Fez – The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, held on September 14 in Los Angeles, saw a dramatic sweep by Netflix’s provocative miniseries “Adolescence,” which took home eight awards after stirring national debate in the UK and beyond.
The coming-of-age courtroom drama tells the story of a 13-year-old British boy accused of murdering a classmate, and explores the toxic influence of social media and misogynistic ideologies on young men.
“Adolescence” was named Best Limited Series, with additional wins for directing, writing, and supporting actor categories. Erin Doherty and Owen Cooper were recognized for their standout performances, while Stephen Graham won Best Actor for his portrayal of a father confronting the dark truth about his son.
Owen Cooper, just 15 years old, became the youngest Emmy winner in history. “When I started acting classes a few years ago, I never imagined I’d end up in the U.S., let alone on this stage,” he said in his acceptance speech.
Also making headlines was Apple TV+’s Hollywood satire “The Studio,” which broke records by winning 13 Emmys—more than any debut comedy in Emmy history. Co-creator Seth Rogen earned Best Actor for playing a creatively flailing studio executive. “I did not expect this. I literally prepared nothing,” Rogen admitted on stage. The series also won Best Comedy Series, along with awards for directing and writing.
Veteran series “Hacks” also returned to the spotlight, with Jean Smart winning her fourth Emmy for Best Actress in a Comedy for her role as a seasoned stand-up comedian. Her co-star Hannah Einbinder won Best Supporting Actress—but made headlines for her acceptance speech, in which she condemned ICE and shouted “Free Palestine!” amid a politically sensitive week following the assassination of pro-Trump influencer Charlie Kirk.
In the drama category, HBO Max’s “The Pitt” was crowned Best Drama Series. The high-intensity medical show follows a single hospital shift over 15 episodes, tackling controversial issues from abortion rights to mass shootings. Lead actor Noah Wyle, known for his role in the ’90s classic “ER,” won Best Actor and dedicated the award to emergency workers.
Katherine LaNasa won Best Supporting Actress for her role in “The Pitt,” which narrowly edged out sci-fi contender “Severance.” The second season of “Severance” earned Britt Lower the award for Best Actress in a Drama.
Host Nate Bargatze attempted to keep speeches short with an unusual pledge: a $100,000 donation to youth support programs, reduced by $1,000 for every second a winner exceeded the 45-second time limit. Though the tally fell into the negative, Bargatze confirmed he would honor the full donation.
