Emmy Nominations 2025: “Severance” Slashes to 27, Ayo Edebiri Hits Triple Noms, Owen Cooper Sets Age Record, HBO Max Reigns with 142

Nominee season is officially upon us—the Television Academy dropped their 77th Emmy nominations today, stirring streaming rivalries, shattering records, and launching fresh faces into the spotlight. Here’s your in-depth breakdown of who’s dominating the race, who’s rewriting Emmy history, and who’s making headlines for all the right reasons.

“Severance” Dominates With 27 Nominations

Leading the Emmy pack is Apple TV+’s psychological thriller “Severance,” racking up an impressive 27 nominations. The nominations include:

• Outstanding Drama Series

• Lead Actor in a Drama for Adam Scott

• Supporting Actors Tramell Tillman and Zach Cherry

• Supporting Actress Patricia Arquette

• Multiple nods across writing, directing, and technical fields

Emmy strategists are already calling it the frontrunner in drama. If “Severance” doesn’t clean house, it’ll be a huge upset.

Ayo Edebiri Scores THREE Nominations

Ayo Edebiri is officially in the Emmy history books, becoming the first Black woman to earn three major nominations in a single year. Her Emmy trifecta includes:

• Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for “The Bear”

• Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series for the episode “Napkins” from “The Bear”

• Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for “Abbott Elementary”

Fans exploded with pride and excitement across social media. One user summed it up:

“Ayo Edebiri out here collecting Emmy noms like Pokémon. ICON.”

Owen Cooper Becomes Youngest Lead Drama Nominee Ever

History was made in the drama field as 15-year-old Owen Cooper earned a Lead Actor in a Drama Series nomination for his powerful performance in Netflix’s “Adolescence.”

Cooper is now the youngest actor ever nominated in this category, beating records previously held by young stars like Frankie Muniz. Industry chatter says he could become this year’s breakout Emmy darling.

HBO Max Reigns With Record 142 Nominations

While Apple TV+ dominated individual shows, HBO Max claimed the overall crown with a record-breaking 142 total nominations. Leading the charge were:

• “The Penguin,” topping the Limited Series category with 24 nominations

• “The White Lotus,” scoring 23 nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series, plus acting nods for Carrie Coon, Parker Posey, Natasha Rothwell, Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, James Marsden, and Sam Rockwell

• “The Last of Us,” grabbing key noms for Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey in Lead Drama categories

• Comedy heavy-hitter “Hacks,” maintaining its awards presence

“The White Lotus” remains an Emmy favorite, with its new cast earning major recognition and continuing the show’s hot streak.

Comedy Explosion: “The Studio” Matches Record

Comedy is another fierce battlefield this year. Apple TV+’s “The Studio” tied the record for most nominations by a freshman comedy series with 23 nods, matching last year’s run from “The Bear.”

Highlights include:

• Outstanding Comedy Series

• Lead Actor in a Comedy for Seth Rogen

• Supporting nods for Kathryn Hahn and Catherine O’Hara

• Writing and directing nods that hint at potential Emmy gold

The comedy field overall is stacked with returning hits and new contenders, setting up an epic showdown come Emmy night.

Standout Acting Nods—and Shocks That Sparked Fires

Drama Series Key Acting Nominations

• Lead Actor: Sterling K. Brown (Paradise), Gary Oldman (Slow Horses), Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us), Adam Scott (Severance), Owen Cooper (Adolescence), Noah Wyle (The Pitt)

• Supporting Actress: Carrie Coon, Parker Posey, Natasha Rothwell (The White Lotus)

• Supporting Actor: Tramell Tillman, John Turturro (Severance), Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Sam Rockwell (The White Lotus)

Comedy Standouts

• Lead Actress: Ayo Edebiri (The Bear), Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary), Jean Smart (Hacks), Kristen Bell, Uzo Aduba

• Lead Actor: Seth Rogen (The Studio), Jeremy Allen White (The Bear), Adam Brody (Nobody Wants This), Jason Segel (Shrinking), Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building)

• Supporting Comedy: Kathryn Hahn, Catherine O’Hara, Ike Barinholtz, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Bowen Yang

Snubs and Fan Meltdowns

No Emmy list is complete without controversy. Fans are fired up over several glaring omissions:

• “Only Murders in the Building” being snubbed for Outstanding Comedy Series despite its star-studded cast and strong season

• Elizabeth Olsen shut out for her intense role in Love & Death

• Jenna Ortega’s “Wednesday” landing only technical nominations, sparking hashtags like #JusticeForWednesday

• Natasha Lyonne missing out for Poker Face

One Emmy watcher put it best:

“The Emmys exist purely to keep me in a constant state of rage. WHERE’S ONLY MURDERS?!”

Final Word

This year’s Emmys are shaping up as one of the most thrilling—and unpredictable—showdowns in years. With “Severance” leading the pack, Ayo Edebiri rewriting the record books, Owen Cooper becoming the youngest Lead Drama nominee ever, and HBO Max flexing its might, the stage is set for major wins, shocking losses, and plenty of fan meltdowns.

One thing’s certain: come Emmy night, somebody’s walking away a legend—and somebody’s walking away robbed.

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