Selena Gomez became an instant reaction meme at the 2026 Emmys on Sept. 14, when host Mariska Hargitay made a joke about the ages of Martin Short and Steve Martin . Gomez initially looked confused before recognizing the punchline and laughing so hard she covered her face. Hargitay built her monologue around television milestones, including The Muppet Show turning 50 and Hannah Montana reaching the anniversary stage. When Hargitay brought up Stranger Things completing a 10 year run and joked about how quickly its young cast had grown, she gestured toward the Only Murders in the Building table. Selena Gomez Got the Joke, Eventually Short and Martin immediately understood the bit, while Gomez needed an extra beat to connect the dots. The contrast made the moment even funnier, because Gomez went from visible confusion to full on laughter in seconds. Martin Short was also nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, one of five Emmy nominations earned by Only Murders in the Building that year. The Hulu series has collected seven Emmys across more than five seasons, but it still has not won Outstanding Comedy Series, while Hargitay had already teased Short earlier in the night over his past Law and Order: Special Victims Unit guest role.