Sunday’s Emmy Awards had the standard mixture of light-hearted moments and highly effective speeches, together with some shock wins within the appearing classes. So if there’s one factor we should always at all times bear in mind about tv’s largest evening, it’s this: What may appear predictable generally isn’t and that’s what makes this awards present price watching.
Right here, Instances writers share their favourite moments of the evening, and one which maybe shouldn’t be repeated.
Greatest standing ovation: Stephen Colbert
Stephen Colbert together with his “Late Show” crew after profitable his first Emmy for speak sequence.
(Jason Armond/Los Angeles Instances)
We knew going into the Emmys that Stephen Colbert could be on the receiving finish of the evening’s largest outpouring of affection. However even realizing that, I wouldn’t have guessed simply how electrifying the ovation Colbert would obtain when he gained the speak sequence Emmy for his not too long ago canceled late-night present. That the ceremony was aired on CBS, the community that unceremoniously dumped him, provided a little bit of scrumptious irony, in addition to a chance for Colbert to air a grievance or two. However that’s not the person’s model.
Colbert stated he initially needed to make a late-night comedy present about love. However because the years handed in his 10-year run, he realized the present was actually about loss.
“And that’s related to love, because sometimes you only truly know how much you love something when you get a sense that you might be losing it,” Colbert stated. “And in September of 2025 my friends, I have never loved my country more desperately. God bless America. Stay strong, be brave.” And yet one more factor, he added in a nod to Prince. “If the elevator tries to bring you down, go crazy and punch a higher floor.” — Glenn Whipp
Greatest speech: ‘Culture belongs to the people,’ Cris Abrego says
One of the vital riveting and truthful speeches of the evening got here not from a star, however from Tv Academy Chairman Cris Abrego, who used his time onstage earlier than presenting the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award to lament the cataclysmic Congressional funding cuts for the Corp. for Public Broadcasting. When Abrego first talked about the cuts, the viewers erupted in an effusive and concerted spherical of booing.
“In a time when division dominates the headlines, storytelling still has the power to unite us,” Abrego stated. “Television and the artists who make it do more than reflect society. They shape our culture, and in times of cultural regression, they remind us of what’s at stake and what can still be achieved.”
Abrego additionally stated that generations of artists have used the ability of tv to, “broaden horizons, challenge the status quo and bend that arc of history, towards justice.” The phrases hit house in a room filled with creatives fighting the way to stroll a tightrope between company mandates to earn cash and never offend, and authorities assaults on range, fairness and inclusion.
“All of us in this room must continue to champion that power and wield it responsibly,” Abrego stated. “In moments like this, neutrality is not enough. We must be voices for connection, inclusion, empathy.”
Tradition, Abrego concluded, “Doesn’t come from the top down. It rises from the bottom up. Culture belongs to the people. So if our industry is to thrive, we need to make room for more voices, not fewer.” — Jessica Gelt
Greatest squeal of the evening: Katherine LaNasa 
Katherine LaNasa of “The Pitt” gained her first Emmy for supporting actress in a drama sequence.
(Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Instances)
Katherine LaNasa’s radiant smile is contagious sufficient, however when she set free that girlish squeal after a clearly sudden victory, I felt her pleasure in my bones. Clearly so did LaNasa’s partner-in-care Noah Wyle, who appeared simply as proud to see the first-time nominee up on the stage as he would find yourself scaling it an hour later.
Beating out “The White Lotus” actors was no small feat — particularly contemplating the season-saving monologue from Carrie Coon — and that LaNasa delivered a fan-favorite efficiency whereas dancing her means by way of it between takes is all of the extra heartening. Hopefully the identical nurses that LaNasa toasted to in her speech, these whose grit and gentleness are manifest in Dana Evans, will really feel that they’re sharing on this win.
This one can be for the “Imposters” groupies, who know LaNasa ought to have gotten her flowers for embodying a troublesome maternal determine way back. — Malia Mendez
Greatest shout out to their mother: Tramell Tillman 
Tramell Tillman together with his mom after profitable the Emmy for supporting actor in a drama sequence for “Severance.”
(Jason Armond/Los Angeles Instances)
Tramell Tillman had a historic victory on Sunday, changing into the primary Black actor to win for supporting actor in a drama sequence. His efficiency as Seth Milchick in Season 2 of “Severance” showcases his vary, as his character seesaws from a cheery to chilling center supervisor. Whether or not it was a tête-à-tête with Lumon boss Mr. Drummond, the place Mr. Milchick is informed to shorten his phrases earlier than selecting to do the other — the phrase “devour feculence” seethes with quiet rage — or main a drumline within the dramatic season finale, Tillman stole many scenes.
In his acceptance speech, Tillman thanked his mom for his achievement: “Mama, you were there for me when no one else was, and no one else would show up. This is for you.”
I believe Kier would approve this second of frolic for him and his mom. — Maira Garcia
Greatest reference to their innie/outie: Britt Decrease 
Britt Decrease of “Severance” after profitable the Emmy for lead actress in a drama sequence: “It feels like getting to play this role within all of her layers has been a real kind of meeting of a soulmate.”
(Jason Armond/Los Angeles Instances)
First-time Emmy winner Britt Decrease, star of “Severance,” thanked (one) of her characters within the drama sequence in her acceptance speech for “choosing” her. When she headed backstage to talk with reporters, she stated she wasn’t fairly certain what she meant by that.
“It feels like getting to play this role within all of her layers has been a real kind of meeting of a soulmate. Getting to walk through the world the way she does and see the world from her point of view has given me a lot of strength,” Decrease informed The Instances of her twin function as Helly R./Helena Eagan. “I don’t know how she chose me, that’s just how it feels.”
When she received one other query from a reporter who joined the press room through Zoom, Decrease appeared round for the place the booming voice over the audio system might be coming from.
“I couldn’t see your face, so it felt like you were kind of like Lumon,” she stated. “A disembodied voice in the room.”
One thing I want I’d requested about earlier than she headed backstage was the message scribbled on the again of her speech notes: “LET ME OUT,” it learn, maybe invoking the spirit of Helly R. — Kaitlyn Huamani
Greatest shock win for a small but highly effective present: Jeff Hiller 
Jeff Hiller of HBO’s “Somebody Somewhere” accepting the award for supporting actor in a comedy sequence.
(Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Instances)
Jeff Hiller profitable supporting actor in a comedy sequence for “Somebody Somewhere” is one of the best factor I’ve seen on an awards present in … effectively, presumably ever. HBO’s dramedy is a small present by any metric, however like many small issues, it’s beautiful and Hiller is a giant purpose why. Taking part in Joel, a homosexual, devoutly Christian man in a small city, Hiller fearlessly leaned into dichotomy and sincerity, which may be very tough to do. His Joel had a gimlet eye and wore his coronary heart on his sleeve; he was generally goofy however at all times in on the joke. There was nothing flashy or predictable about Hiller’s efficiency. A deceptively quiet function in a deceptively quiet sequence, it was astonishingly highly effective.
Nonetheless, regardless of some essential acclaim, nobody anticipated Hiller to be nominated, a lot much less win, together with Hiller himself. As larger exhibits took the stage many times, his teary-eyed acceptance speech reminded us that tv is stuffed with great exhibits that, for no matter purpose, fly beneath the radar. And people exhibits are full artists of all types who endure the rejections and compromises, make a years-long profession out of small gigs, who constantly hone their craft and when they’re lastly given the prospect, do superb work. “Somebody Somewhere” might, as he stated in his acceptance speech, have modified Hiller’s life however he was there all alongside, simply ready to shine. — Mary McNamara
Greatest nod to ‘Star Wars’ followers: Dan Gilroy 
Dan Gilroy accepting the award for writing for a drama sequence for “Andor.” He nodded to “Star Wars” followers with the phrase, “We have friends everywhere.”
(Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Instances)
When “Andor’s” Dan Gilroy took the stage to simply accept the Emmy for writing for a drama sequence and stated, “We have friends everywhere,” I cheered. As followers of the “Star Wars” sequence know, the phrase was a play on the phrases members of the Revolt say to one another on the present to verify their allegiance when assembly for the primary time.
Gilroy’s win marked the primary Primetime Emmy Award bestowed upon the spy thriller, which had gained 4 awards on the Inventive Arts Emmys simply final week. I’ve sang “Andor’s” praises since its first season premiered means again in 2022, so I’m glad the Tv Academy is lastly catching up. As Gilroy talked about in his speech, “Andor” is “a story about ordinary people fighting impossible odds.”
The episode that he wrote entails an elected authorities official taking a really public stand in opposition to authoritarianism, propaganda and genocide in a speech meant to coalesce the varied resistance cells into one Insurgent Alliance. And whereas the present itself is impressed by historical past, its themes have by no means felt extra related than they do now. I hope this second helps persuade individuals who had written off “Andor” due to their preconceptions of the “Star Wars” franchise to lastly test it out. — Tracy Brown
Greatest chat about an ‘Ugly Betty’ reboot: Michael Urie 
Michael Urie as he was getting ready to attend the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards.
(Jason Armond/Los Angeles Instances)
With a ceremony that frolicked paying tribute to “Golden Girls” and “Gilmore Girls,” perhaps it was becoming that in spending my afternoon with first-time nominee Michael Urie, nominated for his supporting function in Apple TV+’s “Shrinking,” I discussed my love (and up to date rewatch) of ABC’s mid-aughts primetime cleaning soap “Ugly Betty,” which celebrates the twentieth anniversary of its premiere subsequent 12 months. So you may think about my pleasure when Urie, who starred within the present, as he was entering into his plum-hued ensemble for the evening, stopped to level out the “Ugly Betty” Season 4 wrap present he had in tow: A medium-sized sling bag with a patch studying “UBS4” adhered to its aspect, commemorating the season.
“I just realized that I’ve had it all these years,” he says, stopping to present me a tour of the weathered black bag. “It’s the greatest bag I’ve ever had and over the years I’ve tried to phase it out, and I’ve gotten other bags, but they don’t make it like this one — and this one survives.”
It will get us on the subject of reboots — and my hesitation with Hollywood’s proclivity to attempt to recapture lightning in a bottle.
“The further we get from it, the less I would be interested,” he says. “I mean, we all would, of course, do it if they want us to do a revival. And we talk about it every year, but the further we get, the more I don’t know. I just don’t see how you could get those characters back in the same dynamics.”
May Marc St. James, the loyal and snarky assistant to high high-fashion journal artistic director Wilhelmina Slater (Vanessa Williams), who Urie completely portrayed, be a giant shot editor as of late? When the sequence resulted in 2010, Wilhelmina turns into editor-in-chief, with Marc remaining by her aspect.
“You’d have to figure out some way to get him back under Wilhelmina,” he says. “And I’m too old to be running around to as an assistant.” — Yvonne Villarreal
Worst countdown: That cash clock 
Emmys host Nate Bargatze on stage, the place a display shows the dwindling Boys & Ladies Membership donation.
(Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Instances)
This 12 months’s Emmys employed a novel, off-putting and deeply annoying means of attempting to maintain acceptance speeches quick. Originally of the present, host Nate Bargatze introduced that $100,000 was going to be donated to the Boys & Ladies Membership of Los Angeles, however at any time when a winner went over, the cash would begin to drop. The visible of winners attempting to precise themselves whereas a projection of the cash going to a beloved youngsters’s charity plummeted behind them, was not nice. It additionally had unpredictable outcomes. John Oliver raced by way of his speech in about 5 seconds and ran off stage. Others, like Hannah Einbinder, saved speaking and stated she’d pay the swiftly depleting a refund.
The funds plunged to $30,000 when 15-year-old Owen Cooper gave his speech after making historical past because the youngest particular person ever to win in an appearing class. After Cooper left the stage, Bargatze deadpanned, “That was a show ‘Adolescence’ that did that to adolescents.”
When there have been 10 minutes left of the telecast, the entire stood at unfavourable $26,000. “We’re already in debt,” stated Seth Rogen, because the speeches ran lengthy after “The Studio” gained for greatest comedy sequence. “We’ve f—ed over the boys and girls.”
As Homer Simpson would say, “It’s funny ‘cause it’s true.” On the very finish of the evening Bargatze introduced he would up the entire donation to $350,000, but it surely nonetheless got here throughout as an afterthought. — J.G.
