Mariska Hargitay owned Emmys night

Law & Order took over the 78th Emmys, and the ads arrived before the first award did.

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Sep 15, 2026

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Mariska Hargitay owned Emmys night

Law & Order took over the 78th Emmys, and the ads arrived before the first award did.

In brief

Law & Order took over the 78th Emmys, and the ads arrived before the first award did. Live awards shows are now brand real estate, and the Emmys themselves may be the next thing sold to streaming. Originally reported by Adweek.

Law & Order took the Emmys

Law & Order took the Emmys

NBC and Peacock made Mariska Hargitay the first female host in 15 years, and she turned the 78th Primetime Emmys into a tour of her own career.

“It was all Law & Order at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday.”

Brands showed up in the opening number

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United Airlines got a hero shot of a plane while Hargitay raced to the stage, and she prepped for the show in a Marriott robe across multiple scenes.

Why integrations keep winning

Live events are one of the last places advertisers can buy attention at scale, so brands are paying to be written into the cultural moment instead of interrupting it.

A serious actor let loose

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Hargitay stumbled over the word finale, joked that 27 seasons of SVU still haven't had one, pulled in Taylor Swift for a sketch, and sang with Andrew Rannells.

“Hargitay closed the case on any concerns quickly.”

Apple TV is the new HBO

Apple TV is the new HBO

Widow's Bay won 14 Emmys, a season record for a comedy, and Pluribus took six. Apple TV landed 89 nominations across 15 programs.

The Emmys may leave broadcast

The ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox rotation just ended. Networks paid about $8.25 million a year, and streamers could pay more while offering global reach and no affiliate ad breaks.

“But if future shows don't include Hargitay, that's a crime we consider especially heinous.”

The one thing

Live awards shows are now brand real estate, and the Emmys themselves may be the next thing sold to streaming.

Read the original on Adweek

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