The useful part
all the crime generes were present at this year's Emmys Olivia Rutigliano September 16, 2026 Featured image credit: NBC via Variety Article continues after advertisement As long as we've had TV, we've had crime shows. Technically speaking, we even had "crime shows" before that: radio programs, film series, and of course serialized stories and novels. For seventy-eight years, the Television Academy has reflected this investment in its annual Emmy Awards.
How it works
- Her cold open was an homage to that show and character, doubling down on the crimey vibes reflected in the nominees.
- Pat Show Outstanding directing for a drama series Saul Metzstein, Slow Horses (Apple TV+) (Winner) Salli Richardson-Whitfield, The Gilded Age Hanelle M.
- Her other work appears in Vanity Fair, Vulture, Lapham's Quarterly, AirMail, the Los Angeles Review of Books, Public Books, The Baffler, Bright Wall/Dark Room, Politics/Letters, The Toast, Truly...
- This year, though, it felt to me like the crime genres were really present at the Emmys… not simply in the programs nominated, but also in the choice of host:
- For twenty-seven years, she has played Detective Olivia Benson on Law and Order: SVU.
What to take from it
Mariska Hargitay, one of the most familiar faces in all of crime TV. Here are the nominees for this years Emmy awards, with the crime series emphasized in bold, so you can catch up on them with ease. Louis (HBO) (Winner) All Her Fault (Peacock) The Beast In Me (Netflix) Beef (Netflix) Love Story:
Example or evidence
- Louis (HBO) (Winner) Dakota Fanning, All Her Fault (Peacock) Laurie Metcalf, Monster:
- & Carolyn Bessette Outstanding supporting actor in a limited or anthology series or movie David Harbour, DTF St.
- Company Retreat Outstanding writing for a drama series Vince Gilligan, Pluribus (Winner) Peter Ackerman, Debora Cahn, The Diplomat (Netflix) Kirsten Pierre-Geyfman, R.
- She is on instagram at @oldebean, twitter at @oldrutigliano, and bluesky at @oliviarutigliano.bsky.social.
Details worth keeping
& Carolyn Bessette Sarah Snook, All Her Fault (Peacock) Outstanding lead actor in a limited or anthology series or movie Matthew Rhys, The Beast In Me (Netflix) (Winner) Riz Ahmed, Bait Jason Bateman, Black Rabbit (Netflix) Charlie Hunnam, Monster: Louis (HBO) Youn Yuh-jung, Beef (Netflix) Constance Zimmer, Love Story: Louis (HBO) Richard Gadd, Half Man Richard Jenkins, DTF St.
Related coverage
- Localnews8: By David Mack, CNN (CNN) — When TV's biggest stars walk the red carpet at Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles for Monday's Emmy Awards, many of the frontrunners will have something in common.
- Nofilmschool: Television's biggest night has arrived!
- Vulture: Emmys — and the first weekend of festivities already answered the great Widow's Bay vs. Hacks debate.
- Variety: "Law & Order: SVU" star Mariska Hargitay is hosting the TV industry's biggest night as the Emmy Awards are underway Monday evening.
- Nytimes: There was plenty of history in Monday's telecast, hosted by Mariska Hargitay, and also plenty of cringe.