John Mulaney, Nicole Kidman and Taylor Swift Spark Viral Emmys Moments

John Mulaney delivered one of the 2026 Emmy Awards’ most talked-about moments after derailing the live broadcast with a piece of crude advice that NBC was forced to censor for viewers at home.

The 44-year-old comic took the stage to present Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, but quickly veered from a joke about advice for men into DJ Khaled’s explicit comments about men pleasing their wives. The remark proved too racy for network censors.

Nicole Kidman generated another viral highlight during the ceremony when host Mariska Hargitay told the Australian star to “zip it” after she interrupted the Law & Order: SVU actress’ monologue.

Taylor Swift, meanwhile, became one of the night’s biggest talking points despite being more than 1,000 miles from the Emmys in Kansas City, Missouri, where she was watching her husband Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Mulaney opened his risqué presentation by quipping that handing out the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series trophy was the “best part of the night.”

“This award is for the guys. Just men being men,” he said. “Finally, something for the fellas.”

The former SNL writer went on to joke that men had been “historically unrepresented” on television. He said several nominees — Sterling K. Brown, Gary Oldman, Mark Ruffalo, Rufus Sewell and Noah Wyle — favored “method acting,” while others relied on “regular, less annoying acting.”

Mulaney got in trouble with the censors when he referenced one of DJ Khaled’s most controversial declarations.

‘I believe it was DJ Khaled who said, “Real men don’t go down on their wives,”‘ Mulaney said as the audience erupted in laughter. ‘But these nominees know that is BS!’

He added, ‘They know there’s often less pressure on them if they do that first.’

Mulaney had also brought a prop, a copy of the late Sopranos and Goodfellas actor Frank Vincent’s self-help book A Guy’s Guide to Being a Man’s Man, which he shared some wisdom from.

‘A man’s man can be wearing the best clothes, drinking the finest wine, sitting with the most beautiful woman in Las Vegas, but if he doesn’t treat everyone around him with respect and class, he’s not a real man’s man,’ he read. ‘He’s just a jabroni in a good suit.’

Noah Wyle was caught multiple times laughing and looking embarrassed by Mulaney’s jokes before the comedian revealed he had won the award for his work on The Pitt.

Nicole Kidman caused a scene of her own when she tried to interrupt host Mariska Hargitay’s monologue.

The Law & Order: SVU star told the Aussie actress, 59, to be quiet during a light-hearted moment between the pair at the annual TV awards. 

The scripted moment occurred when, during the Emmys opening monologue, Mariska, 62, performed a parody of Nicole’s iconic advert for US cinema chain AMC. 

She gave a dramatic speech about the power of television, copying the overly serious lines Nicole performed in her famous 2021 promotional video, which was part of a national campaign to get people to attend the cinemas after Covid lockdowns. 

‘Images on the silver screen. Sound that I can feel,’ Mariska said, pretending to get choked up.  

Nicole, who sat in the front row, quickly interrupted, saying: ‘No, Mariska, come on. That’s mine. That’s my bit. You can’t do that.’

‘What? No, no Nicole, I’m not,’ Mariska responded as the crowd erupted into laughter over the bit. 

Mariska then attempted to continue, saying: ‘Somehow, heartbreak feels good in a place like this.’

But Nicole interrupted again: ‘No, come on. That’s my line. That’s actually my line.’ 

‘Zip it, movie lady, it’s TV’s time tonight!’ Mariska hit back. 

One of the most viral moments of the show ironically came from someone who didn’t even attend.

Hargitay returned in the midst of the broadcast for a pre-taped sketch with the rest of her SVU costars in which they tried to crack a nebulous case with so many scatter-brained connections between stars that she had to bring out a second whiteboard covered in celebrity photos and fuzzy yarn connecting them.

She tried to get Ice-T and the rest of the crew to ‘think like Swifties’ to solve a mystery: ‘Will Taylor Swift be at the Emmys?’

In the midst of the sketch, an unnamed detective spoke up from the back of the room as the video cut to reveal that it was Swift herself dressed as a detective.

Hargitay, a real-life friend of Swift’s, collaborated with the undercover pop star to determine that Swift wouldn’t be at the ceremony because she would be watching her husband Travis Kelce play with the Kansas City Chiefs at the same time.

That turned out to be exactly what happened, and Swift was seen sitting in her box at Arrowhead Stadium with another A-lister, Tom Cruise.

Apple TV horror-comedy series Widow’s Bay was the biggest winner at the Emmy Awards 2026 as it swept the ceremony, with leading man Matthew Rhys making history as the first actor to win two lead acting gongs in different categories in one night.

On the drama side, it was once again The Pitt who was the big winner as the HBO Max series took home top honors Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama for Noah Wyle. They earned the same honors last at last year’s Emmys.

However, it was Widow’s Bay that made the massive first impression on television’s biggest night as it won in all six categories it was nominated in, including the top honor Outstanding Comedy Series.

The comedy horror series beat out: Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Hacks, Margo’s Got Money Troubles, Nobody Wants This, Only Murders in the Building, and Shrinking.

Widow’s Bay is set in the fictional New England island town of Widow’s Bay, which happens to be afflicted with a centuries-old curse that brings various supernatural evils upon the island

In addition to Rhys, top acting honors were earned by Kate O’Flynn and Stephen Root in the Outstanding Supporting Actress and Actor in a Comedy Series categories, respectively.

However, their costar Rhys was perhaps the biggest winner of the night as he made history by becoming the first actor to earn two leading acting honors in the same night.

He not only earned Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy series for the Apple TV series, but also took home Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for The Beast in Me earlier in the evening. 

On the Apple TV series, the talented actor portrays Tom Loftis, mayor of Widow’s Bay, as he is originally from the mainland and is initially skeptical of the local residents’ superstitions about the island’s supposed curse. He is a widower and father to a son, Evan, from his marriage to his deceased wife, Lauren. 

In the psychological thriller mini-series, Rhys portrays Nile Jarvis, who is the son of a real estate magnate who moves next door to the home of Aggie Wiggs [Clare Danes] in Oyster Bay, New York, on Long Island to live in a more secluded manner with his second wife, as he allegedly killed his first wife.  

The Pitt earned the top award of the night, Outstanding Drama Series, on a night where it earned 25 nominations, which was the most from any single series.

It faced stiff competition including: The Diplomat, The Gilded Age, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Paradise, Pluribus, Slow Horses, and Your Friends and Neighbors. 

The Pitt is centered around the daily lives of healthcare professionals in a Pittsburgh hospital as they juggle personal crises, workplace politics, and the emotional toll of treating critically ill patients, revealing the resilience required in their noble calling. 

Noah Wyle was the first to be awarded for the highly popular HBO Max series.

The 55-year-old actor earned the win in the coveted Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series category as he beat out: Sterling K. Brown for Paradise, Gary Oldman for Slow Horses, Mark Ruffalo for Task, and Rufus Sewell for The Diplomat.

On the series, he portrays Dr. Michael ‘Robby’ Robinavitch, who is the main protagonist of the show as he deals with trauma and PTSD alongside unresolved post-COVID stress.

Meanwhile, Rhea Seehorn earned one of the biggest wins of television’s biggest night and beat one of the biggest stars in Zendaya to earn the honor. 

The 54-year-old actress triumphed in the Lead Actress in a Drama category at the Emmy Awards 2026 as she was recognized for her work in Pluribus.

Jean Smart earned her fifth Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy win in a row at the Emmy Awards 2026 on a night that featured a star-studded red carpet.

 The 75-year-old talented actress was recognized for her work on Hacks, which just had its fifth and final season. 

Smart – who earned her eighth total Emmy in her 15th total nomination – was obviously emotional as her name was called and she was presented the honor by Zendaya.

Sally Field earned Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for her work in Remarkably Bright Creatures. 

The 78th annual Primetime Emmy Awards took place at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles on Monday night. 

Law & Order: SVU executive producer/star Mariska Hargitay served as host of the gala event, which marks the first time a woman has hosted the show in 15 years.