This Sunday, ABC will broadcast the 76th Emmy® Awards live at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT (streaming next day on Hulu), celebrating the work of performers, producers, writers, directors, craftspeople, and others in the television industry. Hosted by Eugene Levy and Dan Levy, this year’s telecast will be produced by Emmy Award winners Jesse Collins and Dionne Harmon and Emmy nominee Jeannae Rouzan-Clay of Jesse Collins Entertainment. In an exclusive Q&A, Rob Mills, Executive Vice President, Unscripted and Alternative Entertainment, Walt Disney Television, teases what they have in store for this year’s show.
What makes ABC and Hulu the perfect home for this year’s Emmy Awards—particularly since The Walt Disney Company received a record-breaking 183 nominations this year?
I think for a company that just turned 100 and was built on creativity, there is no better home to celebrate the very best in television than ABC and Hulu! As proven by the record number of nominations, we have a huge hand in that, and now we need to make a show that is as entertaining, funny, and as heartwarming as all our amazing programs being highlighted on Sunday!
Some of The Walt Disney Company’s nominated series include Shōgun, The Bear, Only Murders in the Building, Fargo, and Abbott Elementary, among others. How will you creatively utilize popular programs such as those throughout this year’s ceremony?
I think some of that will come organically when—knock on wood—these shows and creators win and we are reminded why we love them through the speeches. We are also fortunate to have some of the talent behind these shows presenting, and I’m sure Eugene and Dan will have fun with these shows throughout the night.
What inspired you to ask Eugene and Dan to co-host the 76th Emmys?
They said yes! Additionally, there has never been a father and son to host the Emmys, so that is really exciting. They also won every award for Schitt’s Creek four years ago when we had a virtual Emmy presentation, and this feels a bit like an in-person victory lap, which is fun.
What element of this year’s ceremony most excites you?
We have an incredible artist performing for In Memoriam that will be like nothing you’ve seen in this type of awards show before. You will tear up, for sure.
What do you think makes for a good show? Come Monday morning, will you measure the Emmys’ success by its ratings, the hosts, the wins, the upsets—or something else?
I think long after the ratings are remembered, it will be the sentiment for the show. Did people like the hosts? The winners? Were the speeches heartfelt and memorable? If we can answer yes to those questions, I will view the show as a good one.