And if you’re going to strike out on your own, you might as well go all the way, as the woman who’s made a legendary career out of grimly hunting down literally the worst characters in TV history then launched into a full-on musical number. Set to the bold karaoke staple of Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock And Roll,” Hargitay’s “I Love TV Screens” saw Hargitay belting a series of shout-outs to various award nominees and TV favorites, from Quinta (the other) Brunson, “hunky hockey humpin'” show Heated Rivalry, to even Guy Fieri and Ed Gein. (Not that those last two have anything in common.) She also quickly covered up some award-nominated TV nudity from her airline seat-mates before Jeff Hiller’s flight attendant (reprising his 30 Rock role) hit her with the drink cart on the way to L.A.’s Peacock Theater.
After happily canoodling with shoe-in five-time nominee Jean Smart (who indeed won in the second presentation of the night) and watching docs on The Pitt fix a pixilated penis, Hargitay accidentally misidentified Jennifer Coolidge as Widow’s Peak‘s Sea Hag. (Hey, it happens.) Mounting a horse like a champ, Hargitay finally appeared onstage surrounded by a cadre of hunky (although not hockey) dancers with old CRT TV’s on their heads. Hoisted in the air to conclude her debut as the first female Emmy’s host in 15 years, Hargitay put to rest any doubts that someone who’s spent 27 years dressing down creeps and murderers (as “America’s sex cop” as she put it) can get glammed up for a big opening number.
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