LOS ANGELES – Searing teen murder saga Adolescence was the big winner at the Emmy Awards on Sept 14 (Sept 15, Singapore time), claiming eight prizes including best limited series, while The Pitt prevailed in a tight race for best drama at television’s equivalent of the Oscars.
Seth Rogen’s Hollywood satire The Studio dominated the comedy categories, earning best series honours and an overall total of 13 Emmys – a new record for comedies.
Adolescence was arguably 2025’s most-talked-about TV hit. The British series for Netflix is a grim, cautionary tale of a fictional 13-year-old schoolboy arrested on suspicion of murdering a female classmate with a knife.
Its examination of toxic masculinity among young boys, and the horrific messages they are exposed to via smartphones and social media, prompted debate around the world.
“We never expected our little programme to have such a big impact,” said co-creator Stephen Graham, who plays the teen suspect’s father.
The series earned a whopping 140 million views in its first three months on Netflix. Each of its four episodes were shot in a single take.
Adolescence won a total of eight Emmys, including best limited series – awarded to shows that end after one season – as well as prizes for writing, directing, lead actor, supporting actress and supporting actor.
Best supporting actor went to 15-year-old Owen Cooper, who became the youngest male actor to win an Emmy.
“When I started drama classes a couple of years back, I didn’t expect to be even in the United States, never mind here,” he said.
Owen Cooper, winner of the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie award for Adolescence, on Sept 14.
PHOTO: AFP
The Pitt won best drama series – the night’s final prize, and arguably its most surprising moment.
It is a medical drama reminiscent of ER (1994 to 2009), with the twist that all 15 episodes are set consecutively during the same unbearably stressful shift at an inner-city Pittsburgh hospital.
Tackling everything from abortion rights to mass shootings, The Pitt received little fanfare on its release, but became a word-of-mouth sensation.
ER veteran Noah Wyle won best drama actor for his performance as the emergency room’s haunted leader.
“Anybody who is going on shift tonight or coming off shift tonight, thank you for being in that job – this is for you,” he said.
The Pitt’s Katherine LaNasa won best supporting actress.
Katherine LaNasa and Noah Wyle during the 77th annual Emmy Awards ceremony held in Los Angeles on Sept 14.
PHOTO: EPA
Pundits had considered the race too close to call, with sci-fi office thriller Severance considered difficult to beat.
A psychological drama set largely in the near-future offices of a shadowy corporation, it had the most nominations of any show in 2025 with 27.
The premise: The “innie” employees of Lumon Industries quite literally leave their outside lives, memories and personalities at the door, thanks to a dystopian new mind-splitting technology.
Its star Britt Lower won best actress and Tramell Tillman won best supporting actor.
Actress Britt Lower during the 77th annual Emmy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, California, on Sept 14.
PHOTO: EPA
The Studio – both a love letter to the industry and a searing send-up of its many hypocrisies, insecurities and moral failings – was named best comedy series.
Rogen, its co-creator, won best actor for his role as a floundering movie executive. The show also claimed writing and directing prizes.
It had earned nine statuettes last weekend at a separate ceremony for the more technical Emmy categories.
(From left) Dewayne Perkins, Keyla Monterroso Mejia, Kathryn Hahn, Chase Sui Wonders, Seth Rogen, Ike Barinholtz and Bryan Cranston during the 77th annual Emmy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles.
PHOTO: EPA
The best comedy actress Emmy again went to Jean Smart – her fourth for Hacks. Hannah Einbinder finally won best supporting actress as the long-suffering assistant to Smart’s late-night comedienne.
Einbinder used her speech to describe the agency behind most of US President Donald Trump’s recent immigration raids with an expletive – muted by broadcasting network CBS – before adding “Free Palestine”.
Actress Jean Smart (right) and co-star Hannah Einbinder during the 77th annual Emmy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on Sept 14.
PHOTO: EPA
Television’s equivalent of the Oscars had promised to steer clear of politics.
In one of the night’s loudest moments, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert finally won best variety talk series. The late-night US television staple will end in 2026.
CBS has denied the cancellation is related to parent company Paramount’s US$16 million (S$20.5 million) settlement with Mr Trump. Its host Colbert – a regular critic of the US president – had dubbed the payment “a big fat bribe”.
Comedian and talk show host Stephen Colbert (centre) with the best talk show award at the 77th annual Emmy Awards in Los Angeles.
PHOTO: EPA
Emmys host Nate Bargatze spent much of the evening focused on his novel initiative to keep winners’ speeches short.
The comedian pledged to donate US$100,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
The catch? He deducted US$1,000 for every second that a winner’s acceptance speech exceeded the allotted 45 seconds – and added money back on for speeches that ran short.
“Don’t go crazy, because I am paying for this,” quipped Bargatze.
A money counter ran on-screen for much of the gala, but was quietly removed as the evening wore on. The show ended with Bargatze and others pledging large donations that more than covered any deductions. AFP
Outstanding drama series: The Pitt
Outstanding comedy series: The Studio
Outstanding limited or anthology series: Adolescence
Lead actor, drama: Noah Wyle, The Pitt
Lead actress, drama: Britt Lower, Severance
Supporting actor, drama: Tramell Tillman, Severance
Supporting actress, drama: Katherine LaNasa, The Pitt
Lead actor, comedy: Seth Rogen, The Studio
Lead actress, comedy: Jean Smart, Hacks
Supporting actor, comedy: Jeff Hiller, Somebody Somewhere
Supporting actress, comedy: Hannah Einbinder, Hacks
Lead actor, limited series or movie: Stephen Graham, Adolescence
Lead actress, limited series or movie: Cristin Milioti, The Penguin
Supporting actor, limited series or movie: Owen Cooper, Adolescence
Supporting actress, limited series or movie: Erin Doherty, Adolescence
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.straitstimes.com ’
