Emmys Cut the Live Telecast to 19 Awards

The 78th Emmy Awards will present 19 categories during Monday night’s live broadcast, down from 25 on last year’s telecast. The change is designed to fit the ceremony into a three-hour window, but it has also renewed a debate over which television crafts and performers receive prime-time recognition.

More awards move to Creative Arts ceremonies

The Television Academy moved five categories out of the main broadcast and into the Creative Arts Emmy events held September 5 and 6. Those categories covered writing for a variety series; supporting actor and supporting actress in a limited series or movie; directing for a limited series or movie; and writing for a limited series or movie.

The Academy also combined Outstanding Talk Series and Outstanding Scripted Variety Series into one category, Outstanding Variety Series. That consolidated award remains part of the September 14 telecast.

In explaining the format, the Academy said the range of work recognized by the Emmys has expanded while the live show still has limited time. The goal, it said, is to keep the NBC ceremony focused for television viewers. The Directors Guild of America, Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA responded jointly, arguing that removing the categories from prime time reduces recognition for the artists behind television.

What viewers will see Monday night

Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay will host the ceremony live on NBC and Peacock at 8 p.m. Eastern and 5 p.m. Pacific. The 19 televised awards still include the top comedy and drama series prizes, along with major acting categories.

The program arrives after an expanded two-night Creative Arts event that recognized casting, guest performers, game shows, documentaries and production crafts. Hargitay won two awards there for her documentary My Mom Jayne, while the late Rob Reiner received a posthumous guest-acting Emmy for The Bear.

Monday’s In Memoriam segment will feature Noah Kahan performing “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” Announced presenters include Sally Field, Jon Hamm, Keke Palmer, Amy Poehler, Florence Pugh and Zendaya.

The shorter competitive lineup may help the telecast move faster, but the controversy highlights a persistent awards-show challenge: balancing a broad industry celebration with the practical limits of a live network broadcast.