Mariska Hargitay has revealed details about her upcoming stint hosting the Primetime Emmy Awards, a departure from her long-running dramatic role as Captain Olivia Benson on NBC's Law & Order: SVU. Despite not having a comedy background, unlike many recent Emmy hosts, Hargitay says the ceremony's producers deliberately want to "switch it up" by choosing her, and she is embracing what she calls doing "the Mariska Emmys" rather than imitating past presenters.

Hargitay will host the ceremony on 14 September, shortly before she returns for a milestone 28th season of SVU. She is working with a team of writers from Stephen Colbert's recently cancelled late-night show to develop material, and the pair discussed a possible comedic bit tying into SVU, referencing the frequent requests from celebrities wanting cameo appearances as dead bodies on the crime drama. Previous Emmy hosts have included comedians Nate Bargatze, Eugene Levy and Dan Levy, and Kenan Thompson.