John Mulaney’s 2026 Emmys appearance went down a storm with viewers amid an otherwise lackluster ceremony.
Mulaney, 44, appeared to present the Lead Actor in a Drama Series category during Monday night’s ceremony. In doing so, he made several jokes in rapid succession, drawing hearty laughs from the crowd, and even garnering the broadcast’s first bleeped-out phrase. The comedian’s appearance lasted longer than several of the speeches so far during the ceremony.
Now, fans are all calling for Mulaney to serve as next year’s host — or to lead any awards show.
“Ok we really gotta get John Mulaney to host some of these awards shows. That was fantastic,” one person wrote on X while another agreed, “John Mulaney needs to host everything.”
“Oh my god why didn’t they just get John Mulaney to host the Emmys??” someone else wrote as another said, “Gotta get John Mulaney hosting one of these things.”
Ok we really gotta get John Mulaney to host some of these awards shows. That was fantastic
— Jason Jordan (@jjordan28) September 15, 2026
“john mulaney shows up to these f***ing awards shows and every time, WITHOUT FAIL, demonstrates why he should just be hosting every single one of these. it's so refreshing and infuriating at the same time because WHY ARE THEY NOT HIRING HIM TO HOST,” another lamented.
“I need John Mulaney to stay as host for the rest of the ceremony. Don't let that other lady come back, please,” someone else said while another fan agreed, “Just keep John Mulaney on stage tonight.”
It comes as viewers decried this year’s show — hosted by Law & Order star Mariska Hargitay — as “boring” online.
The 62-year-old, who has starred on the hit procedural for 27 years, pretended not to know the word “finale,” given that she’s never had one. She also poked fun at Law & Order creator Dick Wolf, joking that wisecracks about his name are unfair as his real name is “Richard Penis.”
She also spoofed Nicole Kidman’s famous advertisement for AMC cinemas, only to be interrupted by Kidman herself. “Zip it movie lady,” Hargitay told her. “It’s TV’s turn tonight.”
Hargitay’s brief monologue came after an extended, extravagant musical sequence during which she sang “I love TV screens” to the tune of Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock ‘n Roll.”
The actor, who is hosting the Emmys for the first time, pointed out that she is the first female host for 15 years. She has been widely praised on social media, with one user writing: “Mariska Hargitay should host everything forever” and another adding: “Yes Mariska is killing it! I love this! I knew she would!!!”
Others, as seen on X, preferred Mulaney’s minutes-long stint.
Emmys 2026 winners: Full list of winners from The Pitt to Widow’s Bay and more
Mariska Hargitay tells Nicole Kidman to ‘zip it’ during cheeky Emmys monologue
Matthew Rhys makes history in a ceremony that forgot how to entertain
Kaley Cuoco says death of co-star was ‘one of the worst days’ of her life
Strictly’s Johannes Radebe on the moment he ‘crumbled’ live on show
SNL star mocks Sydney Sweeney’s controversial naked ad in brutal parody
