The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, one of television’s most prestigious nights, brought both expected victories and unexpected twists. Hosted by comedian Nate Bargatze, the ceremony celebrated the year’s most talked-about series while also delivering a few shocking results.
Apple TV+’s Severance, with a leading 27 nominations, took home the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Britt Lower. Yet, the biggest surprise of the night came when the low-budget medical drama The Pitt beat out frontrunners to win Outstanding Drama Series. Its earlier win for Best Ensemble Cast had hinted at its momentum, but few predicted such a dramatic victory.
Meanwhile, The White Lotus, a past Emmy powerhouse with 16 wins to date, walked away empty-handed despite 23 nominations. Adding to the shock, Katherine LaNasa of The Pitt triumphed in the Supporting Actress in a Drama category, besting The White Lotus stars Carrie Coon, Parker Posey, and Natasha Rothwell.
Veteran actress Kathy Bates, who was considered a strong contender for her role in CBS’s Matlock, lost the Lead Actress in a Drama award to Britt Lower. At 77, Bates became the oldest nominee in this category but left the ceremony without a win.
Comedy provided one of the night’s most heartfelt moments when Jeff Hiller, relatively unknown to mainstream audiences, won Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy for Somebody Somewhere. His emotional acceptance speech drew warm applause.
In the limited series category, Adolescence emerged as a major winner, with creator and star Stephen Graham claiming Best Actor in a Limited Series, leaving Colin Farrell (The Penguin) without a prize.
Ultimately, the 77th Emmy Awards will be remembered as a night that balanced predictable triumphs with surprising upsets, ensuring its place in television history.