The 78th annual Emmy Awards saw Jean Smart clinch her fifth consecutive win for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in "Hacks." The 75-year-old actress was recognized for her work on the critically acclaimed HBO Max series, which recently concluded its fifth and final season.
In a notable upset, Rhea Seehorn took home the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in "Pluribus." Seehorn, 54, triumphed over strong competition in the category, marking a significant moment of the evening.
"The Pitt," a medical drama, led the nominations with 25 nods, including a nomination for Best Drama Series. The series also garnered multiple nominations in acting categories, notably Taylor Dearden and Fiona Dourif for Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, and Patrick Ball, Billy Crudup, Shawn Hatosy, Gerran Howell, Jack Lowden, Tom Pelphrey, and Carlos-Manuel Vesga for Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. "The Pitt" also saw its lead actor Noah Wyle nominated, and its supporting cast member Taylor Dearden recognized.
"Hacks" followed closely with 24 nominations, including a nod for Best Comedy Series. The show's ensemble cast also received recognition, with Hannah Einbinder nominated for Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series and Paul W. Downs, Harrison Ford, Nick Offerman, Stephen Root, Michael Urie, and Tyler James Williams all nominated in the Supporting Actor in a Comedy category. Jean Smart's win marked her eighth Emmy in total and her 15th nomination overall. She was presented the award by Zendaya.
Other notable nominations included "Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette" for Best Limited or Anthology Series. The series also earned a nomination for Sarah Pidgeon in the Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie category. Carey Mulligan was nominated for her role in "Beef" in the same category. In the Limited or Anthology Series race, Matthew Rhys was awarded for "The Beast in Me."
Colman Domingo received an Emmy for Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his work on "Euphoria." "The Diplomat" and "Slow Horses" also secured multiple nominations across various categories, including writing and directing.
"The Pitt" led the nominations with 25 nods, including a nomination for Best Drama Series. The series also earned multiple nominations for its supporting cast, with Taylor Dearden and Fiona Dourif recognized for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. "The Pitt" was also represented in the Lead Actor category through Noah Wyle.
"Hacks" came in second with 24 nominations, including Best Comedy Series. Hannah Einbinder was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, and the show's writing team, including Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky, received a nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series.
Other series recognized with nominations included "Abbott Elementary," "The Bear," and "Only Murders in the Building" for Outstanding Comedy Series. "Pluribus" earned a nomination for Outstanding Drama Series, with Rhea Seehorn's win highlighting its drama category success.
Law & Order: SVU executive producer and star Mariska Hargitay served as host for the evening's ceremony, marking the first time in 15 years a woman has hosted the event.