How to Livestream the 2020 Emmys

The Emmys 2020 will air this Sunday, September 20, and it’s a virtual ceremony guaranteed to be unlike any other. However, in contrast to the BET Awards, VMAs, and Daytime Emmys, the 72nd Emmy Awards won’t be a massive, pretaped spectacle where winners know ahead of time. The whole thing will be live, from actors’ homes, where everything that could go wrong just might. 

“It’s sort of like walking a tightrope and you’re not supposed to look down, but you do and see there’s no safety net,” executive producer Ian Stewart said during a Zoom press conference with reporters on September 16. “Things are going to go wrong because it’s never been done before. At least [host] Jimmy Kimmel loves live TV and chaos. I think he’s hoping things go wrong, to tell you the truth.”

But in all seriousness, how, exactly, are the Emmys going to pull this off? Will nominees wear evening gowns and tuxes in their living rooms, or diamond-encrusted pajamas? Here’s everything we know, including how to watch the Emmys 2020: 

When and where will the Emmys air?

The 72nd Emmy Awards, hosted by Emmy nominee Jimmy Kimmel, air live this Sunday, September 20 at 8 p.m. ET, 5 p.m. PT, on ABC. 

How can I watch the Emmys 2020? Is there an Emmys livestream?

You can watch the Emmys on your local ABC television channel. The Emmys stream can also be watched via online services such as Hulu+ With Live TV, Sling, Fubo, Philo and AT&T TV Now. But you need a subscription. 

Who is nominated?

Fan favorites Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show), Kerry Washington (Little Fires Everywhere), Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Zendaya (Euphoria), the cast of Schitt’s Creek, and many more are up for Emmys this year. For the full list of nominees, click here. 

Who will make special appearances and present awards?

ABC and the Television Academy have announced Ty Burrell, Ken Jeong, Mindy Kaling, Tatiana Maslany, Bob Newhart, Jason Bateman, Sterling K. Brown, Laverne Cox, Sesame Street’s Count Von Count, Morgan Freeman, Ilana Glazer, Abbi Jacobson, Lin-Manuel Miranda, D-Nice, Randall Park, RuPaul, Patrick Stewart, Jason Sudeikis, Anthony Anderson, America Ferrera, Issa Rae, Gabrielle Union, J.J. Watt, Lena Waithe, and Oprah Winfrey as special presenters. Grammy winner H.E.R. will perform during the “In Memoriam” segment. ABC also says there will be “additional surprises.”

Will most of the nominees show up from home?

Yep. Producers will have 130 cameras all over the world in 10 countries to make sure every nominee who wants to be part of the show can be. That means high-tech light rings and monitors are being sent to everywhere from  Tel Aviv to London, and Los Angeles to New York. “If there are 130 live feeds coming in, it’s like trying to watch 130 sports matches at a time. It’s so many things coming in—or so many things that can stop coming in,” executive producer Ian Stewart joked. “Every single bit of it will be a challenge.”

Where will host Jimmy Kimmel be broadcasting from?

He will mainly be broadcasting from the stage at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles. 

Will there be a red carpet? 

No. “We thought about doing a red-carpet show, but given the circumstances, we decided not to,” Hudlin said. “We’re hoping the at-home fashions make up for what we won’t get in a red-carpet show.”

However, streaming news channel ABC News Live will roll out a virtual preshow called Countdown to the Emmys. The 90-minute live special will be hosted by Good Morning America weekend coanchors Eva Pilgrim and Whit Johnson with ABC news correspondent Janai Norman from New York at 6:30 p.m. ET, 3:30 p.m. PT. Per a press release, the streaming show “will feature live interviews with nominees, showcase the most diverse group of nominees ever, predict who will win and who might surprise during the ceremony, spotlight the unprecedented year for TV production, and revisit some of the greatest fashion to grace Emmys red carpets of the past, along with a glimpse at this year’s ‘couch couture.’”

What if someone wins and forgets to unmute themselves on camera?

There’s help for that, Stewart assured: “People behind the scenes will talk to them and help with troubleshooting or when they should go to the loo, or how much time they have left until their category.” 

Even so, Hudlin hopes everyone comes ready for a good time: “We’re going to essentially be making things up as we go along. That’s not the most reassuring answer, but that’s the truth. If someone has an extraordinary outfit, maybe we’ll have a conversation with them! Or if their kids take control of the mic, who knows.”

Will the show end on time?

Both Stewart and Hudlin said—once again—they have no clue. It could run under or it could go over. One thing they highly doubt is that it will be on time. “If you win an award and want to hug your kids, your spouse, your mom, and the dog and the cat…is that longer than it takes to get up from your chair and walk to the podium?” Hudlin asked. “We don’t know. We’ll find out!”

Added Stewart, “We want natural moments to play out. ABC understands our problem. One exec said, ‘We don’t care what you do, just make it entertaining.’”

The 72nd Emmy Awards air Sunday, September 20, on ABC at 8 p.m. ET, 5 p.m. PT.

Originally Appeared on Glamour