Television’s biggest night unfolded Monday as the industry’s leading performers and creators gathered to recognize another year of work on the small screen. 

The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, presented at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, recognized television’s leading programs and performances across comedy, drama and limited series categories – with “Widow’s Bay” emerging as the night’s leading winner with 14 wins, including Best Comedy Series. Speeches from Michael J. Fox and Sally Field also stood out in the three-hour ceremony hosted by UCLA alumnus and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” star Mariska Hargitay.  

“I am so incredibly proud to be the first woman to host the Emmys in 15 years,” Hargitay said in her opening monologue. “It’s a lot of pressure. But it is so reassuring to see so many familiar faces out there, and I’m just talking about how many of you I’ve arrested on SVU.” 

“The Pitt” took the night’s top honor for Outstanding Drama Series, which led all nominees with 25 nods. 

The evening marked the first-time Emmy win for Rhea Seehorn, who took home Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Carol Sturka in “Pluribus.” While the music started playing as she rounded out her speech, she gave a nod to feminist journalist Gloria Steinem, who died Sept. 2. 

“Quoting Gloria Steinem, saying, ‘We are linked, not ranked.’” Seehorn said. “I feel that way about all you women.” 

Noah Wyle accepted the award for Outstanding Actor in A Drama Series for his performance in “The Pitt,” while Tom Pelphrey received the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for “Task.” 

Allison Janney won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, which was presented by Alan Cumming and Emmy Rossum. 

For comedy, Jean Smart took home the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series to secure her eighth Emmy win and her fifth consecutive win for her performance as Deborah Vance in “Hacks.” 

“Just the men stay standing,” Smart said, joking to the applauding audience. “The girls get to sit down.” 

“Widow’s Bay” won Outstanding Comedy Series in its Emmy debut. 

The award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series went to Matthew Rhys for “Widow’s Bay,” which was his first Emmy win. 

The success of “Widow’s Bay” at the ceremony seemed forecasted from the first award of Monday’s ceremony. After appearing in a brief video with NBA Champion Jalen Brunson, a song and an opening monologue – including a playful quip with Nicole Kidman –  Haritay introduced Amy Poehler, who presented Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series to Kate O’Flynn for her role in the Apple TV series. Stephen Root also won Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance in the show and walked away with his first Emmy.  

“Widow’s Bay” also received awards for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series and Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series. Hiro Murai, who directed the horror comedy, made history as the first winner of Asian descent to win in the directing a comedy series. 

The limited series categories included notable victories, with “DTF St. Louis” winning Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series. Rhys won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for “The Beast in Me,” making Emmy Awards history with two lead actor awards in the same year. 

Sally Field was awarded Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for “Remarkably Bright Creatures.”

“We’re the arts,” Field said. “Our voices matter. Our diversity, our unique storytelling matters. We can’t let those voices be silent or compromise or burn.” 

Beyond the major categories, the ceremony featured skits from Hargitay, one of which was prerecorded and featured Taylor Swift in a mock-detective bit based on the “Shake It Off” singer’s love for SVU. The UCLA alumnus in the comedy bit made a subtle reference to one of Swift’s cats named after her SVU character.

Michael J. Fox received one of the largest ovations of the night when he took the stage to accept the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award for his commitment to Parkinson’s disease research and advocacy. 

Field returned to the stage later in the evening in a tribute to her late “Steel Magnolias” co-star Dolly Parton. Reba McEntire delivered a soulful performance of the Queen of Country’s “Appalachian Memories.” Later, Noah Kahan played “Bridge Over Troubled Water” for the ceremony’s “In Memoriam.” Jamie Lee Curtis appeared on stage to reflect on the work of Rob Reiner. Reiner, a UCLA alumnus, posthumously won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in “The Bear,” setting a record-shattering 48-year gap between acting wins. 

Throughout the evening, many of television’s biggest stars spoke of what LA meant to them. Wyle referred to himself as a “Hollywood kid” who grew up in LA and aspired to act. Hargitay also looked back on her first job working at West Hollywood’s Book Soup. 

“I had high hopes that this would be a beautiful night, but I just never knew that it could feel this incredibly meaningful and joyful to celebrate with all of you,” Hargitay said, closing out the evening.