The nominees for the 78th Emmy Awards were announced July 8, and stars across television are still celebrating ahead of Monday night's ceremony. The list was presented by Emmy winners Liza Colon-Zayas and Jeff Hiller, of The Bear and Widow's Bay, and dozens of nominated actors and producers issued statements reacting to the honor.
HBO Max's The Pitt emerged as the most nominated series of the year with 25 nods. The medical drama won five Emmys last year, including Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Lead Actor for Noah Wyle, who is nominated again this year along with seven supporting cast members, including Patrick Ball, Katherine LaNasa and Taylor Dearden. Wyle himself picked up three nominations, including for directing and producing.
Hacks, Pluribus, The Diplomat and The Bear also landed multiple nominations, including in the Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Comedy Series categories. The nominations marked the first for several performers, among them American Love Story's Sarah Pigeon and The Testaments' Chase Infiniti.
The Pitt cast celebrates
Dearden, nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, called being part of the show "a once-in-a-lifetime experience" that has had "a profound impact on the lives of so many across both the healthcare and my own neurodivergent communities." First-time nominee Sepideh Moafi, up for the same category, said she could not "wrap my head around the magnitude of this moment" and noted she is the first Iranian actress and first from the SWANA/Middle East region nominated in it. Tal Anderson, nominated for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series, said she thought of "that little girl who wanted to be seen" upon hearing the news.
Drama series contenders react
Carrie Coon, nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama for The Gilded Age, said she was proud of a crew that "yielded eight nominations for The Gilded Age today, our most ever." Chase Infiniti, nominated for Lead Actress in a Drama for The Testaments, said she was honored to be nominated "alongside Carrie, Rhea, Zendaya, and Keri." Keri Russell, also nominated for Lead Actress for The Diplomat, is married to fellow nominee Matthew Rhys and said it was "an exciting day for our household." Rhys was nominated twice, for Widow's Bay and The Beast in Me, and joked the Television Academy had "generously chosen not to hold either against me," thanking showrunner Katie Dippold and director Hiro Murai, plus Claire Danes and his Beast in Me castmates.
Allison Janney, nominated again for Supporting Actress in a Drama for The Diplomat, said playing Grace Penn "continues to be one of the great privileges of my career." Mark Ruffalo, nominated for Lead Actor in a Drama for Task, praised co-star Tom Pelphrey's "richly deserved" supporting nomination and credited writer Brad Ingelsby; Pelphrey called himself "honored" and thanked HBO. Rhea Seehorn earned her first lead nomination for Pluribus and said the show's nod "belongs to 100's and 100's of people that put their blood sweat and tears into" it.
Comedy stars weigh in
Jean Smart, a seven-time Emmy winner nominated again for Lead Actress in a Comedy for Hacks, said "we saved the best for last this season." Co-star Hannah Einbinder, picking up her fifth nomination, thanked creators Paul W Downs, Jen Statsky and Lucia Aniello "for changing my life 6 years ago." Megan Stalter, also nominated for Hacks, said she was in "shock" but "really deserve[d] this." Lisa Kudrow, nominated for The Comeback, called it "a very big, very meaningful honor," while Brett Goldstein reacted to his Shrinking nomination with an expletive-laced celebration, adding he was "so proud" of his castmates. Fellow Shrinking nominees Jason Segel and Michael Urie also thanked their team, with Urie praising co-star Harrison Ford.
Tyler James Williams, nominated for Abbott Elementary, said playing Gregory "has meant so much to me." Nick Offerman and Michelle Pfeiffer were both nominated for Margo's Got Money Troubles, with Offerman crediting writers David Kelley and Eva Anderson, and Pfeiffer thanking her "Margo family." Yahya Abdul-Mateen, a first-time nominee for Wonder Man, called it "a gift" to portray a superhero for Marvel.
Documentary, reality and limited series nods
Mariska Hargitay, who is hosting Monday's ceremony, received three nominations for her documentary My Mom Jayne, about her late mother Jayne Mansfield. She said she was "profoundly grateful to have this moment with her" and thanked producer Trish Adlesic and cinematographer Tony Hardmon. Jeff Probst, nominated again for Survivor after 25 years and 50 seasons, said the recognition "means as much as ever." Carl Radke of Summer House told E! News its Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program nod reflected the whole cast and crew, "not just us."
Nikki Glaser was nominated for her special Good Girl, Charles Melton earned his first nomination for Beef and thanked creator Lee Sung Jin, and Richard Gadd praised co-star Jamie Bell after his Half Man nomination. Dakota Fanning was nominated for All Her Fault and, as an executive producer, for Margo's Got Money Troubles, saying she was "bursting with happiness" watching her sister Elle Fanning shine. Connor Storrie earned his first nomination for hosting Saturday Night Live, calling it "a 'pinch me' moment."
The 78th Emmy Awards air live from the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles on Monday, Sept. 14, starting at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC and streaming on Peacock, with E!'s red carpet coverage beginning at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.
