The NBC telecast, which marked the network’s 100th anniversary, featured surprise guest appearances, a Bob Hope Humanitarian Award tribute to Michael J.
Mariska Hargitay Hosts the 78th Emmy Awards and Parodies AMC
Mariska Hargitay opened the 78th Emmy Awards with a bang, delivering a monologue that poked fun at her long-running role on Law & Order: SVU and parodied a beloved piece of pop culture. The Emmys are celebrating their 78th year, and NBC is celebrating its 100th year. And I have been on ‘Law & Order: SVU’ for all of them,
Hargitay joked after she was carried onto the stage by a group of backup dancers with TVs on their heads. Hargitay is the first woman to host the Emmys in a decade and a half, a tidbit she emphasized by quipping, Imagine that: For 15 straight years, Amy and Tina said no.
Looking out at the starry crowd at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, Hargitay said it was reassuring to see so many familiar faces out there. And I’m just talking about how many of you I’ve arrested on ‘SVU.'
Speaking of the long-running NBC drama, Hargitay gave a sincere tribute to series creator Dick Wolf, who has made over 40 shows — 13 of which are currently on the air. Over the years, there have been a lot of jokes about his name, which is so unfair because Dick Wolf isn’t even his real name,
Hargitay said. His real name is Richard Penis.
Celebrating the nominees who recently wrapped their last episode, Hargitay rubbed in her steady network gig by pretending to struggle with the teleprompter as she read “series finale.” Fee-na-lay? Fin-a-lay? Am I saying that right?
she said. I’m sorry guys, it’s just that I’ve never had one!
Just when it appeared Hargitay was getting sincere — I am truly deeply moved and so incredibly grateful to be in a room full of people who have dedicated their lives to telling stories
— the host spiraled into a familiar-sounding monologue. At the end of the day,
Hargitay continued, we come to TV for magic, to laugh, to cry, to care, because we need that, all of us, that indescribable feeling that we get when the lights begin to dim. Dazzling images on the silver screen, sound that I can feel.
Suddenly Hargitay was interrupted by an audience member — Nicole Kidman! Now, Mariska, come on,
Kidman said. That’s mine. That’s my bit. You can’t do that.
As Hargitay barrelled forward, delivering Kidman’s exact words from her famous AMC ad, the Margo’s Got Money Troubles
star interrupted again: That is my line. That is actually my line.
Zip it, movie lady! It’s TV’s turn tonight!
Hargitay yelled to big laughter (despite the fact that Kidman has appeared in what seems like hundreds of TV shows).
An Ungainly and Ill-Flowing Night on NBC
While the opening generated laughs, the rest of the evening drew criticism for its pacing. According to an analysis published by The Hollywood Reporter, the program was an ungainly and ill-flowing night of television. Structured so that the first half focused on awards and speeches while the second half shifted to tributes and memorials, the telecast somehow ran short as it approached the final category of the evening.
The strange timeline left the show concluding five minutes early with Mariska Hargitay standing around awkwardly, and that’s despite giving Hargitay not one, but two musical numbers, plus a seemingly endless filmed sketch eventually featuring a game Taylor Swift, plus an extended tribute to Dolly Parton. By 90 minutes into the broadcast, almost all of the awards had already been presented.
Producers, via The Hollywood Reporter
With no clear script left to follow, the long-time collaborators filled the remaining time by riffing on stage while the audience in the theater looked on, amused or confused.
Honoring Michael J. Fox and Celebrating Television History
Amid the pacing issues, the telecast featured standout moments of recognition for industry veterans. Michael J. Fox accepted the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award during the broadcast. The extended standing ovation for Fox highlighted both his television career and his ongoing visibility work for Parkinson’s disease and disability awareness.
Other acting categories saw familiar favorites and competitive races play out early in the evening. Stephen Root claimed a victory in the supporting actor in a comedy category as part of the Widow’s Bay juggernaut, outpacing nominees including Harrison Ford. Meanwhile, Rhea Seehorn took home the award for lead actress in a drama.
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