Apatow assured us.

“I refuse to disappoint anyone,” he joked. “The creative arts ceremony is pretty heavy.”