Apple TV+’s critically acclaimed sci-fi workplace thriller Severance has topped this year’s Emmy Award nominations with a remarkable 27 nods, making it the most recognized show in the 2025 race.
Close behind is The Penguin, a gritty Batman spinoff from HBO Max, which secured 24 nominations. In joint third place are Apple TV+’s Hollywood satire The Studio and HBO’s popular anthology The White Lotus, each earning 23 nominations.
The nominations, announced Tuesday by the Television Academy, officially kick off the countdown to the 77th Emmy Awards, scheduled for September 14 in Los Angeles.
Top Drama Contenders: Sci-Fi, Emergency Rooms, and Apocalypses
Severance, which explores a dystopian world where employees at biotech giant Lumon have their memories split between work and personal lives, has emerged as the frontrunner in the drama category. Lead actor Adam Scott is in the running for Best Actor in a Drama Series.
He’ll be up against veteran Noah Wyle, who stars in HBO Max’s The Pitt — a high-stakes medical drama unfolding in real time over a 15-hour hospital shift. Described as “ER on steroids” by awards expert Pete Hammond, The Pitt earned 13 nominations.
They’ll compete alongside several heavyweight contenders:
- Andor (Disney+), a Star Wars universe expansion
- The Diplomat (Netflix)
- The Last of Us (HBO), based on the hit video game
- Paradise (Hulu), a political thriller
- Slow Horses (Apple TV+), a British spy drama
- The White Lotus (HBO)
Best actor nominees also include Gary Oldman (Slow Horses), Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us), and Sterling K. Brown (Paradise).
Limited Series Spotlight: ‘The Penguin’ vs Netflix’s Crime & Mystery
In the limited series race, The Penguin will face off against:
- Dying for Sex (FX)
- Adolescence (Netflix) — a buzz-worthy teen murder drama
- Black Mirror (Netflix) — the long-running tech dystopia anthology
- Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story (Netflix) — a true crime retelling
Comedy Categories: ‘The Studio’ Leads, But ‘Hacks’ and ‘The Bear’ Hold Strong
On the comedy front, The Studio, a satire led by Seth Rogen skewering the film industry, is leading the charge. But it faces stiff competition from returning Emmy darlings Hacks and The Bear.
Hacks — which follows a legendary stand-up comedian and her volatile young assistant — previously won Best Comedy and Best Actress. Meanwhile, The Bear, set in the intense world of a Chicago restaurant kitchen, is fresh off major wins earlier this year, including two Best Actor trophies for Jeremy Allen White.
Other comedy nominees include:
- Abbott Elementary (ABC)
- Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
- Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
- Shrinking (Apple TV+)
- What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
Actors Harvey Guillén (What We Do in the Shadows) and Brenda Song (Running Point) unveiled the major nominations during a livestreamed event.
What’s Next: Emmy Voting and Ceremony Details
Members of the Television Academy have until mid-August to complete final-round voting. Comedian Nate Bargatze will host the Emmy ceremony and promises a night full of suspense, glamour, and celebration of television’s finest.
