2025 Emmy Nominations: Severance Leads With Most Nods

The Television Academy officially announced the nominations for the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, marking a monumental celebration of the best in television for 2024–2025. The ceremony is set to air live on September 14, 2025, on CBS and will be hosted by acclaimed comedian Nate Bargatze. This year’s nominations not only honor major industry players but also recognize several new breakout stars, shows, and studios across drama, comedy, limited series, and more.

Leading Nominees: Series and Platforms

Severance Tops All with 27 Nominations

Apple TV+’s dystopian workplace thriller Severance leads the pack with an impressive 27 nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series and several acting categories. The series continues to receive widespread critical acclaim for its inventive storytelling and strong performances.

The Penguin Makes a Splash with 24 Nods

Following closely behind is The Penguin, an HBO Max limited series that expands the Batman universe with a gritty crime saga centered on Oswald Cobblepot. Its high production value and powerful performances earned it 24 nominations, solidifying its place as a major Emmy contender.

The Studio and The White Lotus Tie for Third

Apple TV+’s satirical industry comedy The Studio and HBO’s returning anthology The White Lotus both received 23 nominations each. The Studio has been praised for its sharp critique of Hollywood, while The White Lotus continues to impress with its shift in setting and fresh ensemble cast.

Platform and Studio Breakdown

• HBO Max broke its own record, leading the platform race with 142 total nominations, dominating across drama, comedy, and variety categories.

• Netflix follows with 120 nominations, driven by shows like The Diplomat and Black Mirror.

• Apple TV+, despite having a smaller content library, delivered 81 nominations, reflecting strong quality across its original programming.

• Warner Bros. Television Group received 60 nominations, more than any other studio this year, showcasing its consistent production of award-worthy content.

Emmy 2025 Hosts and Announcement

The nominations were revealed during a special live presentation hosted by Brenda Song, star of Running Point, and Harvey Guillén, known for his role in What We Do in the Shadows. The official Emmy ceremony will take place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, promising a star-studded evening as top nominees gather to celebrate TV’s highest honor.

Major Award Categories and Nominees

Outstanding Drama Series

Eight diverse and critically acclaimed series made it to the final list:

• Andor (Disney+)

• The Diplomat (Netflix)

• The Last of Us (HBO)

• Paradise (Amazon Prime Video)

• The Pitt (NBC)

• Severance (Apple TV+)

• Slow Horses (Apple TV+)

• The White Lotus (HBO)

These shows represent a wide spectrum of genres, from science fiction and political intrigue to psychological thrillers and character-driven drama.

Outstanding Comedy Series

This category is filled with both returning favorites and new hits:

• Abbott Elementary (ABC)

• The Bear (FX/Hulu)

• Hacks (Max)

• Nobody Wants This (Peacock)

• Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)

• Shrinking (Apple TV+)

• The Studio (Apple TV+)

• What We Do in the Shadows (FX)

The Bear and The Studio are among the frontrunners, with both shows dominating the acting and writing categories as well.

Outstanding Limited Series

The limited/anthology format continues to thrive with a competitive lineup:

• Adolescence (Netflix)

• Black Mirror (Netflix)

• Dying for Sex (Amazon)

• Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story (Hulu)

• The Penguin (HBO)

These series address a range of themes from real-life crime dramas to speculative fiction and personal transformation.

Top Acting Categories

Lead Actor in a Drama Series

• Sterling K. Brown for Paradise

• Gary Oldman for Slow Horses

• Pedro Pascal for The Last of Us

• Adam Scott for Severance

• Noah Wyle for The Pitt

Veterans and rising stars face off in a race where strong performances anchored their shows.

Lead Actress in a Drama Series

• Kathy Bates for Matlock

• Sharon Horgan for Bad Sisters

• Britt Lower for Severance

• Bella Ramsey for The Last of Us

• Keri Russell for The Diplomat

These nominees brought emotional complexity and intensity to their characters in politically and emotionally charged series.

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Nominees include standout performers from Severance and The White Lotus:

• Zach Cherry

• Walton Goggins

• Jason Isaacs

• James Marsden

• Sam Rockwell

• Tramell Tillman

• John Turturro

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

• Patricia Arquette (Severance)

• Carrie Coon (The White Lotus)

• Katherine LaNasa (The Pitt)

• Julianne Nicholson (Paradise)

• Parker Posey (The White Lotus)

• Natasha Rothwell (The White Lotus)

• Aimee Lou Wood (The White Lotus)

The White Lotus dominated this category, reinforcing its ensemble strength.

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

• Adam Brody for Nobody Wants This

• Seth Rogen for The Studio

• Jason Segel for Shrinking

• Martin Short for Only Murders in the Building

• Jeremy Allen White for The Bear

White, who won last year, could take the title again with a critically praised second season.

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

• Uzo Aduba for The Residence

• Kristen Bell for Nobody Wants This

• Quinta Brunson for Abbott Elementary

• Ayo Edebiri for The Bear

• Jean Smart for Hacks

Limited Series Acting Highlights

Lead Actor

• Colin Farrell (The Penguin)

• Stephen Graham (Adolescence)

• Jake Gyllenhaal (Presumed Innocent)

• Brian Tyree Henry (Dope Thief)

• Cooper Koch (Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story)

Lead Actress

• Cate Blanchett (Disclaimer)

• Meghann Fahy (Sirens)

• Rashida Jones (Black Mirror)

• Cristin Milioti (The Penguin)

• Michelle Williams (Dying for Sex)

Variety, Reality, and Talk Categories

Outstanding Reality/Competition Series

• The Traitors

• RuPaul’s Drag Race

• The Amazing Race

• Survivor

• Top Chef

Outstanding Talk Series

• Jimmy Kimmel Live!

• The Daily Show

• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Outstanding Variety Special (Live)

• Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show (Kendrick Lamar)

• Beyoncé Bowl (Netflix)

• The Oscars (ABC)

• SNL50 Anniversary Special (NBC)

• SNL50 Homecoming Concert (Peacock)

Guest Performer Highlights

Guest Actor in a Comedy

• Jon Bernthal (The Bear)

• Bryan Cranston, Dave Franco, Ron Howard, Anthony Mackie, Martin Scorsese (The Studio)

Guest Actress in a Comedy

• Olivia Colman, Jamie Lee Curtis (The Bear)

• Cynthia Erivo (Poker Face)

• Robby Hoffman, Julianne Nicholson (Hacks)

• Zoë Kravitz (The Studio)

Guest Actor in a Drama

• Giancarlo Esposito (The Boys)

• Scott Glenn (The White Lotus)

• Shawn Hatosy (The Pitt)

• Joe Pantoliano, Jeffrey Wright (The Last of Us)

• Forest Whitaker (Andor)

Guest Actress in a Drama

• Jane Alexander, Gwendoline Christie, Merritt Wever (Severance)

• Kaitlyn Dever, Catherine O’Hara (The Last of Us)

• Cherry Jones (The Handmaid’s Tale)

A Competitive and Diverse Emmy Season

The 77th Emmy Awards signal a strong shift toward streaming-driven content, with Apple TV+, HBO Max, and Netflix dominating top categories. Returning champions like Severance and The White Lotus face stiff competition from fresh entries like The Penguin, Paradise, and The Studio. With an evolving mix of traditional TV, digital-first content, and limited series format thriving, the 2025 Emmys reflect the ever-changing landscape of storytelling.

Stay tuned for the live ceremony on September 14, as the television industry comes together to honor its brightest stars and most compelling narratives.