Early Emmys ceremony could bring many trophies for ‘The Pitt,’ ‘Hacks’ and ‘Pluribus’
Early Emmys ceremony could bring major wins
Bharatmorning.com – The early Emmys ceremony could bring more than 100 primetime statuettes to Los Angeles this weekend as the Peacock Theater hosts two consecutive evenings of what the Television Academy now calls the opening nights of the 78th Emmy Awards. Formerly branded the Creative Arts Emmys, the weekend events have been elevated to carry the full weight of a complete awards cycle, spanning drama, comedy, limited series, and behind-the-scenes craft categories. The two nights will be edited into a broadcast airing September 12 on FXX, with a Hulu stream following the next day. The marquee primetime ceremony lands two days later on September 14, also at the Peacock Theater, hosted by Mariska Hargitay and airing live on NBC while streaming simultaneously on Peacock.
The Pitt and Hacks: HBO Max's Twin Powerhouses
No title enters the weekend with greater momentum than "The Pitt," HBO Max's day-in-the-life hospital drama. The series claimed best drama for its inaugural season and arrives as the year's top overall contender, carrying 25 nominations across categories. On Sunday alone, the early Emmys ceremony could bring the show as many as nine trophies. Its dominance extends deep into the acting fields: the series swept drama acting nominations and fields two candidates for best guest actor in a drama alongside three for best guest actress. Among them is Tal Anderson, an autistic performer and vocal advocate for neurodivergent representation, earning her first-ever Emmy nomination for portraying Becca King, the younger sibling of Taylor Dearden's Dr. Mel King. Dearden herself, one of four women from the series nominated for best supporting actress, will step onto the stage as a presenter. Noah Wyle, the show's lead actor, is likewise slated to present while carrying four nominations into the main September 14 ceremony.
Equally formidable is "Hacks," also an HBO Max production, which has amassed a record-tying 24 comedy nominations for its fifth and final season. The show could walk away with up to a dozen awards on Sunday. Its footprint in the guest-actress-in-a-comedy category is particularly striking: five of the seven nominees come from the series, including Leslie Bibb and Laurie Metcalf, the latter of whom could potentially claim two Emmys in a single evening.
Apple TV's Rookie Slates Aim High
Two first-season Apple TV+ entries are positioned to make immediate, substantial marks. "Widow's Bay," a horror-comedy, is eligible for as many as 10 trophies this weekend. "Pluribus," the one-woman-versus-hivemind drama created by Vince Gilligan of "Breaking Bad" fame and starring best-actress frontrunner Rhee Seahorn, also carries eligibility for up to 10 awards. The early Emmys ceremony could bring both titles into the conversation for top overall honors, a remarkable feat for first-season productions. Karolina Wydra and Jeff Hiller, both "Pluribus" acting nominees, will additionally serve as presenters on Sunday.
Guest Acting: Posthumous Honors and Lived Experience
While the bulk of weekend awards recognize writers, directors, cinematographers, and other crew members, the guest-acting categories carry outsized emotional weight this year. Rob Reiner, who was killed alongside his wife Michele Singer Reiner in December, is nominated for best guest actor in a comedy for his appearance in "The Bear." The nomination arrives roughly five decades after he won two Emmys for his acting on "All in the Family," making a potential posthumous win a particularly resonant moment.
Michael J. Fox, a five-time Emmy winner in his own right, is nominated in the same guest-actor-in-a-comedy category for playing a Parkinson's patient on "Shrinking." The actor was diagnosed with the condition in the 1990s, lending the role a layer of lived experience that resonates with audiences and voters alike.
Bad Bunny earned his first career Emmy for the Super Bowl halftime show. "The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny" took home the outstanding variety special award, edging out the televised broadcasts of the Oscars, the Grammys, and the Tonys. The Puerto Rican artist, nominated under his birth name Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, received the statuette as a producer-performer — his first nomination in any category.
FAQ
When does the early Emmys ceremony air? The two-night event takes place at the Peacock Theater this weekend. The edited broadcast airs September 12 on FXX, with a Hulu stream the following day. The main primetime ceremony airs live on NBC on September 14.
Which shows have the most nominations? "The Pitt" leads with 25 nominations, followed by "Hacks" with a record-tying 24 comedy nominations. Apple TV+ entries "Widow's Bay" and "Pluribus" each carry eligibility for up to 10 awards.
Who hosts the main ceremony? Mariska Hargitay hosts the September 14 telecast. She enters the weekend as a fresh two-time winner, having taken home Emmys for "My Mom Jayne," the documentary she directed about her mother, the late actress Jayne Mansfield. Those wins join the best-actress-in-a-drama Emmy she captured in 2006.