Mariska Hargitay hosting the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards was not a thing that had ever crossed my mind. But also, I’m here for it and I love the idea. How did the Law & Order: SVU mainstay land that job, you might wonder? Well, she wondered the same thing, but didn’t let that stop her from accepting the unexpected opportunity.
As Olivia Benson in the NBC series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Hargitay has done nearly 600 episodes in 27 seasons of the drama series and is soon to be returning for Season 28 on the 2026 TV schedule. While the Emmy host is typically someone with a background in comedy, it's airing on NBC and she is one of the network’s most notable stars. Plus, if they want to shake things up a bit, then she’s the perfect choice. During a recent interview with Deadline, the former ER star said:
