robert carlock

Robert Carlock with his three Emmys

Christina Gandolfo
May 22, 2024
Me and My Emmy

Me and My Emmy: 30 Rock's Robert Carlock

The three-time Emmy winner on the exciting new challenge of writing for Netflix's animated series Mulligan.

EMMY TALLY: Three

HOW HE GOT THE GOLD: As executive producer of 30 Rock, which won Outstanding Comedy Series for three years in a row starting in 2007.

NOW FOR THE NOMS: Carlock has 21 Emmy nominations, including 11 as writer and executive producer of 30 Rock. He’s also been nominated as a writer for Saturday Night Live and the Golden Globe Awards and as executive producer of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

SHOCK AND AH: “It’s tough to beat the delightful shock of the first win. You really think the whole place is exploding with cheers and applause, but when you lose, you realize it’s just the three rows around you.”

MAD MOTIVATION: “My Emmy statuettes are on top of a bookcase. They remind me of all the Emmys I didn’t win but obviously should have, and that fuels the rage that fuels my comedy. So, yes, I suppose they do inspire me.”

RICH SUBJECT: “As gratifying as that kind of recognition is, when I sit down to write, I’m not thinking about nominations. I’m thinking about money.”

MAKING A MULLIGAN: “Working in a new genre [for animated series Mulligan] pokes my brain in new ways. The possibilities and the challenges in animation are so different compared to live action. And you never find yourself shooting in New York in February on an outdoor ice rink at midnight, just watching the light go out of Jack McBrayer’s eyes.”


This article originally appeared in emmy magazine issue #2, 2024.

Browser Requirements
The TelevisionAcademy.com sites look and perform best when using a modern browser.

We suggest you use the latest version of any of these browsers:

Chrome
Firefox
Safari


Visiting the site with Internet Explorer or other browsers may not provide the best viewing experience.

Close Window