USC Thornton alumni nominated for 2026 Emmy Awards

USC Thornton congratulates its alumni nominated in the 78th Television Academy Primetime Emmy® Awards!

From original music & lyrics to music supervision, sound mixing, and sound editing, Thornton alumni continue to lead the industry by shaping television’s most iconic productions. Join us in celebrating this year’s nominees as we recognize their outstanding achievements.

Here are our alumni nominated this year:

Carlos Rafael Rivera – Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for “Hacks” (Episode: EGOT / Song Title: “Mis Figuritas”)

David Stal – Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for “Hacks” (Episode: EGOT / Song Title: “Mis Figuritas”); Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation (Scoring Mixer) for “Hacks” (Episode: “The Garden”)

Chris Lennertz – Outstanding Original Music And Lyrics for “The Boys” (Episode “The Frenchman, The Female, And The Man Called Mother’s Milk / Song Title: “Raise Him Up”)

Michael Abels – Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music for “The ‘Burbs”

Toko Nagata – Outstanding Music Supervision for “Widow’s Bay” (Episode: “Beach Reads”)

Eli Brueggemann – Outstanding Music Direction for “Saturday Night Live” (Episode: Jack Black hosts)

Jeff Toyne – Outstanding Music Composition For A Series for “Palm Royale” (Original Dramatic Score) (Episode: “Maxine Drinks Martinis Now”)

Sara Barone – Outstanding Music Composition For A Limited Or Anthology Series, Movie Or Special for “The Beast In Me” (Original Dramatic Score) (Episode: “The Beast and Me) 

Ben Schor – Outstanding Sound Editing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (One Hour) as Music Editor for “Alien: Earth” (Episode: “Neverland”)

John W. Cook II – Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie as Re-Recording Mixer for “DTF St. Louis” (Episode: “Amphezyne”); Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (Half-Hour) And Animation for “Hacks” (Episode: “The Garden”)

We’d also like to give a special shout-out to several friends in our Thornton Community whose outstanding work was also recognized with Emmy nominations this year:

USC Thornton Creative Vanguard Artist Raphael Saadiq – nominated for Outstanding Music Composition For A Documentary/Nonfiction Or Reality Program (Original Dramatic Score) for “High Horse: The Black Cowboy”  (Episode: F*ck Westerns)

Thornton friend and non-degreed alum Thomas Newman – Outstanding Music Composition For A Limited Or Anthology Series, Movie Or Special (Original Dramatic Score) for “In The Blink of an Eye”

Thornton friend and former Adjunct Professor Jonathan Leahy – Outstanding Music Supervision for “Nobody Wants This” (Episode: “When Noah met Joanne”)

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Featured photo: Courtesy of Toko Nagata.