2026 Emmys Host Mariska Hargitay Gave It Her All

Here are a few of the Good and the Awkward from Hargitay’s hosting performance:

AWKWARD: The Opening Musical Number “I Love TV Shows”

Though Hargitay is known in the industry as America’s sweetheart, it’s hard to break away from the role she is synonymous with – Olivia Benson. It’s actually a good thing to view Hargitay as a serious actress, given how iconic that role is. Because of that, it’s hard to see her acting in something so silly and whimsical. It just felt awkward. Then she began to sing “I Love TV Shows,” parody of Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock N Roll” – and the awkwardness turned into cringe.

While it’s cool to see the cameos by Brunson and Jennifer Coolidge, it didn’t come off as humorous as one would expect – especially with an appearance by Coolidge, who is effortlessly funny. I really don’t understand why Coolidge was given a boba drink.

The positive from this segment had to be the end, when Hargitay is lifted, surrounded by the television screens, like a 1950s starlet – like her late mother, Jayne Mansfield.

Fun Fact: Hargitay won two Emmys – Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special and Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program – for her documentary, My Mom Jayne, on Mansfield during the Creative Emmys the weekend prior.

GOOD: The jokes from her monologue

During Stephen Colbert’s winning speech for Outstanding Variety Series for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, he mentioned his writers being in charge of the jokes for the night. No wonder they landed so well, and Hargitay did a great job delivering them.

The jokes played on Hargitay’s longstanding reign on the longest-running series of all time, which included every actor appearing on one of the Dick Wolf series iterations at one point in their career, Wolf’s pen name (“His real name is Richard Penis”), and not understanding what it means for a show to end.

But the real winning joke was her parody of Nicole Kidman’s AMC movie monologue, which she did on behalf of TV, right in front of Kidman’s face. Kidman, who was in on the bit, shouted at Hargitay, telling her, ‘No, Mariska, come on. That’s mine. That’s my bit. You can’t do that.”

Hargitay continues, “Somehow, heartbreak feels good in a place like this.”

“No, no, come on,” Kidman interjects. “That’s my line. That is actually my line.”

Hargitay cuts her off, “Zip it, movie lady! It’s TV’s turn tonight!”

That was pretty good.

AWKWARD: Hargitay’s Interview Of First Jobs

During one of her audience bits with the celebrities, Hargitay asked a few actors about the first job before TV. Nick Offerman, who was part of the bit, gave a nonchalant answer of “erotic painter”… of houses. Of course, it caused people to be intrigued with Offerman’s answer, especially given his comedic timing and personality. She further inquires him on his job, to which he explains, “I was in the nude.”

“I don’t see why this is so hard to understand,” he elaborates. “It’s kind of a standard gig. I would strip down and dump a can of paint over my head, and roll my nude male body around the house’s exterior.”

She says, flatly, “The whole house?”

“No, you know how doors and trim were extra,” he states. “Roofs were not pleasant, but a buck is a buck.”

She tells him it doesn’t sound erotic to her. But, it wasn’t for her. It was erotic for the house. There was no comedic back and forth between the two. It was as if she were just reading lines instead of giving that energy he gave back. It was just flat.

GOOD: Game of Thrones Segment

Hargitay in a thick winter Night’s Watch outfit feels really corny, especially with her wielding the sword. But the veteran actress saved it with her bluntness, saying, “This outfit is hot as balls.”

It is so unexpected coming from the poised actress. An established and respected actress/icon cursing and being blunt is always interesting to watch.

AWKWARD: The Law & Order: SVU x Taylor Swift parody

The Law & Order: SVU had so much potential because it brought together all of Hargitay’s co-stars, and it could have been a parody about television or a callback to all the guest stars who appeared on the original series since its conception in 1990. Many of the guest actors were in the audience, including Pedro Pascal, Martin Short, Oscar Isaac, Colman Domingo, Elle Fanning, Julianna Margulies, and more.

Yet, it was all about Taylor Swift – who is herself a big ‘get’ since she doesn’t do these shows. It felt more like a promo for her secret upcoming album than a celebration of television. Isn’t the whole point of the Emmys to talk about TV? That’s why Hargitay sang the opener song, “I Love TV Shows.” It just felt really out of place – other than seeing the Law & Order cast be part of the skit.

AWKWARD: Hartigay singing AGAIN

Listen, if you’re going to use Swift for a segment – this should have been it. Swift can sing and dance – and this would have been a better surprise if she showed up to sing – as she was nominated for five Emmys for her Disney+ concert film, Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The Final Show.

Hargitay tried to make this work, but she’s not a singer. Some faces in the audience probably agreed, as it felt very cringe. It was off-key and very uninspired. Not even trained Broadway singer Andrew Rannells could save this segment.

GOOD: The Law & Order Ending for the Emmys

It was pretty funny to have the Emmys end on a high note – or for NBC, a “Dun Dun” note. The show ended with the iconic Law & Order music soundbite as it moves onto another scene. It makes sense for NBC and Hargitay’s hosting to have the show end with that.

Overall, Hargitay had her moments to showcase her comedic ability, but she relied heavily on her guests to do the heavy lifting. But she wasn’t terrible — especially compared to past hosts who have been. She is highly respected as an actress and producer and still has national-treasure levels of fame. But she is still best known as a dramatic actress, and maybe should take on more comedic roles to fine-tune her hosting future.