The HBO Max medical drama "The Pitt" dominated last year's Emmy Awards, winning five trophies including outstanding drama series, and now it enters the 2026 race as the clear frontrunner. Among its strongest contenders is Shawn Hatosy, who won the guest actor in a drama series Emmy for his portrayal of Dr. Jack Abbot and returns in Season 2 with an expanded role spanning six of the show's 15 episodes.
What makes Hatosy's potential repeat win so remarkable is its rarity. In the 50-year history of the guest acting categories, no performer has ever won back-to-back guest drama actor Emmys for the same role. Only five actors have won the category more than once at all, including Patrick McGoohan for "Columbo" and Ron Cephas Jones for "This Is Us." A second consecutive victory would put Hatosy in entirely uncharted territory.
His expanded presence in Season 2 adds an intriguing wrinkle. Hatosy also stepped behind the camera to direct the episode "3:00 P.M.," which could position him for a double nomination. With six episodes under his belt, he sits in the gray area between guest and supporting player — a distinction that Emmy voters and Television Academy officials continue to debate.
"The Pitt" isn't the only show generating serious awards conversation this cycle. Sarah Pidgeon's performance as Carolyn Bessette Kennedy in the Disney+ and Hulu series "Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette" has earned her frontrunner status for best actress in a limited or anthology series. Pidgeon recently revealed that embodying Bessette Kennedy's iconic wardrobe came at a physical cost — she developed psoriasis after wearing heavy cashmere in 90-degree heat during filming in Hyannis, Massachusetts. "I got a heat rash because it was like 90 degrees outside, and then that turned into psoriasis all over my body," she told Vogue.
Both performances underscore a strong year for dramatic television heading into awards season, with deeply committed actors leaving lasting impressions on screen — and, in Pidgeon's case, off it as well.