Chatham Resident Nominated for Emmy

Bob Higgins majored in communications at Boston College, thinking that he could be a television journalist one day. But when he started reporting for a news channel in Cape Cod, he realized he hated doing so.

"My job was to go up to people after they just lost their house in a fire and ask them how they felt, because that was news," explained Higgins.

Years later, he's been nominated for an Emmy in a field that doesn't have much to do with television reporting.

Higgins works in New York City as a senior vice president for FremantleMedia, which is one of the largest creators and producers of entertainment brands in the world. He is the executive producer for the animated series of HBO's "The Ricky Gervais Show," which was nominated for an Emmy in the "Outstanding Animated Program" category. The series started in February in the U.S.

After he finished with his Cape Cod reporting venture, Higgins changed direction and moved to Los Angeles to become an actor. Convinced it was not the right place for him, he took an entry-level position at a talent agency. One of its clients was in the animation industry. 

"That's where I learned about the industry, and observed how everything worked," Higgins explained.

After working his way up through several companies—including Sony Pictures and Cartoon Network—Higgins recognized his true talent.

While building his career in the entertainment industry in California, he attended a friend's wedding and ended up meeting the woman he would marry in the near future. The future Michelle Higgins was the groom's sister.

The two both came from families where they were one of seven siblings. They moved back to the East Coast and now live in Chatham. They have three children.

Michelle Higgins said she rolls with her husband's career. Often, she said, she finds it entertaining.  

"One day I called the office and (another office worker) said he was in a meeting with Fabio (Lanzoni), and I was wondering what he (Fabio) was wearing," she recalled.

It was a black silk shirt unbuttoned to the waist.

In his spare time, Higgins is training for a challenge called Tough Mudder, which is a 12-mile, multi-discipline obstacle course. Higgins has since convinced several other Chatham residents to participate.

The Emmy Awards are on Aug. 22 for the animation industry, and the clips of the winners will be aired during the NBC Emmy awards on Aug. 29.