The 2025 Emmy Awards showed another year in television showcasing comedies and impactful dramas. The 77th Emmys, an award show honoring outstanding performances and recognizing excellence in television, happened on Sept. 20 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The show was hosted by comedian Nate Bargatze, known for his deadpan comedy delivery, who started with an opening monologue and kept the audience amused for the entire night. The event was broadcast live on CBS and streamed on Paramount+, making it an occasion for recognition in the TV industry with a combination of familiar favorites and new winners.
In the drama category, “The Pitt,” a medical drama, won Best Drama Series, after entering the evening with 13 nominations. Other nominees included the tropical satire “The White Lotus,” the spy-thriller “Slow Horses,” “The Last of Us” and “Paradise.”
Noah Wyle, a veteran actor recognized for “ER,” won Outstanding Lead Actor for his role in “The Pitt.” “What a dream this has been,” he said in his acceptance speech. The win was a big milestone in his career, after being nominated for numerous Emmys in the past but never taking any home. Katherine Lanasa won Best Supporting Actress, also for her role in “The Pitt.”
Meanwhile, Britt Lower was awarded Outstanding Lead Actress in a drama series for her evocative role as a woman in a corporate dystopian workplace in the psychological thriller “Severance.” She wrote “LET ME OUT” on the back of her acceptance speech, making a reference to “Severance,” which fans recognized. The show is about employees who undergo a procedure that separates their workplace memories with the memories created in their personal life, raising questions on identity, autonomy and work-life balance.
On the comedy side, the television series “The Studio” won more awards than any other comedy series. The previous series that broke the record was “The Bear” in the 2023 Emmys. The 2025 Emmys highlighted not just the talent in the industry but also the evolving nature of comedy storytelling. Other comedy highlights include Quinta Brunson, who was nominated this year and won a Primetime Emmy Award in 2023 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Janine Teagues in Abbott Elementary. This was a significant moment as she was the first Black woman to win this award in over 42 years, highlighting the industry’s growing recognition of Black comedians.
“Adolescence,” a psychological crime drama series about a 13-year-old boy who murders a classmate, won numerous awards, including the Outstanding or Anthology Series, beating other contenders like “Black Mirror.” Owen Cooper made his acting debut in the show, and won the Outstanding Supporting Actor award at just 15 years old, making him the youngest male Emmy Award winner.
“When I started these drama classes a couple of years back, I didn’t expect to even be in the United States, never mind here,” Cooper said in his acceptance speech. He already has other projects lined up for the future, like his role in “Wuthering Heights,” starring alongside Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi.
Overall, the Emmys celebrated a mix of rising stars and established names in the industry. From insights into the challenges of healthcare in “The Pitt” to the exploration of violence in “Adolescence,” this year’s winners highlighted that shows can both entertain audiences and also encourage us to think about unsettling realities through social critique.