And the Emmy goes to…..

Tuxedo native Mike Fasolo wins an Emmy for ‘Robot Chicken’, By Nancy Kriz TUXEDO - A Tuxedo native has joined an elite group of people who can say they are Emmy winners. Mike Fasolo, a 1987 graduate of George F. Baker High School, whose parents Barbara and Victor Fasolo still live in Tuxedo, was the winner of Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ Emmy for best writing in the new category called “Outstanding Short Format Animated Program.” Fasolo’s honor would have largely gone unnoticed by his hometown community until his sister Martha Klein of Monroe proudly told a friend she hadn’t seen for awhile, “Did I tell you my brother won an Emmy?” Fasolo, who now lives in California, is a member of the writing team for “Robot Chicken,” an animated television series on the Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim Block. The Emmy was presented to him and other members of the team at the Academy’s Creative Arts Emmy Awards ceremony, held a week prior to the 62nd Annual Emmy Awards in late August. “Robot Chicken” is a sketch comedy that parodies a number of pop culture conventions using stop motion animation of toys, action figures, dolls, and claymation (usually for special effects) and various other objects. The show first premiered in February 2005 and airs worldwide. The A to Z list of celebrities who, according Fasolo, want to lend their voices to the show cover all facets and different generations of the entertainment world, and have included: George Lucas, Don Knotts, Burt Reynolds, Nathan Lane, Ryan Seacrest, Phyllis Diller and Gene Simmons. Adult Swim is an adult-oriented cable television network that shares channel space with Cartoon Network from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The network features animated shows, including original programming and syndicated shows, generally with minimal or no editing for content. Where only adults can swim The shows are geared toward an age 14 to 18 and older audience, in contrast to the pre-teen daytime programming on Cartoon Network. Its name comes from a phrase used by public swimming pools to label designated times when children are restricted from using the pool so adults can, known as “adult swim.” This was the third year “Robot Chicken” writers were nominated, and the first year they won. The winning episode was the program’s “Full Ass Christmas Special.” Academy members are entitled to nominate their own work, explained Fasolo. After the creative team made its selection, the episode was submitted to the Academy for its consideration. Reviewers accepted it for inclusion on the ballot. Along with other Outstanding Short Format Animated Program nominees, that ballot was sent to Academy members within that category, who voted on their favorite. “It’s pretty exciting,” said Fasolo, who was in the company of celebrities like Robin Williams and Neil Patrick Harris. “Everyone gets dressed up and you walk down the red carpet. People are snapping pictures of you.” The Creative Emmy Awards program was four hours long, and Fasolo didn’t know where in that timeframe his category would be called. “You can get up but they don’t like it because they don’t want to show empty seats,” said Fasolo, noting ceremony highlights were condensed and recently broadcast on the E! Network. “You do get some food there but I left the house packing a few little things in my pocket to munch on.” The red carpet And yes, there’s just as much glamour at the Creative Emmy Awards as at its prime-time big brother show. “I own a tuxedo so I just wore that,” he said with a laugh. “But my girlfriend, she had to search for the perfect dress. And the shoes … she was on the hunt. Walking down that red carpet, she was saying she already had blisters.” When “Robot Chicken’s” big moment came, Fasolo was anxious. “As soon as they put your category up on the screen, your heart starts to beat a little faster,” he said. “It’s nerve-wracking.” Seth Green, one of the show’s executive producers, was one of that category’s presenters. As soon as Fasolo saw him, he was convinced “Robot Chicken” had no chance to win. “You’re not supposed to present for your own category,” he said. “But Seth looked surprised when he said, ‘Hey, it’s us.’” Then, the race was on. The winning “Robot Chicken” writing team had only 45 seconds to get from their seats, up to the stage, shake hands, collect their statures, say their thanks and leave. In a flash, it was over. “I called my mother and one of the first things she said to me was ‘Do you get any money for this?’” added Fasolo. The Emmy statue is fairly heavy, with Fasolo estimating it weighs at least six pounds. The statue is not engraved at the time of its awarding. The small plaque which has Fasolo’s name, winning category and name of the “Robot Chicken” program arrived in the mail afterward. The statue is also dangerous too, he said. ‘Find what you love’ “Those wings are super sharp,” added Fasolo. “They’re actually quite deadly. One of the guys cut his chin on it.” Now Fasolo, who worked for Wizard Magazine as well as its sister publication InQuest - and who coincidentally wrote a few stories for The Photo News when he lived in Tuxedo - can add Emmy winner to his professional credentials as well. “It’s a pretty good feeling to have it,” said Fasolo of his Emmy. “It’s the best show. It validates us. It hits a lot of people. Our demographics are the 18 to 34 age range. It seems that everyone watches it. You’ll talk to some little kid …who probably should not be watching it …. and he’ll repeat everything. “Then there’s the 45-year-old who can recite it too. It’s fun to do something silly and insane.” And when he comes back to Tuxedo to visit, Fasolo would welcome an opportunity to visit his alma mater and talk about his experiences. What would he tell them? “Find what you love,” said Fasolo. “Keep headed in that direction, and have fun with it.”

It’s the best show. It validates us. It hits a lot of people. Our demographics are the 18 to 34 age range. It seems that everyone watches it. You’ll talk to some little kid …who probably should not be watching it …. and he’ll repeat everything. Then there’s the 45-year-old who can recite it too. It’s fun to do something silly and insane.” Mike Fasolo, the Emmy-winning writer for “Robot Chicken” on the Cartoon Network’s “Adult Swim Block”