The 77th annual Primetime Emmy Awards celebrated key achievements in television on September 14, with Cristin Milioti earning recognition as a new Cristin Milioti Emmy Winner, while several Broadway talents joined the list of honorees at the event hosted by Nate Bargatze and presented by the Television Academy.
This year’s ceremony highlighted the crossover between Broadway and the television world, as performers, writers, and producers with Main Stem credentials received several major awards among a roster of notable nominees and winners.
Broadway Standouts Shine at the Emmy Awards
Jean Smart, known for her Tony nomination and recent return to Broadway in Jamie Wax’s “Call Me Izzy,” secured her fourth award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for “Hacks.” This most recent win brings her to seven Emmy victories across her fourteen career nominations, placing her among elite company with Candice Bergen, Helen Hunt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Mary Tyler Moore as the only individuals with four or more wins in this category. Smart competed in a group featuring multiple Broadway figures, including Uzo Aduba and Kristen Bell, and was joined by Quinta Brunson and Ayo Edebiri; the latter is set to make her Broadway debut with the upcoming revival of “Proof.”
Cristin Milioti’s Breakthrough Achievement
Cristin Milioti, previously a Tony nominee for her role in “Once” (2012), captured the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie with her performance in “The Penguin.” This not only marked her debut nomination but resulted in her first Emmy win. Milioti triumphed in a competitive field that included Broadway alumni such as Cate Blanchett, Meghann Fahy, Michelle Williams, and fellow nominee Rashida Jones.
Other Major Television Winners with Stage Ties
Jeff Hiller received the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series award for his work in “Somebody Somewhere.” Like Milioti, this was Hiller’s first nomination and win. Hiller’s Broadway experience began with the 2010 production of “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson,” and he recently appeared in the 2025 City Center Encores! staging of “Urinetown.” Fellow nominees in this category featured prominent names, including current “Oh, Mary!” star Michael Urie, Tony nominee Colman Domingo, Ike Barinholtz, Harrison Ford, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Bowen Yang.
The creative awards also recognized Broadway-involved contributors. Playwright Jack Thorne, whose Tony-winning script for
“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”
is currently on Broadway alongside “Stranger Things: The First Shadow,” won for Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, sharing the honor with Stephen Graham for “Adolescence.”
Tony winner Alan Cumming accepted the award for Outstanding Reality Competition Program as one of the producers of “Traitors,” representing the team’s collective achievement.
Select Notable Categories and Recipients
Below is a list featuring selected categories among those with Broadway affiliations. Winners are highlighted with double asterisks.
1. Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Uzo Aduba, “The Residence”
Kristen Bell, “Nobody Wants This”
Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary”
Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear”
Jean Smart, “Hacks” **
2. Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Cate Blanchett, “Disclaimer”
Meghann Fahy, “Sirens”
Rashida Jones, “Black Mirror”
Cristin Milioti, “The Penguin” **
Michelle Williams, “Dying For Sex”
3. Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Ike Barinholtz, “The Studio”
Colman Domingo, “The Four Seasons”
Harrison Ford, “Shrinking”
Jeff Hiller, “Somebody Somewhere” **
Ebon Moss-Bachrach, “The Bear”
Michael Urie, “Shrinking”
Bowen Yang, “Saturday Night Live”
4. Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, “Adolescence” **
Charlie Brooker and Bisha K. Ali, “Black Mirror”
Kim Rosenstock and Elizabeth Meriwether, “Dying For Sex”
Lauren LeFranc, “The Penguin”
Joshua Zetumer, “Say Nothing”
5. Outstanding Reality Competition Program
“The Amazing Race”
“RuPaul’s Drag Race”
“Survivor”
“Top Chef”
“Traitors” **
What This Year’s Results Mean for Broadway and Television
The 2025 Emmy ceremony underlined the substantial contributions of Broadway talent to modern television, reinforcing the strong partnership between stage and screen. Broadway performers like Cristin Milioti and Jean Smart, alongside creative figures such as Jack Thorne and Alan Cumming, received recognition for their versatility and impact. With rising stars like Ayo Edebiri and established names returning to the spotlight, collaborations between Broadway and television are likely to grow in significance, offering fresh opportunities and highlighting diverse talent across both industries.
