Emmy Powerhouse: Warner Bros. Television Group Takes The Lead

Emmy Powerhouse: Warner Bros. Television Group Takes The Lead
Source: Forbes

From dramas The Penguin, The Pitt and Presumed Innocent to comedies Shrinking, Abbott Elementary, and Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, plus the veteran unscripted The Voice, Warner Bros. Television Group has earned 60 nominations for the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards - more than any other studio - spanning both streaming and broadcast platforms.

"It's a wonderful blessing to receive 60 Emmy nominations this morning for The Penguin, The Pitt, Shrinking, Abbott Elementary, Presumed Innocent, The Voice, and Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage," said Channing Dungey, Chairman and CEO, Warner Bros. Television Group and WBD US Networks in a statement. "I know how tirelessly and passionately our artists and crew work to bring these stories to life, and to see Warner Bros. Television Group acknowledged by the Television Academy as the studio with the most nominations is so gratifying."

Among The Penguin's 24 nominations are Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, Colin Farrell and Christin Milioti for Outstanding Lead Actor and Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, and Deidre O'Connell for Outstanding Supporting Actress, respectively. A nod for Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup was also expected given the transformation of Colin Farrell into Oswald "Oz" Cobb, also known as the Penguin.

While the focus at Warner Bros. Television Group is currently on The Batman Part II -- now scheduled for release on October 1, 2027 - buzz around a potential second season of The Penguin is now expected to intensify, despite the series originally being conceived as a one-season limited run.

The Pitt Earns 13 Nods; Noah Wyle Eyes First Win

With 13 nominations for HBO Max's medical drama The Pitt, Noah Wyle is back in the Emmy spotlight -- this time as a contender for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. A five-time nominee for his long-running role as Dr. John Carter on NBC's ER, Wyle has yet to claim a win. Now, as Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch at the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital -- nicknamed "The Pitt" by its staff -- he may finally take home the trophy.

Also earning recognition for The Pitt are Katherine LaNasa and Shawn Hatosy nominated for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series, respectively.

The Apple TV+ comedy Shrinking picked up seven nominations, including a milestone first Emmy nod for 83-year-old Harrison Ford - now the second-oldest nominee ever in his category (behind Alan Arkin, who was 86 when nominated in 2020 for The Kominsky Method).

Ford is joined on the ballot by co-star Michael Urie, also nominated for Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Jason Segel earned a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, while Jessica Williams was recognized in the Supporting Actress category.

Fun fact: Jason Segel's breakout role was as Nick Andopolis on the cult favorite Freaks and Geeks, produced by Judd Apatow.

Abbott Elementary Stays Strong for Broadcast

At a time when broadcast networks continue to lose ground at the Emmys, Abbott Elementary stands out once again, earning six new nominations this year. That brings the acclaimed ABC comedy to a total of 24 nominations to date - with four wins (through 2024).

In 2022, Quinta Brunson made history when she won the Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for the Abbott Elementary pilot, becoming the first Black woman to win in that category with a solo writing credit. This year, Brunson is again a double nominee: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and Writing for a Comedy Series.

Also nominated are Janelle James and Sheryl Lee Ralph, both up for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Ralph previously won in this category in 2022, becoming only the second Black actress to do so following Jackée Harry's historic win for 227 in 1987. Ralph's emotional acceptance speech, where she sang "Endangered Species," remains one of the ceremony’s most unforgettable moments.

The Voice, Presumed Innocent, and Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage

NBC's The Voice picked up five new nominations, bringing its total haul to 86 nominations and nine wins since debuting in 2011.

Presumed Innocent received four Emmy nominations for the upcoming 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, all in the acting categories, with nods for Jake Gyllenhaal, Bill Camp, Peter Sarsgaard, and Ruth Negga. And Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage was cited for Outstanding Cinematography for a Series (Half-Hour). Up next in The Big Bang Theory universe: Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, featuring Kevin Sussman as Stuart Bloom on HBO Max.

Emmy Night Details

The 2025 Primetime Emmy Awards will air live on Sunday, September 14th on CBS, and will also be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+. The Creative Arts Emmy Awards will be held on Saturday, Sept. 6 and Sunday, Sept. 7.