The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards delivered plenty of surprises and historic wins on Sunday night, with new series and streaming giants sharing the spotlight.
Major Wins of the Night
HBO/Max’s freshman medical drama The Pitt shocked many by taking home Outstanding Drama Series, shortly after lead star Noah Wyle earned his first Emmy win on his seventh career nomination. Earlier in the evening, co-star Katherine LaNasa picked up Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, marking another big moment for the breakout hit.
On the limited series side, Netflix’s cultural phenomenon Adolescence dominated with six wins, while Apple TV+’s The Studio scored four trophies, including the top honor for Outstanding Comedy Series. Other multiple winners included Apple TV+’s Severance, HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and HBO Max’s Hacks, each earning two awards.
When tallying both the Primetime and Creative Arts ceremonies, The Studio led all programs with 13 total Emmys. Close behind were HBO’s The Penguin (nine), Apple TV+’s Severance and NBC’s SNL50 (eight each).
Notable Acting Awards
- Britt Lower won her first Emmy for Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Severance.
- Seth Rogen had a career-defining night, earning his first Emmy for Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in The Studio, later adding directing and writing wins alongside Evan Goldberg.
- Veteran star Jean Smart won once again for Hacks, snagging her seventh career trophy.
- Rising stars also had their moment: Owen Cooper (Supporting Actor, Limited Series, Adolescence) and Erin Doherty (Supporting Actress, Adolescence) both earned their first Emmys.
- Cristin Milioti took Lead Actress in a Limited Series for HBO’s The Penguin, while Hannah Einbinder finally broke through with a win for Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (Hacks).
- Tramell Tillman made history as the first Black actor to win in the Supporting Actor in a Drama Series category, recognized for his performance in Severance.
Variety, Talk, and Reality Categories
In the unscripted categories, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert bid farewell with a win for Outstanding Talk Series, while Peacock’s The Traitors continued its streak with Reality Competition Program, sweeping all five of its nominations this year.
HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver extended its Emmy dominance, winning for Scripted Variety Series and Writing for a Variety Series, continuing a run that began in 2016. NBC’s SNL50: The Anniversary Special earned recognition for Variety Special (Live), with creator Lorne Michaels reflecting on his first Emmy win 50 years ago.
Writing and Directing Highlights
- Philip Barantini earned Netflix its first Emmy of the night for Directing in a Limited Series (Adolescence).
- Adam Randall claimed Directing for a Drama Series for Apple TV+’s Slow Horses.
- Dan Gilroy was honored with Writing for a Drama Series for Disney+’s Andor.
- Writing honors for Adolescence went to Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, both first-time winners.
In Memoriam Tribute
The emotional In Memoriam segment, introduced by Phylicia Rashad, paid tribute to beloved stars including Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Valerie Mahaffey, Teri Garr, Ruth Buzzi, Richard Chamberlain, Linda Lavin, Maggie Smith, David Lynch, and many more. The segment featured a performance from Vince Gill and Lainey Wilson.
Emmy Nominations by the Numbers
Coming into the night, Apple TV+’s Severance led all shows with 27 nominations, followed by HBO’s The Penguin with 24. Apple’s The Studio and HBO’s The White Lotus tied with 23, while Hacks pulled in 14. Among platforms, HBO/HBO Max dominated with 142 nominations, trailed by Netflix’s 120.
A Night to Remember
Hosted by comedian Nate Bargatze, making his awards-show debut, the star-studded ceremony broadcast live from Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater on CBS and streamed nationwide on Paramount+.
The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards underscored the continuing rivalry between HBO, Apple TV+, and Netflix, while also spotlighting emerging talent and powerful first-time wins — a reminder of television’s constant evolution.
Emmy Awards 2025: Complete Winners List
The 2025 Emmy Awards celebrated the very best in television, honoring outstanding performances, creative storytelling, and innovative productions. Below is the full list of this year’s winners across drama, comedy, limited series, variety, and more.
Drama Categories
Best Drama Series: The Pitt
Lead Actor in a Drama: Noah Wyle (The Pitt)
Lead Actress in a Drama: Britt Lower (Severance)
Supporting Actor in a Drama: Tramell Tillman (Severance)
Supporting Actress in a Drama: Katherine LaNasa (The Pitt)
Outstanding Directing in a Drama: Adam Randall (Slow Horses)
Outstanding Writing in a Drama: Dan Gilroy (Andor)
Comedy Categories
Best Comedy Series: The Studio
Lead Actor in a Comedy: Seth Rogen (The Studio)
Lead Actress in a Comedy: Jean Smart (Hacks)
Supporting Actress in a Comedy: Hannah Einbinder (Hacks)
Supporting Actor in a Comedy: Jeff Hiller (Somebody Somewhere)
Directing for a Comedy Series: Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg (The Studio)
Writing for a Comedy Series: Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Peter Huyck, Alex Gregory & Frida Perez (The Studio)
Limited Series, Anthology, or TV Movie
Best Limited/Anthology Series or TV Movie: Adolescence
Lead Actor in a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie: Stephen Graham (Adolescence)
Lead Actress in a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie: Cristin Milioti (The Penguin)
Supporting Actor in a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie: Owen Cooper (Adolescence)
Supporting Actress in a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie: Erin Doherty (Adolescence)
Directing for a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie: Philip Barantini (Adolescence)
Writing for a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie: Jack Thorne & Stephen Graham (Adolescence)
Variety & Talk Categories
Best Variety Special: SNL 50: The Anniversary Special
Best Scripted Variety Series: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Best Talk Series: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Reality & Special Honors
Outstanding Reality Competition Program: The Traitors
Bob Hope Humanitarian Award: Ted Danson & Mary Steenburgen
Final Thoughts
The 2025 Emmy Awards highlighted both fresh talent and veteran performers, confirming television’s ongoing golden age. From The Pitt dominating the drama field to The Studio leading in comedy, and Adolescence sweeping the limited series category, this year’s winners represent a powerful mix of creativity and impact in modern storytelling.
