Plus, interviews with “Top Chef” host Kristen Kish, “Reggie Dinkins” star Erika Alexander, and “Surviving Mormonism” star Heather Gay.

Elle and Dakota Fanning, Charles Melton, and more — every 2026 Emmy season episode of The Awardist podcast

Plus, interviews with "Top Chef" host Kristen Kish, "Reggie Dinkins" star Erika Alexander, and "Surviving Mormonism" star Heather Gay.

By Gerrad Hall

Gerrad Hall

Gerrad Hall is an editorial director at **, overseeing movie, awards, and music coverage. He is also host of The Awardist podcast, and has cohosted EW’s live Oscars, Emmys, SAG, and Grammys red carpet shows. He has appeared on Good Morning America, The Talk, Access Hollywood, Extra!, and other talk shows, delivering the latest news on pop culture and entertainment.

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on May 21, 2026 5:50 p.m. ET

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In the time of content overload, there is no shortage of contenders at the 2026 Emmys.

On this season of *The Awardist* podcast, we're breaking down the race in various categories each week and sharing our thoughts on awards news—from the new rules for the Oscars and Golden Globes to category swaps, host announcements, and more.

And we're talking to the actors, hosts, and other contenders who are in the hunt for nominations, including sisters Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning, for their respective series *Margo's Got Money Troubles *and *All Her Fault*, *Beef* star Charles Melton, *The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinks*' Erika Alexander, *Top Chef* host (and *Traitors* contestant) Kristen Kish, and *Surviving Mormonism* and *Real Housewives of Salt Lake City* star Heather Gay. They're also looking back on their careers, and answering our pressing questions in the new *Awardist* segment "The Martini Shot."

Below, you can listen to each episode of the 2026 Emmys season of *The Awardist* podcast.

***Check out more from EW's *****The Awardist*****, featuring exclusive interviews, analysis, and our podcast diving into all the highlights from the year's best in TV, movies, and more.***

Emmy season kickoff, from the frontrunners to dark horses and the shows we’re loving

The 2026 Oscars are one for the history books, and now our attention has turned to the best of TV as we hit the road to the 2026 Emmys. Can Jean Smart go 5 for 5 in the Best Actress in a Comedy category, or will Lisa Kudrow's *Comeback* ruin a perfect record? Which series will emerge as top comedy with *The Studio* not eligible this year? And can any drama beat *The Pitt*? *Pluribus*, *Euphoria*, *Slow Horses*, and more will try to take the crown. We assemble a roundtable of Awardist host Gerrad Hall, EW editor-in-chief Patrick Gomez, Sr. TV Editor Ashley Boucher, and Sr. Editor Joyce Eng to set the stage for the season to come. Plus, we reveal which shows we're loving and hope get nominations, and share our reaction to the Oscars moving to the home of the Emmys.

Margo’s Got Money Troubles star Elle Fanning, reaction to Hacks and Euphoria season premieres

After earning her first Oscar nomination earlier this year for *Sentimental Value*, Elle Fanning is now an Emmy contender for her performance on *Margo's Got Money Troubles*, about a young mom who turns to OnlyFans to provide for her baby. Fanning chats with *Awardist* host Gerrad Hall about diving into Margo's complicated life, playing pregnant, and becoming close friends with costar Michelle Pfeiffer — and she dishes on her love of Jack Black, what to expect from *The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping*, and more. Plus, Gerrad and EW Sr. Editor Joyce Eng share their thoughts on the new (and final) seasons of *Hacks* and *Euphoria*, and the loophole to a new rule that could allow Amy Poehler to get a comedy guest actress nomination for hosting *SNL*. Plus, the results of our weekly poll, and Fanning participates in our first-ever Awardist Martini Shot.

Beef star Charles Melton, inside the limited series race

After his acclaimed performance in *May December*, Charles Melton is earning rave reviews for his work in season 2 of *Beef*. *Awardist* host Gerrad Hall chats with Charles about the complicated character dynamics, working with Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, and Cailee Spaeny, the unexpected way he got the job, and more. Plus, Gerrad and EW Sr. Editor Joyce Eng break down the state of the limited series race, and Gerrad gives some updates from CinemaCon.

Inside the Drama series race, plus The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins star Erika Alexander

From her early roots on *The Cosby Show* and *Living Single* to her new NBC comedy *The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins*, Erika Alexander chats with *Awardist* host Gerrad Hall about reuniting with Tracy Morgan (and shares her amazing impression of him!), why she originally thought her character might be 'batshit crazy,' and how costar Daniel Radcliffe protects the cast, and she looks back on the shows that made her a star. Plus, from *The Pitt* and *Pluribus* to *The Boys* and *The Madison*, Gerrad, EW Sr. Editor Joyce Eng, and Executive Editor Samantha Highfill are breaking down the Drama series race, and Sam is sharing her picks for shows that Emmy voters should be paying more attention to.

Inside the reality race, plus Top Chef host Traitors competitor Kristen Kish

From the competitions (*The Traitors*, *RuPaul's Drag Race*, *Dancing With the Stars*, and more) to scripted and unscripted fare (*Love on the Spectrum*, the Real Housewives franchise, *Shark Tank*, *Welcome to Wrexham*, and more), there's no shortage of reality TV, but Academy voters tend to nominated the same names each year — *Awardist* host Gerrad Hall and EW Sr. Editor Joyce Eng break down those categories, and who to look for in the host race. Plus, Gerrad chats with *Top Chef* host Kristen Kish, who's in the hunt for her second nomination and was a competitor on the latest season of *The Traitors*.

All Her Fault star Dakota Fanning, Oscars rule change, Tony nominations, more

For the first time in its nearly 100-year history, actors can now be nominated for more than one performance at the Oscars. *Awardist* host Gerrad Hall and EW Sr. Editor Joyce Eng are breaking down that rule change, as well as ones about AI and the original song category. Plus, we're recapping the Tony Awards nominations, and sharing thoughts on Shawn Hatosy's switch from guest to supporting actor for season 2 of *The Pitt*. Plus, *All Her Fault* star Dakota Fanning joins Gerrad for a fun and thoughtful conversation about the recent series, her incredible filmography, including the Twilight saga, working with Tom Cruise, and more.

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City and Surviving Mormonism star Heather Gay, inside the guest actor categories

After her candid conversations on *The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City* about leaving the Mormon church, Heather Gay is talking to *Awardist* host Gerrad Hall about *Surviving Mormonism*, her docuseries about people sharing their stories of abuse by members and family, and the church's alleged cover-up of those assaults. Plus, she looks back on a couple big *RHOSLC* moments and gives an update on Mary Cosby following the death of her son. Elsewhere, Gerrad and EW Sr. Editor Joyce Eng are breaking down the guest actor catgories, from four possible *Hacks* and *Shrinking* contenders in comedy actress and actor, respectively, to *The Pitt*, *Pluribus*, and more in drama.

The Pitt star Katherine LaNasa, plus Cannes-tenders

After nearly giving up her acting career, and following a battle with cancer, Katherine LaNasa is now an Emmy winner for *The Pitt* season 1. She's a strong contender again this year, and she chats with *Awardist* host Gerrad Hall to break down the action and drama of season 2, including Nurse Dana’s worries about Noah Wyle’s Dr. Robby and the emergency department going analog. She also looks back on her career, including her early years as a ballerina and how meeting Dennis Hopper got her into acting. Plus, Gerrad and EW Sr. Editor discuss the movies emerging as possible Oscar contenders from Cannes.

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