Down Time: What happened at the 2025 Emmy Awards Ceremony!?
The 2025 Emmy Awards, which took place on September 14, delivered a memorable evening with historic wins, showstopping reunions, and notable behind-the-scenes moments. I enjoyed watching the show—for the first time in years, I had managed to see most of the nominees, and I had some serious opinions about who I thought should win!
There were upsets and surprises galore, the main one being that the show was actually entertaining to watch! Lately, it seems every awards ceremony devolves into a boring festival celebrating mediocrity, but this year’s Emmys was a hoot! Here’s my summary of the night’s highlights, including the key winners (and losers!) and some of the evening’s most interesting anecdotes.
Major Winners of the Night
The Apple TV+ comedy "The Studio" dominated the ceremony, setting a new record by securing 13 awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series and recognition for Seth Rogen in both acting and directing roles. The show beat out the likes of “Abbott Elementary,” “Only Murders in the Building” and “The Bear” (inexplicably included in the Comedy category again) for the win.
While I enjoyed the show, I found it too chaotic and all over the place. That being said, it’s nice to see funny comedies making their way back to television. Jean Smart earned her seventh career Emmy, winning for the fourth season of "Hacks” – I have only seen the first few episodes of this show, and I didn’t think it was very funny, but maybe it’s gotten better since season one?
Tramell Tillman made history as the first black man to win Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his performance in "Severance." His work on the show was excellent, and the award was well deserved. He dedicated the award to his mother and attended the event with her.
“The Pitt” Takes the Drama Prize
In drama, HBO Max’s "The Pitt" captured Outstanding Drama Series, outpacing tough competition from acclaimed series like "Severance" and "The White Lotus." “The Pitt” was excellent and heart pounding. I’ve told everyone I know to watch it, especially anyone working in the medical field. I have no idea how accurate the show is, but if it’s even half accurate, the things doctors and nurses have to put up with on a daily basis are borderline criminal. “Severance” was excellent this year, but I found season three of “White Lotus” to be a let down from the excellent season two.
Noah Wyle won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his performance in "The Pitt," a remarkable milestone 26 years after his first nomination. He beat out several other big names, including Adam Scott from “Severance” and Pedro Pascal from “The Last of Us.” “The Pitt” is the spiritual successor to Wyle’s other famous medical show, “ER,” although being on HBO, this show it MUCH more graphic. Get ready to look away!!!!
Notable Moments and Behind-the-Scenes Tidbits
The ceremony included several heartfelt and unexpected occurrences:
The ceremony was masterfully hosted by comedian Nate Bargatze, who kept spirits high with his wit and ability to improvise. A much-debated charity donation meter gag, which raised money for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, divided opinion online.
CBS’s "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" took home its first Emmy for Outstanding Talk Series, earning a rare standing ovation as Colbert’s program prepares to end in 2026.
Emotional reunions energized the night, including cast members from "Gilmore Girls," "Everybody Loves Raymond," and "Law & Order" sharing touching tributes to classic television. The stage transformed into Lorelai and Rory’s porch for the highly anticipated "Gilmore Girls" reunion, followed by a musical tribute to "The Golden Girls" given its 40th anniversary, starring Reba McEntire and Little Big Town, that had people in the audience dancing and singing along.
The ceremony opened with a futuristic sketch filled with references to TV’s evolution, featuring Nate Bargatze and "Saturday Night Live" favorites.
Hannah Einbinder from “Hacks” celebrated her first Emmy win for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, sharing a humorous and candid speech referencing her underdog status.
The 2025 Emmys will be remembered not only for its record-breaking winners but also for its spirit of camaraderie and celebration, reflecting both the prestige and the heart of the television community.
