The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, the most prestigious honor in the television industry, unveiled its full list of nominations on Wednesday, with gritty Pittsburgh-set medical drama *The Pitt* and hit intergenerational comedy *Hacks* claiming the top two spots in total nods, capping a standout year for streaming platform HBO Max, home to both fan-favorite series.
*The Pitt*, the real-time medical thriller that blends the urgent hospital stakes of classic series *ER* with the ticking-clock tension of *24*, secured an impressive 25 total nominations, including a nod for Outstanding Drama Series. A follow-up to last year’s drama winner, the series follows overstretched emergency department staff through high-stakes 60-minute shifts, weaving searing commentary on divisive contemporary issues ranging from abortion access and immigration enforcement to gun violence and mass public shootings. After a low-key premiere, the show grew into a viral word-of-mouth sensation, earning widespread critical acclaim for its unflinching look at American healthcare. Lead star Noah Wyle, who first rose to global fame as a core cast member of the original *ER*, already claimed an Emmy for his role on the series and is once again in the running for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series this year.
Not far behind, the fifth and final season of *Hacks* locked in 24 nominations, including a spot in the Outstanding Comedy Series category. The beloved comedy follows legendary Las Vegas stand-up Deborah Vance, played by Jean Smart, as she rebuilds her career alongside her sharp, dysfunctional young millennial writer Ava Daniels, portrayed by Hannah Einbinder. Smart, a four-time Emmy winner for her portrayal of Vance, earned another lead acting nomination, while Einbinder – who took home her first Emmy for the role last year – also secured a repeat nod. The one-two nomination finish for *The Pitt* and *Hacks* marks a major victory for HBO Max, which has reemerged as a dominant force in prestige television this awards cycle.
The next most-nominated drama series is *Pluribus*, the highly anticipated post-apocalyptic thriller from Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan, which picked up 18 nominations for Apple TV+. Set in a world where an alien virus has transformed nearly all of humanity into a docile collective hive mind, the series follows the 13 remaining immune outliers fighting to hold onto their individual identities. Lead actress Rhea Seehorn, who already claimed a Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award for her role on the series earlier this year, is widely considered the early favorite to take home the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Rounding out the Outstanding Drama Series lineup are political thriller *The Diplomat* starring Keri Russell, acclaimed British spy series *Slow Horses*, and the *Game of Thrones* prequel *A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms*.
In the comedy category, *Hacks* faces stiff competition from breakout horror-comedy newcomer *Widow’s Bay*, which earned 19 nominations – the third-highest total across all categories this year – for Apple TV+. Starring Matthew Rhys as an eccentric small-town New England mayor working to boost tourism on a remote island locals believe is haunted, the freshman series has already made a major splash with audiences and critics. Other top contenders include Apple TV+’s therapist drama *Shrinking*, starring Jason Segel and Harrison Ford, and the third and final season of Chicago restaurant-set dark satire *The Bear*, which has claimed 21 Emmys over its run including two lead acting awards for Jeremy Allen White – though White notably missed out on a nomination this year.
In the limited and anthology series race, Netflix’s *Beef* topped the field with 16 nominations. For its second installment, the acclaimed anthology casts Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan as one half of a pair of couples locked in an explosive, toxic dynamic that unravels over the course of the season. Controversial limited series *Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr and Carolyn Bessette*, which revisited the couple’s public romance and tragic early deaths, generated massive audience attention and tabloid drama but only secured six total nominations.
The Emmy Awards gala is scheduled to take place on September 14 in Los Angeles, with long-time *Law and Order: SVU* star Mariska Hargitay set to host the ceremony, marking her first time leading the industry’s biggest night for television.