Rob Corddry works the absurd during the fourth season of "Children's Hospital" on Adult Swim, starting tonight at midnight (tonight being August 9, 2012). CREDIT: Adult Swim

Rob Corddry and I spoke two years ago when he was first launching “Childrens Hospital” on Atlanta’s Adult Swim.

At one point, I facetiously asked him, “Do you smell Emmy?”

“I can’t imagine that’s what an Emmy smells like,” Corddry said in 2010.

Well, two years later, guess which show might actually get to smell Emmy? “Childrens Hospital,” which returns for a fourth season Thursday night at midnight. It was nominated recently in the category: “Outstanding Special Class – Short-format Live-Action Entertainment Programs.”

In an interview today, he has let his mind go in terms of that Emmy odor: “I imagine the Emmy smells like riches, wealth, untold indulgence. I also heard they’re very sharp.”

In reality, he said, “I got to say I’m pretty giddy about it. It’s tough to be cool. I love that the Emmys are recognizing this short format. [The show airs 15-minute episodes.] It’s what comics are doing now. It’s respected. It’s acknowledged. Hey! We’re all winners!”

Pause. “Okay. I’d like to be THE winner.”

The show, which he describes as “absurdist” comedy as opposed to straight parody, has stopped making direct jokes about “Grey’s Anatomy” or “House.” It’s now branched out into jokes about TV in general.

“The whole medical genre was not that exciting to me anyway,” Corddry said. “[Co-creator] David Wain has never even seen one. Limiting ourselves to that would be boring. With the absurd genre, you can set your own rules.”

Some absurdist concepts you’ll see this season:

-An entire episode of a British adaptation of “Childrens Hospital” with British actors on the cast, including Dominic Monaghan (”Lost”) and Lauren Cohan (”The Walking Dead”).

- An entire year of “Childrens Hospital” will be encapsulated in one episode.

- Lola (Erinn Hayes) has no personal life so she becomes an attorney on the side and takes on a case.

- One person dies multiple times over multiple episodes – kind of like Kenny on “South Park.”

And while there is some story “mythology,” (such as the fact the hospital is actually based in Brazil), there is no story continuity. People can die in one episode, come back the next, like a cartoon. “Continuity,” Corddry said, “gets in the way when you want to schedule really popular actors.”

Some actors appearing in season four for guest shots: Rob’s brother Nate Corddry, Jon Hamm (”Mad Men”), Nick Offerman (”Parks & Rec”), Tim Busfield (”Thirtysomething”) and Reginald VelJohnson (”Family Matters”). “I don’t care so much for guest stars,” Corddry said. “I like casting people who are right for their roles. We have such a great cast.”

One character that will remain static: emotionless, clown-makeup-wearing Blake Downs, played by Corddry himself.

“I hate acting on this show,” he said. “It’s the last thing I think of because I write and produce the show, too. I don’t even look at the lines. I wrote most of them so I hope I know them.”

On TV
“Children’s Hospital,”
Midnight, Thursdays, Adult Swim

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By Rodney Ho, Radio & TV Talk