The 2025 Emmy Awards were a memorable evening filled with historic victories and touching reunions. Tramell Tillman, star of Severance, and 15-year-old Adolescence sensation Owen Cooper made Emmy history with historic wins, while The Late Show With Stephen Colbert scored its first Emmy with a standing ovation. A memorable evening full of comedy, emotion, and joy, the ceremony also evoked nostalgia with reunions of the Gilmore Girls, Everybody Loves Raymond, and Law & Order cast.

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert Wins First Emmy

CBS’s Late Show With Stephen Colbert won its first Emmy for best discussion series as it begins its final season. Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Daily Show, the previous year’s winner, were defeated by the show. This marks the first-ever victory for a broadcast late-night show in the best talk series category, which has been in place since 2015. The Late Show With David Letterman was the last network program to win an Emmy for best comedy, music, or variety series before that, in 2002.

At Sunday’s 2025 Emmys, Hannah Einbinder won her first Emmy for best supporting actress in a comedy series for her performance in Hacks.

Tramell Tillman Makes History

Tramell Tillman, star of Severance, became the first Black man to win an Emmy for best supporting actor in a drama series. Alongside Zach Cherry (Severance), James Marsden (Paradise), John Turturro (Severance), Sam Rockwell (The White Lotus), Jason Isaacs (The White Lotus), and Walton Goggins (The White Lotus), Tillman won his first Emmy nomination and win this year.

Nate Bargatze Hosts with SNL-Inspired Sketch

In the show’s opening moments, Nate Bargatze made fun of the TV industry and a few of the nominees. The first-time Emmy host began with a spoof in which Bargatze played television creator Philo Farnsworth, who described the confusing and all-too-real future applications of the medium. The sketch, which was a parody of Bargatze’s well-loved “Washington’s Dream” segment from his debut hosting Saturday Night Live last year, was flanked by SNL cast members Bowen Yang, Mikey Day, and James Austin Johnson.

Owen Cooper Sets New Record

Breakout in adolescence As the youngest male Emmy winner in any acting category, Owen Cooper created history. After winning best supporting actor in a limited/anthology series or TV film, the British star, who is only 15 years old, becomes the first person of his age to accomplish such a feat. Scott Jacoby, who received a Primetime Emmy for his performance in That Certain Summer in 1973 at the age of 16, was the previous record holder.

Survivor Twist on Stage

Last Week Tonight With John Oliver received the award for scripted variety series thanks in part to Survivor, the most-watched Emmy of all the 2025 nominees. Using a fully furnished miniature Survivor set, where cardboard cutouts of John Oliver and Lorne Michaels waited, waiting to be dealt with, series host and executive producer Jeff Probst hosted tribal council on stage.

Gilmore Girls Reunion

The 2025 Emmys were a moment for reunions. Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel, who starred in Gilmore Girls, performed on a set that was a reproduction of their Stars Hollow residence from the show. Known for their roles as mother and daughter Lorelai and Rory in the WB series, the former co-stars celebrated the 25th anniversary of both the seven-season series and the revival Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.

Healthcare Heroes Honored

R. Scott Gemmill, the showrunner of The Pitt, dedicated the Emmy for best drama series to first responders and medical professionals.Emmy Awards 2025: Stephen Colbert’s Ovation & Historic Wins