The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, held Sunday, September 14, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, turned into a night where three shows dominated but left room for surprises. The Studio, The Pitt, and Adolescence collected the bulk of the trophies, though the ceremony itself drew mixed reviews.
Hosted by comedian Nate Bargatze, the show struggled to find its rhythm. Bargatze opened with jokes about cable channels straying from their namesake programming, followed by an awkward gimmick tied to charity donations. The idea was that the Boys and Girls Clubs of America would receive $100,000, but every second an acceptance speech exceeded 45 seconds would deduct $1,000. Though the full donation was ultimately given, the constant on-screen countdown distracted from the acceptance speeches themselves. Viewers and critics alike questioned the value of turning a charitable contribution into a recurring punchline.
Other production missteps included mispronounced names and odd attempts at humor, such as Bargatze feigning ignorance of Gilmore Girls during a tribute. Combined with sluggish pacing, the show felt flat despite the excitement surrounding the awards.
In comedy, Apple TV+’s The Studio emerged as the standout. Starring Seth Rogen as a conflicted studio head, the series won top comedy series, lead actor for Rogen, and awards for writing and directing, in addition to a sweep of technical categories. Its success continued a tradition of Hollywood stories appealing to Emmy voters.
HBO Max’s The Pitt, a hospital drama led by Noah Wyle, earned best drama series. Wyle also won lead actor, with Katherine LaNasa taking supporting actress. The show’s traditional format, with 15 episodes and a focus on grounded storytelling, contrasted with the shorter, experimental dramas that often dominate awards.
Netflix triumphed in limited series, as Adolescence captured nearly every award in its category. Stars Stephen Graham, Erin Doherty, and Owen Cooper all took home acting prizes, with Cooper becoming the youngest male winner in Emmy history. Netflix’s track record in limited series has been formidable, and this year further cemented its dominance.
Beyond the headliners, there were memorable wins. Jeff Hiller earned supporting actor in a comedy for HBO’s Somebody Somewhere, a heartfelt recognition for a show that had flown under the radar. Severance actors Tramell Tillman and Britt Lower were honored, while Andor received the writing award for drama, giving fans of the Star Wars spinoff reason to celebrate.
Stephen Colbert’s Late Show finally broke through, winning outstanding talk series in its final season. The victory was bittersweet, as CBS had already announced the program’s cancellation. Colbert’s acceptance speech blended gratitude with concern about the world, leaving a lasting impression.
Despite the uneven production, the Emmys attracted 7.4 million viewers, the highest audience since 2021. Nielsen reported an 8% increase over last year’s broadcast, along with a sharp rise in streaming viewership on Paramount+. After years of declining ratings, this rebound gave CBS a rare ratings win.
The 2025 Emmy Awards spotlighted television’s changing landscape. While The Bear faltered in its third year of competing as a comedy, older formats like The Pitt showed they still resonate. Meanwhile, Netflix’s grip on limited series categories remains firm. Whether future ceremonies can balance strong winners with a smoother telecast remains to be seen.
2025 Emmy Awards – Winners in Top Categories
- Outstanding Drama Series: The Pitt
- Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Noah Wyle, The Pitt
- Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Britt Lower, Severance
- Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Tramell Tillman, Severance
- Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Katherine LaNasa, The Pitt
- Outstanding Comedy Series: The Studio
- Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Seth Rogen, The Studio
- Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Jean Smart, Hacks
- Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Jeff Hiller, Somebody Somewhere
- Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Hannah Einbinder, Hacks
- Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series: Adolescence
- Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series: Stephen Graham, Adolescence
- Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series: Cristin Milioti, The Penguin
- Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series: Owen Cooper, Adolescence
- Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series: Erin Doherty, Adolescence
- Outstanding Talk Series: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
- Outstanding Reality Competition: The Traitors
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