Arts Academy Celebrates Double Emmy Nominations for Kelly Lyon, ACE
Above: Arts Academy editor Kelly Lyon, ACE
Photo Credit: The Weaver House
Arts Academy Edit, the Portland-based edit house co-founded by Tommy Harden and Peter Wiedensmith, proudly celebrates that editor, Kelly Lyon, ACE, has received double nominations at the 76th Emmy Awards, further cementing her reputation as one of the industry's top comedy editors. Kelly's exceptional work has earned her recognition in the category of Outstanding Picture Editing for Variety Programming for both Netflix’s “John Mulaney Presents: Everybody's in L.A.” and Amazon Studios/Prime Video’s “Tig Notaro: Hello Again.”
“John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in L.A.”, a special series of six live episodes, created by and starring John Mulaney, aired during the Netflix is a Joke Fest. The unconventional talk show features special guests and field pieces shot in Los Angeles, offering a fresh spin on the late-night format. Kelly's editing expertise was crucial in crafting the pre-taped sketches, which required a unique approach to pacing and narrative construction, especially given the largely unscripted nature of the content. Utilising Adobe Premiere Pro, Kelly deftly handled the intricate task of integrating live performances with pre-recorded segments, ensuring a seamless viewing experience.
“Tig Notaro: Hello Again,” streaming on Prime Video, is a stand-up special that showcases Tig Notaro's unique comedy style. Known for her deadpan delivery and sharp observational humour, Tig's performance required careful attention to pacing in the editing room. Kelly faced the challenge of maintaining the integrity of Tig’s live performance, especially during the finale, which originally featured an unlicensed Adele track. Collaborating closely with Tig and her wife, director Stephanie Allynne, Kelly successfully crafted a memorable and effective ending. Through the use of Adobe After Effects, she was able to creatively enhance certain segments while preserving the authenticity of Tig's performance.
“I’m truly honoured to receive my first Emmy nominations for “Everybody’s In LA” and “Tig Notaro: Hello Again,” shared Kelly Lyon, ACE. “Working with both John Mulaney and Tig Notaro on these specials was an incredible experience, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to their unique comedic visions. Editing these projects pushed me to explore new dimensions of timing and storytelling, and I’m thrilled to see our work recognized in this way.”
With a remarkable career spanning various high-profile projects, Kelly Lyon has consistently demonstrated her expertise and creativity in the realm of comedy editing. Her contributions to the entertainment industry are unparalleled, with a portfolio that includes Emmy-winning specials like “John Mulaney’s Baby J” and “Kid Gorgeous at Radio City,” and Emmy-nominated works such as “Amy Schumer Growing” and the “SNL at Home” episodes during the 2020 pandemic, which earned her an ACE Eddie Award nomination.
Kelly's work extends beyond stand-up specials; she has edited digital shorts, parody commercials, and music videos for NBC's “Saturday Night Live,” and projects like Mike Judge’s stop-motion animated comedy “In The Know” for Peacock, “That Damn Michael Che” for HBO Max, “Portlandia” for IFC, and contributed to the critically acclaimed “The Bear” for FX on Hulu. Her editing prowess was also showcased in the Emmy Award-winning “SNL 40th Anniversary Special.”
“It comes as absolutely no surprise that the Television Academy is recognizing Kelly’s work: her work is phenomenal,” expresses Tommy Harden, owner & co-founder of Arts Academy Edit. “Not only is Kelly a talented editor, she is a true friend and collaborator to those fortunate enough to work with her. The voices of the writers and artists who return to Kelly year after year for her wit, intelligence, playful nature, and thoughtfulness speak for themselves.”
The 76th Creative Arts Emmy Awards will take place at the Peacock Theater in LA and winners will be announced on Sept. 7th and 8th.
