Netflix’s breakout limited series Adolescence stole the spotlight at the 2025 Emmy Awards, taking home six major trophies, including best limited series, writing, and directing.
The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards took place Sunday at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. In a rare move, the ceremony handed out its first award before host Nate Bargatze even delivered his opening monologue.
The show kicked off with a playful sketch featuring Saturday Night Live stars Mikey Day, Bowen Yang, and James Austin Johnson.
Joining them was Bargatze, who stepped into the role of television pioneer Philo T. Farnsworth, sharing his tongue-in-cheek predictions of what television might look like in the future.
The show, already the streamer’s second most-watched title ever, also swept the acting categories, with three wins.
Fifteen-year-old Owen Cooper made history as the youngest supporting actor winner in a limited series, while co-star Erin Doherty won supporting actress. Stephen Graham capped the series’ triumph with double honors for lead actor and co-writing.
“This kind of thing doesn’t usually happen to a kid like me,” Graham said, visibly emotional.
Apple TV+ comedy The Studio also dominated, becoming the most-awarded comedy in Emmy history. With 13 total trophies across its first season, the Hollywood satire won best comedy series and secured triple victories for Seth Rogen, who claimed best actor, director, and writer. “I’m legitimately embarrassed by how happy this makes me,” he joked.
NBC’s The Pitt made a surprise impact in the drama categories, winning best drama series. Noah Wyle finally earned his first Emmy after years of nominations, while Katherine LaNasa stunned by beating The White Lotus stars to win supporting actress.
Apple’s Severance also celebrated, with Britt Lower crowned best actress in a drama and Tramell Tillman becoming the first Black actor to win supporting actor in the category.
Jean Smart extended her dominance with a fourth best actress in a comedy win for Hacks, while her co-star Hannah Einbinder scored her first Emmy as supporting actress and stirred headlines with a political message during her acceptance speech.
Other notable moments included Jeff Hiller’s underdog win for Somebody Somewhere, Cristin Milioti’s surprise win for The Penguin, and Stephen Colbert’s emotional talk series victory following the cancellation of The Late Show.
John Oliver added to his tally with more wins for Last Week Tonight, Andor secured writing honors in drama, and The Traitors repeated as best reality competition show.
Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary special beat out Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar in the variety category.
Host Nate Bargatze kept the ceremony lighthearted, raising $350,000 for charity through a speech-timing gimmick. Still, politics lingered both on stage and the red carpet, with stars like Javier Bardem and Meg Stalter voicing support for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Big contenders such as Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Only Murders in the Building, The White Lotus, and Paradise went home empty-handed.
Emmy Awards 2025 — Winners List
Comedy
Best Comedy Series: The Studio
Lead Actor: Seth Rogen, The Studio
Lead Actress: Jean Smart, Hacks
Supporting Actor: Jeff Hiller, Somebody Somewhere
Supporting Actress: Hannah Einbinder, Hacks
Drama
Best Drama Series: The Pitt
Lead Actor: Noah Wyle, The Pitt
Lead Actress: Britt Lower, Severance
Supporting Actor: Tramell Tillman, Severance
Supporting Actress: Katherine LaNasa, The Pitt
Limited or Anthology
Best Limited/Anthology Series: Adolescence
Lead Actor: Stephen Graham, Adolescence
Lead Actress: Cristin Milioti, The Penguin
Supporting Actor: Owen Cooper, Adolescence
Supporting Actress: Erin Doherty, Adolescence
Variety & Reality
Outstanding Talk Series: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Outstanding Scripted Variety Series: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Outstanding Reality Competition: The Traitors
Outstanding Live Variety Special: Saturday Night Live: 50th Anniversary
Writing & Directing
Writing for a Drama Series: Dan Gilroy, Andor
Writing for a Comedy Series: Seth Rogen & team, The Studio
Writing for a Limited Series: Jack Thorne & Stephen Graham, Adolescence
Directing for a Drama Series: Adam Randall, Slow Horses
Directing for a Comedy Series: Seth Rogen, The Studio
Directing for a Limited Series: Philip Barantini, Adolescence
