Level 1 — Absolute Beginner
The Emmy Awards are prizes for television shows. This week, the people who choose the winners announced the nominees for 2026.
A TV show called 'The Pitt' got the most nominations. It got twenty-five. 'The Pitt' is a show about doctors in a hospital.
A comedy show called 'Hacks' got twenty-four nominations. That is the most nominations ever for a comedy show.
Two other shows, 'Widow's Bay' and 'Pluribus,' also got many nominations. Noah Wyle, an actor in 'The Pitt,' was nominated too.
- award
- a prize given for a good achievement
- nominate
- to officially suggest someone or something for an award
- announce
- to tell people official news
- drama (TV)
- a serious television show that tells a story
- comedy (TV)
- a television show meant to make people laugh
- actor
- a person who performs in a TV show, movie, or play
- record (achievement)
- the best or highest result ever achieved
- hospital
- a place where sick or hurt people are treated
Level 2 — Elementary
The television industry's biggest night moved a step closer this week as the 2026 Emmy nominations were announced, setting up a wide-open race across drama and comedy categories.
Medical drama 'The Pitt' led all nominees with 25 nominations, drawing praise for its realistic portrayal of hospital emergency-room life. Star Noah Wyle, who plays a senior attending physician, was recognized among the nominees.
Comedy series 'Hacks' followed closely with 24 nominations, a new record for a comedy series at the Emmys. The show's blend of sharp writing and strong performances has made it a repeat awards favorite.
Two other series also stood out: 'Widow's Bay' picked up 19 nominations and 'Pluribus' earned 18, reflecting how competitive the field has become across streaming and broadcast television alike.
- portrayal
- the way a person, place, or situation is represented or depicted
- attending physician
- a senior doctor who supervises patient care
- sharp writing
- cleverly and precisely crafted dialogue or scripts
- favorite (competition)
- the person or thing expected to win
- streaming (television)
- delivering video content over the internet rather than broadcast
- broadcast (television)
- television transmitted over public airwaves
- competitive
- involving strong rivalry to win or succeed
- recognize (honor)
- to formally acknowledge someone's achievement
Level 3 — Intermediate
Television's most competitive awards season entered a decisive new phase this week with the announcement of the 2026 Emmy nominations, revealing a field with no clear front-runner across the major categories.
Medical drama 'The Pitt' emerged as the nomination leader with 25 nods, buoyed by widespread acclaim for its unflinching depiction of emergency-room medicine. Star Noah Wyle, portraying a veteran attending physician navigating institutional strain, secured a nomination of his own.
Close behind, comedy series 'Hacks' garnered 24 nominations, setting a new benchmark for a comedy series at the Emmys and reaffirming its status as a perennial contender thanks to incisive writing and standout performances.
Rounding out the leaderboard, 'Widow's Bay' collected 19 nominations and 'Pluribus' earned 18, underscoring how thoroughly the streaming era has intensified competition across both prestige drama and comedy.
- front-runner
- the competitor considered most likely to win
- buoyed
- supported or lifted by encouragement or success
- unflinching
- not shying away from something difficult or unpleasant
- institutional strain
- pressure placed on an organization's systems or resources
- benchmark
- a standard used for comparison
- perennial contender
- a competitor that consistently performs well over time
- incisive
- showing sharp, precise judgment or expression
- prestige (television)
- high-quality, critically acclaimed programming
Level 4 — Advanced
Television's most competitive awards season entered a decisive new phase this week with the unveiling of the 2026 Emmy nominations, a field notably devoid of any singular front-runner across the major categories.
Medical drama 'The Pitt' emerged as the nomination leader with 25 nods, buoyed by widespread critical acclaim for its unflinching depiction of emergency-room medicine under duress. Star Noah Wyle, portraying a veteran attending physician navigating profound institutional strain, secured a nomination in his own right.
Close behind, comedy series 'Hacks' garnered 24 nominations, establishing an unprecedented benchmark for a comedy series at the Emmys and reaffirming its standing as a perennial contender on the strength of incisive writing and standout performances.
Rounding out the leaderboard, 'Widow's Bay' amassed 19 nominations and 'Pluribus' collected 18, underscoring the extent to which the streaming era has intensified rivalry across both prestige drama and comedy alike.
- unveiling
- the act of revealing something publicly for the first time
- devoid
- completely lacking or without something
- under duress
- under pressure or stress, often forced
- profound
- very great or intense
- unprecedented
- never done or observed before
- on the strength of
- because of, relying on a particular quality
- amass
- to gather or accumulate over time
- rivalry
- competition between opposing parties
Talk about this article with KatePractice this story's vocabulary in a real spoken conversation with your AI tutor