Leading Emmy nominees including “The Pitt,” “Hacks,” “Pluribus” and “Widow’s Bay” could collect a significant number of awards Sunday during an early ceremony, eight days before the main Primetime Emmy Awards.
The Television Academy presents more than 100 Primetime Emmy Awards, with most of them being handed out over two ceremonies this weekend at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
Previously known as the Creative Arts Emmys, the events have been renamed as the first two nights of the 78th Emmy Awards.
The two ceremonies will be edited into a program scheduled to air on FXX on Sept. 12 and stream on Hulu the following day. The main Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony will take place on Sept. 14 at the Peacock Theater. Hosted by Mariska Hargitay, it will air live on NBC and stream on Peacock.
“The Pitt,” HBO Max’s medical drama following a day in the life of hospital workers, is this year’s most-nominated series with 25 nominations. After winning best drama for its first season, the show could take home up to nine awards on Sunday.
“Hacks,” also from HBO Max, received a record-tying 24 comedy nominations for its fifth and final season and could win as many as 12 awards during Sunday's ceremony.
While most of the awards presented this weekend recognize behind-the-scenes work, several well-known actors are also competing, particularly in the guest acting categories.
Rob Reiner, who was killed along with his wife Michele Singer Reiner in December, received a posthumous nomination for guest actor in a comedy for his role in “The Bear.” The nomination comes about 50 years after he won two Emmy Awards for his acting in “All in the Family.”
Five-time Emmy winner Michael J. Fox is also nominated in the same category for his role in “Shrinking,” where he plays a patient with Parkinson’s disease.
The Television Academy has also moved five categories from the Sept. 14 main telecast to Sunday’s ceremony, adding more star power to the event. The categories include supporting actor and supporting actress in a limited series, with nominees such as Jason Bateman, Charles Melton, Dakota Fanning and Laurie Metcalf.
“The Pitt” has a strong presence in the drama acting categories, with two nominees for guest actor and three for guest actress.
Among them is Tal Anderson, an autistic actor and advocate for better representation of neurodivergent performers. She received her first Emmy nomination for playing Becca King, the younger sister of Dr. Mel King, portrayed by Taylor Dearden.
Dearden, who is one of four women from “The Pitt” nominated for supporting actress, will present an award on Sunday. Noah Wyle, the show's star and a four-time nominee at the main ceremony, will also appear as a presenter.
“Hacks” dominates the comedy guest actress category, with five of the seven nominees coming from the series, including Leslie Bibb and Metcalf. Metcalf could potentially win two Emmys.
Meanwhile, two new series from Apple TV could also make an early impact.
The horror comedy “Widow’s Bay” could win up to 10 awards this weekend, while “Pluribus,” a drama created by “Breaking Bad” creator Vince Gilligan, could also take home as many as 10 awards.
“Pluribus,” which stars Emmy best actress favorite Rhea Seehorn, features Karolina Wydra and Jeff Hiller among its acting nominees. Both are also scheduled to present awards on Sunday.
The first night of the Emmy Awards on Saturday focused on unscripted programs, variety series and specials. Sunday's ceremony will spotlight dramas, comedies and limited series, with several of television's biggest shows hoping to gain an early advantage before the main awards ceremony next week.