Apple TV+ secured a commanding position in the 2025 Emmy nominations announced Tuesday, with two of its flagship series earning the most nominations in their respective categories. The streaming service’s dystopian workplace drama Severance topped all shows with 27 nominations. And Hollywood satire The Studio led comedy series with 23 nominations, breaking Ted Lasso‘s record for a first-year comedy series.
Notably, Apple TV+’s hit spy thriller Slow Horses and comedy Shrinking also drew top nominations.
Emmy nominations: Severance and The Studio lead the pack
With its many Emmy nominations, Severance achieved what the The Associated Press described as “a convergence of acclaim and audience buzz for its second season.” The series significantly outpaced other dramas in the nomination count, with no other series coming close to its 27 total nominations, as outlets The New York Times reported. Here’s the complete list of all Emmy nominees and Apple’s press release detailing all of its record-breaking 81 nominations.
The show’s success stems from its unique premise and stellar performances. Adam Scott and Britt Lower received leading acting nominations for their complex dual roles as characters’ “innie” work selves and “outie” home selves. Tramell Tillman earned a supporting nomination for playing their tone-shifting, pineapple-wielding supervisor, while John Turturro also made the supporting-actor list and Ben Stiller received a directing nomination.
This represents a major improvement from the show’s first season performance in 2023, when it received 14 nominations but won only two awards (for music and title sequence).
The Studio romps over established comedies
Photo: Apple TV+
The Studio, starring Seth Rogen, surprised industry observers by significantly outperforming more established comedy series. The show earned 23 nominations compared to previous winner Hacks with 14 and The Bear with 13, according to AP. And as Variety reported, the show broke Ted Lasso‘s previous record of Emmy nominations for a comedy in its freshman season.
Seth Rogen personally received three nominations for his acting, writing and directing work on the series. The show’s A-list guest star roster contributed to its success, bringing nominations for Martin Scorsese, Ron Howard, Bryan Cranston, Anthony Mackie and Zoë Kravitz. Ike Barinholtz also drew a nod for best supporting actor.
Apple TV+ continues prestige push
The strong showing represents what AP characterized as Apple TV+ finally finding “the kind of breakaway prestige drama that HBO seems to produce perennially.” While the streaming service previously earned Emmy recognition for dramas like The Morning Show and Slow Horses, and dominated comedy with Ted Lasso, Severance could mark a turning point when awards are handed out in September.
The New York Times noted that Apple TV+ remains “little-watched, ranking below Paramount+, Peacock, HBO Max and free streamers like Pluto and Tubi for viewing time in the United States.” However, its creative team has assembled a lineup that consistently appeals to Emmy voters, with Ted Lasso winning best comedy twice and series like Slow Horses, The Morning Show and Lessons in Chemistry earning top program nominations.
This year, Apple TV+ juggernaut Slow Horses made the best dramas nominee list, and Gary Oldman is a best-actor nominee. And Jason Segel’s Apple TV+ show Shrinking made the best comedy series list, with Segel also drawing a best-actor nod. Sharon Horgan made the beset-actress list for Bad Sisters.
Apple TV+ execs celebrate
“Everyone at Apple is celebrating the talent, creativity and hard work of all of our Emmy nominees this morning,” said Zack Van Amburg, Apple’s head of Worldwide Video. “Severance and The Studio have exceeded our wildest expectations in earning the most nominations for both drama and comedy series, alongside the phenomenal Shrinking and Slow Horses. These shows have connected deeply with audiences around the world and we’re incredibly appreciative to the Television Academy for recognizing the breadth of storytelling that has been an honor for us to champion. We send our warmest congratulations to all of today’s nominees.”
“This record-breaking year is a milestone for Apple, and we’re especially proud of the continued impact our outstanding series nominees — Severance, The Studio, Shrinking, and Slow Horses — are having on global culture,” said Jamie Erlicht, Apple’s Head of Worldwide Video. “These nominations honor bold storytelling, exceptional performances, and remarkable craftsmanship, and we’re deeply grateful to the Television Academy for recognizing these visionary creators.”
Key Emmy nominations in selected categories
Best drama series
- Andor
- Paradise
- Severance
- Slow Horses
- The Diplomat
- The Pitt
- The Last of Us
- The White Lotus
Best actor, drama:
- Sterling K. Brown, Paradise
- Gary Oldman, Slow Horses
- Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us
- Adam Scott, Severance
- Noah Wyle, The Pitt
Best actress, drama:
- Kathy Bates, Matlock
- Sharon Horgan, Bad Sisters
- Britt Lower, Severance
- Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us
- Keri Russell, The Diplomat
Best comedy series:
- Hacks
- The Bear
- The Studio
- Only Murders in the Building
- Abbott Elementary
- Nobody Wants This
- Shrinking
- What We Do in the Shadows
Best actor, comedy:
- Seth Rogen, The Studio
- Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building
- Jeremy Allen White, The Bear
- Adam Brody, Nobody Wants This
- Jason Segel, Shrinking
The 77th Emmy Awards ceremony will be held September 14 on CBS, hosted by comedian Nate Bargatze. For Apple TV+ subscribers, the nominations appear to validate the platform’s investment in high-quality original programming, as Apple TV+ establishes itself as a serious competitor in the prestige TV landscape.
