TV’s Big Night: Emmy Highlights and Surprises

HBO Leads the Pack

HBO dominated the Emmy nominations with an impressive 122. Their medical drama The Pitt topped all shows with 25 nominations. Meanwhile, Hacks set a new record in the comedy category with 24 nods for its final season.

Apple TV’s Milestone

Apple TV saw its best year yet with numerous nominations. Vince Gilligan’s Pluribus received 18 nominations, and Katie Dippold’s Widow’s Bay got 19, pushing the company into new territory.

A Historic Hosting

Mariska Hargitay of Law & Order: SVU expressed her honor as the first woman to host the Emmys in 15 years, speaking to the TODAY show about her excitement.

Colbert’s Final Bow

The last season of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert ended on a high note with nine Emmy nominations, the most during his time at CBS. This followed the controversial cancellation of the show, which fans of Colbert suggest was influenced by his criticism of Donald Trump. Despite the upset, Colbert’s show secured five wins at the Creative Arts ceremony, breaking John Oliver’s ten-year streak in writing.

Snubs and Surprises

Notably absent from the nominations were Stranger Things and other fan favorites like Taylor Sheridan’s neo-Westerns and HBO’s Industry. The Amazing Race also missed out on a nomination in the reality competition category, ending a long streak.

New Emmy Nominees

Ariana Madix, known for Vanderpump Rules, received her first Emmy nomination for hosting Love Island USA. She discovered the news in Fiji, a memory she shared with USA Today.

Red Carpet Commences

The stars began gathering at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, with attendees like Trisha Paytas, Matty Matheson from The Bear, and Shabana Azeez from The Pitt.

Rob Reiner’s Posthumous Win

Rob Reiner was posthumously awarded Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in The Bear, 48 years after his first Emmy award. Wendi McLendon-Covey accepted the award in his stead, to a standing ovation.

Mariska Hargitay Takes the Stage

Hargitay, also nominated for her film My Mom Jayne, shared her thoughts on hosting in an interview with The TODAY Show.

Noah Wyle’s Potential Milestone

Noah Wyle could make history by winning both acting and directing awards for a drama series, a feat not accomplished since Jason Bateman’s nominations for Ozark in previous years.

New Hall of Fame Inductees

Inductees this year included Trey Parker, Matt Stone, the late Ed Bradley, Ted Danson, Jean Smart, Sheila Nevins, and Ted Sarandos.

Taylor Swift’s Eventful Year

Taylor Swift was nominated for her performance and production work on Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour — The Final Show, though she did not win. Speculation surrounds a potential Oscar nomination for her song in Toy Story 5.

Multiple Nominations for Top Stars

Jason Bateman leads with four nominations, including acting and directing. Other stars like Colman Domingo, Laurie Metcalf, and Matthew Rhys have also earned multiple nods across different categories.

Heated Rivalry Not Eligible

The show Heated Rivalry was ineligible for Emmys due to being produced in Canada.

Creative Arts Ceremony Moves

The Television Academy moved some categories to the Creative Arts Emmys, drawing criticism from major Hollywood unions. The changes were intended to streamline the broadcast.

NBC’s Milestone

NBC celebrates 100 years with this year’s Emmys airing, marking its 26th time hosting the awards show.