Emmys: ‘Flash’ Song May Bring Pasek & Paul Closer to EGOT (Exclusive Video)

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, arguably the hottest songwriters in showbiz at the moment, have had an incredible 2017, picking up an Oscar and a Tony before the start of summer — and they may not be done yet.

The 32-year-old phenoms, who were classmates at the University of Michigan, won the best original song Oscar in February for La La Land‘s “City of Stars” and the best original score Tony on Sunday for Dear Evan Hansen. Now, as the entertainment industry shifts its focus to the Emmys (nomination voting began on June 12 and runs through July 13), guess who’s back in the mix?

Pasek & Paul were retained to write an original song for a particularly important moment in “Duet,” the 17th episode of the third season of The CW’s superhero show The Flash, which is based on the DC Comics character Barry Allen, also known as “The Flash.” This particular episode, which aired on March 21, was a crossover with another popular show from The CW, Supergirl, and unfolds as a musical fantasy.

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The Pasek & Paul song, “Runnin‘ Home to You,” is sung by Barry (Grant Gustin) to the love of his life, Iris West (Candice Patton), just before he — spoiler alert — proposes to her in the final moments of the emotional episode, which has received near-unanimous praise, with Vanity Fair going so far as to proclaim it “the best musical TV episode of all time.”

Pasek & Paul are eligible for recognition in the outstanding original music and lyrics Emmy category, previous winners of which include Saturday Night Live‘s “Dick in a Box,” Jimmy Kimmel Live!‘s “I’m F—ing Matt Damon” and, last year, “Til It Happens to You” from the documentary The Hunting Ground, which had previously been nominated for an Oscar.

No performer ever has received an Oscar, Tony and Emmy in the same season — but there’s a first for everything! As for an EGOT, the Grammy should be the easiest to bag of all for this dynamic duo.

(The exclusive debut of a featurette about the song and its creation appears at the top of this post.)