Overview
- The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards were held Monday, Sept. 14, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and aired on NBC with live streaming on Peacock.
- Jean Smart won lead actress in a comedy for Hacks, Allison Janney took supporting actress in a drama for The Diplomat, and Matthew Rhys won lead actor in a limited series for The Beast in Me.
- Pre-ceremony momentum from the Creative Arts Emmys helped reshape the race, with The Pitt entering the night as the most‑nominated program (25), Hacks setting a comedy record with 24 nominations, and Widow’s Bay surging after technical and guest-acting wins.
- Mariska Hargitay made her Emmys hosting debut as the first woman to solo-host in 15 years, opening with a musical bit and presiding over reunions, tributes and red-carpet moments that punctuated the broadcast.
- The Television Academy unveiled a new Legacy Award to honor enduring programs, and the two‑night Creative Arts schedule — which handed out many technical and guest categories earlier — is now seen as a key factor in final voting and industry attention.