During the 2026 Emmy Awards opening monologue, actress Mariska Hargitay playfully admonished Nicole Kidman to "zip it" after Kidman interrupted her. The moment occurred as Hargitay, star of Law & Order: SVU, was performing a parody of Kidman's iconic 2021 AMC advertisement.
Hargitay, 62, delivered a dramatic speech mimicking Kidman's lines about the power of cinema. Kidman, 59, seated in the front row, interjected, "No, Mariska, come on. That's mine. That's my bit. You can't do that." Hargitay responded with a laugh, "What? No, no Nicole, I'm not." When Kidman interrupted again to claim another line, Hargitay humorously retorted, "Zip it movie lady, it's TV's time tonight!"
The exchange came as Hargitay's opening performance, a remixed rendition of "I Love Rock n' Roll" featuring celebrity cameos, drew mixed reactions online. Some viewers described the number as "cringe" and "genuinely agonizing," while others noted the presence of stars such as Jalen Brunson, Jennifer Coolidge, and Guy Fieri.
The evening honored television's top programs, with HBO Max's "The Pitt" and "Hacks" expected to perform strongly. The ceremony also included an in memoriam segment honoring recently deceased stars, including Dolly Parton, Catherine O'Hara, and James Van Der Beek. Earlier, celebrities like Zendaya and Meg Stalter made appearances on the red carpet.