HBO Max leads Emmy nominations with 122 nods as 'The Pitt' and 'Hacks' top drama and comedy

A record-breaking morning

On Wednesday, the Television Academy announced the nominees for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards. HBO Max led all platforms with 122 total nominations, extending its long run as awards season favorite. Medical drama "The Pitt" topped the drama field with 25 nods, while departing comedy "Hacks" set a comedy-series record with 24. The show surpassed the previous record jointly held by "The Studio" (2025) and "The Bear" (2024). Noah Wyle earned nominations for acting, directing and producing on "The Pitt," and "Hacks" co-creator Paul W. Downs received nods for acting, writing and producing.

It’s a reminder every year that none of us know anything. It’s nice to be surprised when shows we thought wouldn’t be there are — it reminds us there’s a lot of terrific work across the board.

Platform power balance

Netflix finished second with 111 nominations, followed by Apple TV+ with a company-record 87. Apple’s total was buoyed by freshman drama "Pluribus" (18) and the dark-horse comedy "Widow’s Bay" (19). Combined, Amazon’s Prime Video and MGM+ earned 39 nods, and ABC led the broadcast networks with 40. Despite Apple’s relatively small viewership share (below 1% of total TV use, per Nielsen), its awards bench has deepened dramatically. At HBO, chief Casey Bloys expressed pride in the team’s performance across categories, even as the platform’s buzziest show, "Heated Rivalry," was ineligible because the series is Canadian. Bloys also acknowledged uncertainty over the company’s future ownership: Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns HBO, could be acquired by David Ellison’s Paramount by the time next year’s Emmys roll around.

Notable snubs and a diversity dip

Emmy morning also brought high-profile omissions. HBO’s "I Love LA" was shut out entirely across 18 submitted categories, while "Task" missed a best drama nomination despite acting, writing and directing nods. Netflix’s "Stranger Things" failed to land in any major race for its final season, earning only craft nominations. Variety reported that diversity among acting nominees fell 20% compared with the previous year.

Looking ahead to September

The Creative Arts Emmy ceremonies are set for Sept. 5 and 6, with the main telecast hosted by Mariska Hargitay on NBC on Sept. 14. "Hacks" star Jean Smart is widely expected to claim her fifth consecutive lead comedy actress trophy, and "The Pitt" could build on last year’s best-drama victory. Other notable nominees include a posthumous guest acting nod for Rob Reiner on "The Bear," Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show, and Taylor Swift’s "The Eras Tour - The Final Show" concert special.