The 78th Emmy Awards featured Mariska Hargitay as host, and the show stayed on schedule. This was a bold choice for an unconventional emcee, and it paid off — unlike last year’s disastrous outing with Nate Bargatze, this one landed. Hargitay delivered energy, musical numbers, and a clear affection for the medium she represents.
Hargitay stepped into several roles at the opening: star of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” director of “My Mom Jayne,” Broadway leading lady, and New York Knicks superfan. She took on all of them without any sense of irony, and the audience appeared to enjoy the performance. Her speech about the power of storytelling set up a parody of the AMC Nicole Kidman ad, which Kidman herself had criticized. The joke landed as a reference to the actress spending most of her time on television these days, and Hargitay called Kidman “movie lady,”.
Hargitay’s Game Performance
Hargitay was game throughout the evening. She changed outfits more than Taylor Swift on an average night of the Eras Tour, and she got Swift herself to appear in a pre-taped segment. The cameo didn’t entirely justify an overlong parody of Swift’s conspiratorial fanbase, but the gesture was generous.
A shift in the format helped the show. A number of awards were moved to the Creative Arts Emmys ceremony ahead of time, among them supporting actor and actress in a limited series. Linda Cardellini and David Harbour of “DTF St. Louis”, the winners, were still able to turn up at the main event as presenters. The decision drew criticism, particularly given that the Oscars had attempted a comparable approach a few years back and pushed most of its technical honors down to a separate pre-show. That plan was promptly abandoned.
A Brisk Pace
The numbers did the talking. The show kept a tight pace and finished a few minutes under its allotted time. One song led by Hargitay drew on Supertramp’s “Goodbye Stranger” repurposed into an ode to series finales with an assist from Andrew Rannells, which wasn’t strictly necessary. A tribute to Dolly Parton, led by country star Reba McEntire, was the standout addition. Extended honors for Catherine O’Hara and Rob Reiner were warmly received, and letting John Mulaney riff for several minutes before handing out lead actor in a drama felt like a smart use of airtime. The award itself barely registered; everyone expected Noah Wyle of “The Pitt” to win again, and he rightly did.
A Sweep Runs Through Drama
The modern Emmys love a sweep, which can give the proceedings a monotonous feel. It’s hard to begrudge the love for horror comedy “Widow’s Bay,” a tide so strong it seemingly transcended categories and propelled star Matthew Rhys to a double acting win for his turn in Netflix’s “The Beast in Me” as well as the Apple TV breakout. “Widow’s Bay” is an underdog, and it yielded the best speech of the night in creator Katie Dippold’s commitment to shamelessly show off her new trophy.
Drama delivered surprise wins for Allison Janney of “The Diplomat,” Tom Pelphrey of “Task,” and director Saul Metzstein of “Slow Horses.” The plaudits were more evenly distributed than usual.
A Baffling Decision
An unexpected result is not always the best one. Much as I love Sally Field, I’m baffled by her performance in “Remarkably Bright Creatures” edging out Sarah Pidgeon’s bewitching embodiment of Carolyn Bessette in “Love Story.” It’s still good to know the Emmys can veer a bit off book in its production choices and deliver a solid, enjoyable show.
The Talent Pipeline Shrinks
After last year’s disaster with Bargatze, the show needed a reset. The pool of late-night luminaries from which networks have reliably drawn their awards talent is shrinking. Despite Stephen Colbert’s pleas to preserve the institution as a talent pipeline after the cancellation of “The Late Show,” the options are narrowing.
Hargitay and her peers — familiar faces with hidden reserves of skill — are now the leading candidates for reliable performances. She was more than prepared to take on the challenge.
What Worked and What Didn’t
The show’s success rested on a few key choices:
- Hargitay’s energy and willingness to perform
- The decision to bump some awards to the Creative Arts ceremony
- The timing, which came in a few minutes under time
- The tribute segments, particularly the Dolly Parton and Catherine O’Hara honors
The failures were minor. The Hargitay-led song on “Goodbye Stranger” was unnecessary. The Swift parody ran long. The Field/Pidgeon result was baffling. None of these damaged the evening significantly.
A Comparison to Last Year
Nate Bargatze hosted last year, and his set was a complete failure. He was openly contemptuous, and a countdown clock even chided honorees before they could enjoy their moment too long. Stand-up comedian Nikki Glaser came to the rescue after Jo Koy led the Golden Globes with a terrible performance. Glaser threw herself into the job with real energy, raised her own profile in the process, and wound up becoming a repeat host.
Like Hargitay, she threw herself into the work and demonstrated that she is a fan of television alongside being one of its most visible representatives.
The Bottom Line
This year, the Emmys went back to their usual format. The show moved quickly, was full of joy, and kept things short. Hargitay delivered a performance that blended serious speeches with funny impersonations and several costume changes.
A pleasant evening was had by all, one that honored its audience with respect, its winners with honor, and its host with a clear grasp of what makes this ceremony matter. That return to form deserves to be celebrated.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.