The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards delivered a mix of humor, heartfelt moments, and history-making wins on Sunday night at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
The night’s big winners included HBO’s medical drama The Pitt, Apple TV+’s sharp Hollywood satire The Studio, and Netflix’s chilling miniseries Adolescence. But what really set the evening apart were the viral moments from docked charity donations for long speeches to the youngest-ever supporting actor winner.
Nate Bargatze fines winners for long speeches
Host Nate Bargatze, known for his clean stand-up style, kept the show moving with a running gag. He pledged $100,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of North America, with $1,000 deducted for every second a winner ran over their speech time.
“It’s hard. It’s tough. It’s brutal. But these are the rules,” he told the audience.
Some stars played along, others ignored it. Seth Rogen kept his speech short, losing only $6,000. But The Pitt star Katherine LaNasa blew past the clock, leading Bargatze to call it “a very expensive wave.” At one point, the total dropped to -$26,000, which Bargatze joked meant he was “making money.” The night ended with a feel-good twist: Bargatze added $250,000 to his pledge and CBS chipped in another $100,000.
A shy 15-year-old makes Emmys history
Netflix’s Adolescence, a drama about a boy accused of murder, dominated the miniseries category. It won best series, plus acting awards for Owen Cooper and Erin Doherty.
Cooper, just 15, became the youngest supporting actor to win in his category. On stage, he gave presenter Sydney Sweeney a shy hug before a short but emotional speech.
“It means so much to me, my family, people back home. It just means a lot,” he said backstage.
Director Philip Barantini added that they made the show in Yorkshire to spark discussion about knife crime in the UK, never expecting it to become a global hit.
Trammell Tillman breaks barriers
Severance star Trammell Tillman became the first Black man to win an Emmy for supporting actor in a drama in the show’s 77-year history.
Tillman dedicated the award to his mother, his “first acting coach,” and paid tribute to past nominees like Andre Braugher and Michael K. Williams. He later said he was proud to bring authenticity to his character, Seth Milchick.
Big wins for The Pitt and The Studio
HBO’s The Pitt triumphed over Severance to win best drama. Creator R. Scott Gemmill dedicated the win to healthcare workers and first responders. Lead actor Noah Wyle called his award “a dream,” while Katherine LaNasa also picked up supporting actress for her role as a tough charge nurse.
Meanwhile, Seth Rogen’s satire The Studio kept piling up trophies in its first season. Backstage, Rogen laughed that carrying them all was “getting embarrassing.”
Colbert gets a standing ovation after cancellation
Stephen Colbert, whose Late Show was cancelled earlier this year, won for outstanding talk series. The crowd gave him a standing ovation and chanted his name.
“I want to thank CBS for giving us the privilege of being part of the late night tradition,” he said. Backstage, he admitted he doesn’t yet know what’s next, only that he’s ready to get back to work.
Politics on the red carpet and stage
Not all speeches stuck to show business. Hacks star Hannah Einbinder ended hers with “Free Palestine” and a condemnation of U.S. immigration authorities. She later said it was her duty “as a Jewish person to distinguish Jews from the State of Israel.”
Her comments came days after film workers urged a boycott of Israeli institutions, a proposal that Paramount (CBS’s parent company) publicly rejected. Oscar-winner Javier Bardem, nominated for Netflix’s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, signed the petition and wore a keffiyeh on the red carpet. Too Much actress Megan Stalter also made a statement with a purse reading “Cease Fire!”
