Mariska Hargitay, best known for her role as Detective Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, will host the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 14. The ceremony will air on NBC and stream on Peacock from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
Historic Hosting Role
NBCUniversal announced Hargitay as host on Tuesday, just a day before nominations are announced. She becomes the first woman to solo host the Emmys in 15 years, and one of the few non-comedians to take the role. Last year's host was Nate Bargatze on CBS.
Hargitay's Legacy with NBC
Hargitay, 62, has been a cornerstone of NBC since 1999, starring in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, one of the longest-running dramas in television history. She has earned eight Emmy nominations for her portrayal of Benson, winning Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2006. The series is set to surpass 600 episodes with its 28th season this fall.
Beyond acting, Hargitay is an advocate for sexual assault victims and may earn another nomination as director and producer of My Mom Jayne, a documentary about her mother, actress Jayne Mansfield.
Emmy Awards Context
The Emmys rotate among the four major U.S. broadcast networks: CBS, NBC, ABC, and Fox. NBC is not expected to receive many nominations in top categories, though Saturday Night Live typically secures several. Expected leading nominees include Pluribus from Apple TV+ and HBO Max's The Pitt, starring former NBC actor Noah Wyle. Nominations will be announced by recent winners Liza Colón-Zayas and Jeff Hiller at the Television Academy in Los Angeles.
