The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards delivered a series of unforgettable moments—from financial incentives to shorten acceptance speeches to historic firsts and emotionally charged messages of gratitude.
Among the night’s top honorees were HBO’s medical drama The Pitt, Apple TV+’s satirical The Studio, and Netflix’s gripping miniseries Adolescence.
Tramell Tillman etched his name into Emmy history as the first Black actor to win the award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.
Meanwhile, The Late Show’s Stephen Colbert secured a major victory, buoyed by support from his fellow nominees following the abrupt cancellation of his show.
Host Nate Bargatze kept the ceremony lively with a recurring joke that imposed a financial penalty on overly long speeches, deducting from a charity pledge if winners exceeded their time limits.
Adolescence Dominates the Miniseries Category
The psychological thriller Adolescence, created by Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne, swept the miniseries category. The show, which revolves around a 13-year-old boy accused of murder, earned accolades for Best Series and brought individual wins to Owen Cooper and supporting actress Erin Doherty.
Fifteen-year-old Cooper became the youngest winner in his category and offered a touching acceptance speech after a bashful embrace with presenter Sydney Sweeney.
“This means so much to me, my family, and people back home,” he said backstage, visibly emotional.
Director Philip Barantini revealed the show was shot in Yorkshire and aimed to spark discussion about knife crime in the UK, though he admitted he never anticipated its global resonance.
The Studio Scores a Comedy Triumph
Seth Rogen’s Hollywood satire The Studio racked up multiple awards during its debut season. The Apple TV+ series featured a talented ensemble including Dewayne Perkins, Keyla Monterroso Mejia, Kathryn Hahn, Chase Sui Wonders, Ike Barinholtz, and Bryan Cranston.
Backstage, a visibly overwhelmed Rogen, arms full of trophies, joked, “It’s getting embarrassing.” However, he notably omitted a nod to his fictional character’s sidekick, Sal Saperstein, during his acceptance speech.
The Pitt Edges Out Severance
In the hotly contested Best Drama Series category, HBO’s The Pitt triumphed over the mind-bending Severance. The medical drama clinched the award alongside a Best Lead Actor win for Noah Wyle, who described the recognition as “a dream.”
Creator R. Scott Gemmill dedicated the award to healthcare professionals and first responders, urging the audience to “respect them, protect them, trust them.”
Earlier in the night, Katherine LaNasa also secured the Best Supporting Actress award for her role as charge nurse Dana in the same series.
Host Nate Bargatze's High-Stakes Gag
Debut host Nate Bargatze earned laughs and applause with his creative approach to timekeeping. He pledged $100,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of North America, with a $1,000 deduction for every second winners exceeded their speech time.
“This is a game I made up and these are the rules,” he quipped in his monologue.
While most recipients disregarded the rule or vowed to compensate the lost funds, the running gag remained a highlight. Seth Rogen kept his speech brief, adding only $6,000 to the tally. In contrast, Katherine LaNasa’s extended remarks resulted in what Bargatze dubbed “a very expensive wave.”
At one point, the donation balance plunged to -$26,000, prompting the host to jest, “I’m actually making money.”
In a heartwarming finale, Bargatze pledged $250,000, and CBS, the broadcaster, topped it with an additional $100,000.
Tillman’s Historic Win
Tramell Tillman of Severance became the first Black man in the 77-year history of the Emmys to win Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. In his acceptance speech, Tillman honored his mother, calling her his first acting coach.
Backstage, he paid tribute to past nominees including Andre Braugher, Ossie Davis, and Michael K. Williams. Tillman spoke of his character’s racial consciousness within the fictional world of Lumon, expressing pride in telling that story authentically.
Colbert’s Gracious Moment After Cancellation
Despite the cancellation of The Late Show by CBS earlier this year, Stephen Colbert received a standing ovation as he took the stage. Holding up an old headshot, he jokingly appealed for new employment.
Winning Outstanding Talk Series, Colbert thanked CBS “for the privilege of being part of the late-night tradition.” He later shared with reporters that he had no immediate plans but was eager to return to work by Tuesday.
Political Commentary on Gaza
Hannah Einbinder of Hacks concluded her acceptance speech by condemning US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and declaring “Free Palestine.” Wearing a red pin, she later clarified backstage that her remarks aimed to distinguish between Judaism and the actions of the State of Israel.
Her comments came amid growing Hollywood activism regarding the Gaza war. The group Film Workers for Palestine had recently called for a boycott of certain Israeli-linked institutions. Paramount, CBS’s parent company, became the first major studio to publicly oppose the movement.
Among the supporters of the petition was Oscar-winner Javier Bardem, who wore a keffiyeh on the red carpet. Actress Megan Stalter of Hacks and Too Much also made a statement, carrying a handbag inscribed with “Cease Fire!”
Source: BBC
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