Emmys 2026: ‘Widow’s Bay’ dominates, ‘The Pitt’ takes outstanding drama

“And now that we’ve reached the end, there’s only one thing left to do,” Mariska Hargitay teased as the Emmys came to a close.

Chloe Kern / WireImage via Getty Images.

Then came the signature “dun-dun” from “Law & Order: SVU.”

“God, I love it when it does that,” Hargitay said.

Apple TV's surreal horror-comedy "Widow's Bay" wrapped up a night of big wins with the best comedy series prize.

Katie Dippold and cast and crew members accept the outstanding comedy series award for "Widow's Bay." Chloe Kern / WireImage via Getty Images.

Katie Dippold, the show's creator, thanked her mom "for always making Halloween fun" and acknowledged Apple for "letting us take this crazy creative swing."

"They truly just let us do this weird show," Dippold said.

Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey appeared to stall onstage before they presented the final award of the night.

“They told us we need to spend more time up here, that the show is going short,” McConaughey said.

“And the Emmy goes to — oh, are we supposed to stretch it out here a little bit?” Harrelson said.

"Widow's Bay"

Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey. Kevin Winter / Getty Images

This year's ceremony has felt unusually reflective. We've heard earnest meditations from Mariska Hargitay and "Pluribus" creator Vince Gilligan on TV's power to unite a divided country. We've seen sorrowful tributes to the late Rob Reiner, Catherine O'Hara and sitcom giant James Burrows.

The winner of one of the night's marquee categories trained his attention on TV's important role in troubled times.

"Yes, we are entertainers. We make you laugh, we make you cry, occasionally we make you look away in disgust," R. Scott Gemmill, the creator of "The Pitt," said in his acceptance speech for best drama series.

"But when I look around this room, I see something more important than the awards and the ratings. I see a whole community that is still trying to do the right thing."

We're nearing the end, and our host is working to keep the energy up.

"The Pitt"

The cast of the TV series came together to commemorate the show's anniversary.

Kate Jackson, Cheryl Ladd and Jaclyn Smith also remembered their "shiniest angel of all," the late Farrah Fawcett.

After her emotional tribute to Dolly Parton, Sally Field told reporters backstage that she doesn’t know where the rest of her career will take her.

“What’s left for me? I don’t know what’s around the corner,” Field said. “It’s very hard to find projects for old women. Next month I’ll be 80, so I’m not young in any way, shape or form.”

Oscar-winning performer Jamie Lee Curtis appeared to fight back tears as she paid tribute to the late actor and director Rob Reiner. Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were killed in their Los Angeles home last year.

"He was generous and kind and funny as hell and a friend to all. We all miss Rob and Michele and all those we lost this year," Curtis said.

Curtis highlighted that Reiner set the record for the longest gap between acting Emmy wins. His first win was in 1978 for his supporting turn on the seminal sitcom "All in the Family." The second was this year — a posthumous award for his guest appearance on "The Bear."

The previous record was held by his father, Hollywood legend Carl Reiner.

Macaulay Culkin, Annie Murphy, and Dan Levy. Chloe Kern / WireImage

There weren't many dry eyes in the house as Macaulay Culkin remembered Catherine O’Hara, his onscreen mom in "Home Alone," at the start of the Emmys' in memoriam segment. O'Hara died in January.

Culkin was joined by O'Hara's "Schitt's Creek" co-star Dan Levy, who was also onstage to remember the incredible talent that she was.

The audience got a kick out of Culkin, who joked that O'Hara's character in "Home Alone" forgot him not once but twice. He called her "mama" and reminded the audience to "call your mom" if you can.

Murphy told a story of being on a recent flight when someone passed her a note saying how special O'Hara was and that they hoped she was holding up ok.

Meanwhile, Levy, who grew up with O'Hara because his father, Eugene Levy, starred with her in the "Second City" comedy cast, teased O'Hara for her many wigs and "sometimes intelligible trans-Atlantic accent."

It's been a big night for Apple TV and the streaming platform's two breakout freshman series: "Widow's Bay" and "Pluribus." But overall, tonight's ceremony has been fairly run-of-the-mill, with tightly focused acceptance speeches and few overt attempts to grab tomorrow's headlines.

Stephen Colbert told reporters backstage that the hundreds of people who worked on “The Late Show” are “an incubator of an enormous amount of talent.”

“No one will really know what we did for and with each other,” Colbert said. “There is a special bond to doing one of these shows every day, and for so many people on the show to be recognized in our final season is, in a way, more satisfying than winning for the show itself.”

"If there are truly angels on Earth, then we just lost one."

That's how Sally Field, Dolly Parton's co-star in "Steel Magnolias," opened the Emmys tribute to the late queen of country music.

“Over the years, I never stopped loving her even though we lived far apart," Field said.

Country legend Reba McEntire then took the stage to sing her song "Appalachian Memories."

"DTF St. Louis"

Vince Gilligan, accepting the Emmy for his writing work on the science fiction series "Pluribus," alluded to the sociopolitical tumult of the last decade and called on people to "show respect to one another."

"Think about it: There is nothing weirder than our current reality. These past 10 years, you can't stuff this up," Gilligan said. "I submit to you that a real world in which people get along is just as believable as what we've got now, and achievable."

"We will never agree on everything, but we can show respect to one another, maybe even kindness, and we can stop listening to a relative few who tell us that that is for suckers and who get their power from dividing us," Gilligan added.

"Pluribus" stars Emmy winner Rhea Seehorn as a novelist who manages to survive an alien virus outbreak that links nearly everyone else on the planet into a docile "hive mind." Gilligan created the AMC series "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul."

How do you get through an awards show?

Sugar.

"Widow's Bay" director Hiro Murai made history as the first winner of Asian descent to win the Emmy for outstanding directing for a comedy Series.

He’s now the third Asian director to be honored by the Emmys. Hwang Dong-hyuk was the very first Asian winner in 2022 for directing “Squid Game” in the drama category. Lee Sung Jin won two years later for directing anthology series “Beef.”

Vince Gilligan, "Pluribus"

For Katie Dippold, the most surprising part about the audience response to “Widow’s Bay” was that even the negative comments “aren’t that mean.”

“I’ve had some real highs and lows, so I’m used to seeing some real stuff out there,” Dippold told reporters backstage. “So when I see a negative comment that says, ‘It’s fine, it’s not that great,’ I’m like, ‘Thank you.’”

Michael J. Fox speaks as he is honored with the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award. Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images

The crowd in the Peacock Theater cheered loudly for Michael J. Fox as he took the stage to accept the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award for his contributions to Parkinson’s disease research and advocacy.

Fox recognized Hope’s decades as an entertainer for U.S. military personnel and then detailed the Michael J. Fox Foundation's celebrated efforts to "eradicate" Parkinson's "forever."

Fox thanked his wife, Tracy Pollan, and their four children, as well as his parents and siblings. The crowd rose to its feet at the end of Fox's remarks.

"Widow's Bay" director Hiro Murai has made a name for himself in modern television with his dreamlike imagery and deadpan frames.

He has directed memorable episodes of "Atlanta," "Legion," "Barry" and "The Bear" — and he won a Grammy for directing the viral Childish Gambino music video "This Is America."

Hiro Murai, "Widow's Bay"

If you were betting on Stephen Colbert to riff on President Donald Trump and the Federal Communications Commission or open up about the events leading up to his late-night program's cancellation, you're out of luck. The veteran comedian kept his acceptance speech focused squarely on his gratitude for his 11-year run at CBS, his previous Comedy Central show, his writing staff and his wife.

In general, tonight's Emmys have been light on topical humor or references to current events. So far, I haven't heard anyone bring up the artificial intelligence boom, the Paramount-Warner merger or other ripped-from-the-headlines issues. But that might change with a little over an hour left.

Stephen Colbert, sporting a white beard, took the stage to a standing ovation and accepted the Emmy for best variety series for the final season of CBS' "The Late Show."

He hailed late-night shows as an "incubator" for rising talent and encouraged people in the audience to hire his team of writers.

Colbert's win gets the loudest applause of the night.

"The Late Show with Stephen Colbert"

Returning from commercial break, Hargitay reminded the audience of her first feature film role: a part in the low-budget 1985 horror flick "Ghoulies."

Unfortunately, she quipped, she was not invited back for the movie's three sequels.

Saul Metzstein, "Slow Horses"

... including the two big ones: best comedy and best drama series.

"Widow's Bay" mastermind Katie Dippold, accepting the Emmy for best comedy series writing, joked that visitors to her home would have no choice but to look at her new gold hardware.

The announcer said Dippold wrote the "Widow's Bay" pilot 18 years ago, long before streaming television even existed.

Fun fact: Dippold is the person dressed as the Babadook in this viral tweet from 2016.

Stars of the TV series "NCIS" LL Cool J and Scott Caan poked fun at how nobody knows what the show's initialism actually means.

It turns out it stands for "Naval Criminal Investigative Service."

Was I the only one who just learned that?

Cumming said the new season of “Traitors,” which premieres Thursday and features a cast of ordinary Americans for the first time rather than celebrities, is notably “more joyous.”

“There’s more at stake, and the players are more immersed in the show, and it has an incredible arc to it,” Cumming said backstage. “They’re more excited, and there’s more at stake, and they’re more passionate than stupid celebrities.”

Katie Dippold, "Widow's Bay"

He just made Emmys history as the first man to conquer two lead acting categories in the same night.

He was honored for his roles on the Netflix miniseries "The Beast in Me" and the Apple TV horror-comedy "Widow's Bay."

Matthew Rhys accepts the outstanding lead actor in a comedy series award for "Widow's Bay." Trae Patton / NBC via Getty Images

Emma D'Arcy ("House of the Dragon") and Emilia Clarke ("Game of Thrones") just took the stage. D'Arcy noted their "shared lineage" as members of the fictional House of Targaryen, one of the royal families from the world of George R.R. Martin.

Clarke then delivered a long string of dialogue in High Valyrian, a fully constructed fictional language created for "Game of Thrones."

tl;dr: Big moment for Westeros nerds.

Matthew Rhys, "Widow's Bay"

Sally Field, “Remarkably Bright Creatures”

Sally Field accepts the outstanding lead actress in a limited or anthology series or movie award for "Remarkably Bright Creatures." Kevin Winter / Getty Images

After host Mariska Hargitay tried to crack the case of whether Taylor Swift would attend, sports fan online solved the mystery.

Turns out Swift has been spotted sitting next to none other than Tom Cruise at the Broncos-Chiefs football game.

Pelphrey thanked the cast and crew of "Task" for his win in the outstanding supporting actor in a drama series category, as well as his partner, fellow actor Kaley Cuoco.

An emotional Cuoco blew kisses at her fiancé as he expressed his gratitude to her, sweetly calling her a "very pregnant Kaley Cuoco."

"Will Taylor Swift be at the Emmys?"

That was the question at the top of Mariska Hargitay's cork board in a video segment parodying "Law and Order: SVU."

Hargitay, in the role of Capt. Olivia Benson, tried to solve the mystery by stitching together various obscure clues — a nod to the Easter eggs Swift embeds in her lyrics and public statements.

Then, Swift herself showed up. "I think what we're going to be looking for is hiding in plain sight," she said.

Tom Pelphrey, "Task"

Tom Pelphrey accepts the outstanding supporting actor in a drama series award for "Task." Trae Patton / NBC via Getty Images

Allison Janney, speaking backstage after her win for “The Diplomat,” said the scene in which her character was being sworn in for president was “very emotional for all of us.”

“It was right after the results of our last election, and it was very moving for everyone because ... not that seeing it on TV will make it happen in real life, but what the hell, it would be great to have a female president sooner than later,” Janney told reporters.

Wyle accepted his third Emmy award for his starring role in "The Pitt."

"I grew up in L.A. I was raised on a television," the actor said. "This is the only club I've ever want to join. Thank you for accepting me."

HBO's frenetic hospital drama "The Pitt" is expected to dominate in the drama categories tonight.

Noah Wyle's win in the lead actor category was the show's first win of the evening, with roughly two hours to go.

"SNL" alum John Mulaney, presenting the award for best drama series actor, got partially bleeped as he made a risqué joke we won't repeat here.

Noah Wyle, "The Pitt"

“Traitors” host Alan Cumming ended his acceptance speech with a call for audience members to register to vote.

“Finally, tonight we have received the most votes, but tomorrow is voter registration day in this country,” Cumming said onstage. “So please make sure you are registered to vote, because the time for talk is over. It is now time to vote, America.”

Stephen Amell, a cast member on the "Baywatch" reboot, said the show was proud to shoot on the beaches of Los Angeles.

It felt like an allusion to the city's trouble retaining local film and television production as generous tax incentives lure producers elsewhere.

"The Traitors"

Cast and crew including Stephen Lambert, Mike Cotton, Sam Rees-Jones, Rosie Franks and Alan Cumming accept the Outstanding Reality Competition Program Award for "The Traitors." Trae Patton / NBC via Getty Images

Thirteen to go. Next up: Best reality competition program.

"Widow's Bay" is going two-for-two in the comedy acting races, in which it submitted contenders.

Kate O'Flynn took home best supporting actress — and Stephen Root just won for his supporting turn as Wyck, a crusty boat captain who believes the eponymous seaside town is possessed by evil spirits.

Stephen Root, "Widow's Bay"

Stephen Root accepts the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for "Widow's Bay." Kevin Winter / Getty Images

Sofía Vergara will grace the Emmys stage to present the outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series award. Then the cast of "Baywatch" is coming together to present the award for outstanding reality competition program.

Rhea Seehorn, accepting the best actress in a drama prize for Apple TV's "Pluribus," thanked the show's creator, Vince Gilligan — who is also partly responsible for her breakout role on AMC's "Better Call Saul."

Seehorn co-starred on Gilligan's "Better Call Saul" as the ethically malleable lawyer Kim Wexler. The series served as a prequel to "Breaking Bad," Gilligan's crowning achievement as a TV creator.

Rhea Seehorn, "Pluribus"

Rhea Seehorn accepts the outstanding lead actress in a drama series award for "Pluribus." Trae Patton / NBC via Getty Images

... and the nominees are:

• Carrie Coon for "The Gilded Age"
• Chase Infiniti for "The Testaments"
• Keri Russell for "The Diplomat"
• Rhea Seehorn for "Pluribus"
• Zendaya for "Euphoria"

The ceremony is moving at a brisk pace so far, with presenters and winners keeping the focus on their small-screen work.

We haven't heard much topical humor or explicit references to current events so far — though I wouldn't be surprised if somebody eventually brings up the AI boom or the Paramount-Warner merger.

Allison Janney, "The Diplomat"

Allison Janney accepts the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for "The Diplomat". Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images

He just won gold for his role on the Netflix miniseries "The Beast in Me" — and later tonight, he could triumph yet again in the best comedy actor category for Apple TV's "Widow's Bay."

Sarah Michelle Gellar, left, and David Boreanaz. Trae Patton / NBC via Getty Images

The iconic teen TV show turns 30 this year and stars Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz came together to commemorate the occasion.

Matthew Rhys, "The Beast in Me"

Matthew Rhys accepts the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for "The Beast in Me." Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images

This is the fifth time Smart has won for her portrayal of Deborah Vance in the HBO Max series.

Jean Smart, left. Kevin Winter / Getty Images

She accepted the award to a standing ovation.

"What a ride this has been," she said.

... including five for her lead role as stand-up comedian Deborah Vance on HBO Max's "Hacks."

Trae Patton / NBC via Getty Images

It's her first Emmy win and nomination. O’Flynn said her role as Patricia in the Apple TV series "Widow’s Bay" is "the role of a lifetime."

Kate O'Flynn's victory for her supporting turn on Apple TV's "Widow's Bay" may be an early indication of the show's strength with Emmy voters. It's the night's most-nominated comedy.

Jean Smart, "Hacks"

Kate O'Flynn, "Widow's Bay"

Trae Patton / NBC via Getty Images

She paid tribute to the "communal light" of television and the medium's power to bring people together — before pivoting to a parody of Nicole Kidman's AMC Theatres video spots.

"Somehow, heartbreak feels good in a place like this," Hargitay said, quoting the AMC pre-show reel.

Kidman was in the audience for the bit and accused Hargitay of stealing her line.

"NBC is celebrating its hundredth year," she said, "and I have been on 'Law and Order: SVU' for all of them!"

The Emmys kicked off with a pre-recorded segment about Hargitay’s preparations for the show. She sang a TV-themed song set to the tune of the classic track “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” featuring New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson.

“’Margo’s Got Money Troubles’ on the airplane, baby," she sang before she made references to a slew of other TV shows. "Next, I’m eating beef and watching 'Beef.' Yeah, beef."

With the show about to start, here are the first few awards to be presented:

• Outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series — presented by Amy Poehler
• Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series — presented by Zendaya
• Outstanding lead actor in a limited or anthology series or movie — presented by "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" stars Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz

Shawn Hatosy told Variety he hopes the success of his HBO series "The Pitt" shows TV industry decision-makers that there's value in filming television series in Los Angeles, while production in the city has been lagging.

"This show is wonderful. It's a show shot here in L.A.," Hatosy said. "It’s done efficiently. It doesn’t cost a ton of money."

"I'm glad it's getting this kind of attention and I hope that it shows other people who make these decisions — to make more shows like this in L.A., so we can employ more people."

Hatosy is nominated for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series for his role as Dr. Jack Abbot.

Seats are filling up at the Peacock Theater at in downtown Los Angeles.

Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning are on the carpet together.

The two sisters are both nominated tonight, Dakota for her role on Peacock’s “All Her Fault” and Elle for her performance on Apple TV’s “Margo’s Got Money Troubles.”

Both Fannings are also nominated in the same category as executive producers of “Margo’s Got Money Troubles.”

Sister, sister! Dakota and Elle Fanning!  Todd Williamson / NBC via Getty Images

Megan Stalter is literally embodying the Emmy Awards.

The comedian and actor, nominated for her performance in “Hacks,” is dressed as an Emmy statuette tonight — complete with head-to-toe gold body paint, glittering wings and a giant golden atom raised above her head.

"I went as Paul's Emmy as he deserves," Stalter told Variety and CNN on the red carpet. "And my own as I deserve."

Megan Stalter and Paul W. Downs of "Hacks." Amy Sussman / Getty Images

Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell are both nominated for awards tonight. Amy Sussman / Getty Images

No matter how long you've loved either of these two, actor couple Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys are both Emmy nominees tonight: Rhys for "Widow's Bay" and Russell for "The Diplomat."

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin / FilmMagic via Getty Images file

“Family Ties” and “Spin City” star Michael J. Fox is a 19-time Emmy nominee and five-time winner. He’ll add another accolade tonight: the Television Academy’s Bob Hope Humanitarian Award, recognizing his contributions to Parkinson’s disease research and advocacy.

“Michael J. Fox is one of television’s most beloved and enduring performers whose work has left an indelible mark on generations of audiences,” TV Academy chair Cris Abrego said in a statement in July.

“The Television Academy is proud to honor him for his extraordinary leadership in advancing Parkinson’s research, transforming public awareness and inspiring global support through The Michael J. Fox Foundation, whose investments have accelerated scientific breakthroughs and the search for a cure,” Abrego added.

Karolina Wydra, nominated for her performance in Apple TV’s “Pluribus,” praised the work of intimacy coordinators during a red carpet interview.

“Because I was part of shows where we didn’t have intimacy coordinators, and you felt — it’s not that you felt unsafe, but you felt exposed,” Wydra said. “And so now having another woman, another female, making sure that everything is taken care of so you feel safe and you feel good is such a beautiful blessing."

Intimacy coordinators have become more standard on film and TV sets in recent years. Beyond intimate scenes between adults, some are now beginning to put additional focus on coaching kids who perform in scenes with traumatic content.

Chad Hamilton and Karolina Wydra. Todd Williamson / NBC via Getty Images

The award was newly created to honor television shows that have made profound, multigenerational impacts on audiences and remained relevant to society, culture and the industry today.

Starring 1950s power couple Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, "I Love Lucy" is a sitcom that follows a not-so-talented housewife (Ball) who constantly lures herself into funny predicaments in her quest for fame, driving her bandleader husband (Arnaz) crazy in the process.

The Television Academy’s Board of Governors selected this year's honoree from candidates recommended by its Special Awards Committee.

“'I Love Lucy' truly helped define what television could be,” Cris Abrego, chair of the Television Academy, said in a statement. “Beyond its place in television and cultural history as one of the medium’s most beloved shows, its creative ambition, technical innovation and groundbreaking approach to the business of television established a blueprint that continues to influence our industry 75 years later."

Bill Posley, who is nominated in the outstanding comedy series category for his role as executive producer of "Shrinking," arrived in a knee-length, purple plaid skirt and a matching purple mohawk.

Bill Posley. Kevin Mazur / Getty Images

Kristen Kish. Christina House / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

"Top Chef" host and star of season 4 of "Traitors" Kristen Kish sported a tuxedo-like top with delicate see-through sleeves and a feathery bow tie. Kish landed a nomination for outstanding host on a reality competition program for her work on "Top Chef."

Colman Domingo. Frederic J. Brown / AFP via Getty Images

Colman Domingo, actor and one of the internet's favorite style icons, beautifully combined a muted orange jacket with a salmon-colored shirt underneath and finished it off with a bold fuchsia sash at the waist, decorated with a brooch (which seems to be a trend among men on this Emmys red carpet).

At last weekend’s Creative Arts Emmys, Shailene Woodley took home her first Emmy award for her role in Hulu’s “Paradise.”

Her costar Thomas Doherty said told CNN and Variety that he was “unbelievably excited” at the news.

“I thought she was a little unsung for a while, so I’m glad she’s finally getting her flowers now,” Doherty said on the red carpet. “She’s just the nicest person you’ll ever meet.”

Mariska Hargitay won two early awards during the two-night Creative Arts Emmy Awards last weekend for her documentary, “My Mom Jayne” — one for best documentary and one for directing.

The “Law & Order: SVU” star will host tonight’s show.

Peter Hermann, Andrew Hermann, Mariska Hargitay, Amaya Hermann and August Hermann. Kevin Mazur / Getty Images

Scott Kowalchyk / CBS via Getty Images

“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” is going out on a high. The late-night program earned nine Emmy nods for its final season, the largest haul of Colbert’s 11-year tenure at CBS.

CBS shocked the entertainment industry last year when it decided to cancel Colbert’s show and retire “The Late Show” franchise. The network said the move was “purely a financial decision,” but some of Colbert’s fans insisted he was being penalized for his staunch criticism of President Donald Trump.

Colbert’s defenders highlighted that CBS’ parent company, Paramount, agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit from Trump over a “60 Minutes” interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris. They also pointed out that Paramount’s sale to David Ellison’s Skydance Media needed regulatory approval from the Trump administration.

Scott Kowalchyk / CBS Broadcasting Inc.

“The Late Show” left the airwaves in May, and the Emmy nominations arrived two months later. Colbert’s show is up for outstanding variety series, a newly consolidated category that includes a mix of traditional late-night shows (“The Daily Show,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”) and sketch comedy programs (“Saturday Night Live”).

Colbert’s show picked up five Emmys at the Creative Arts ceremony this month, including best writing for a variety series — a notable upset over Oliver’s show’s 10-year streak in that category.

Kathryn Riley / Getty Images file

“The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny” became the most nominated halftime show in history when it landed nine noms over the summer.

The beloved "Benito Bowl" broke the record during the first of this year’s three Emmys ceremonies when it took homeseven7 wins, including for outstanding variety live special, and became the most awarded halftime show in television history.

It is also the first Spanish-language program to win for outstanding variety live special, according to Billboard.

The farewell season of Netflix’s “Stranger Things” was practically a nationwide cultural event. But unlike the first four seasons, the streaming hit’s final run of episodes was locked out of the best drama series race.

“Stranger Things” isn’t alone. “Landman” and “The Madison,” two popular Paramount+ neo-Westerns from the prolific creator Taylor Sheridan, failed to strike Emmy riches. The same goes for HBO’s edgy financial drama “Industry,” one of TV’s most acclaimed series.

Meanwhile, “The Amazing Race” fell short of the finish line in the best reality competition category, despite being nominated nearly every year since the category was introduced in 2003 — and triumphing 10 times.

In the acting races, notable omissions include Kathy Bates (“Matlock”), Kristen Bell (“Nobody Wants This”), Paul Anthony Kelly (“Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette”) and “Saturday Night Live” breakout player Ashley Padilla.

Longtime reality TV personality Ariana Madix earned her first Emmy nomination this year for hosting Peacock’s hit reality TV dating show “Love Island USA.”

Madix, who rose to fame on Bravo’s “Vanderpump Rules,” told USA Today the reality of her nomination didn’t sink in for her until she saw billboards in Los Angeles advertising her Emmy-nominated status.

“It was 4 o’clock in the morning in Fiji and I was in my hotel room asleep, and my team woke me up in the middle of the night to tell me,” Madix said of the initial nominee announcement. “And then I went back to sleep because I was so tired.”

Actors and other celebrities are beginning to arrive at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles to celebrate the television industry's biggest night.

Internet icon Trisha Paytas.  Monica Schipper / Getty Images

Chef and "The Bear" start Matty Matheson. Kevin Mazur / Getty Images

"The Pitt" star Shabana Azeez.  Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Emmy voters paid tribute to Rob Reiner last weekend, naming him the winner of the Emmy for best guest actor in a comedy series for his role on “The Bear” nearly a year after his death.

Reiner’s posthumous victory came almost half a century after his first Emmy win for his supporting part in the seminal Norman Lear sitcom “All in the Family.” The 48-year gap between the two acting honors is the longest in Television Academy history. The record was previously held by his father, Hollywood legend Carl Reiner.

“The Bear,” a frenetic dramedy set in the food world, cast the younger Reiner as Albert Schnurr, a restaurant consultant. Reiner’s win was announced during the Creative Arts Emmy ceremony on Sept. 6. Wendi McLendon-Covey (ABC’s “The Goldbergs”) accepted the award on Reiner’s behalf, and the audience reportedly rose to its feet.

Reiner is the first performer to earn a posthumous Emmy for an on-camera role since Raúl Juliá was recognized for his work on the made-for-television movie “The Burning Season” in 1995. Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were killed at their home in Los Angeles in December.

"Law & Order SVU' star Mariska Hargitay is hosting the Emmys this year, marking the first time a woman has hosted the awards show since Jane Lynch in 2011.

Mariska Hargitay opens up about being in her 'why not' era

06:18

Hargitay's deeply personal film “My Mom Jayne" also earned her yet another an Emmy nomination.

In an appearance on NBC’s "TODAY" last month, she opened up about taking the hosting gig.

On screen, Noah Wyle saves lives as the beloved Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch. On stage tonight, he could make Emmy history — by becoming the first person to win an acting and a directing award in the same year for a drama series.

Wyle, who stars in and produces “The Pitt,” is up for lead actor in a drama series (which he won last year) and directing for a drama series. He earned his first directing credit in Season 2 for the episode “12:00 PM.”

It’s not the first time a performer has been doubly recognized in the genre. Telly Savalas was nominated in 1975 for acting in and directing “Kojak.” Jason Bateman received the same nods for “Ozark” in 2018, 2019 and 2022. But neither managed to snag both awards in the same year.

A new cohort of TV icons — including “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the late CBS News broadcaster Ed Bradley, actors Ted Danson and Jean Smart, documentary producer Sheila Nevins and Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos — have been inducted into the 28th Television Academy Hall of Fame.

In his acceptance speech last month in Los Angeles, Parker thanked the “South Park” fans who “keep us all going.”

“It’s incredible to know that there are millions of people around the globe who think a lot like we do, people who aren’t on one extreme or the other, people who question things, change their minds and who can see how ridiculous both sides can get,” Parker said.

Taylor Swift’s got a big reputation. From a hall of fame induction, to a Madison Square Garden wedding and an Emmy nod, the artist has had no shortage of events this year.

Swift was nominated in the outstanding variety special (pre-recorded) category as a producer and performer for “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour — The Final Show.” The Disney+ concert doc was up for five awards in total, but lost all of them.

There’s still hope for later this awards season. Some are speculating that she could snag her first Oscar nomination for the song “I Knew It, I Knew You” in “Toy Story 5.”

The academy will have to get in line when it comes to recognizing her talent. Swift made history in June as the youngest female inductee into the national Songwriters Hall of Fame, at age 36.

Almost a month later, she was in the spotlight again for her star-studded nuptials in Madison Square Garden, where she tied the knot with football player Travis Kelce. Though some details have emerged out of the elusive affair, we’re still waiting on those wedding photos…

Jason Bateman leads this year’s Emmy nominations with a total of four nods, two for his acting, one for directing and one for producing.

Four more stars this year landed double acting Emmy nominations:

• Colman Domingo (for “Euphoria” and “The Four Seasons”)
• Laurie Metcalf (for “Hacks” and “Monster: The Ed Gein Story”)
• Nick Offerman (for “Margo’s Got Money Troubles” and “Death By Lightning”)
• Matthew Rhys (for “Widow’s Bay” and “The Beast in Me”)

And other stars who scored multiple nominations across categories include:

• Quinta Brunson — 3
• Paul W. Downs — 3
• Matthew Rhys — 3
• Jason Segel — 3
• Martin Short — 3
• Noah Wyle — 3
• Carey Mulligan — 2
• Oscar Isaac — 2
• Elle Fanning — 2
• Dakota Fanning — 2
• Claire Danes — 2

Sorry “Heated Rivalry” fans: The hit show won’t be up for any awards tonight.

The queer hockey romance, based on books by author Rachel Reid, was produced in Canada for streamer Crave. Though it aired in the U.S. on HBO Max, the series is a foreign television production and thus ineligible for a statuette.

Hudson Williams, left, and Connor Storrie in "Heated Rivalry." Sabrina Lantos / HBO Max

While the show missed out, Connor Storrie — who plays Ilya Rozanov — got his first nod. The breakout star, 26, was nominated for outstanding guest actor in a comedy series for his time hosting “Saturday Night Live.” Rob Reiner posthumously won the award for “The Bear.”

Storrie debuted his new buzz cut on the red carpet during last week’s Creative Arts Emmys, which he attended with his mom.

Whether we see him, or the other half of HudCon (co-lead Hudson Williams, who plays Shane Hollander) today remains to be seen. But fans can take heart knowing that Season 2 filming is underway.

The Television Academy voted this summer to move five categories out of Monday’s ceremony as part of an effort to deliver “a fresh new take on the Emmys broadcast,” a decision that drew criticism from a trio of leading Hollywood labor unions.

“Given the extraordinary breadth of work recognized each year and the limited time available within a three-hour broadcast, a select number of categories will be moving to the Emmy ceremonies taking place the week prior to the telecast,” the television academy said in July.

The five categories — writing for a variety series; supporting actor and actress in a limited series or movie; directing for a limited series or movie; and writing for a limited series or movie — were instead presented during the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on Sept. 5 and Sept. 6.

Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Tonight's Emmys are airing on NBC amid a milestone year for the broadcast network.

2026 marks the 100th anniversary of the NBC brand, which for the past century has shaped television history with milestones such as being responsible for the first televised presidential appearance, the first televised World Series and airing influential TV shows like "Seinfeld," "Friends" and "Will & Grace."

NBC also debuted its groundbreaking live sketch comedy show “Saturday Night Live” in 1975. Five decades later, the show went on to become a cornerstone of American comedy and solidify its place in television history as the show with the most Emmy wins ever with 94 awards.

This year's award ceremony also marks the 26th time NBC hosts the Emmys, the most times of any television network.