The 77th edition of the Primetime Emmy Awards lit up Los Angeles on Sunday evening, honoring some of the year’s most memorable performances and groundbreaking series. The ceremony, staged at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles, was hosted by comedian Nate Bargatze, who set a spirited tone for the night. According to an AP News report, the event combined glitz, laughter, and unexpected turns as television’s most prestigious awards found their winners.
Opening Moments and Early Victories
The show wasted no time in delivering surprises. The very first award of the evening went to Seth Rogen, who claimed the Emmy for Best Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in The Studio. His win set the pace for a night full of unpredictable outcomes. Soon after, Jean Smart secured the Best Actress in a Comedy Series award for Hacks. Adding to the triumph for Hacks, Hannah Einbinder, Smart’s co-star, walked away with the trophy for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
Shocking Wins in Drama Categories
The drama categories were equally electrifying. Katherine LaNasa stunned audiences by winning Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in The Pitt. Her victory was particularly remarkable as she overcame stiff competition from four cast members of The White Lotus, one of the night’s most heavily nominated shows.
Another unexpected highlight came when Jeff Hiller claimed the Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series trophy for his work in Somebody Somewhere. His victory was especially notable because he edged past Harrison Ford, who had been nominated for his very first Emmy in Shrinking.
Landmark Achievement in Representation
One of the night’s historic moments came when Tramell Tillman earned the award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Severance. In doing so, he became the first Black man to achieve this distinction in Emmy history. His win was a milestone for representation and a celebrated breakthrough in the television industry.
Adding to the success of Severance, Tillman’s co-star Britt Lower triumphed in the Best Actress in a Drama Series category, cementing the Apple TV+ drama’s reputation as one of the evening’s big winners.
Major Drama Series Contenders
The night also spotlighted powerhouse productions in the drama category. Nominees included Andor (Disney+), The Diplomat (Netflix), The Last of Us ( HBO Max), Paradise (Hulu), The Pitt (HBO Max), Severance (Apple TV+), Slow Horses (Apple TV+), and The White Lotus (HBO Max). These shows represented a wide range of genres, from dystopian science fiction to political thrillers and psychological dramas, illustrating the evolving depth of modern television storytelling.
Comedy Showdowns
In comedy, the field was equally diverse. Contenders for Outstanding Comedy Series included Abbott Elementary (ABC), The Bear (Hulu), Hacks (HBO Max), Nobody Wants This (Netflix), Only Murders in the Building (Hulu), Shrinking (Apple TV+), The Studio (Apple TV+), and What We Do in the Shadows (Hulu). These nominees reflected how comedy has expanded beyond traditional sitcom formats into nuanced storytelling blending satire, heartfelt drama, and cultural commentary.
Limited and Anthology Series Spotlight
The Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series category brought together some of television’s most daring projects. Nominees included Adolescence (Netflix), Black Mirror (Netflix), Dying for Sex (Hulu), Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story (Netflix), and The Penguin (HBO Max). These limited series offered bold explorations of crime, morality, futuristic nightmares, and deeply personal narratives.
Acting Performances: Drama Series Highlights
For Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, nominees featured industry veterans and rising stars: Sterling K. Brown (Paradise), Gary Oldman (Slow Horses), Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us), Adam Scott (Severance), and Noah Wyle (The Pitt).
The Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series category showcased powerful performances from Kathy Bates (Matlock), Sharon Horgan (Bad Sisters), Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us), Keri Russell (The Diplomat), and winner Britt Lower (Severance).
Acting Performances: Comedy Series Highlights
The comedy categories brought equal star power. Nominees for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series included Adam Brody (Nobody Wants This), Jason Segel (Shrinking), Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building), Jeremy Allen White (The Bear), with Seth Rogen (The Studio) taking the win.
For Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, contenders included Uzo Aduba (The Residence), Kristen Bell (Nobody Wants This), Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary), Ayo Edebiri (The Bear), and winner Jean Smart (Hacks).
Limited Series Acting Standouts
In the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie category, performances by Colin Farrell (The Penguin), Stephen Graham (Adolescence), Jake Gyllenhaal (Presumed Innocent), Bryan Tyree Henry (Dope Thief), and Cooper Koch (Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story) were recognized.
For Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, the nominees included Cate Blanchett (Disclaimer), Meghan Fehy (Sirens), Rashida Jones (Black Mirror), Cristin Milioti (The Penguin), and Michelle Williams (Dying for Sex).
Supporting Roles that Stole the Show
Supporting performances often provided the evening’s most heartfelt stories. In comedy, Hannah Einbinder’s victory for Hacks and Jeff Hiller’s breakthrough in Somebody Somewhere stood out.
In drama, Katherine LaNasa’s surprise triumph in The Pitt and Tramell Tillman’s historic win for Severance made headlines.
In limited series categories, strong nominees included Javier Bardem, Bill Camp, Ruth Negga, Chloë Sevigny, and Jenny Slate, each representing the power of ensemble storytelling.
Reality, Variety, and Talk Series
The Emmys also celebrated non-scripted and variety programming. In the Reality Competition Program category, The Traitors (NBC) triumphed over stalwarts like The Amazing Race, Survivor, RuPaul’s Drag Race, and Top Chef.
The Outstanding Scripted Variety Series contenders were Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and Saturday Night Live, while talk shows such as The Daily Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert competed for honors.
Excellence in Writing
Writing categories honored the creative minds behind the shows. For drama, nominees ranged from Dan Gilroy (Andor) to Mike White (The White Lotus). In comedy, writers like Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary) and the creative team behind The Studio received recognition. Limited series writing nominees included Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham (Adolescence) and Charlie Brooker (Black Mirror).
Direction that Defined the Year
Directing achievements rounded out the evening. In drama, names such as Janus Metz (Andor), Amanda Marsalis (The Pitt), and Ben Stiller (Severance) were highlighted.
Comedy directing featured talents like Lucia Aniello (Hacks) and Ayo Edebiri (The Bear), with Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (The Studio) emerging victorious.
For limited series, Philip Barantini won for Adolescence, while others such as Helen Shaver (The Penguin) and Nicole Kassell (Sirens) represented the diversity of storytelling styles.
Opening Moments and Early Victories
The show wasted no time in delivering surprises. The very first award of the evening went to Seth Rogen, who claimed the Emmy for Best Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in The Studio. His win set the pace for a night full of unpredictable outcomes. Soon after, Jean Smart secured the Best Actress in a Comedy Series award for Hacks. Adding to the triumph for Hacks, Hannah Einbinder, Smart’s co-star, walked away with the trophy for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
Shocking Wins in Drama Categories
The drama categories were equally electrifying. Katherine LaNasa stunned audiences by winning Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in The Pitt. Her victory was particularly remarkable as she overcame stiff competition from four cast members of The White Lotus, one of the night’s most heavily nominated shows.
Another unexpected highlight came when Jeff Hiller claimed the Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series trophy for his work in Somebody Somewhere. His victory was especially notable because he edged past Harrison Ford, who had been nominated for his very first Emmy in Shrinking.
Landmark Achievement in Representation
One of the night’s historic moments came when Tramell Tillman earned the award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Severance. In doing so, he became the first Black man to achieve this distinction in Emmy history. His win was a milestone for representation and a celebrated breakthrough in the television industry.
Adding to the success of Severance, Tillman’s co-star Britt Lower triumphed in the Best Actress in a Drama Series category, cementing the Apple TV+ drama’s reputation as one of the evening’s big winners.
Major Drama Series Contenders
The night also spotlighted powerhouse productions in the drama category. Nominees included Andor (Disney+), The Diplomat (Netflix), The Last of Us ( HBO Max), Paradise (Hulu), The Pitt (HBO Max), Severance (Apple TV+), Slow Horses (Apple TV+), and The White Lotus (HBO Max). These shows represented a wide range of genres, from dystopian science fiction to political thrillers and psychological dramas, illustrating the evolving depth of modern television storytelling.
Comedy Showdowns
In comedy, the field was equally diverse. Contenders for Outstanding Comedy Series included Abbott Elementary (ABC), The Bear (Hulu), Hacks (HBO Max), Nobody Wants This (Netflix), Only Murders in the Building (Hulu), Shrinking (Apple TV+), The Studio (Apple TV+), and What We Do in the Shadows (Hulu). These nominees reflected how comedy has expanded beyond traditional sitcom formats into nuanced storytelling blending satire, heartfelt drama, and cultural commentary.
Limited and Anthology Series Spotlight
The Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series category brought together some of television’s most daring projects. Nominees included Adolescence (Netflix), Black Mirror (Netflix), Dying for Sex (Hulu), Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story (Netflix), and The Penguin (HBO Max). These limited series offered bold explorations of crime, morality, futuristic nightmares, and deeply personal narratives.
Acting Performances: Drama Series Highlights
For Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, nominees featured industry veterans and rising stars: Sterling K. Brown (Paradise), Gary Oldman (Slow Horses), Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us), Adam Scott (Severance), and Noah Wyle (The Pitt).
The Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series category showcased powerful performances from Kathy Bates (Matlock), Sharon Horgan (Bad Sisters), Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us), Keri Russell (The Diplomat), and winner Britt Lower (Severance).
Acting Performances: Comedy Series Highlights
The comedy categories brought equal star power. Nominees for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series included Adam Brody (Nobody Wants This), Jason Segel (Shrinking), Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building), Jeremy Allen White (The Bear), with Seth Rogen (The Studio) taking the win.
For Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, contenders included Uzo Aduba (The Residence), Kristen Bell (Nobody Wants This), Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary), Ayo Edebiri (The Bear), and winner Jean Smart (Hacks).
Limited Series Acting Standouts
In the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie category, performances by Colin Farrell (The Penguin), Stephen Graham (Adolescence), Jake Gyllenhaal (Presumed Innocent), Bryan Tyree Henry (Dope Thief), and Cooper Koch (Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story) were recognized.
For Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, the nominees included Cate Blanchett (Disclaimer), Meghan Fehy (Sirens), Rashida Jones (Black Mirror), Cristin Milioti (The Penguin), and Michelle Williams (Dying for Sex).
Supporting Roles that Stole the Show
Supporting performances often provided the evening’s most heartfelt stories. In comedy, Hannah Einbinder’s victory for Hacks and Jeff Hiller’s breakthrough in Somebody Somewhere stood out.
In drama, Katherine LaNasa’s surprise triumph in The Pitt and Tramell Tillman’s historic win for Severance made headlines.
In limited series categories, strong nominees included Javier Bardem, Bill Camp, Ruth Negga, Chloë Sevigny, and Jenny Slate, each representing the power of ensemble storytelling.
Reality, Variety, and Talk Series
The Emmys also celebrated non-scripted and variety programming. In the Reality Competition Program category, The Traitors (NBC) triumphed over stalwarts like The Amazing Race, Survivor, RuPaul’s Drag Race, and Top Chef.
The Outstanding Scripted Variety Series contenders were Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and Saturday Night Live, while talk shows such as The Daily Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert competed for honors.
Excellence in Writing
Writing categories honored the creative minds behind the shows. For drama, nominees ranged from Dan Gilroy (Andor) to Mike White (The White Lotus). In comedy, writers like Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary) and the creative team behind The Studio received recognition. Limited series writing nominees included Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham (Adolescence) and Charlie Brooker (Black Mirror).
Direction that Defined the Year
Directing achievements rounded out the evening. In drama, names such as Janus Metz (Andor), Amanda Marsalis (The Pitt), and Ben Stiller (Severance) were highlighted.
Comedy directing featured talents like Lucia Aniello (Hacks) and Ayo Edebiri (The Bear), with Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (The Studio) emerging victorious.
For limited series, Philip Barantini won for Adolescence, while others such as Helen Shaver (The Penguin) and Nicole Kassell (Sirens) represented the diversity of storytelling styles.
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