The Television Academy is presenting the majority of its Primetime Emmy Awards this weekend at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. These early ceremonies, previously known as the Creative Arts Emmys, have been rebranded as the first two nights of the 78th Emmy Awards.
The bulk of the more than 100 awards are being handed out this weekend, eight days before the main telecast. The two nights of awards will be edited for a broadcast on Sept. 12 on FXX and will be available to stream on Hulu the following day. The primetime ceremony on Sept. 14 will air live on NBC and stream live on Peacock, hosted by Mariska Hargitay.
Top nominees such as "The Pitt," "Hacks," and "Pluribus" are expected to secure numerous trophies at these preliminary events. "The Pitt," an HBO Max medical drama, leads all nominees with 25. The series could win as many as nine awards on Sunday. "Hacks," also from HBO Max, earned a record-tying 24 nominations for its fifth and final season and is positioned to win up to a dozen awards this weekend.
While most awards presented this weekend honor behind-the-scenes work, the guest acting categories may feature notable names. Rob Reiner, who died in December, is nominated for guest actor in a comedy for "The Bear." This nomination comes approximately 50 years after he won two Emmy Awards for his acting on "All in the Family."
Another nominee in the guest actor in a comedy category is Michael J. Fox, a five-time Emmy winner, who is recognized for his role as a patient with Parkinson's disease on "Shrinking." Fox was diagnosed with the disease in the 1990s.
The academy has moved five categories from the main Sept. 14 telecast to this weekend's ceremonies to increase star power. These include supporting actor and actress in a limited series, with nominees such as Jason Bateman, Charles Melton, Dakota Fanning, and Laurie Metcalf.
"The Pitt" has multiple contenders in the drama acting categories, with two performers nominated for best guest actor in a drama and three for best guest actress. Among them is Tal Anderson, an autistic actor and advocate for neurodivergent representation, who received her first Emmy nomination for playing Becca King.
Taylor Dearden, one of four women from "The Pitt" nominated for best supporting actress, is scheduled to be a presenter. Noah Wyle, the star of "The Pitt" and a nominee for four awards at the main ceremony, will also be among the presenters.
In the comedy categories, five of the seven nominees for best guest actress are from "Hacks," including Leslie Bibb and Laurie Metcalf, who could win two Emmys each.
Newer series also have a strong presence. Apple TV's horror comedy "Widow's Bay" is eligible for as many as 10 awards this weekend. "Pluribus," a drama from "Breaking Bad" creator Vince Gilligan starring Rhee Seahorn, is also a contender for 10 awards at the early ceremony.
Saturday's awards ceremony recognized achievements in unscripted series, variety shows, and specials. Sunday's event will focus on dramas, comedies, and limited series.