The Television Academy is set to hand out more than 100 primetime Emmy Awards early this weekend at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The two‑night Creative Arts ceremony, now rebranded as the first two nights of the 78th Emmy Awards, will be edited together and aired on FXX on Sept. 12, with a Hulu stream the following day.
Top contenders poised for multiple wins
HBO Max’s medical drama The Pitt leads the pack with 25 nominations and could walk away with up to nine trophies on Sunday. The series also secured the award for best drama for its first season, cementing its status as this year’s overall frontrunner.
HBO Max’s comedy Hacks entered the early ceremony with a record‑tying 24 nominations for its fifth and final season, giving it the potential to win as many as a dozen Emmys. Five of the seven nominees for best guest actress in a comedy come from the show, including Leslie Bibb and Laurie Metcalf.
Apple TV+ adds two rookie series to the mix. The horror‑comedy Widow’s Bay could capture up to ten awards, while Pluribus – a one‑woman‑against‑the‑hivemind drama created by Vince Gilligan and starring Rhee Seahorn – also has a chance at ten trophies. Acting nominees Karolina Wydra and Jeff Hiller from Pluribus will serve as presenters on Sunday.
Special recognitions and notable nominees
Bad Bunny earned his first career Emmy Saturday for producing and performing in the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show, winning outstanding variety special. The award placed him alongside the Oscars, Grammys, and Tonys in a historic crossover.
Rob Reiner, who passed away in December with his wife Michele Singer Reiner, remains a posthumous nominee for guest actor in a comedy for his role in “The Bear,” marking a remarkable return to Emmy contention more than 50 years after his earlier wins for “All in the Family.”
Five‑time Emmy winner Michael J. Fox is also nominated in the same category for portraying a Parkinson’s patient on “Shrinking,” a role that reflects his personal experience with the disease.
Category shifts boost Sunday’s lineup
The academy moved five categories from the Sept. 14 primetime telecast to the early ceremony, including best supporting actor and actress in a limited series. Nominees such as Jason Bateman, Charles Melton, Dakota Fanning, and Laurie Metcalf will be recognized on Sunday.
“The Pitt” dominates drama acting nominations, with two performers up for best guest actor in a drama and three for best guest actress. Tal Anderson, an autistic actor and advocate for neurodivergent performers, earned his first Emmy nod for playing Becca King. Taylor Dearden, one of four women from the series nominated for best supporting actress, will also present on Sunday alongside star Noah Wyle, who is up for four Emmys at the main ceremony.
What to watch on Sunday
While many awards this weekend honor behind‑the‑scenes crew, the guest‑acting categories promise high‑profile moments. The early ceremony will focus on dramas, comedies, and limited series, setting the stage for the primetime broadcast on Sept. 14, hosted by Mariska Hargitay and streamed live on NBC and Peacock.
Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.
