Early Emmys ceremony could bring many trophies for 'The Pitt,' 'Hacks' and 'Pluribus'

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Top nominees “The Pitt,” “Hacks,” “Pluribus” and “Widow’s Bay” will have chances to stock up on Emmys Sunday at an early ceremony eight days before the main awards show and telecast.

The Television Academy hands out well over 100 primetime Emmys, and the vast majority of them are being presented this weekend in a pair of ceremonies at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. They were previously known as the Creative Arts Emmys but have now been rebranded as simply the first two nights of the 78th Emmy Awards.

The two nights will be edited together to air Sept. 12 on FXX and stream on Hulu the following day. The primetime Sept. 14 ceremony, also at the Peacock Theater and hosted by Mariska Hargitay, will air live on NBC and stream live on Peacock.

“The Pitt,” HBO Max's day-in-the-life medical series, won best drama for its first season and is this year's top overall nominee with 25. It could win as many as nine on Sunday. “Hacks,” also from HBO Max, got a record-tying 24 comedy nominations for its fifth and final season and could win as many as a dozen Sunday.

Most of the awards presented this weekend are for behind-the-scenes crew, but big names may also have big moments, especially in the guest acting categories.

Rob Reiner, who was killed along with his wife Michele Singer Reiner in December, could win a posthumous Emmy. He was nominated for guest actor in a comedy for “The Bear,” about 50 years after winning two Emmy Awards for his acting on “All in the Family.”

Five-time Emmy winner Michael J. Fox is also nominated in the same category for playing a patient on “Shrinking” who has Parkinson’s disease, which the actor was diagnosed with in the 1990s.

The evening's star power will be increased by the academy moving five categories from the Sept. 14 telecast to Sunday. They include best supporting actor and actress in a limited series, categories whose nominees include Jason Bateman, Charles Melton, Dakota Fanning and Laurie Metcalf.

“The Pitt” dominated the drama acting nominations, and has two performers up for best guest actor in a drama along with three up best guest actress. They include Tal Anderson, an autistic actor who has been an advocate for neurodivergent performers and portrayals. She got her first Emmy nomination for playing Becca King, the younger sister of Taylor Dearden’s Dr. Mel King.

Dearden, one of four women from “The Pitt” nominated for best supporting actress this year, will be among the presenters Sunday as will Noah Wyle, the star of “The Pitt” who is nominated for four Emmys at the main ceremony.

Five of the seven nominees for best guest actress in a comedy come from “Hacks,” including Leslie Bibb and Metcalf, who could take home two Emmys.

A pair of rookie series from Apple TV could make major marks on the Emmys with a head start Sunday. The horror comedy “Widow's Bay” could win as many as 10 this weekend. And “Pluribus,” the one-woman-against-the-hivemind drama from “Breaking Bad” creator Vince Gilligan, which stars best actress favorite Rhee Seahorn, could also win 10 at the early ceremony.

“Pluribus” acting nominees Karolina Wydra and Jeff Hiller are also among Sunday's presenters.

Saturday's first day of the Emmys saw awards presented to unscripted series, variety shows and specials shows and variety specials, while Sunday's show focuses on dramas, comedies and limited series.

Linda Cardellini, left, and David Harbour pose in the press room with the awards for outstanding supporting actress in a limited or anthology series or movie and outstanding supporting actor in a limited or anthology series or movie for "DTF St. Louis" during night two of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Linda Cardellini, left, and David Harbour pose in the press room with the awards for outstanding supporting actress in a limited or anthology series or movie and outstanding supporting actor in a limited or anthology series or movie for "DTF St. Louis" during night two of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Betty Gilpin poses in the press room with the award for outstanding guest actress in a comedy series for "Widow's Bay" during night two of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Betty Gilpin poses in the press room with the award for outstanding guest actress in a comedy series for "Widow's Bay" during night two of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Shailene Woodley poses in the press room with the award for outstanding guest actress in a drama series for "Paradise" during night two of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) CORRECTS "COMEDY" to "DRAMA"

Shailene Woodley poses in the press room with the award for outstanding guest actress in a drama series for "Paradise" during night two of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) CORRECTS "COMEDY" to "DRAMA"

The team from "Margo's Got Money Troubles" poses in the press room with the award for outstanding contemporary makeup (non-prosthetic) during night two of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Shailene Woodley poses in the press room with the award for outstanding guest actress in a comedy series for "Paradise" during night two of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Shailene Woodley poses in the press room with the award for outstanding guest actress in a comedy series for "Paradise" during night two of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Ernest Harden Jr. poses in the press room with the award for outstanding guest actor in a drama series for "The Pitt" during night two of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Ben Archard poses in the press room with the award for outstanding directing for a reality program for "The Traitors" during night one of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Mariska Hargitay poses in the press room with the awards for outstanding documentary or nonfiction special and outstanding directing for a documentary/nonfiction program for "My Mom Jayne" during night one of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR THE TELEVISION ACADEMY - EXCLUSIVE - Seth Rogen from "The Muppet Show" accepts the Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) during night one of the Television Academy's 78th Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theater at L.A. LIVE on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Phil McCarten/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Content Services)

Miguel Gandelman poses in the press room with the award for outstanding music direction for "The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny" during night one of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

FILE - The main stage is shown during the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Sept. 18, 2016. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Jose Mourinho can go from abrasive to charming in public appearances.

The veteran Portuguese coach chose to be at his gracious best on Saturday when journalists pressed him to give hints of his game plan a day before Real Madrid's visit to Barcelona in the clasico.

“You can ask me another question,” Mourinho told reporters in Spain's capital, “but my plans for the game — who is going to play, what formation we are going to use, what style of play we’ll try to impose — I am not going to answer those questions.”

And when a journalist tried one last time by asking Mourinho if he thought Barcelona’s defense was its “weak point,” the coach praised him for making the effort, even if it was in vain.

“You are smart, but I am not stupid,” Mourinho responded, and earned a huge laugh from the press room.

Over his long and successful career Mourinho has generally preferred sides that look first to defend well and then strike on the break. So few doubt he will vary from that strategy on Sunday against a Barcelona that has a superior midfield and wants to hold possession.

Yet there remain questions about his lineup, especially regarding where he will play playmaker Arda Guler and Federico Valverde, who can play either in midfield or right back.

Mourinho started a second stint with Madrid this season and can expect a hostile welcome from Barcelona’s fans.

In his first period at Madrid from 2010-13, he took the rivalry between Spain’s biggest clubs to new heights thanks to his team’s tough tactics and his own verbal jousting with counterpart Pep Guardiola.

But Mourinho downplayed the expected fan reaction on his return.

“It’s just like going to any other stadium,” he said. “It’s not the same to play against a high-quality team as it is to play against a less strong one, but it’s no big deal.”

Barcelona leads La Liga with Madrid six points behind in third place, but it is looking to bounce back from its 4-2 loss at Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League midweek.

Hansi Flick's side won its previous 11 games this season.

“We’ve analysed the game. We did some things very well, but there are other areas where we need to improve," Flick said on Saturday about the PSG stumble. "Tomorrow is a great opportunity to do that and show how we want to play.”

Flick said Barcelona was almost at full strength but will be missing right back Jules Koundé along with injured midfielder Dani Olmo.

Koundé’s absence removes any doubt that Xavi Espart will start at right back and face off with another 19-year-old in Madrid’s Yan Diomande.

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Real Madrid's head coach Jose Mourinho gestures during a Champions League opening phase soccer match between Roma and Real Madrid, in Rome, Wednesday, Oct.14, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Real Madrid's head coach Jose Mourinho sits on the bench before the La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Sevilla in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Real Madrid's head coach Jose Mourinho sits on the bench before the La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Sevilla in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)