Mark the time, everyone: 8:01 P.M. PT. That’s when The Pitt — the Max Original medical show in which every episode covers one hour of a work shift at the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center — was announced as Outstanding Drama Series at the 77th Emmys.
After letting out an enthusiastic yelp in the audience, the sprawling cast and crew assembled onstage at the L.A. LIVE Peacock Theater to celebrate ... and process the big news.
"This is insane!" said creator, showrunner and executive producer R. Scott Gemmill, who spoke on behalf of the group. After thanking HBO Max executives Casey Bloys, Sarah Aubrey and Joey Chavez “for nurturing and supporting our show,” he acknowledged executive producers John Wells and Joe Sachs (also a practicing emergency physician), star Noah Wyle and his loved ones, then singled out the real-life professionals who don’t get trophies.
"I want to dedicate this, on behalf of everyone, to all the health-care workers, front-line, first responders," he noted. "Respect them, protect them, trust them. Thank you."
Bestowed at the September 14 telecast on CBS, the top honor in the drama category capped off five wins for The Pitt’s 15-episode first season, including two earned at the Creative Arts Emmys on September 6.
Earlier in the night, a teary-eyed Katherine LaNasa took home Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for playing weary charge nurse Dana Evans.
Wyle, who hadn’t been nominated since his ER days in 1999, earned gold for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of harried-yet-sympathetic trauma head Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch.
Looking at his first Emmy, the TV veteran conveyed his appreciation. "What a dream this has been!" Wyle exclaimed. He then acknowledged his own past in the medical genre: "Thank you to everybody at HBO Max and to Warner Bros. Television for allowing the conditions to exist for lightning to strike in my life twice. [ER and The Pitt executive producer] John Wells, thank you for being that lightning."
Host Nate Bargatze provided the sunshine and laughs throughout the event. The stand-up opened the show with a spin on his popular "Washington’s Dream" sketch from Saturday Night Live.
Here, he was TV inventor Philo T. Farnsworth, explaining the intricacies of the ever-changing medium — "With streamers ... you pay the fees and there are ads!" — to wide-eyed colleagues played by SNL’s Mikey Day, Bowen Yang and James Austin Johnson.
During his monologue, Bargatze discouraged long-winded acceptance speeches by threatening to reduce his $100,000 donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America for each tick over the allotted 45 seconds. (Final tally, including Bargatze’s $250,000 donation and a supplemental $100,000 from CBS: $350,000.)
Many people cheerfully spoke their hearts out onstage and let the seconds slip by anyway. After all, it was a night full of surprises, with several winners receiving Emmys for the first time.
Start with Adolescence, the ambitious Netflix drama that — in four single-take episodes — chronicles two anguished British parents (Stephen Graham and Christine Tremarco) coping with their 13-year-old son’s investigation and arrest for murder.
It nearly swept the entire limited-series field, with wins for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, writers Jack Thorne and Graham (who also snagged lead actor), director Philip Barantini, supporting actress Erin Doherty and supporting actor Owen Cooper.
(Cristin Milioti, who plays a mobster’s daughter on HBO’s The Penguin, took lead actress in a limited series.)
The show had won two awards in Limited or Anthology Series categories at the Creative Arts Emmys; Adolescence: The Making of Adolescence also won, as Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series.
Cooper, now just 15, became the youngest male winner of any Primetime Emmy acting category ever.
With the insight of a seasoned veteran, he said, "I think tonight proves that if you listen and you focus and you get out of your comfort zone, you can achieve anything in life. Who cares if you get embarrassed?"
The drama field also welcomed an array of surprised new winners. Two represented the Apple TV+ office-life conspiracy thriller Severance. Tramell Tillman was rewarded with a supporting actor award for his portrayal of smooth Lumon Industries antagonist Seth Milchick. Moments later, costar Britt Lower — who plays both Helena, the daughter of Lumon’s CEO, and rebellious employee Helly R. — snared lead actress. (The show had collected six previous awards at the Creative Arts Emmys.)
In directing, Adam Randall prevailed for the “Hello Goodbye” installment of the Apple TV+ espionage thriller Slow Horses. And Dan Gilroy seemed stunned by his win for scripting the “Welcome to the Rebellion” episode of the Disney+ Star Wars prequel Andor. He thanked his two brothers (and colleagues), also in the audience as nominees: Andor creator, executive producer and showrunner Tony Gilroy, and executive producer and editor John Gilroy.
The show also served up anniversary nostalgia, as familiar faces presented awards on reconstructed sets of legendary shows. Five-time Emmy winner Jeff Probst presided over a mock Tribal Council to mark 25 years of the reality stalwart Survivor. Mariska Hargitay, Christopher Meloni, Tony Goldwyn, Ice-T and S. Epatha Merkerson stood before their precinct desks in honor of 35 years of the Law & Order franchise. Reba McEntire joined Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman of the band Little Big Town in a Miami-style kitchen and performed the theme song to The Golden Girls — 40 years to the day that the bawdy senior sitcom premiered on NBC.
Another reunion highlight: Former TV mother and daughter Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel reprised their playful banter on a Connecticut front porch for the silver anniversary of their beloved and comforting WB dramedy, Gilmore Girls.
"Twenty-five years ago, a show called Gilmore Girls premiered and apparently took the season of fall hostage," Graham quipped.
Bledel added, "In spite of our autumnal dominance, Gilmore was actually a very small show."
Graham recalled, "If there was a birthday at The Drew Carey Show next door, they would send us their leftover sheet cake!"
To read the rest of the story, pick up a copy of emmy magazine here.
This article originally appeared in its entirety in emmy Magazine, issue #12, 2025, under the title "Primetime with Purpose."
