Randall Einhorn has a unique filmography. He currently is Emmy-nominated for directing the Season 3 finale of the ABC comedy series Abbott Elementary, and as an executive producer of the series once again shares its nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series.
His extensive past work in TV includes a long run as a director and cinematographer on The Office and helming Parks & Recreation, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Nurse Jackie, Modern Family, Fargo and Shameless among many, many other directorial achievements. His first couple of Emmy nominations, however, came as a cinematographer on Survivor in 2001 and 2003, a show that along with Fear Factor served as an early calling card in his career.
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In fact, as he tells me in this new edition of my Deadline video series Behind the Lens, it was a kayaking trip he organized for producer Mark Burnett that led to his Survivor gig. It all has resulted in an extraordinarily varied career behind the lens (literally) and calling the shots on some of television’s most iconic shows.
All of this experience comes into play in the unique look and feel, plus mockumentary style, of Abbott Elementary, for which he is a central figure and often key director. We talk about that show; his current nomination and the challenging work in crafting the season finale, titled “Party”; plus how it all relates to The Office and news on the upcoming reboot of that long-running show (which he says has a different name now) and whether he will be a part of it. Along with all that he has much to say about working in TV today, his future hopes, the shows he has worked on and much more.
We begin with the revelation that Quinta Brunson had not intended to make Abbott Elementary a comedy series at all, but something much more surprising; He also tells us who she had envisioned originally as the lead player (the person of course who later would be her).
To watch our conversation and go “behind the lens'” with Randall Einhorn, watch the video above.
Join me every week this Emmy season for more episodes of Behind The Lens.