Mariska Hargitay Roasts Dick Wolf, Nicole Kidman in Emmys Monologue

Mariska Hargitay to Host Emmys 2026, the First Woman to Emcee in 15 YearsThere was plenty of evidence to suggest that Mariska Hargitay was going to approach the job of hosting the 2026 Emmys like a true pro. But a professional comedian? Well, dun-dun, that was a welcome twist. The three-time Emmy winner, who took home her first statue in 2006 for her not exactly rib-tickling portrayal of Det. Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (and snagged two this year as the director-producer of the documentary My Mom Jayne) opened the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards Sept. 14 with a pitch-perfect roast of some of her nearest and dearest. (See all the 2026 Emmy winners.) Tacking a cue from Emmy openings past, the show kicked off with a pre-taped sketch featuring New York Knicks star and reigning NBA champion Jalen Brunson, who counts Hargitay as a super-fan and friend. Comparing notes on pressure—"Seriously?" Brunson quipped—Hargitay then realized she didn't have time to steam gowns and jerseys with the basketball player and hopped on a flight to L.A., where she marveled over all the entertainment TV can provide, be it in-flight or at her hotel, set to the tune of Joan Jett's "I Love Rock 'n' Roll."After lyrics that included homages to Margot's Got Money Troubles, Abbott Elementary, The Pitt, Widow's Bay, Slow Horses and even Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, the 62-year-old finally made it to the stage. Where she hilariously bit the hand that feeds, just a bit.Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images"It is so reassuring to see so many familiar faces out there, and I'm just talking bout how many of you I've arrested on SVU," she quipped, singling out a certain lead actor in a comedy nominee (for, ironically, Only Murders in the Building) for his especially disturbing guest-star turn years ago. "You guys have done some unspeakable things. I'm talking to you, Martin Short, you should be ashamed of yourself." But, Hargitay continued, "I couldn’t do any of this without thanking the genius behind SVU, the legendary Dick Wolf, who has created over 40 shows, 13 of which are on the air right now." Which is why, she noted, the jokes about his name were so "unfair," considering "Dick Wolf isn't even his real name. His real name is Richard Penis." Then, after revealing she didn't know how to pronounce "finale"—"I'm sorry, guys, it's just that I never had one"—the SVU star of 27 seasons and counting launched int... Nicole Kidman's AMC Theaters monologue. Well, Kidman didn't come to this place to be usurped, so the Lioness actress stood up to put an end to the parody. "No, Mariska, come on, that's mine," Kidman interjected. "That's my bit, you can't do that." To which Hargitay replied, "Zip it, movie lady, it's TV's turn tonight!"Amy Sussman/Getty ImagesIt certainly was. And coming to this place for magic included Hargitay's husband Peter Hermann and their kids, sons August and Andrew and daughter Amaya, who was twinning with her mom on the red carpet in a matching red beaded dresses with a feathery fringe hem. While Hargitay also made her Broadway debut earlier this year in Every Brilliant Thing, proving she can command a stage in real time, as emcee of TV's biggest night for the first time (and the first woman to fill that role since Jane Lynch in 2011), she started bringing the jokes way before showtime. "I have not only watched past monologues, I’ve built mine out of everything that killed in the past 78 years. It’s been focus-grouped, and it works," she quipped to The Hollywood Reporter. "Word-for-word, no updates. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it." Moreover, Hargitay added, in order to bypass the awkwardness when acceptance speeches drone on, "There will be no speeches. I’m bringing back thank-you notes. I announce who won, then they get to work on writing their thank-you notes from their seat, the way they were raised to do. It’s time everyone learned some manners again." So, if anyone was concerned that the actress known for her deadly serious demeanor on SVU wasn't going to be able to lighten up... Case closed. See the full list of winners from the 2026 Emmys:Outstanding Drama SeriesThe Diplomat The Gilded Age A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Paradise The Pitt Pluribus Slow Horses Your Friends and NeighborsOutstanding Lead Actress in a Drama SeriesCarrie Coon, The Gilded Age Keri Russell, The Diplomat WINNER: Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus Zendaya, Euphoria Chase Infiniti, The TestamentsOutstanding Lead Actor in a Drama SeriesSterling K. Brown, Paradise Gary Oldman, Slow Horses Mark Ruffalo, Task WINNER: Noah Wyle, The Pitt Rufus Sewell, The DiplomatOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama SeriesFiona Dourif, The Pitt Taylor Dearden, The Pitt WINNER: Allison Janney, The Diplomat Katherine LaNasa, The Pitt Sepideh Moafi, The Pitt Julianne Nicholson, Paradise Karolina Wydra, PluribusOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama SeriesPatrick Ball, The Pitt Billy Crudup, The Morning Show Shawn Hatosy, The Pitt Jack Lowden, Slow Horses WINNER: Tom Pelphrey, Task Carlos Manuel-Vesga, Pluribus Gerran Howell, The PittOutstanding Comedy SeriesAbbott Elementary The Bear Nobody Wants This Hacks Margo’s Got Money Troubles Only Murders in the Building Shrinking Widow’s BayOutstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy SeriesQuinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary Ayo Edebiri, The Bear Elle Fanning, Margo’s Got Money Troubles Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback WINNER: Jean Smart, HacksOutstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy SeriesSteve Carell, Rooster WINNER: Matthew Rhys, Widow’s Bay Jason Segel, Shrinking Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Wonder ManOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy SeriesDale Dickey, Widow’s Bay Hannah Einbinder, Hacks Janelle James, Abbott Elementary WINNER: Kate O’Flynn, Widow’s Bay Megan Stalter, Hacks Michelle Pfeiffer, Margo’s Got Money Troubles Jessica Williams, ShrinkingOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy SeriesColman Domingo, The Four Seasons Paul W. Downs, Hacks Nick Offerman, Margo’s Got Money Troubles WINNER: Stephen Root, Widow’s Bay Michael Urie, Shrinking Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary Harrison Ford, ShrinkingOutstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy SeriesLeslie Bibb, Hacks Jamie Lee Curtis, The Bear WINNER: Betty Gilpin, Widow's Bay Cherry Jones, Hacks Laurie Metcalf, Hacks Kaitlin Olson, Hacks Lauren Weedman, HacksOutstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy SeriesChristopher McDonald, Hacks Michael J. Fox, Shrinking Brett Goldstein, Shrinking Hamish Linklater, Widow's Bay WINNER: Rob Reiner, The Bear Connor Storrie, Saturday Night LiveOutstanding Guest Actress in a Drama SeriesTal Anderson, The Pitt Brittany Allen, The Pitt Tina Ivlev, The Pitt Miriam Shor, Pluribus Merritt Wever, The Gilded Age WINNER: Shailene Woodley, ParadiseOutstanding Guest Actor in a Drama SeriesColman Domingo, Euphoria WINNER: Ernest Harden Jr., The Pitt Jeff Hiller, Pluribus Jeff Kober, The Pitt Jonathan Pryce, Slow Horses Bradley Whitford, The DiplomatOutstanding Limited or Anthology SeriesThe Beast in Me Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette DTF St. Louis Beef All Her FaultOutstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or MovieClaire Danes, The Beast in Me Sarah Pidgeon, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette WINNER: Sally Field, Remarkably Bright Creatures Carey Mulligan, Beef Sarah Snook, All Her FaultOutstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or MovieWINNER: Matthew Rhys, The Beast in Me Riz Ahmed, Bait Jason Bateman, Black Rabbit Charlie Hunnam, Monster: The Ed Gein Story Oscar Isaac, BeefOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or MovieWINNER: Linda Cardellini, DTF St. Louis Constance Zimmer, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette Dakota Fanning, All Her Fault Joy Sunday, DTF St. Louis Youn Yuh-jung, Beef Laurie Metcalf, Monster: The Ed Gein StoryOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or MovieJason Bateman, DTF St. Louis Richard Gadd, Half Man Richard Jenkins, DTF St. Louis WINNER: David Harbour, DTF St. Louis Charles Melton, Beef Nick Offerman, Death by LightningOutstanding Unstructured Reality ProgramAmerica's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Love on the Spectrum RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked Summer House Welcome to WrexhamOutstanding Structured Reality ProgramAntiques Roadshow Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Love is Blind Queer Eye Shark TankOutstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition ProgramRuPaul Charles, RuPaul's Drag Race WINNER: Alan Cumming, The Traitors Kristen Kish, Top Chef Ariana Madix, Love Island USA Jeff Probst, SurvivorOutstanding Variety SeriesThe Daily Show Jimmy Kimmel Live! Last Week Tonight With John Oliver The Late Show With Stephen Colbert Saturday Night LiveOutstanding Reality Competition ProgramDancing With the Stars RuPaul’s Drag Race Survivor Top Chef WINNER: The TraitorsOutstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)Dave Chappelle: The Unstoppable The Muppet Show Nikki Glaser: Good Girl Taylor Swift, The Eras Tour, The Final Show Wicked: One Wonderful NightOutstanding Host for a Game ShowSteve Harvey, Celebrity Family Feud Ken Jennings, Jeopardy! Colin Jost, Pop Culture Jeopardy! Jimmy Kimmel, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Martin Short, Match GameDon't miss the Emmy Awards 2026 live telecast tonight, Sept. 14, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC and streaming on Peacock. E!'s red carpet kicks off at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.