When Stanley Tucci samples a dish he finds delicious, he can’t contain his pleasure. He hops up and down – leaping into what you might call his happy dance. His joyous discoveries – culinary, cultural and geographical – are woven throughout Tucci in Italy, the National Geographic five-part series that has two Emmy nominations, for Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special and Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program.

Executive producer Lottie Birmingham cites one particular meal that really got Tucci airborne. “The pork sandwich when he jumps up and down was hands down one of the best things I’ve ever eaten in my whole life,” Birmingham said as she appeared with the series’ director of photography Matt Ball for Deadline’s The Backstory: Nominees.