Emerson Alumni Win Emmys for “The Voice”

Emerson alumni Jay Bienstock ’87, executive producer on NBC’s The Voice, and Brittany Martin Porter ’10, producer, took home Primetime Emmy Awards Sunday, September 18, for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program.

This is Bienstock’s second Primetime Emmy. As a producer on CBS’ Survivor, his team won Outstanding Non-Fiction Program (Special Class) in 2001. He also racked up a number of nominations for his work on Survivor and The Apprentice. This is Martin Porter’s second win in the category. 

The Voice, which begins its 11th season Monday, September 19, one night after its Emmy win, also won in the category in 2015 and 2013.

Joe Celli ’91, art director for Grease: Live; and Erik Schuiten ’05, rerecording mixer on HBO’s Vice, were among those who won Creative Arts Emmys last week. Celli won for Outstanding Production Design for a Variety, Nonfiction, Event, or Award Special, and  Schuiten won for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction Program.

Comedian Aziz Ansari paid tribute on Instagram Sunday night to Harris Wittels ’06, with whom Ansari worked on Master of None and Parks and Recreation, and who died in February 2015. Wittels was co-executive producer of Master of None, which was nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series.

Other alumni nominees include:

John Frink ’82, an executive producer of The Simpsons, which was nominated for Outstanding Animation Program.

Jay Leno ’73, executive producer; and David Swift ’09, producer, of Jay Leno’s Garage, nominated for Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series.

Randy Barbato ’82, producer of Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures, nominated for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special.

David Klotz ’94, a music editor on Game of Thrones, nominated for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series; and American Horror Story, nominated for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special.

Eric Drysdale ’93, writer on Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, nominated for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series.

A number of parents of Emerson alumni were nominated as well, including:

Larry David, nominated for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his turn hosting Saturday Night Live.

Tom Bergeron, host of Dancing with the Stars, nominated for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program.

Ken Aymong, supervising producer for Saturday Night Live, nominated for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series, and Adele Live in New York City, nominated for Outstanding Variety Special.