LOS ANGELES – The excitement is building as the 78th Emmy Awards approach, with top nominees like “The Pitt,” “Hacks,” “Pluribus,” and “Widow’s Bay” gearing up to shine at an early ceremony this Sunday. This event takes place just eight days ahead of the main awards show and telecast.
This year, the Television Academy will present over 100 primetime Emmys, with most awards being handed out during two nights of celebrations at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Formerly known as the Creative Arts Emmys, these events have been rebranded as the first two nights of the Emmy Awards.
The ceremonies will be edited together and aired on September 12 on FXX, with streaming available on Hulu the following day. The main primetime ceremony, hosted by Mariska Hargitay, will occur on September 14, airing live on NBC and streaming on Peacock.
One of the standout moments from the early awards was Bad Bunny winning his first Emmy for his Super Bowl halftime show, which helped his production team take home seven trophies. The show, titled “The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny,” won the Emmy for outstanding variety special, outperforming other major events like the Oscars and the Grammys. Notably, this was Bad Bunny’s first nomination under his birth name, Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio.
In the drama category, “The Pitt,” an HBO Max medical series, won best drama in its inaugural season and stands out as this year’s leading contender with 25 nominations. It could potentially win up to nine awards. Meanwhile, “Hacks,” also from HBO Max, has tied a record with 24 nominations in the comedy category for its fifth and final season, with prospects of winning a dozen awards.
While many of the awards will recognize behind-the-scenes talent, several notable stars are also in the running, particularly in the guest acting categories. Rob Reiner, who tragically passed away alongside his wife Michele Singer Reiner last December, is nominated posthumously for guest actor in a comedy for his performance in “The Bear.” This nomination comes nearly 50 years after he won two Emmys for acting on “All in the Family.”
Additionally, five-time Emmy winner Michael J. Fox is nominated in the same category for his role in “Shrinking,” where he portrays a patient with Parkinson’s disease, a condition he has dealt with since the 1990s.
The star power at the ceremony is set to increase, as the academy has moved five categories from the September 14 telecast to this Sunday. This includes highly competitive categories like best supporting actor and actress in a limited series, featuring nominees such as Jason Bateman, Charles Melton, Dakota Fanning, and Laurie Metcalf.
With “The Pitt” leading the drama nominations, it has two actors nominated for best guest actor and three for best guest actress. Among them is Tal Anderson, an autistic actor and advocate for neurodivergent representation, who received her first Emmy nomination for her role as Becca King, the sister of Dr. Mel King, played by Taylor Dearden.
Dearden, one of four women from “The Pitt” nominated for best supporting actress, will join fellow nominee Noah Wyle, who is also recognized for four Emmys at the forthcoming ceremony, as a presenter on Sunday.
Interestingly, five out of seven nominees for best guest actress in a comedy come from “Hacks,” including Leslie Bibb and Metcalf, both of whom could walk away with multiple Emmys.
Rookie series from Apple TV like “Widow’s Bay” and “Pluribus” are also expected to make a significant impact on the Emmys. “Widow’s Bay” has the potential to win up to 10 awards, while “Pluribus,” featuring best-actress favorite Rhee Seahorn and created by “Breaking Bad” mastermind Vince Gilligan, might also take home 10 awards at this early ceremony.
Several of the acting nominees from “Pluribus,” including Karolina Wydra and Jeff Hiller, are also set to present awards on Sunday.
The first day of the Emmys on Saturday focused on unscripted series and variety shows, while Sunday will spotlight dramas, comedies, and limited series, ensuring a thrilling conclusion to the Emmys festivities.
