Mariska Hargitay made her hosting debut at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Monday, using her opening monologue to playfully roast several high-profile stars.
The appearance marked a milestone for Hargitay, who became the first woman to host the Emmys in 15 years.
Celebrities Nicole Kidman, Dick Wolf, Amy Poehler, Tina Fey and Martin Short found themselves the target of Hargitay’s lighthearted jokes as she kicked off TV’s biggest night.
Known to millions as Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Hargitay stepped into one of television’s most visible hosting roles with a mix of music, self-deprecation and celebrity ribbing. Her monologue set the tone for the ceremony while highlighting both industry icons and some of television’s most recognizable faces.
Hargitay’s first outing as Emmys host began before she even reached the stage.
A prerecorded opening segment showed the actress preparing for the ceremony alongside New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson. Hoping for reassurance, she asked whether he had ever experienced a moment when millions of people were watching and everything came down to one night.
Brunson’s deadpan response, “Seriously?” immediately undercut the comparison and delivered the first laugh of the evening.
Afterward, Hargitay launched into a musical number built around Joan Jett’s classic “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll,” rewriting the lyrics to spotlight Emmy nominees before transitioning into her live monologue.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.