LOS ANGELES – Television’s biggest night has arrived as the 78th Emmy Awards take over Los Angeles. “The Pitt” is aiming to cement its status among the medium’s elite, while “Widow’s Bay” enters Monday’s ceremony at the Peacock Theater with major momentum behind it.
Mariska Hargitay, the veteran “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” performer and three-time Emmy winner, will lead the NBC broadcast as host. The network has marked the occasion with a peacock-blue carpet, celebrating its 100th anniversary.
The ceremony will also look back at two major television milestones: the 30th anniversary of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and the 50th anniversary of “Charlie’s Angels.” Members of both shows’ casts are expected to take part as presenters.
How to watch the Emmy Awards
This year’s Emmy Awards broadcast will air live on NBC and stream on Peacock beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern time, or 5 p.m. Pacific. The telecast continues the rotating schedule among the major broadcast networks.
Fans can begin following the red-carpet arrivals earlier in the day with “Live from E!: Countdown to the Emmys,” streaming on YouTube and Peacock at 5 p.m. Eastern, 2 p.m. Pacific. The Associated Press will also offer a delayed celebrity-arrivals feed on YouTube.
‘The Pitt,’ ‘Widow’s Bay’ and ‘Hacks’ will compete for the top prizes
HBO Max’s medical drama “The Pitt” has quickly evolved from last year’s breakthrough winner into one of the night’s leading contenders. After taking home best drama, best actor for Noah Wyle and best supporting actress for Katherine LaNasa, the series is favored to repeat across all three categories. It could collect three additional trophies as well, with Wyle nominated in three races and the show earning four supporting-actress nominations and three supporting-actor nods.
“Hacks” leads all comedy series in nominations for its fifth and final season on HBO Max. Its star, Jean Smart, is widely expected to win best actress in a comedy for the fifth consecutive time.
Still, Apple TV’s horror comedy “Widow’s Bay” could disrupt the celebratory finale for “Hacks.” The series has already earned eight awards at earlier ceremonies, where the majority of the more than 100 Emmy categories are presented.
The Apple TV hit is eligible to win as many as six additional Emmys on Monday. A full sweep would give it 14 awards and surpass “The Studio,” which set the record for most Emmys won by a comedy in a single season with 13 last year.
Matthew Rhys is considered a leading contender for best actor in a comedy, while Kate O’Flynn, the show’s breakout performer, is among the strongest possibilities in the supporting-actress race.
Rhea Seehorn, Harrison Ford and Zendaya are also in the mix
Rhea Seehorn plays the lone central character on Apple TV’s “Pluribus,” and she could ride the role to her first Emmy for best actress in a drama.
Seehorn’s competition includes Zendaya, who won for the first two seasons of “Euphoria” in 2020 and 2022, and is nominated for its third and final season.
The night could also bring the first Emmy — and first major competitive Hollywood award of any kind — to 84-year-old Harrison Ford, who is among the favorites for best supporting actor in a comedy for playing a therapist coping with Parkinson’s disease on “Shrinking.”
