Emmy Awards 2025: Top Moments according to social media chatter
The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards returned to the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 14. The show kicked off with a sketch about the creation of television featuring this year’s host, comedian Nate Bargatze, joined by “Saturday Night Live” cast members Bowen Yang, Mickey Day and James Austin Johnson.
For fans of “SNL,” the sketch resembled one the comedian had previously done while hosting the show—Bargatze playing George Washington, with very specific visions for the future of America. In the Emmys sketch, however, the comedian played Philo T. Farnsworth, the father of television, and waxed poetic about his vision for the future of television. That future included streaming services in which viewers would pay a subscription fee: “You pay the fee and there are ads!”
Here’s a look at more of the top moments of the night that viewers were buzzing about on social media.
How ‘Bout a Round of Applause?
The first standing ovation of the night went to a presenter rather than an award recipient, Stephen Colbert. The talk show host has received support after it was announced that CBS, the same network broadcasting the Emmy Awards, was cancelling “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”
After thanking the crowd for the response, he took a moment to address the elephant in the room. “But, while I have your attention, is anyone hiring? Because I have 200 well-qualified candidates tonight who will be available in June,” said Colbert before presenting the first award for the night, Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series.
Short, Sweet and to the Point Speeches
It has become a humorous tradition for award shows to remind winners of how much time they have to deliver their speech. Bargatze shared that he would be donating $100,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The twist being that for every speech that went over the designated 45-second time slot, $1,000 would be deducted from the donation. However, it could be added back with speeches that went under 45 seconds.
Seth Rogen, the first winner of the night, ended up being under without knowing about the game, adding $6,000 to the total. The short speech was especially impressive to viewers as it was the actor’s first Emmy win. When the comedian later won again for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series, along with Evan Goldberg for “The Studio,” he celebrated at the end of his speech that the two were “under” the 45-second limit yet again. As “The Studio” continued to win awards, they established a pattern of keeping their speeches brief throughout the night. After the show won Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, they tagged team their acceptance speech a phrase at a time, “We would like to thank Seth and Evan, our amazing cast and crew, Apple and Lionsgate, pay up Nate.”
“Hacks” star, Hannah Einbinder, noticed the amount was going down as she was wrapping up her speech for winning Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, informing viewers she would pay the difference as the total hit $80,000.
“Quick, everyone, quick, the clock is ticking,” joked ‘The Traitors’ host Alan Cumming as he accepted the award for Outstanding Reality Competition Program.
“Last Night Tonight” host John Oliver was racing against the clock to keep his speech for Outstanding Scripted Variety Series under 45 seconds. In his attempt to increase the donation total, he also used some colorful language directed at the host of the night, Bargatze. Bargatze later made light of the moment, “I guess you’re allowed to curse on TV now.”
On social media, the donation bit didn’t land as it was intended. It was overall met with criticism online, as viewers wanted to see the award winners give their full acceptance speeches and not be penalized for going over.
As the show continued, the donation amount went negative, leading the winners to throw caution to the wind and forgo the 45-second time limit since the $100,000 donation was long gone.
As the show wrapped up, Bargatze knew he couldn’t fall short of the originally pledged $100,000 donation, and through some personal pledges, shared that the total amount going to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America would be $350,000.
Celebrating Anniversaries for Iconic TV Shows
The Emmys have found success in recent years for highlighting major anniversaries of iconic television shows. This year, the show paid tribute to the 40th anniversary of “The Golden Girls.” Reba McEntire and Little Big Town members Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman hit the stage to sing the theme song of the beloved show, “Thank You For Being a Friend.” The show cut to various attendees who were singing and dancing along, including “Shrinking” star Michael Urie and “Abbott Elementary” creator and star Quinta Brunson.
Gilmore Girls is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, so to commemorate the milestone, mother-daughter duo Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel reunited on the Peacock Theater stage. The actresses joked in front of their Stars Hollow home that they took the season of fall hostage before presenting the award for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series.
Stars from “Law & Order” joined on stage to celebrate 35 years of the franchise and to present the final award for the night, Outstanding Drama Series. The cast also took a moment to acknowledge one of the franchise’s main faces, Mariska Hargitay, who has starred as Olivia Benson on the SVU spinoff for 27 years. “We’re all here tonight with one clear mission:to remind you that Mariska Hargitay has literally resolved more fictional crimes than most actual precincts.”
Things get Political
Cris Abrego, the chairman of the Television Academy, took some time to acknowledge CPB, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the recipient of the 2025 Governors Award at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards. After sharing that at the end of this year, CPB would close its doors as Congress had voted to defund it, and “silence yet another cultural institution,” the crowd began to boo.
Emmys 2025: TV Academy chairman speaks out on the defunding of public television
He then went on to acknowledge how important television matters, especially in a “time when division dominates the headlines.”
Abrego touched on how television and the artist do more than reflect society; they shape its culture. “Culture belongs to the people. So if our industry is to thrive, we need to make room for more voices, not fewer,” said Abrego. “Let’s make sure culture is not a platform for the privileged but a public good for all.”
The Ultimate Revenge?
What’s one way to prove your naysayers wrong? How about winning the award for Outstanding Talk Series on the very network that abruptly cancelled your show?
As Bryan Cranston listed the nominees, it was apparent that attendees and viewers at home were rooting for one show in particular (monstrous applause could be heard inside the Peacock Theater for the “Late Show with Stephen Colbert”). That applause turned into arguably the loudest cheers of the night as it was announced that the recently cancelled late-night show had nabbed the Emmy.
Fans took to social media to share their excitement for Colbert’s win, with some saying it was the best moment of the night as well as the ultimate way to flip the bird, if you will. “Sometimes you only truly know how much you love something when you get a sense that you might be losing it,” said Colbert in his acceptance speech. “I have never loved my country more desperately. God bless America.”
Other top moments people were talking about on social media:
- Cristin Milioti’s hilarious moment after accepting her Emmy Award.
- Severance star Britt Lower’s sheet of paper with her acceptance speech on it seemed to acknowledge the show, and her “innie” with “Let me out” written on the other side.
- “The Bear” doesn’t win, meaning no public outcry for it being in the comedy category.