HBO Max Leads the Emmy Drama and Comedy Races for the First Time Since 2017. How Often Do Both Frontrunners Win?
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- 'The Pitt' leads all programs with 25 nominations, making it the most-nominated drama, while 'Hacks' earned 24 nominations to become the most-nominated comedy series in Emmy history, surpassing Apple TV's 'Widow's Bay' (19)
- HBO Max holds the top spot in both drama and comedy nominations for the first time since 2017, following last year's achievement by Apple TV ('Severance' and 'The Studio') and FX the year before ('Shōgun' and 'The Bear')
- 'The Pitt' benefits from a strong historical pattern: the most-nominated drama has won the top category 41 of 73 times (56%), and it enters as the reigning champion seeking to join four shows that won drama series for both their first and second seasons
- 'Hacks' faces a tougher statistical path, with the most-nominated comedy converting only 25 of 59 times (42%) and losing five of the past eight ceremonies, most recently when 'The Bear' fell to 'Hacks' in 2023
- Since 2003, only four of 18 instances (22%) in which a single network led both drama and comedy nominations resulted in both series winning their top categories, with HBO's last double victory coming in 2016 via 'Game of Thrones' and 'Veep'
- HBO Max also has 'DTF St. Louis' (13 nominations) in limited series, trailing Netflix's 'Beef' (16) — a category with the worst frontrunner conversion rate at 36%, having lost four of the past five years including 'The Penguin's' 23-nomination collapse to 'Adolescence' in 2025
- A triple crown across drama, comedy, and limited series has occurred only three times in Emmy history (HBO in 2015, NBC in 1987 and 1996), with final-round voting running Aug. 17–26 ahead of the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 14
Why it matters: HBO Max's dual nomination lead is a statistical long shot to convert — only 4 of 18 such instances (22%) ended with both shows winning. With 'The Pitt' favored by history (56% drama conversion) and 'Hacks' facing lower odds (42%), the platform's Emmy night hinges on whether voters reward the reigning champion or pivot to Apple TV's 'Pluribus' and 'Widow's Bay.'
