Mariska Hargitay will host the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, scheduled to air on NBC on September 14. NBCUniversal announced the selection of Hargitay, a longtime star of the NBC drama "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," as host on Tuesday.
The ceremony will also stream on Peacock and will be held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Hargitay, 62, has been a prominent figure on NBC since 1999, starring as Detective Olivia Benson in "SVU," one of television's longest-running dramas. She has received eight Emmy nominations for her role, winning in 2006 for lead actress in a drama series. "SVU" is nearing its 600th episode as it prepares for its 28th season this fall.
Hargitay has also been an advocate for sexual assault victims, leveraging her platform. She may be a nominee again this year for her work as director and producer on the documentary "My Mom Jayne," which focuses on her mother, Jayne Mansfield. Earlier this year, Hargitay was also a visible presence, attending New York Knicks games in Madison Square Garden.
The role of broadcasting the Primetime Emmy Awards rotates among the four major broadcast networks. Hargitay's selection marks her as a less common choice for the host role, which in the previous year was held by comedian Nate Bargatze on CBS. NBC is not expected to receive a large number of nominations in top categories, though "Saturday Night Live," an Emmy leader, typically garners several nominations. Leading nominees for this year's awards are anticipated to include Apple TV+'s "Pluribus" and HBO Max's "The Pitt," with nominations set to be announced by Liza Colón-Zayas and Jeff Hiller.