It was a very good year for American television. On September 14 (Pacific Standard Time), the 2025 Emmy Awards saw multiple stars, shows, and studios make historical wins and set new, groundbreaking records.
Tramell Tillman, who received his first-ever Emmy nomination this year for his role as the sinister Mr. Milchick in Severance, made history as the first Black man to win the Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. Amidst the uproar of applause from the star-studded audience, Tillman dedicated his acceptance speech to his mother. “My first acting coach was tough, y’all,” said Tillman, “but all great mothers are. Mama, you were there for me when no one else was and no one else would show up. Your loving kindness stays with me, and this is for you. Thank you to the Academy. I am full. I am humbled. I am honored. And as my mama would say,‘Look at God!’”
Severance, the Apple TV+ sci-fi series that follows a group of office workers whose memories have been surgically split between their personal and work lives, received 27 Emmy nominations this year, earning it the title of the most-nominated series. It ended the night with eight wins under its belt.
Newcomer Owen Cooper also made history by becoming the youngest male Emmy winner at 15. Cooper, who starred in the Netflix mini-series Adolescence as the alleged teenage murderer Jamie, took home the Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series.
While not necessarily a record-breaker, Jeff Hiller winning his first Emmy marks a major career milestone for the Somebody Somewhere actor. Hiller gave an emotional acceptance speech as he accepted the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. “I feel like I’m going to cry,” said Hiller. “For the past 25 years, I’ve been like, ‘World, I wanna be an actor,’ and the world was like, ‘Maybe computers.’”
But the big winner of the night was truly The Studio, the Apple TV+ series that broke the record for the most Emmy-winning comedy ever in one year. The show, which stars Seth Rogen as Hollywood suit Matt Remick, earned a total of 13 wins this Emmy season, including the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series. Rogen took home the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. “I’m legitimately embarrassed by how happy this makes me,” the actor-comedian said onstage. The Studio fans were quick to point out that Rogen failed to thank Sal Saperstein in his speech.
