The Pitt and Pluribus Emerge as Leading Emmy Contenders as Nominations Are Revealed

LOS ANGELES — “Pluribus” may be poised for a historic first season, “The Pitt” could return with another commanding Emmy showing, and “Hacks” appears ready for a farewell-season victory lap when nominations are revealed Wednesday morning.

Recent Emmy winners Liza Colón-Zayas and Jeff Hiller will announce the nominees from the Television Academy in Los Angeles. The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, set to air on NBC, will take place Sept. 14 at the Peacock Theater, the long-running home of the Emmys and soon-to-be venue for the Oscars as well. Mariska Hargitay, who has been one of NBC’s defining stars for decades as the lead of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” is scheduled to host.

HBO Max’s acclaimed emergency-room drama “The Pitt” emerged as a breakout newcomer last year, scoring major wins including best drama series, best actor for Noah Wyle and best supporting actress for Katherine LaNasa.

At a time when many top Emmy contenders — including 2025’s leading drama nominee “Severance” — often take long breaks between seasons, “The Pitt” is wasting no time returning. Its quick turnaround is part of a distinctive approach that blends the reliable rhythms of traditional network television with the polish and ambition of prestige streaming.

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Wyle and LaNasa are widely expected to land fresh nominations, and they may have plenty of company from the show’s large ensemble of residents, interns and attending physicians. The series could make a particularly strong showing in the supporting acting races, similar to the way “The White Lotus” — another major Emmy player not competing this year — has dominated those categories in recent seasons.

Still, “The Pitt” may not end up with the highest nomination tally. Apple TV+’s “Pluribus,” the one-woman-against-the-world drama from “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul” creator Vince Gilligan, has a real shot at challenging a 32-year-old benchmark: the record for most Emmy nominations for a debut season, set by “NYPD Blue” with 26 in 1994.

“Pluribus” is exactly the kind of smart, meticulously made series that tends to resonate with Emmy voters, and it is likely to pile up nominations in the craft and technical categories. The one factor that may limit its overall total is the show’s structure. Rhea Seehorn stands as its sole lead performer and is expected to be a front-runner for best actress after her Golden Globes win. Karolina Wydra, who plays the series’ spokesperson for the rest of humanity, is also a strong contender for supporting actress recognition.

On the comedy side, this year’s field opens up with last year’s rookie powerhouse “The Studio” out of contention. Emmy voters have long shown affection for “Hacks,” and they often rally behind shows in their final season. Those two factors could combine to deliver a sizable nomination haul for the series’ fifth and concluding chapter.

Star Jean Smart has won best actress in a comedy for all four previous seasons. It would be stunning if she didn’t claim a fifth. Her sidekick throughout the series Hannah Einbinder, who last year broke through and won supporting actress in a comedy in her fourth nomination, is sure to get another nod, as is their castmate, the show’s co-creator Paul W. Downs.

Downs’ competition will likely include Harrison Ford. The buzz says this could be the year the Hollywood legend finally wins one of the EGOT-level awards if he gets a nomination for best supporting actor in a comedy for “Shrinking.” His castmate Jason Segel is also a likely nominee.

Despite the absence of “The Studio,” AppleTV+, which established a major Emmy comedy presence with “Ted Lasso,” could have three best comedy series nominees. “Shrinking” could be joined by newcomers “Margo’s Got Money Troubles,” whose stars Elle Fanning and Michelle Pfeiffer are likely acting nominees, and the acclaimed horror comedy “Widow’s Bay.”

Netflix’s “Beef” should throw its weight around in the limited or anthology series categories, especially after one of its big competitors, the cops-and-crooks drama “Task,” switched to the drama category when it announced a second season. “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette” from FX could be its main competition.

And big names always emerge in the Emmys’ guest acting categories. This year’s potential candidates include the late Rob Reiner for his recurring part on “The Bear” and Michael J. Fox for his three-episode arc as a patient with Parkinson’s disease on “Shrinking.”