TV’s biggest nightwas just as thrilling behind the scenes.
Page Six was at the 2026 Emmy Awards, hosted by Mariska Hargitay, and caught many backstage moments, from sweet celebrity interactions to comments from the winners in the press room.
“The Pitt” star Noah Wyle whistled at his wife, Sara Wells, as she took pictures by herself backstage, before he embraced and kissed her.
Wyle, 55, went on to claim his second consecutive trophy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series — and was cheered on by fellow winner Allison Janney, who waited a moment to come out on stage in the press room as she watched Wyle’s big moment on the TV screen.
Later in the night, Wyle teased what’s to come on “The Pitt” Season 3 when the full cast and crew arrived in the press room after winning Outstanding Drama Series for the second year in a row.
“I can tell you that we’re gonna be back at work tomorrow morning hitting it hard with a very dramatic storyline,” he shared. “We are midway through our season. Midway through episode eight of 15. The episodes are turning out great.”
Wyle continued, “I watched episodes four and five today. They’re both wonderful. I think you’re gonna be in for a really great season.”
Katherine LaNasa, who plays Nurse Dana, lost the Supporting Actress Drama category this year to Janney.
Her husband, fellow actor Grant Show, was telling people upon arrival at the Emmys that he was nervous for LaNasa, 59, and really wanted her to win.
When Kate O’Flynn was in the press room, the “Widow’s Bay” actress admitted she was “completely gobsmacked” over her Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series victory.
The rest of the “Widow’s Bay” cast and crew entered the press room later in the night, after winning Outstanding Comedy Series, and lead star Matthew Rhys revealed where the group plans to put their 14 total Emmys.
“Kate Dippold, on the first day of filming, said, ‘If we don’t win enough Emmys to sink a f—ing ship’…. and that’s what she said,” Rhys, 51, joked.
Rhys forgot to thank partner Kerri Russell, who was also nominated for an Emmy for “The Diplomat,” in both of his winning speeches, which he acknowledged in a backstage E! News interview.
“She goes, ‘If you win both, I’m not coming home with you.’ Okay, fair enough,” he joked. When asked if that meant he was “free” for the night, Rhys replied, “I don’t know if I’m free. Lonely, maybe.”
Co-star Stephen Root, who won his own Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, was seen backstage walking around by himself holding his award with his head down and glasses on, acting calm and cool.
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Stephen Colbert, meanwhile, entered the ballroom to a throng of screams after “The Late Show” — which ended in May— received the Outstanding Variety Series Emmy. It won five other awards at the Creative Arts Emmys already.
The comedian held up his Emmys and stood by the table to get them engraved. The room went wild for the comedian as he danced around with his awards, one in each hand.
In the press room, Colbert, 62, celebrated the show’s multiple Emmys wins, and gushed over his crew “who work so hard at the highest possible level.”
“Keep in mind, they’re doing between 200 and 160 shows a year, at that incredibly high level,” he said. “It says to me that I’m not the only one who knows how brilliant this staff is. So to me, that is the most gratifying thing about this past year and the recognition the show got.”
After “The Traitors” won Oustanding Reality Competition Program, Page Six directly asked host Alan Cumming in the press room about Season 2 stars Phaedra Parks and CT Tamburello’s romance.
“Well, you know, I said in my speech, I think it’s really lovely that we bring people together,” said Cumming, 61. “Audiences watch the show together. I think Phaedra and CT being together is charming, hilarious and beautiful.”
“I hope they’ll be very happy. And Phaedra will be able to say sweet baby Jesus more often,” Cumming quipped.
The Dolly Parton tribute was just as poignant backstage. When it came on, everyone stopped to find a TV nearby to watch, including Tiffany Haddish, who was doing something for Raising Cane’s when she paused and looked somber while watching Reba McEntire’s performance.
Sally Field spoke in the press room about being involved in the tribute to her late “Steel Magnolias” co-star.
“As an actor, you spend a whole lot of time trying to make yourself cry,” she said. “And I was trying to make myself not cry. It was hard.”
The “Remarkably Bright Creatures” star also called Parton “her friend” and said she “admired” the country music legend.
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