(Credit: Olivia Andrade)
Olivia Andrade, now a filmmaker and recent Florida State University student, has been nominated for the Television Academy Foundation’s 45th College Television Awards for her comedy series "Rex"
A Souderton Area High School graduate is headed for a red carpet moment in Hollywood, thanks to a comedy about a dog who becomes… well, boyfriend material.
Olivia Andrade, now a filmmaker and recent Florida State University student, has been nominated for the Television Academy Foundation’s 45th College Television Awards for her comedy series "Rex." The project, which Andrade directed and co-wrote, earned a spot in the Comedy Series category and is also in the running for the $10,000 Chance Perdomo Legacy Scholarship. Winners will be announced March 28 during a red carpet ceremony at the Television Academy in North Hollywood.
Created with classmate and producer Alex Taylor, "Rex" starts with a simple premise that quickly spirals into delightful absurdity. The series follows Jade, a woman whose quiet life revolves around her beloved dog. After a trip to the veterinarian leads to an experimental procedure, her loyal pet transforms into a human man who still acts very much like a dog. What follows is a quirky, heartfelt exploration of companionship, identity and unexpected romance, with comedy rooted in the awkwardness of teaching a former Labrador how to navigate the human world.
The nomination places Andrade among a select group of student creators recognized nationwide for excellence in television production. Entries are judged by Television Academy members using the same standards applied to the Emmy Awards, with more than 185 submissions considered this year. The Chance Perdomo Legacy Scholarship, funded by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios, honors the late "Gen V" actor and supports emerging comedic storytellers.
Andrade said the nomination came as a surprise. She admitted she nearly skipped applying, thinking the odds were slim, but credited Taylor for pushing the project forward. Now, instead of staying behind the camera on a college set, the Souderton alumna will attend industry events, screenings and networking sessions in Los Angeles alongside fellow nominees, getting a front row introduction to the television world she hopes to join.
“It was one of the most shocking and rewarding feelings to be nominated by the Television Academy,” said Andrade, in a recent release. “To be completely honest, I almost didn’t apply because I thought it was a long shot; and if it wasn’t for my producer, Alex, pressing me to, I may not have. I’ve believed in this project from the start, but I’m lucky enough to be surrounded by people that believed in it even more than I did.”
