Mariska Hargitay Opens 78th Emmy Awards with Star-Studded Musical Parody
Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay launched the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday with a high-energy musical opening that parodied Joan Jett & the Blackhearts’ classic anthem “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll.” The reimagined number, titled “I Love TV Screens,” featured a parade of celebrity cameos that set a celebratory tone for television’s biggest night.
A-List Cameos Steal the Show
The pre-taped segment showcased Hargitay’s comedic range alongside some of the year’s most nominated talent. Hacks lead and multiple Emmy winner Jean Smart made a brief appearance, while NBA All-Star Jalen Brunson represented the New York Knicks in a crossover moment bridging sports and prestige television.
Perhaps the most talked-about cameo belonged to Jennifer Coolidge, the White Lotus scene-stealer who entered the frame wielding a boba tea — a prop choice that instantly sparked social media reaction and cemented the moment as a highlight of the ceremony’s opening minutes.
Complete Emmys 2026 Winners Coverage
For viewers looking to track every trophy handed out during the ceremony, Mashable has compiled a comprehensive, updating list of Emmys 2026 winners across all categories, from Outstanding Drama Series to the Creative Arts honors announced prior to the telecast.
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Sydney Sweeney’s try to defend her controversial American Eagle advert hasn’t gone down nicely with Aimee Lou Wooden.
The Euphoria star lastly addressed the criticism she obtained for the denims promo earlier this week, however her long-awaited clarification seems to have prompted much more bother.
In addition to receiving some flak from followers, fellow actress and The White Lotus star Wooden, 31, has hit out at Sweeney for her lack of sensitivity in the direction of the problem.
In July, Sweeney discovered herself on the centre of a scandal after starring in an American Eagle advert with the slogan, ‘Sydney Sweeney has nice denims’.
“Genes are handed down from mother and father to offspring, usually figuring out traits like hair color, persona and even eye color,” the 28-year-old says. “My denims are blue.”
Though the play on phrases wasn’t misplaced on folks, plenty of of us thought that this teetered into harmful territory – and Sweeney was extensively accused of utilizing eugenicist language within the commercial.
Sydney Sweeney’s response did not minimize it within the eyes of Aimee Lou Wooden (American Eagle)
Discussing the backlash she obtained, The Handmaid’s Story star mentioned she was ‘stunned’ by the controversy her denims advert prompted – though she admitted she ‘did not see plenty of it’ as she was busy filming Euphoria.
“I did a jean advert,” Sweeney told GQ. “I imply, the response undoubtedly was a shock, however I like denims.”
A snippet of this interview was shared on Instagram on Wednesday (5 October) by movie star photographer, social activist and Oscar-nominated filmmaker, Misan Harriman.
He informed Sweeney that her response to the American Eagle controversy had fully missed the mark, as he captioned he submit: “Presuming that you’re not a white supremacist, not less than say how horrified you have been by how this marketing campaign was amplified and celebrated by unrepentant racists who consider in eugenics.
“Not less than recognise the hurt your denims marketing campaign has prompted black people, the undertone of the marketing campaign is that your genetics are superior to others, the play on phrases is evident as day and racists LOVED it!
“So, presuming you didn’t know while you shot it, you actually do now, and it issues. This ain’t it!”
Harriman’s add shortly attracted hundreds of feedback, together with one from Stockport-born Intercourse Schooling star Wooden.
Merely sharing an emoji of a nauseated face, it appears secure to presume that the actress was left fairly sickened by Sweeney’s newest feedback.
It did not take folks lengthy to note Wooden’s remark, which has since gone viral in its personal proper.
The Brit star shared an emoji of a nauseated face beneath the submit (Instagram)
Sharing their ideas on the infighting between the man The White Lotus forged members, one social media person mentioned: “Aimee is all the time on the best aspect of historical past!”
One other wrote: “Do you realise how backside of the barrel and straight up vile your behaviour must be for certainly one of your individual friends to truly take day out of their day to remark a nasty emoji on a video that isn’t even yours?”
A 3rd added: “You’re an actual one, Aimee Lou Wooden!”
And a fourth wrote: “Good for Aimee. Sydney appears to get pleasure from trolling.”
Aimee Lou Wooden was not left laughing over a Saturday Night time Stay (SNL) sketch that mocked her tooth.
The Intercourse Schooling star has had a string of spectacular roles over current years, having wowed in each Poisonous City and The White Lotus this yr up to now already.
However but a complete load of the discuss has been about Wooden’s gnashers and she or he just lately admitted to GQ journal that it was making her ‘a bit unhappy as a result of I’m not getting to speak about my work’.
And whereas it made her ‘blissful that it’s symbolising riot and freedom’, the 31-year-old identified that ‘there’s a restrict’.
SNL appears to have pushed that although, as a skit on Saturday (12 April) noticed Donald Trump and his staff spending time on the fictional White Lotus lodge.
The characters from the hit HBO sequence have been spoofed because the US president’s high staff, as episode host Jon Hamm did Robert F. Kennedy Jr as Walter Goggins’ character Rick.
He was joined by Sarah Sherman as Wooden’s character Chelsea.
She solely had a number of strains, however used a pronounced accent and wore a set of faux tooth to magnify what the Manchester-born actor refers to as her ‘large hole tooth’.
At one level, Sherman mentioned through the sketch: “Fluoride, what’s that? Oh look, a monkey!”
Sarah Sherman because the spoof of Aimee Lou Wooden’s Chelsea (NBC)
Reacting to the sketch on Sunday, Wooden took to Instagram Tales to say: “However while in sincere temper – I did discover the SNL factor imply and unfunny xo.”
The star mentioned that she was ‘not skinny skinned’ and understood that the US stay sketch comedy present was about ‘caricature’.
“However the entire joke was about fluoride,” she wrote. “I’ve large hole tooth not dangerous tooth.”
“The remainder of the skit was punching up,” Wooden added, “and I/Chelsea was the one one punched down on.”
After her preliminary publish, she mentioned many individuals had reached out to her in settlement that it was in dangerous style as she mentioned she’s glad she spoke up about it.
It is fairly uncommon that SNL hand out apologies (Instagram/@aimeelouwood)
“Such a disgrace [because] I had a good time watching it a pair weeks in the past,” Wooden continued. “Sure, take the piss for certain — that’s what the present is about — however there have to be a cleverer, extra nuanced, much less low cost approach?”
Becoming a member of in with the jokes although, she added a slam on Sherman’s accent as she mentioned: “I respect accuracy even when it’s imply.”
About an hour or so after the posts, Wooden posted once more to say she’d ‘had apologies from SNL’.
Aimee Lou Wooden has reacted to individuals’s feedback about her enamel after explaining she was bullied over her seems to be as a child.
The White Lotus actress just lately starred in Poisonous City, however many people have been first launched to Wooden when she took on the position of Aimee Gibbs in Intercourse Training.
This week, Wooden appeared on The Jonathan Ross Present the place she spoke about her latest TV roles and the way a lot of a speaking level her enamel had turn into, particularly in latest weeks.
“I can not imagine the impression my enamel are having,” Wooden instructed Jonathan Ross and Stephen Fry.
“The People cannot imagine… they’re all being pretty, however these movies come up on my Instagram of those orthodontists analysing my enamel… they dissect my enamel and say what’s flawed with them, however on the finish they are saying ‘however we do not assume she ought to change a factor’.
Wooden has responded to feedback about her enamel (HBO)
“And it is so pretty, an actual full circle second after being bullied for my enamel perpetually.”
Wooden even defined individuals had assumed she was sporting pretend enamel numerous occasions throughout her profession.
Followers have just lately defended the 31-year-old after some social media customers made merciless feedback about her enamel on-line.
One particular person wrote on X: “If Aimee Lou Wooden ever modifications her enamel in any means I am going to have a public breakdown the likes of which this nation has by no means seen.”
Whereas one other stated: “I actually love Aimee Lou Wooden’s enamel. They match her completely.”
And a 3rd added: “It doesn’t actually matter what I or anyone however her take into consideration them however I believe Aimee Lou Wooden’s enamel are soo cute.”
In the meantime, a fourth stated: “I believe it’s refreshing & pretty to see a (GREAT!) actress not afraid to embrace the sweetness they have been born with, not feeling the necessity to appropriate each slight imperfection resulting from desirous to observe everybody else…”
Wooden stars in The White Lotus as Chelsea (Steve Granitz/FilmMagic)
Talking concerning the distinction between her and her White Lotus co-stars, Wooden toldThe Hollywood Reporter final month: “These individuals dwell in Hollywooden. I dwell in my little flat in South East London.
“I’m so British in my sensibility that I wasn’t certain tips on how to deal with being round so many people who find themselves so front-footed and assured. All I ever do is take the piss out of myself.”
She added: “Even the way in which [White Lotus fans] are speaking about me and my enamel – that I don’t have veneers or Botox – it feels a bit rebellious.”
