‘FYI Guy’ Jeremy Rabe lands two Emmy nominations
A Springfield-based craft and decor maven received two Mid-America Emmy nominations for his nationally syndicated budget decor show, “FYI Guy Live.”
Joining the ranks of Emmy-nominated local TV talent that includes on-air news anchors and Jeff Houghton of “The Mystery Hour,” Jeremy Rabe’s “craft show for the non-craft person” received one nomination for a short segment featuring cutely designed DIY dog bowls, plus a second nod for a special episode featuring guest Barry Williams, who played Greg Brady on “The Brady Bunch” in the 1970s.
Rabe said he is grateful for the nomination. “I have the entire list (of Mid-America Emmy nominations) on my phone because I have to keep checking it to make sure it’s real,” he said.
Now entering its second season, “FYI Guy Live” airs locally on the Ozarks CW. Two-minute instructional craft segments air on KYTV and in 18 markets including Kansas City, St. Louis, Nashville and Little Rock.
Rabe’s competition at the Oct. 3 awards ceremony in St. Louis consists entirely of segments and shows from Kansas City, including “Local PE Teacher Finds Her Inner Ninja Warrior,” a segment by KSHB’s Alyson Bruner; as well as two KC-area shows, “Better Kansas City” and “Kansas City Live.”
“I do not expect to win, but I feel like I’ve already won,” Rabe said. “Because getting nominated is hard enough. Even to get nominated is astounding to me.”
Rabe, who previously performed in Branson and sang for Carnival Cruise Lines, has hosted “FYI Guy Live” for Springfield-based Opfer Communications since December 2013.
Rabe submitted the episode featuring “Brady Bunch” heartthrob Barry Williams because it stood out.
“It was probably the most different show I’d done,” Rabe said. “We had a featured guest for the whole show” — as opposed to just a segment. Rabe said so many audience members signed up to attend that episode that Opfer Communications had to rent two extra sets of bleachers to accommodate everyone.
Williams pitched in to make a craft, did a Q & A session and played a “Brady Bunch” quiz with a superfan from the studio audience, who received Williams’ bestselling book and a T-shirt as a prize.
“The atmosphere was electric,” Rabe said. “Everything was on point. Barry was on point. It’s so amazing that he agreed to do the show.”
Fans of “FYI Guy Live” can look forward to some tweaks to the show this fall, Rabe said. “We have a lot more guests in the second season, and a lot more behind-the-scenes,” Rabe said. “My No. 1 request from the audience is to see my workshop and how I’m prepping for the show.”
“For every project you see, there’s 12 versions that don’t work, where the glue doesn’t hold, or it breaks,” Rabe explained. So the new season will feature this aspect of the creative process.
2015 Mid-America Emmy Nominations
The awards will be celebrated October 5 in St. Louis. Here’s a list of Springfield’s Emmy nominees:
Newscast-Evening 50+
“Murder in a Small Town,” KYTV, Katherine Mayo, Steve Grant
“Officer Aaron Pearson: Shot in the Line of Duty,” KYTV, James Holmes, Emily Wood
General Assignment Report - Within 24 Hours
“Wreaths Across America,” KSPR, Christopher Bryant
Team Coverage
“Courageous Conversations,” KOLR, Chuck Maulden, Eric Redus, David Oliver Linda Ong, Matt Lupoli, Nick Thompson Brett Martin, Mike Pitts, Lissa Hamblen
Business/Consumer - News Story/Program Feature
“From Springfield to Hollywood: National Audio Company,” KYTV, James Holmes, Jehan Sheikh
Health/Science - News Single Story
“New Cancer Treatment Gives Grandmother More Time with Family,” KYTV, Ashley Reynolds
Specialty Assignment Report- News Series
“Scam of the Week.” KYTV, Ashley Reynolds
Specialty Assignment - Program/Special
“Mission of Hope,” KYTV, Maria Neider, Tom Schultheis
Lifestyle Program - Feature/Segment
“FYI Guy Live - ‘Pet’estal Dog Bowls Feature-Segment,” Opfer Communications, Jeremy Rabe
Lifestyle Program - Program/Special
“FYI Guy Live - The 70’s Episode - Design/Craft/Lifestyle Show,” Opfer Communications, Jeremy Rabe
Community/Public Service (PSAs) - Single Spots or Campaigns
“Cher the Road,” The Mystery Hour, Jeff Houghton (airs on KRBK)
Commercial - Single Spot
“Ozarks Prosthetics,” KYTV, John Stinson, Nicholas Venturella
Audio - Live or Post-Production
The Mystery Hour, Hite Media, Brandon Hite, Kelly Magruder (airs on KRBK)
On Camera Talent/Anchor - News
Ethan Forhetz, News Anchor, KYTV
On-Camera Talent - Anchor - Sports
Chad Plein, Sports Anchor, KYTV
On-Camera Talent - Performer/Host
Jeff Houghton, The Mystery Hour (airs on KRBK)
Writer - News
“Two Investigations and Some Doughnuts,” KYTV, Paul Adler