Actress Mariska Hargitay, longtime star of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” will host the 78th Emmy Awards, NBC announced Tuesday.
“Bringing important stories into the light has been the heartbeat of my career,” Hargitay said in a statement released by the network, which will broadcast the Sept. 14 awards show. “It’s my great honor to host the 78th Emmy Awards — in the 100th birthday year of my beloved NBC — and celebrate this extraordinary community of storytellers.
“Whether it’s an actor or a director, a costumer or a sound designer, we are all so privileged to take part in creating television that unites us,” Hargitay said. “Regardless of how, where or when we watch, we are together in our laughter, our tears, our love of stories — and our delighted anticipation to see what happens next.”
The awards show will be held at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles. Nominations for the 78th Emmy Awards will be announced Wednesday morning.
The Creative Arts Emmy Awards, during which the bulk of the awards are presented, are scheduled for Sept. 5-6.
“Mariska has earned her place among television’s true icons,” Jen Neal, NBC executive vice president for Live Events & Specials, said in a statement. “Few performers have left the kind of mark on television that Mariska has. For 27 seasons, she has brought strength, compassion and humanity to one of the most beloved characters on TV. As NBC celebrates 100 years of unforgettable storytelling, we can’t think of anyone more fitting to help celebrate the incredible legacy of television.”