Emmys 2026 Review: Mariska Hargitay's Shaky Stint As Host Kicks Off A Badly Paced Night — Grade It!
Mariska Hargitay's shaky stint as host kicked off a mediocre, badly paced Emmys ceremony on NBC - read our review, and grade it in our poll.
The 2026 Emmys on NBC proved to be a mixed bag for TV enthusiasts. Star of "Law & Order: SVU," Mariska Hargitay, struggled as host, with a hurried pace, weak jokes, and an overabundance of cameos from various celebrities. While "Widow's Bay" won six awards and "Hacks" earned its fifth Emmy for Jean Smart, the ceremony felt more like a celebration of other entertainment figures rather than the best in TV series.
Hargitay's opening number, set to Joan Jett's "I Love Rock 'n' Roll," was cringeworthy and echoed Rob Lowe's infamous Oscar performance. Her comedic attempts, including a sketch featuring Taylor Swift, also fell flat. In contrast, John Mulaney's presentation of lead actor in a drama was a highlight. The fast pace left out significant winners like Allison Janney and Tom Pelphrey.
The extended tribute to Dolly Parton, while respectful, felt out of place given Parton's music and movie background. The Emmy producers seemed to prioritize non-television celebrities and categories, at the expense of a deeper dive into the TV industry. Overall, viewers were left wishing for a ceremony that more genuinely celebrated the art of television.
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