The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards air Monday night at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock, moved off its traditional Sunday slot to avoid competing with NFL Week 1, with “The Pitt” leading all nominees at 25 and “Hacks” close behind at 24, a record for a comedy series. Mariska Hargitay hosts, the first woman to do so in 15 years, while also nominated three times for her own HBO documentary about her mother.
Why is Mariska Hargitay hosting, and why does it matter that she’s nominated too?
Hargitay, the longtime star of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” is the first woman to host the Emmys in 15 years. She’s also nominated three times this year for “My Mom Jayne,” her HBO documentary about her late mother, actress Jayne Mansfield — putting her in the unusual position of hosting a show where she’s also a contender. The documentary has already won two awards heading into Monday’s ceremony.
Who actually has the best shot at winning?
The nomination counts point to two clear front-runners. “The Pitt” leads the field with 25 nominations, and “Hacks” isn’t far behind at 24 — a record haul for a comedy series. Behind them, a wave of newer shows picked up serious nomination counts of their own: “Widow’s Bay” with 19, “Pluribus” with 18, “Beef” with 16, and “DTF St. Louis” with 13. That spread suggests this year’s ceremony won’t be a single-show sweep the way some recent years have been, with real competition across multiple categories rather than one dominant title.
Sources: NBC Insider · Television Academy / 78th Primetime Emmy Awards · Yahoo Entertainment
