. >> reporter: ellie kempfer's show "the unbreakable kim my schmidt" is up for several awards. >> it's exciting to see the possibility that something else can win. >> reporter: best drama featur s s "the hand maid's tale" up against "game of thrones." but a potential spoiler could be "the americans" about russian spies living in the u.s. >> the show has gone unrecognized over the course of its run. >> i don't have to try. >> reporter: sterling k. brown has a chance to repeat last year's best actor win. his rivals include milo ventimiglia who plays the patriarch of the pearson family, jack. >> there is a lot of potential sentimentality for the character and what he went through this season. >> it's saturday night! >> reporter: another hit season for "saturday night live" has it up for multiple awards. it is providing tonight's host, too. >> we don't know what to expect. that's the exciting part. >> reporter: on a night when television honors its best. nbc news, los angeles. >> the emmys air on nbc bay area. live coverage from the gold d carpet begins tonight at 8:30. a new world record