LOS ANGELES — The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards arrive Sunday with Apple TV+ poised for a breakout night as two of its most-nominated shows, “The Studio” and “Severance,” head into the ceremony as favorites for television’s top honors.
Comedian Nate Bargatze will make his awards-show hosting debut at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles as the broadcast begins on CBS at 8 p.m. Eastern and 5 p.m. Pacific. Paramount+ subscribers who include Showtime in their package may stream the ceremony live; standard Paramount+ subscribers can stream it beginning Monday through Sept. 21. Several outlets are providing live red carpet coverage, including E! and Entertainment Tonight, with People and Entertainment Weekly presenting live shows on social platforms. The Associated Press will present a slightly delayed arrivals feed on YouTube beginning at 5 p.m. Eastern.
“The Studio,” co-created by and starring Seth Rogen as the head of a movie studio, comes into the evening tied for a comedy record with 23 nominations and riding momentum from nine wins at last weekend’s Creative Arts Emmys. The series is a contender to challenge the record of 11 Emmy wins in a season by a comedy; its wins at the Creative Arts ceremony have already pushed it into early front-runner status. Rogen is personally eligible for multiple awards this year, including acting, writing, directing and producing credits.
“Severance,” the Apple TV+ office drama about workers whose memories are surgically divided between workplace “innies” and home “outies,” was the top overall nominee with 27 nominations for its second season and won six Creative Arts Emmys. The show is nominated in the top dramatic categories, including all four drama acting slots, and its leads, Adam Scott and Britt Lower, are among performers seeking their first Emmys.
Other established comedy contenders include “The Bear” and “Hacks,” both nominated again in the comedy series category but viewed as underdogs against the momentum of “The Studio.” HBO’s “The White Lotus,” with its third season set in Thailand, also remains in contention in drama categories and placed multiple actors in supporting acting races.
In the drama field, HBO’s “The Pitt,” a single-shift emergency-room drama led by Noah Wyle, is among the series challenging “Severance.” Wyle, nominated for his performance in “The Pitt,” was a five-time Emmy nominee for his earlier work on “ER” in the 1990s without a win and could become one of the evening’s sentimental — and competitive — favorites.
The limited series categories include Netflix’s “Adolescence,” a four-episode British drama filmed in single, continuous shots that follows a 13-year-old accused of murder. The series has drawn critical acclaim and is widely discussed as a leading contender for limited series trophies. Fifteen-year-old Owen Cooper, who plays the accused, could become one of the youngest Emmy winners in decades if he prevails.
HBO’s dark Batman-universe series “The Penguin” led limited-series nominations and captured eight wins at the Creative Arts ceremony. Colin Farrell is nominated as lead actor and Cristin Milioti as lead actress for their performances in the series, positioning both as strong contenders in their respective categories.
The ceremony figures to spotlight established performers of advanced age who have drawn nominations this year. Kathy Bates, 78, is nominated in a drama lead category for a role on CBS and could become the oldest winner in that field if she prevails. Jean Smart, 73, who has won for “Hacks” in prior seasons, is again nominated and could further extend the record for oldest winner in a comedy lead category.
The night also carries a political and industry undercurrent surrounding the cancellation of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.” The program, recently canceled by CBS, is under consideration in the talk series category and could receive votes that some industry observers characterize as gestures of support for its host. The cancellation drew scrutiny in some media coverage after Colbert criticized a legal settlement involving the network and the U.S. administration; network executives described the decision as financial.
Nomination tallies and Creative Arts wins have shaped expectations but do not determine the outcome. The Emmys’ voting body will deliver results live, and winners may come from across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. For more coverage and minute-by-minute updates, major entertainment outlets will provide live reporting and commentary during the ceremony.
The Emmy telecast closes the awards season’s major television honors and will be followed in coming days by acceptance reactions and industry analysis of how the wins and losses reflect trends in prestige television, streaming competition and continuing debates about representation and recognition in the industry.