The Hollywood Reporter published its annual "Brutally Honest Ballot" feature, in which an anonymous male Emmy-winning member of the TV Academy's producers peer group candidly explains his voting choices ahead of the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards. The voter praised medical drama The Pitt as the best show on television, citing its consistently high standard of casting, writing and directing, while naming new comedy Widow's Bay as far superior to its rivals in that category. His comments offer a rare, unfiltered glimpse into the reasoning of a single Academy voter, though THR stresses this does not represent the views of its roughly 27,000 members.

The voter dismissed several high-profile nominees, calling Your Friends and Neighbors undeserving over the snubbed Industry, criticising Apple TV's Pluribus for lacking urgency, and arguing The Bear should compete as a drama rather than a comedy. He also said Task, nominated for best drama series, should instead be classed as a limited series, and voiced frustration that Death by Lightning was overlooked entirely. The Primetime Emmy Awards take place on 14 September, preceded by the Creative Arts Emmys on 5 and 6 September.