Emmys 2025: 'Adolescence' scores six wins, 'The Studio' breaks comedy record

The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards turned into a celebration of both Hollywood satire and gripping drama, with Apple TV+ comedy 'The Studio' sweeping the comedy categories, Netflix’s 'Adolescence' dominating the limited series awards, and HBO Max’s 'The Pitt' taking top drama honours.

'The Studio' set the tone for the night, winning Best Comedy Series and breaking a record with 13 Emmy victories in a single season. “I’m legitimately embarrassed by how happy this makes me,” co-creator Seth Rogen said, giggling as he celebrated alongside cast and crew. Rogen personally collected four awards, including Best Directing with collaborator Evan Goldberg, and Best Writing alongside Goldberg and others.
The first season of 'The Studio' had already generated blockbuster buzz, and the Emmys embraced its satirical take on the movie business, complete with A-list guest stars and witty critiques of Hollywood self-importance.

In drama, 'The Pitt' took home Best Drama Series, with star Noah Wyle winning Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. This marked Wyle’s first Emmy after five nominations for his work on ER in the 1990s. Katherine LaNasa also earned Best Supporting Actress for the HBO Max medical series, triumphing over favorites like 'Severance' and 'The White Lotus'.

'Adolescence' triumphs
Netflix’s critically acclaimed 'Adolescence', which follows a 13-year-old in Britain accused of murder, collected six awards. Among them, Stephen Graham won Best Actor, and 15-year-old Owen Cooper took home Best Supporting Actor, making him the youngest male performer to win any acting Emmy in over 40 years. Cooper, overwhelmed by the moment, reflected on his journey: “Honestly, when I started these drama classes a couple years back, I didn’t expect to be even in the United States, never mind here. Tonight proves that if you focus and step out of your comfort zone, you can achieve anything.”

Erin Doherty won Best Supporting Actress for her role as a therapist opposite Cooper, while Graham also earned a writing Emmy for the series.
Cristin Milioti won Best Actress in a Limited Series for 'The Penguin', marking the first win of the night for the HBO series based in the Batman universe after eight Creative Arts Emmy wins.

Severance stars score first-time wins
Apple TV+’s 'Severance' continued its strong showing with first-time Emmy wins for Britt Lower (Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series) and Tramell Tillman (Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series). Tillman paid tribute to his mother during his acceptance speech, while Lower’s victory was a surprise over heavy favourite Kathy Bates for 'Matlock'.

Comedy honours and surprise winners
Jean Smart extended her own record at 73 by winning Best Actress in a Comedy Series for 'Hacks', her fourth Emmy in the category. Smart’s co-star Hannah Einbinder took Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, delivering a spirited speech that concluded with a political statement.
Jeff Hiller’s win for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for 'Somebody Somewhere' was one of the night’s biggest upsets, surpassing favorites like Ike Barinholtz of 'The Studio'.

Opening night highlights
Stephen Colbert opened the ceremony with a rousing standing ovation despite the recent cancellation of his show by CBS. He later took home Best Talk Series for 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert'. Host Nate Bargatze delivered his opening monologue after the first award was presented, while a sketch featuring 'Saturday Night Live' stars Mikey Day, Bowen Yang, and James Austin Johnson poked fun at television’s future.
With a mix of record-breaking wins, surprise upsets, and heartfelt speeches, the 2025 Emmys celebrated the breadth and diversity of television over the past year.