Emmys 2016 cheat sheet: Everything you need to know about TV's biggest night!


The 68th Primetime Emmy Awards are just days away!

Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, television's biggest night kicks off live from the Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles on Sunday, and your favorite TV stars will be out in full force celebrating the year's best performances on the small screen.

PICS: The Best Emmy Dresses Over the Last 20 Years

In anticipation of the big night, ET has your official cheat sheet on everything you need to know about the Emmys.

ET's Red Carpet Coverage: Don't miss ET's live Emmy red carpet coverage this Sunday, Sept. 18 right here on ETonline.com. You can also follow all the action in real time on Twitter (@etnow), Instagram (@entertainmenttonight) and our official Facebook page. Tune in to Entertainment Tonight on Monday (check your local listings) for all the Emmy day-after festivities!

See photos from last weekend's Creative Arts Emmys red carpet:

What Time Do the Emmys Start?: The Emmys will air live coast-to-coast from the Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live on Sunday, Sept. 18 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on ABC. Viewers can also watch a live stream of the awards show on ABC.com or through the Watch ABC app. The Emmys will also be available via On Demand on Monday.

ABC

Who Is Hosting?: Jimmy Kimmel returns to the Emmy stage as host for the second time. The 48-year-old late-night host, who first emceed the Emmys for ABC in 2012, told ET he won't be roasting many of TV's biggest stars -- for the most part. "There are a few that maybe should be a little worried, but for the most part everyone can relax," he said.

PICS: The All-Time Emmy Record Holders

If you're expecting him to take a jab at Tom Hiddlestonfollowing his recent split from Taylor Swift or Ryan Lochte's Rio drama, Kimmel hints he may not go down that route. "I think it's a little bit weird when somebody goes through a breakup and suddenly they're on camera and everyone's making fun of them," Kimmel said of Hiddleswift, not exactly saying "no."

It's also an election year, so expect Kimmel to drop a few zingers at presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. We're also hoping for wildly random moments like this stunt from 2012 involving Josh Groban, One Direction and President Barack Obama. Plus, what are the odds of Kimmel's "nemesis," Matt Damon, making an off-the-wall cameo?

See photos from the 2001 Emmys red carpet:

Who Will Be Presenting?:Anthony Anderson, Aziz Ansari, Hank Azaria, Kristen Bell, Julie Bowen, Kyle Chandler, Priyanka Chopra, James Corden, Laverne Cox, Bryan Cranston, Claire Danes, Larry David, Michelle Dockery, Minnie Driver, America Ferrera, Tina Fey, Tony Goldwyn, Kit Harington, Taraji P. Henson, Tom Hiddleston, Terrence Howard, Allison Janney, Matt LeBlanc, Rami Malek, Margo Martindale, Joel McHale, Mandy Moore, Randall Park, Amy Poehler, Chris Rock, Tracee Ellis Ross, Keri Russell, Andy Samberg, Liev Schreiber, Peter Scolari, Abigail Spencer, Kiefer Sutherland, Jeffrey Tambor, Damon Wayans, Michael Weatherly and Constance Wu

PICS: Emmy First-Time Nominees You Need to Know

Who Is Sitting Next to Whom?: Guess who has a prime seat? Beyonce! Queen B will be seated in the second row, right behind Liev Schreiber and in front of Kyle Chandler. (Clear eyes, full hearts, Bey! Take those selfies with Coach Taylor!)

Amy Schumer, meanwhile, will be in good company just days after recovering from a bout with food poisoning, snagging a seat in front of Kirsten Dunst with the Modern Family cast nearby. And a very pregnant Kerry Washington, who is due this fall, will be seated by Laurence Fishburne and Scandal co-star Tony Goldwyn.

Biggest Moments to Watch Out For: Fresh off his three-month whirlwind romance with Taylor Swift, Tom Hiddleston will make his first high-profile public appearance by closing the Emmys and presenting the final award (Best Drama Series). Will he make a joke at his own expense? Will he mourn his failed relationship by paying homage to his infamous "I <3 T.S." tank? (Probably not, but one can hope!)

#BFFGoals Tina Fey and Amy Poehler won an Emmy for co-hosting Saturday Night Live at last weekend's Creative Arts Emmys and they will take the stage together for what's sure to be a highlight-reel moment. Whatever they do will be worth noting, because everyone needs more Tina and Amy in their lives.

Will late-night favorite and presenter James Corden create another viral moment, a la Carpool Karaoke? Even though Kimmel said he wouldn't be targeting many celebrities on Sunday night, we're hoping he'll still ruffle features. How far will he really go?

RELATED: Who Will Win the Major Categories at the Emmys 2016?

FX

Couples to Keep an Eye On: Will Beyonce and Jay Zhave an Emmy date night? Will Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys show some adorable PDA on the red carpet, months after welcoming their first child together? Will Amy Schumer and boyfriend Ben Hanisch continue their red carpet wave? Will Game of Thrones star Kit Harington bring Rose Leslie as his plus-one on his big night?

How Soon Into the Broadcast Will There Be a Hiddleswift Joke?: In the first minute. (Just kidding. Maybe.)

Fashion Predictions: Although we're looking forward to all the glitzy get-ups on the red carpet, there are a few stars we're expecting to shine extra bright on Sunday. Claire Danes has been all about the bright colors as of late, frequently sporting floral patterns and fun prints. Not to mention, the Cinderella-inspired ballroom gown she wore to the Met Gala in May was a fashion standout, landing her a well-deserved spot on all of the best-dressed lists.

See photos from the 2006 Emmys red carpet:

As for This Is Us star Mandy Moore, who is one of the night's presenters, we're expecting her to go big with her ensemble (think girly meets glam!), as it's been over a decade since she's made an appearance at the star-studded show. Keri Russell was red-hot at the Tony Awards in New York City in June, and we're hoping The Americans actress will bring that same sizzle factor to the Emmys in a head-turning dress that will highlight her sexy post-baby bod less than three months after giving birth to her third child.

RELATED: The Standout Dramatic Performances of the Season

And it'd be a crime not to anticipate unforgettable looks by reigning red carpet queens, Sofia Vergara and Beyoncé. If their outfits are anything like their past ensembles, expect Vergara to put her curves on full display in a strapless, mermaid-style gown, while Queen Bey pulls out the sparkles.

HBO

Notable Nominations: Game of Thronesleads all nominees with 23 and has already taken home nine Emmy statuettes this year. There's a very good chance the HBO juggernaut could add to its haul come Sunday, with Kit Harington and Lena Headey among the cast members vying for acting Emmys.

Close behind in the nomination tally is the heavily-favored The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story with 22 and Fargo with 18. Veep, with 17 nominations, could very well be the Emmys' comedy darling for another year in a row. Awards favorite Julia-Louis Dreyfus could take home her fifth straight Emmy for playing Selina Meyer on the HBO comedy, an astonishing feat.

The Oscars took some flack earlier this year for its lack of non-white acting nominees; the Emmys, on the other hand, feature nearly two dozen non-white actors nominated in the major categories. (Its list of presenters is also diverse.) There are also a number of first-time Emmy nominees hoping a statuette is their future, including The People v. O.J. Simpson's Sterling K. Brown,Veep's Matt Walsh and UnREAL's Constance Zimmer -- several of whom ET profiled.

To see who ET picked to win Emmys, check out our predictions piece. To see the full list of nominees, click here.

RELATED: The Standout Comedic Performances of the Season

FX

Will The People v. O.J. Simpson Win in Every Category?: 2016 may just beThe Year of People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story. It's not a question of whether the FX crime drama will win on Sunday, but rather how many. Sarah Paulson is the heavy, heavy, heavy favorite to take home her first Emmy for her divine portrayal of Marcia Clark (she could be this year's biggest lock of all).

She has admitted that she'll prepare an acceptance speech, telling ET, "I thought, 'It's probably the better way to do it,' because I fear I would get up there and white out and be like 'bluehhheheh.'" And instead of bringing real-life girlfriend Holland Taylor as her date, Paulson will have Clark by her side on her big night!

The FX series won't go 22 for 22 -- it's up against itself in various categories -- but we wouldn't be shocked if it won in every category it was nominated in. Courtney B. Vance and Cuba Gooding Jr. will be competing against each other in Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie, while Sterling K. Brown, David Schwimmer and John Travolta will vie for the same Supporting Actor award. At the end of the day, we're expecting a huge night for the cast and crew of People v. O.J. Simpson -- and deservedly so!

In Memoriam Tribute: Tori Kelly will take the stage to sing the soundtrack to the In Memoriam segment, with Henry Winkler set for a touching Garry Marshall tribute. Expect late TV legends like Garry Shandling, Patty Duke and Abe Vigoda to be included in the In Memoriam.

RELATED: Inside the Governors Ball, the Emmys' Most Exclusive Party

How Many New Fall Shows Will Be Promoted?: Talent from a handful of new fall shows will be all over the Emmys broadcast, including Kiefer Sutherland (Designated Survivor), Mandy Moore (This Is Us), Damon Wayans (Lethal Weapon), Michelle Dockery (Good Behavior), Laverne Cox (Doubt), Abigail Spencer (Timeless) and Michael Weatherly (Bull). And since ABC is broadcasting the Emmys, don't be surprised if the commercial breaks are dominated by their other new TV offerings (see: Conviction, Secrets & Lies, Speechless, etc.).

Who Is Throwing the Emmy After-Parties?: The real fun begins after the Emmys are over. Celebrities will flock to several different parties, from the Governors Ball to HBO, Netflix and Fox's soirees, as well as bashes thrown by Amazon and AMC Networks.

Additional reporting by Desiree Murphy.

To relive some of the Emmys' most memorable moments, from Viola Davis to Julia-Louis Dreyfus, watch the video below!


Advertisement