The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards nominations were announced on July 15, 2025, and Apple TV+’s psychological thriller *Severance* has taken the lead with an impressive 27 nominations, the highest for any series this year.
The dystopian workplace drama, which captivated audiences with its second season, has solidified its place as a cultural phenomenon, earning nods across major categories, including Best Drama Series, Best Actor (Adam Scott), Best Actress (Britt Lower), and multiple supporting actor and actress categories for Tramell Tillman, Zach Cherry, John Turturro, and Patricia Arquette. Directed by Ben Stiller, who also received a nomination, *Severance* has been praised for its innovative storytelling and gripping exploration of corporate life.
Following closely is HBO’s *The Penguin*, a dark comic book limited series, which secured 24 nominations, including a nod for Colin Farrell. Tied at 23 nominations each are Apple TV+’s freshman comedy *The Studio* and HBO’s *The White Lotus*. *The Studio*, a satirical take on modern Hollywood, made history by tying the record for the most nominations for a comedy series in a single year, matching *The Bear*’s 2024 haul of 23 and surpassing *Ted Lasso*’s previous record of 20 for a debut comedy season.
The series also earned nominations for stars Seth Rogen, Catherine O’Hara, Kathryn Hahn, and even secured first-ever acting nods for Martin Scorsese and Ron Howard for their guest roles.
HBO’s *The White Lotus* continued its awards dominance with 23 nominations for its Thailand-set third season, with standout performances from nominees Carrie Coon, Natasha Rothwell, Parker Posey, Jason Isaacs, Walton Goggins, and Aimee Lou Wood.
Other notable contenders include HBO’s *The Last of Us* with 16 nominations, Disney+’s *Andor* and HBO’s *Hacks* with 14 each, and *Adolescence*, *The Bear*, and *The Pitt*, each with 13 nominations.
Among streaming platforms, HBO led with a record-breaking 142 nominations, surpassing its previous high of 140 in 2020. Netflix followed with 107 nominations, while Apple TV+ secured a strong 79, bolstered by the success of *Severance*, *The Studio*, *Slow Horses*, and *Shrinking*.
The 2025 Emmy race also saw first-time nominees, including Harrison Ford for his supporting role in *Shrinking*, Jenny Slate for *Dying for Sex*, Tramell Tillman for *Severance*, Cristin Milioti for *The Penguin*, and 15-year-old Owen Cooper, who became the youngest nominee ever for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series for Netflix’s *Adolescence*. Additionally, Kathy Bates, at 77, made history as the oldest nominee for Best Drama Actress for her role in *Matlock*.
The 77th Emmy Awards, hosted by comedian Nate Bargatze, will air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+ from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on September 14, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Creative Arts Emmy Awards, honoring technical and craft achievements, will take place on September 6-7, leading up to the main ceremony.
With a competitive field of past winners like *Shogun*, *Hacks*, and *Baby Reindeer* alongside breakout newcomers, this year’s Emmys promise to celebrate the best of television in an era of “peak TV.”
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As final voting by the Television Academy’s 24,000 members runs from August 18 to August 27, anticipation is building for which series will take home the gold. Will *Severance*’s mind-bending narrative clinch the top drama prize, or will *The Studio*’s comedic brilliance steal the spotlight? Stay tuned for what promises to be an unforgettable night in television.
