LOS ANGELES – Host Mariska Hargitay was in full Olivia Benson mode Thursday, Sept. 10, kicking out the blue carpet for the 78th Emmy Awards outside Los Angeles' Peacock Theater.
Suddenly, the “Law & Order: SVU”star, 62, stopped the proceedings and called out playfully, “Hold up, wardrobe malfunction! Better now than at the Emmys.”
Speaking to USA TODAY in sunglasses and a sequined skirt suit, the diehard New York Knicks fan said the incident was caused by her heroic carpet pushing.
"I started going into full-on Knicks-mode, kicking the carpet," Hargitay says. "I was a superhero."
On the bright side, the minor mishap could be good luck going into the78th Primetime Emmy Awards,airing Monday, Sept. 14 (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC/Peacock).
"Damn straight
it is," Hargitay says, confirming the good omen.
More on the good luck front, Hargitay already won two Emmys on Sept. 6 for her deeply personal HBO documentary, “My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay,” about her late mother, Hollywood star Jayne Mansfield.
Hargitay has been in steady rehearsals for the Emmy hosting gig, the first time a woman has hosted the show in 15 years. Much of the show is obviously secret. But Hargitay confirmed that she will be singing and dancing on the Emmys stage.
"Those rumors are true," says Hargitay, who refused to give what she called "spoilers" on the performance. "I'll never tell you. But it's going to be more song than dance. I just want to be clear on that."
Emmy officials added at the event that Grammy-nominated singer Noah Kahan is set to perform a vocal tribute during the In Memoriam segment.
The night promises plenty of Emmy intrigue, with “The Pitt” looking to defend its best drama crown against newcomers “Pluribus," while “Hacks” returns to the comedy fight against newcomer "Widow's Bay." Stephen Colbert and “The Late Show” could provide one of the night’s biggest – and potentially most political – moments in the late show host final nomination, while Hargitay will keep the three-hour ceremony moving as first-time host.
At the Emmys kickoff event, Hargitay also extended congratulation to Knicks star Jalen Brunson, who has just been announced as a host of "SNL."
"I'm so excited and I can't wait," Hargitay says. "And you can be sure that I'll be there in the audience. I'm his number one fan."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Emmys host Mariska Hargitay gets wardrobe malfunction over with – 'Damn straight'
