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The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards are here, and much like a passing glance at a cloudless night sky, the stars are out!
But this is no time for puns! Television’s biggest night was hosted by “Law & Order: Special Victims
Unit” icon Mariska Hargitay, and there were plenty of big wins and upsets.
See some of the night’s biggest snubs and surprises below.
Surprise: “DTF St. Louis” takes limited or anthology series.
Despite being a more subtle character study compared to buzzy heavy hitters like the second season of “Beef” and the Matthew Rhys-led “The Beast in Me,” it ended up with seven statues, including top honors.
Snub: Actors who aren’t white.
My colleague Clayton Davis wrote about it at length, but every lead and supporting acting award went to a white performer this year. Why is this still happening in 2026?
Surprise: Taylor Swift was in two places at once.
Swift did indeed support her BFF Hargitay’s hosting gig,pre-taping a comedy sketch so she could also attend her husband Travis Kelce’s first game of the season with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Snub: Oscar Isaac can’t block a record evening.
Isaac’s performance in “Beef” was predicted to win by the pundits, but Rhys pulled off a record win, taking both lead actor in a limited or anthology series or movie and lead actor in a comedy series.
Surprise: “Slow Horses” takes drama directing honor.
With starry and showy noms like Noah Wyle and Vince Gilligan, “Slow Horses” director Saul Metzstein sneaked in with a win for the episode “Scars.”
Snub: The supporting actresses of “The Pitt” cancel each other out.
While Allison Janney is brilliant, it’s likely that “Pitt” vote splitting opened the lane for her work on “The Diplomat” to be recognized.
Surprise: Gilligan nabs writing honor for “Pluribus.”
The writing category is always full of surprises, and the dramatic side of the category was no different, with Gilligan’s out-there “Pluribus” besting more down-to-earth storytelling.
Surprise: Stephen Colbert’s final season of “The Late Show” takes home variety series kudos.
A bit of background: In 2015, outstanding variety series was broken into two categories: outstanding variety sketch series and outstanding talk series. This year, the split was reversed; the categories were merged. Given all of the controversy about his show ending, Colbert certainly had a shot at winning the combined category, as he won talk series last year. But it had to squeeze by the juggernaut of John Oliver’s “Last Week Tonight,” which consistently won the variety sketch series statue.
Surprise: John Mulaney delivers a tight stand-up segment an hour into the show.
It’s no surprise that Mulaney was funny, but his introduction to lead actor in a dramatic series squeezed so many laughs and inside-baseball showbiz jokes that it gave the night a great jolt. Also bonus for nominee Mark Ruffalo chuckling along in the crowd. That man deserves a hearty laugh!
Surprise: Kate O’Flynn takes home hardware for the year’s wackiest character.
Despite what the pundits may have predicted, it seems so wonderful that a character as deliciously weird as Patricia Moyer can be victorious at a major award show. O’Flynn is just too undeniable on “Widow’s Bay.”
Surprise: The show was three minutes short!
Brevity is the soul of wit, and this year’s ceremony kept things tight! “Leave ’em wanting more” is a mantra that other award shows could stand to learn …
Surprise: Palpable sexual tension between Hargitay and Jean Smart in the opening segment!
There was a moment that, while the duo was lounging in bed together watching TV, Smart gave an unmistakable look to her bedmate. Should have kept that camera rolling!
Snub: Fashion lovers looking for some entertainment.
Very few celebs brought their A-game to the red carpet and ceremony. Let’s spice things up a bit next year!
Surprise: Why would the Emmys air opposite Monday Night Football?
Believe it or not, there are many TV addicts who also love sports. It’s the first week of the NFL returning, the year’s first Monday Night Football and it’s a Kansas City Chiefs game. Award show ratings are struggling … why go up against a gridiron giant?
