The 2025 Emmy Awards brought a blend of big wins, beloved reunions, and a few head-scratching moments to television fans. Host Nate Bargatze welcomed Hollywood’s top actors and actresses to the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 14, for a night celebrating the best of TV.
Bargatze, who had a bit of a tricky night at the microphone, kicked things off with a clever sketch. He teamed up with Saturday Night Live cast members Bowen Yang, Mikey Day, and Austin Johnson. The group traveled through time, pretending to invent television and making jokes about what it would bring to the world. "By inventing television, we create a world where a woman will host her own popular late-night talk show," Bargatze quipped. "Not in real life, but in a fictional show called Hacks." Jean Smart later took home the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for playing that very talk show host, Deborah Vance. This week, everyone is still talking about the show, so let’s look at the best and worst moments.
A Warm Welcome for Stephen Colbert
Stephen Colbert got a standing ovation before he presented the first award of the night. This happened after news broke that his Late Show was ending. "Thank you very much. You’re very kind," he said. "Please sit down! Thank you so much. We gotta go!" Once the crowd settled, Colbert made sure to thank his entire Late Show team. He joked about them needing new jobs. "Since I have your attention, is anyone hiring? I have 200 very qualified candidates here tonight. They will be available in June," he said. "I also brought my resume. I haven’t updated my headshot in a while, but I think it still works. …Harrison Ford, could you give this to [Steven] Spielberg?"
Owen Cooper’s Inspiring Speech
At just 15 years old, Owen Cooper stole the show. He became the youngest male actor ever to win Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. His role in Adolescence earned him this honor. Beyond thanking his parents, Cooper shared a powerful message for anyone thinking about trying something new. "When I started these acting classes a couple of years ago, I didn’t even expect to be in the United States, let alone here," he said. "I was nothing three years ago. Now I’m here, so if you listen and focus, step a little outside your comfort zone, who cares if you embarrass yourself? Anything is possible."
A Blast from the Past: Gilmore Girls Reunion
Fans of Gilmore Girls cheered for a special reunion. Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel came together to celebrate their show’s 25th anniversary. They presented the award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series from a set designed to look like Stars Hollow. Before announcing the winner, the actresses showed off their quick wit and banter. They reminded everyone of a time when their beloved series, created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, had a small budget. "We saved all year to have one snow episode," Bledel recalled. Graham added, "And then E.R. would water their street and take all our snow." Bledel playfully told her TV mother that she needed to "let that go," but fans will never forget those fond memories.
Jeff Probst’s Creative Presentation
Jeff Probst, known for Survivor, brought a piece of his show to the Emmy stage. He presented the award for Outstanding Scripted Variety Series by setting up a mock tribal council. Cardboard cutouts of John Oliver and Lorne Michaels represented the two nominated shows. They were Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and Saturday Night Live. "There is no immunity idol protecting you," Probst declared. He then announced that "the sole survivor" was Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.
Noah Wyle Honors Healthcare Workers
Noah Wyle won for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. He was recognized for his role as Dr. Robinavitch in The Pitt. Wyle quickly used his acceptance speech to honor real-life doctors and healthcare workers across the country. "To everyone coming on or getting off shift tonight, thank you for being in that job," he said. "This is for you."
The Host’s Highs and Lows: Nate Bargatze’s Speech Timer
Nate Bargatze introduced a unique rule for acceptance speeches to keep them from running too long. He set a 45-second limit for all winners. "Everyone gets 45 seconds. Really, give your speech. I know how hard you’ve worked to get here," he explained early on. "I’m not trying to take anything away from you, but 45 seconds. That’s what you get. If you want to say more than that, do it on social media afterward. More people will see it there anyway."
To make things even more interesting, Bargatze pledged $100,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of America. This charity helps kids prepare for the future. For every second a winner went over their time, $1,000 would be added to the donation. If they finished early, $1,000 per second would be returned to the total. By the end of the night, Bargatze announced he would donate $250,000 to the cause. CBS then chipped in an extra $100,000.
But even this good idea came with a funny twist. Some viewers wondered why the presenters had no time limit on their speeches. "A lot of people at home were asking, ‘Are we penalizing the presenters if they go over or something?’ I just want to make it clear: we are not," he said, making the audience laugh. "Only those who have worked hardest to get here. I’m busy hosting, so I can’t keep an eye on the money thing."
Later, Bargatze had another minor mishap. He was introducing a tribute to The Golden Girls with Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town. "Please welcome Reba McEntire and Kerry Fanchild —Fairchild! Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman!" he stumbled, live on TV. It was definitely a challenging night for the host.
Sterling K. Brown’s Unfortunate Injury
Before handing out the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy to Jeff Hiller of Somebody Somewhere, Sterling K. Brown appeared on stage using a knee scooter. He suffered an Achilles tendon injury while filming the second season of Paradise for Hulu. Brown revealed on Instagram that he had decided to put off surgery so he could attend the awards ceremony. "I can motivate myself and try to celebrate with my cast and the producers of Paradise because we were recognized," he posted on September 9. "It’s gonna be great to be there."
The White Lotus and Other Surprising Snubs
One of the year’s biggest — and most talked about — TV shows, The White Lotus, left the Emmys empty-handed in the major categories. Despite receiving seven nominations just for supporting actors and actresses, the cast did not take home any big awards. Instead, The Pitt was the big winner in the drama categories. In comedy, The Bear, Nobody Wants This, Abbott Elementary, and Only Murders in the Building also went home without any major awards.