This year’s Emmys were one of the most unpredictable ones to date. Numerous celebrities won big, either by receiving their first-ever award or by becoming the first-ever in a category. There were certainly some unforgettable moments, so here is a recap of the night’s highlights.
Gilmore Girls Reunion
The 2025 Emmys must have been the night for reunions, as there were quite a few. One that ignited excitement in the crowd was between Gilmore Girls stars Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel. The former co-stars, who played mother and daughter Lorelai and Rory on the show, stood on a stage that resembled their Stars Hollow set. The two honored the 25th anniversary of the beloved series that put out seven seasons and broke the internet by saying, “…a show called Gilmore Girls apparently took the season of fall hostage.”
Tramell Tillman Wins Best Supporting Drama
Not only did Tramell Tillman win his first Emmy award, but he also made history. The Severance star became the first Black man to ever win the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role in the Apple TV+ show. In his speech, he thanked the academy and his mother, whom he described as his “toughest acting coach.”
A Big Night for Seth Rogen
Seth Rogen had a monumental evening at the ceremony, taking home four awards for his Apple TV+ series, The Studio. He received awards for creating, directing, writing, and acting in his show. These awards consisted of Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series—which was his first acting Emmy—Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series, and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series. He broke the record for most Emmys won by a single individual in one night and earned 13 total awards for his show, which also set a record for most wins by a comedy series in a single season.
Stephen Colbert Receives a Standing Ovation
As ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ enters its final season, the broadcast show just took home its first Emmy for best talk series this year. Many questioned the timing of this victory, as CBS had announced the show’s cancellation just months earlier. The late-night show host was greeted with a standing ovation while presenting the first award of the evening, and ended by joking that he now needed a job. Later, when the presenter announced Colbert as the winner of Outstanding Talk Series, the audience began chanting his name.
Youngest-Ever Male Emmy Award Winner
It certainly was a night of firsts for many, but there was one that was an exceptional accomplishment. At the young age of 15, Owen Cooper became the youngest male actor to win an Emmy Award in any category. He was named Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series for his breakout role in Adolescence. Cooper moved the crowd by stating that he ”was nothing about three years ago” in his acceptance speech.
Jeff Hiller Upstages Harrison Ford
In a shocking turn of events, Jeff Hiller won Best Comedy Supporting Actor for Somebody Somewhere over Hollywood icon Harrison Ford. The legend had earned some of the most complimentary reviews for his role on his Apple TV+ comedy, which was expected to win. So, when Hiller’s name was called up to accept his first-ever Emmy award, not only was he surprised, but everyone in the audience was in utter disbelief.
Speech on One Side, Therapy Notes on the Other
The Penguin star, Cristin Milioti, became yet another celebrity who won their very first Emmy award at the 77th Annual show. She gave an unforgettable speech for being named Outstanding Actress in a Limited Series or Movie. In her opening remark, Milioti acknowledged the fact that she had written her speech on the back of her therapy by saying, ‘…don’t look at the back.’ She then went on to thank her family and friends for supporting and helping her throughout her life.
Now that the 2025 Emmys are under wraps, one could only wonder what is to expect next year. Perhaps additional records may be broken, or perhaps some new first-time victories. I’m confident that after the eventful night at this year’s ceremony, everyone will be glued to their TVs next year to witness the exciting moments.