The fun started in the first 30 seconds of the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards. Host Mariska Hargitay lamented over the pressure of hosting television’s biggest night for the first time while steaming her many outfit changes. Who was she talking to? New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson, who was casually steaming his 2026 NBA championship jersey and fully understood her plight. It was a delightful unexpected pairing that immediately set the night’s mood: a little magic, a lot of laughs, and a few reasons to get excited for the culture.
But let’s state the obvious: Black talent didn’t dominate the winners’ circle on the Emmys live broadcast this year. Our moments were woven into the night’s presentation.
There was that bit where Colman Domingo and Quinta Brunson got personal with Hargitay as they revisited their first jobs (real or for the laugh). Then Domingo helped Sally Field, who won Best Movie/Limited Actress for Netflix’s Remarkably Bright Creatures, make her way onstage to accept her award.
Zendaya looked absolutely stunning presenting the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, while Niecy Nash-Betts introduced the nominees for Limited or Anthology Series, which went to DTF: St. Louis, starring Joy Sunday.
The awards’ In Memoriam segment remembered those who have crossed over this year, including Kiki Shepard, Isiah Whitlock, Jr., Demond Wilson, T.K. Carter, Hal Williams, and so many more lost but never forgotten.
While we didn’t get many moments during the live Primetime Emmy broadcast to take the winners’ podium, Black talent did take home trophies at the Creative Arts Emmys, held September 5 and 6 at the Peacock Theater at L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles. Ernest Harden Jr. won Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his turn as Louie Cloverfield on The Pitt, while Octavia Spencer earned her first Emmy, winning Outstanding Narrator for Investigation Discovery’s Lost Women of Alaska: The Missing.