Andrew Mendelson '96 Andrew Mendelson ’96 was nominated today for a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Picture Editing for Variety Programming. The nomination recognizes Mendelson and four colleagues for their work on a special episode of TBS’s late-night talk show and satirical news program Full Frontal with Samantha Bee. Titled “The Great American* Puerto Rico (*It’s Complicated),” the hourlong special featured comedian Bee and her correspondents visiting Puerto Rico six months after Hurricane Maria to highlight the devastating aftermath of the storm.

Mendelson, who has been with the show since 2016, has further reason to celebrate. Full Frontal garnered seven Emmy nominations in total, with four major awards for the series, including Outstanding Variety Talk Series, and three for the Puerto Rico special, including Outstanding Variety Special. The Primetime Emmys are awarded by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences to recognize excellence in American television programming.

Having worked as a television editor and producer for over 14 years, Mendelson previously earned three Daytime Emmys for Outstanding Achievement in Single Camera Editing for his work on the critically acclaimed children’s television show The Electric Company. He has edited nationally broadcast shows for PBS, The Discovery Channel, Comedy Central, MTV, Bravo, E! Entertainment Television, Logo, TMC, and several other major cable networks. His credits also include editing comedy specials starring Amy Schumer and satirical news programs hosted by John Oliver and Larry Wilmore.  

Mendelson made his filmmaking debut with the autobiographical A Cricket in the Court of Akbar (2009), which chronicled his journey to compete as the first Western sitarist in the Tournament of Champions at the largest music competition in Rajasthan, India. He can be heard in the score for the Mike Myers film The Love Guru, for which he composed the opening-credits music. In 2008, Mendelson produced and edited Nerdcore Rising, an independent comedic documentary that opened to sold-out theaters at its SXSW premiere. In 2013, Mendelson co-produced and edited the feature The Muslims are Coming, which followed Muslim stand-up comedians as they toured the United States.

During his years at SU, Mendelson majored in theater and was a member of the Mask & Wig, the University’s longest-running student organization. He graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts.

Congratulations, Andrew!