Mariska Hargitay calls pre-Emmy wardrobe malfunction good luck - 'Damn straight' - USA Today

Hear this story LOS ANGELES – Host Mariska Hargitay was in full Olivia Benson mode Thursday, Sept. 10, kicking out the blue carpet for the 78th Emmy Awards outside Los Angeles' Peacock Theater.

Suddenly, the “Law & Order: SVU” star, 62, stopped the proceedings and called out loudly, “Hold up, wardrobe malfunction! Better now than at the Emmys.”

Speaking to USA TODAY in sunglasses and a sequined LaQuan Smith skirt suit, the diehard New York Knicks fan said the incident was caused by her heroic carpet domination.

"I started going into full-on Knicks-mode, kicking the carpet," Hargitay says. "I was a superhero."

On the bright side, the minor mishap signals good luck going into the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, airing Monday, Sept. 14 (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC/Peacock).

"Damn straight it is," Hargitay says, confirming the good omen.