CBS / Paramount+

Our Official 2025 Emmys Guide: Who Should Win And Who Probably Will

The Emmys airs on CBS and Paramount+ on September 14, 2025.

Updated 3 weeks ago, September 10, 2025

The 2025 Emmys are around the corner, and with some of the year’s most talked-about shows, many of which continue to break records, it’s definitely one to watch.

Set to take place on September 14, the Emmys will be hosted by comedian Nate Bargatze, who’s famous for his clean comedy specials appropriate for the whole family. Leaning away from the raunchy chaos of the Golden Globes, the Emmys are considered the most prestigious award in television.

Now that streaming services like Netflix, Disney Plus, and more have taken over, alongside prestige networks like HBO, many of the nominated series were widely seen and talked about, from shows like The White Lotus and Severance to Adolescence and The Last of Us. So while everyone is making their official predictions, we have some opinions on what should actually win.

Drama Series: Severance Season 2

What Should Win: Severance Season 2, What Probably Will Win: Severance

Severance is the predicted favorite to win, and honestly, that’s fair. Nominated alongside The Pitt, The White Lotus Season 3, The Last of Us, and more, Severance is easily the most inventive, groundbreaking series on the list. With impeccable and nuanced performances and a dark, witty script laced with mysteries, as well as a heartwrenching season finale, Severance was also the most talked-about show on the list. Breaking through Apple TV Plus’s lower subscriber count, it’ll be a major upset if Severance loses.

Comedy Series: The Studio

What Should Win: The Studio, What Probably Will Win: The Studio

Once again, the prediction is aligned with our desires. The Studio is the only debut comedy series nominated aside from Nobody Wants This, and the other shows have had their time in the spotlight. Hacks, The Bear (it’s not a comedy!), and Abbott Elementary have all won major Emmys, and The Studio falls right into the hands of Hollywood’s voters. It is multi-dimensional, funny, and so relatable to Emmys voters, they won’t be able to resist. Even we couldn’t resist picking it as our favorite comedy of the year. And while The White Lotus is iconic, the third season followed a similar formula to the previous two, and although I’m a huge fan, it’s exciting to see a new bombshell in the category.

Limited Series or Anthology: Adolescence

What Should Win: Adolescence, What Probably Will Win: Adolescence

We promise, we’ll start diverging our opinions from the predictions soon but for now, if you haven’t seen Adolescence yet, set aside four hours and binge it ASAP. Adolescence is like nothing we’ve ever seen, basically a four-act play on-screen, filmed in one continuous shot per episode in real time. The script and performances are raw, layered, and believable in a shocking situation in which a 13-year-old is charged with murdering a fellow classmate. On the flip side, we would be incredibly happy to see Black Mirror win, although predictions rank it last in the category. Season 6 included dystopian remarks on healthcare costs, subscription culture, toxic masculinity, and of course, the dangers of technology through compelling and entertaining storylines.

Best Actor in a Drama Series: Adam Scott and Noah Wyle

Who Should Win: Adam Scott, Who Probably Will Win: Noah Wyle

Everyone thought Adam Scott was a charming comedic actor, but when he took on the lead in Severance, he not only transcended genre, but also the bounds of performance. In Season 2, he plays multiple versions of himself, has conversations with himself, and through those different personalities, is able to portray nuanced acting chops no one would have expected. Noah Wyle’s performance in The Pitt is impressive, but lacks the humor and complexity Adam Scott folds into his role in Severance.

Best Actress in a Drama Series: Britt Lower and Kathy Bates

Who Should Win: Britt Lower, Who Probably Will Win: Kathy Bates

Everyone loves Kathy Bates, and we can’t deny that she’s an iconic actress that deserves every award, but there’s a reason Matlock wasn’t nominated for much else. While she excels in her role, there’s less meat to work with than Britt Lower, one of Adam Scott’s romantic counterparts in Severance. Like Adam Scott, she plays two different versions of the same character whose motivations are completely at odds, a challenge for anyone. And in this case, a win would cement Britt as an award-winning breakout actress.

Best Actor in a Comedy Series: Jason Segel and Seth Rogen

Who Should Win: Jason Segel, Who Probably Will Win: Seth Rogen

We’ve already said that The Studio is a win-worthy new series, and Seth Rogen’s performance is definitely award-worthy. But so is Jason Segel’s! A resident of television comedies, Jason has excelled from his days on How I Met Your Mother into a grieving father and struggling therapist in Shrinking. Playing opposite Harrison Ford and Jessica Williams, Jason is funny and sympathetic, sometimes pathetic and unlikable, but we also root for him because he’s trying. The show itself is a lesson in self-reflection and forgiveness, and Jason’s performance in portraying that shows his expertise.

Best Actress in a Comedy Series: Jean Smart

Who Should Win: Jean Smart, Who Probably Will Win: Jean Smart

Several actresses in the category have had their Emmy win—The Bear’s Ayo Edibiri and Abbott Elementary’s Quinta Brunson have won for both projects. Uzo Aduba was nominated for her outstanding performance in The Residence, and has won Emmys in the past for her role in Orange Is the New Black, cementing her as a force in television awards. Kristen Bell is the second favorite to win for Nobody Wants This, but its rom-com status pales in comparison to the legendary Jean Smart in Hacks as a comedian and mentor navigating her career, her new employee, and growing older.