Mariska Hargitay opens the Emmys by belting out Joan Jett and cuddling Jean Smart
The Law & Order star's opening number also included a basketball star, a TV legend, and some mid-air nudity.
At the 78th annual Emmy Awards, Law & Order star Mariska Hargitay kicked off her hosting debut with a bang. While backstage, she lamented to Jalen Brunson - the first of two Brunsons mentioned in her song - that unlike some people, she wouldn't rely on anyone else as she made her live hosting debut all on her own. With a legendary career of hunting down the worst TV characters, Hargitay then launched into a full-on musical number set to Joan Jett's "I Love Rock and Roll."
Her "I Love TV Screens" saw her shouting out various award nominees and TV favorites, from Quinta Brunson to Guy Fieri and Ed Gein. She also quickly addressed some award-nominated TV nudity, before a flight attendant hit her with a drink cart on the way to L.A.'s Peacock Theater. Following a happy cuddle with Jean Smart, who won in the second presentation of the night, Hargitay watched documentaries and attempted to fix a pixilated penis, before accidentally misidentifying Jennifer Coolidge as Sea Hag from Widow's Peak.
Finishing her debut as the first female host in 15 years, Hargitay appeared on stage surrounded by dancers with CRT TVs on their heads.
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