LOS ANGELES – Emmy hopefuls including “The Pitt,” “Hacks,” “Pluribus” and “Widow’s Bay” are poised for an early awards-season boost Sunday, as the Television Academy begins handing out trophies more than a week before the marquee primetime ceremony.
With well over 100 Primetime Emmy Awards on the ballot, most of this year’s honors will be distributed across two weekend events at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The ceremonies, once known as the Creative Arts Emmys, have been recast this year as the opening two nights of the 78th Emmy Awards.
Highlights from both nights will be combined into a broadcast airing Sept. 12 on FXX, with streaming available the next day on Hulu. The main Sept. 14 Emmy Awards ceremony, also taking place at the Peacock Theater, will be hosted by Mariska Hargitay, broadcast live on NBC and streamed live on Peacock.
“The Pitt,” HBO Max’s real-time medical drama, enters as the year’s most-nominated program with 25 nods after winning best drama for its debut season, and it could collect up to nine awards on Sunday. “Hacks,” another HBO Max contender, matched a comedy nomination record with 24 bids for its fifth and final season and is in position to win as many as 12 trophies during the early ceremony.
While the weekend awards largely spotlight the craftspeople and technical teams who shape television behind the camera, several recognizable stars could still make headlines, particularly in the guest acting races.
Rob Reiner, who was killed along with his wife Michele Singer Reiner in December, could win a posthumous Emmy. He was nominated for guest actor in a comedy for “The Bear,” about 50 years after winning two Emmy Awards for his acting on “All in the Family.”
Five-time Emmy winner Michael J. Fox is also nominated in the same category for playing a patient on “Shrinking” who has Parkinson’s disease, which the actor was diagnosed with in the 1990s.
The evening’s star power will be increased by the academy moving five categories from the Sept. 14 telecast to Sunday. They include best supporting actor and actress in a limited series, categories whose nominees include Jason Bateman, Charles Melton, Dakota Fanning and Laurie Metcalf.
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“The Pitt” dominated the drama acting nominations, and has two performers up for best guest actor in a drama along with three up best guest actress. They include Tal Anderson, an autistic actor who has been an advocate for neurodivergent performers and portrayals. She got her first Emmy nomination for playing Becca King, the younger sister of Taylor Dearden’s Dr. Mel King.
Dearden, one of four women from “The Pitt” nominated for best supporting actress this year, will be among the presenters Sunday as will Noah Wyle, the star of “The Pitt” who is nominated for four Emmys at the main ceremony.
Five of the seven nominees for best guest actress in a comedy come from “Hacks,” including Leslie Bibb and Metcalf, who could take home two Emmys.
A pair of rookie series from Apple TV could make major marks on the Emmys with a head start Sunday. The horror comedy “Widow’s Bay” could win as many as 10 this weekend. And “Pluribus,” the one-woman-against-the-hivemind drama from “Breaking Bad” creator Vince Gilligan, which stars best actress favorite Rhee Seahorn, could also win 10 at the early ceremony.
“Pluribus” acting nominees Karolina Wydra and Jeff Hiller are also among Sunday’s presenters.
Saturday’s first day of the Emmys saw awards presented to unscripted series, variety shows and specials shows and variety specials, while Sunday’s show focuses on dramas, comedies and limited series.
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