Rejoice, TV fans! This year's Primetime Emmy Awards are just a few hours away, and we want to make sure you're adequately prepared.
The show begins at 8:00PM ET on Fox — that's when host / Brooklyn Nine-Nine star Andy Samberg will kick things off from Los Angeles. Expect some sort of monologue or performance with his comedy troupe The Lonely Island. (Steel yourself for "I just watched Netflix / and it felt so good.")
Unfortunately, there's no sanctioned way to livestream the show if you don't have cable: neither Fox nor the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences are hosting a stream. You'll be able to watch footage from the red carpet and backstage on the Emmys website starting at 6:00PM ET, but it won't give you a real glimpse at the show itself. If you're a rabid TV fan doubling as a cord-cutter, it's time to start bugging your cable-equipped friends for a seat on the couch. Bring snacks!
This is a transitional year for the Emmys
This is a transitional year for TV's biggest awards show, one defined by the last breaths of several iconic shows and the tripartite battle for prestige between networks, cable channels, and streaming services. With shows like House of Cards, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Orange Is the New Black all up for multiple awards, Netflix is a bigger player than ever. Amazon has even earned its first handful of nominations thanks to Transparent. At the same time, category mainstays like Mad Men, Parks and Recreation, and The Colbert Report are all making their last Emmy appearances. Mad Men's candidacy this year is particularly interesting: it's still never earned a major acting award despite feted performances from Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, and the rest of the show's cast.
Make sure to keep an eye on The Verge as the night rolls on — we'll be watching the show and covering the night's biggest surprises and statues.