Columbia Grads Win at the 2025 Emmy Awards
Update:
The 77th Emmy Awards were held in Los Angeles on Sunday night, with numerous Columbia alums and their affiliated shows dominating the primetime ceremony. The Creative Arts Emmys, which focus primarily on behind-the-camera craft awards, were held a week earlier, and Columbia-affiliated shows also took home several wins.
The Pitt, which stars Supriya Ganesh (CC ’19), took home the coveted award for Outstanding Drama Series. It received an additional four awards across the following categories: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Noah Lyle), Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Katherine Lanasa), Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series, and Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (Shawn Hatosy).
Severance, executive produced by Theatre alum Beau Willimon '03 (CC '99), took home eight total awards, including the historic win for Tramell Tillman, who took home the title of Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. Tillman, who portrays Mr. Milchik in the Apple TV+ show, is the first Black actor to be awarded the Emmy in this category. Additional awards included: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Britt Lower), Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary Program (One Hour or More), Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series (Merritt Wever), Outstanding Title Design, Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour), Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score), and Outstanding Cinematography for a Series (One Hour).
Willimon also penned six episodes of Disney+'s Andor, which won five total awards. Fellow series writer Dan Gilroy was awarded the Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for his episode entitled "Welcome to the Rebellion." The show also took home the Emmy for Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes, Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Period or Fantasy Program (One Hour or More), Outstanding Picture Editing for a Drama Series, and Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Season or a Movie.
Longtime awards-favorite Hacks, created, written, and executive produced by Lucia Aniello (CC '04), took home three Emmys, including Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Jean Smart), Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (Hannah Einbinder), and Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (Julianne Nicholson).
In the variety show categories, both Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and The Daily Show won multiple awards. Last Week Tonight was named Outstanding Scripted Variety Series and also won Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series. Joanna Rothkopf (JRN '14) acts as senior writer on the show, and Tim Carvell (CC '95) has executive produced and written for the show since its inception.
The Daily Show: Desi Lydic Foxsplains won both Outstanding Short Form Comedy, Drama, or Variety Series and Outstanding Performer in the category (Desi Lydic as Herself). Ramin Hedayati (CC '02) is the Co-Executive Producer of the program as well as the overall Daily Show this season.
Visit the official Emmys website for the complete list of this year's winners.
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Original:
July 17, 2025
The 77th Emmy Award Nominations have been announced, and a number of projects worked on by Columbia filmmakers are among the honorees. The annual Emmy Awards celebrate extraordinary programming, performances, and a diverse range of exceptional storytelling across the television industry.
The show earning the most nominations this year is Apple TV+'s Severance, executive produced by Theatre alum Beau Willimon '03 (CC '99). The dystopian office sci-fi topped the list with 27 nominations overall, including Best Drama Series, Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series and two episodes nominated for Best Directing for a Drama Series. Willimon also wrote six episodes of Disney+'s hit Star Wars spinoff Andor, which will compete with Severance for Best Drama Series.
Political thriller The Diplomat, created, written and executive produced by Debora Cahn (BC '93), was also nominated for Best Drama Series. Its star Keri Russell, who plays the eponymous ambassador, was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
Columbia grads lead the pack for Best Comedy Series, involved in five of the eight productions honored with nominations.
Hacks, the smash series created, written and executive produced by Lucia Aniello (CC '04) and starring Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder as an unlikely comedy pair, won Best Comedy Series last year and is nominated again in 2025. Aniello is also nominated for Outstanding Directing of a Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series.
Restaurant dramedy The Bear, which set a record for most nominations by a comedy series last year, is nominated again for Best Comedy Series. Ebon Moss-Bacharach (CC '99) won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as the front-of-house fan favorite Richie Jerimovich last year and earned the nomination again this year.
James Ponsoldt '05, who was previously nominated for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series or Movie in 2023 for his cult classic musical Daisy Jones & the Six, executive produced Shrinking, also nominated for Best Comedy Series. Jason Segel stars as a therapist whose grief causes him to cross professional and ethical boundaries in this hit Apple TV+ show.
Popular vampire spoof What We Do In The Shadows also earned a nomination for Best Comedy Series. Yana Gorskaya '96 edits the series and directed 22 episodes from 2020–2024.
Hulu's comfort watch, true crime parody Only Murders in the Building, attracted more than a star-studded list of guest stars, but another nomination for Best Comedy Series. Shari Springer Berman '95 directed 2 episodes of the latest season. The series stars Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez as amateur sleuths on the Upper West Side.
Satirical genius Mike Judge's take on big pharma, Common Side Effects, was nominated for Outstanding Animated Program. The Adult Swim cartoon, available for streaming on HBO Max, follows high school lab partners as they investigate a corporate conspiracy keeping a panacea secret. Writing alum Jean Kyoung Frazier '18 was part of the writer's room for the show and is credited on episode four of the series, Dumpsite.
Dying for Sex, executive produced by Marshall Lewy '06, earned a nomination for Outstanding Limited Or Anthology Series. Chris Teague '06 produced and directed two episodes of the show, including the pilot. Dying for Sex follows Molly, played by Michelle Williams, a woman who explores her sexuality after receiving a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer. Jenny Slate (CC '04) earned a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Or Anthology Series or Movie for her portrayal of Molly's best friend, Nikki, and Jessica Daniels '07 has been nominated for Outstanding Casting in the same category.
Nicole Kassell (CC '94) was nominated for Outstanding Directing of a Limited Or Anthology Series or Movie for Sirens. The stylish Netflix thriller centers The House of the Dragon's breakout star, Milly Alcock, as Simone, who's caught in between two women and two paths: the picture-perfect, culty lifestyle led by her boss Michaela (played by Julianne Moore) and her troubled home life, personified by her sister Devon (played by Megann Fahy).
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver earned its third consecutive nomination for Outstanding Scripted Variety Series, a category it has won the past two years. The show previously dominated the Outstanding Variety Talk Show award, with 8 nominations and 7 awards. Joanna Rothkopf JRN '14 acts as senior writer on the show. Tim Carvell (CC '95) has executive produced and written for the show since its inception.
The revived The Daily Show with Jon Stewart was nominated for Outstanding Talk Series. Ramin Hedayati CC '02 is the co-executive producer of this season, but has served as coordinating producer, supervising producer and producer in the past.
I Am Celine Dion, a documentary following the pop superstar's battle with Stiff Person Syndrome, has been nominated for the Creative Arts Emmy for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking. Julie Begey Seureau '14 produced the film.
Gotham Chopra (CC '97) executive produced Simone Biles Rising for Netflix, which was nominated for Outstanding Documentary Or Nonfiction Series. The miniseries follows the American icon and Olympic gymnast as she prepares for a comeback after she withdrew from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The 77th Emmy Awards will air on Sunday, September 14 at 8 pm. Eastern time, broadcast on CBS and streaming live on Paramount+. Comedian Nate Bergatze will host, making the glitzy awards ceremony appointment television. Follow our coverage to find out which Columbia grads come out on top.