When Mariska Hargitay mulled hosting the Emmys, she consistently got two pieces of advice: “Number one, don’t do it, and number two, whatever you do, don’t go for sincerity,” she told the audience during her monologue at TV’s greatest trophy toss Monday
night. “I clearly ignored the first, so please join me as I ignore the second.” She then thanked everyone gathered for continuing to tell stories, a tradition, she noted, that goes back to the times of cavepeople. Then things took a turn as she started talking about “that indescribable feeling that we get when the lights begin to dim,” a familiar script, at least to Nicole Kidman, who interrupted her and said, “That’s my bit.” Of course, it was the script for Kidman’s kitschy AMC ad. “Zip it, movie lady, it’s TV’s turn tonight,” Hargitay said. And thus began the Emmys.
Hargitay’s monologue leading up that, which came after a cringy filmed Joan Jett parody (“I Love TV Screens”) of her heading to the awards show, hung mostly on Hargitay’s 27-year stint playing Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. One joke was about how she didn’t know how to pronounce the word “finale,” since she’d never had one, and another was about Law & Order honcho Dick Wolf’s “real name,” which she said was actually “Richard Penis.” But aside from a few risky (if not risque) jokes, Hargitay brought something unique to the Emmys stage, at least for the first time in 15 years.
The actress is, notably, the first woman to host the Emmys since Jane Lynch did in 2011. It’s also the first time the Law & Order: SVU star has ever helmed an awards show. Such gigs typically go to stand-ups or, at least, comic actors, but despite being known for her tenure on a heavy-duty cop drama, some of Hargitay’s earliest training was in comedy. She was a member of the legendary improv and sketch troupe the Groundlings, and before booking Law & Order, she scored roles on sitcoms like Seinfeld and Ellen.
The challenge, unsurprisingly, didn’t seem to phase Hargitay. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, for instance, she joked about crafting a “tight five” stand-up set, building her monologue from “everything that killed in the past 78 years” of Emmy monologues, and seeking advice from literally everyone — even random old people she met on her summer vacation.
Not that Hargitay didn’t also understand exactly what her role is as emcee. “The night is about celebrating this incredible thing that we’re all so fortunate to be able to do: Tell stories that move people, entertain people, make people laugh and cry and everything in between,” she said. “Humor and laughter are deep, vital, indispensable parts of who I am, and I feel very lucky that I have this opportunity to bring all of myself to the party.”
See the 2026 Emmy Awards complete winners list, which will be updated throughout the evening.
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