Canadian Seth Rogen’s The Studio leads 2025 Emmy comedy nominations with 23 nods, setting records and spotlighting Canadian talent on TV’s biggest stage.
Canadian Talent Shines in Emmy Spotlight
Canadian comedian Seth Rogen made headlines Tuesday as the 2025 Primetime Emmy nominations were unveiled in Los Angeles. His Apple TV+ comedy The Studio led the comedy categories with a record-setting 23 nominations, the most ever for a debut season.
Rogen created, starred in, and directed the workplace satire, earning personal nominations for lead actor, directing, and writing. The show marks a milestone in Canadian representation in Hollywood awards, with multiple Canadian actors featured across categories.
A New Benchmark for Comedy Series
The Studio follows a newly appointed movie studio head—played by Rogen—desperate for validation from Hollywood elites. It now surpasses Ted Lasso’s 2021 record of 20 nominations for a new comedy.
In the Outstanding Comedy Series race, The Studio will compete against other top shows including The Bear, Abbott Elementary, and Only Murders in the Building.
Supporting actors Catherine O’Hara (Canada), Kathryn Hahn, and Ike Barinholtz were recognized, along with guest stars including Martin Scorsese, who earned his first Emmy nomination for playing himself.
Canadian Rivals and Performers Among Nominees
Fellow Canadian Martin Short received a nomination for Only Murders in the Building, while Rogen faces off against Jason Segel (Shrinking) and Jeremy Allen White (The Bear) in the lead actor category.
The lead actress in a comedy lineup includes past winners like Jean Smart (Hacks) and new contenders such as Kristen Bell (Nobody Wants This) and Uzo Aduba (The Residence).
Severance and Apple TV+ Dominate Drama Categories
Apple TV+’s Severance led all nominations across genres with 27 total nods, including best drama series, and acting nominations for Adam Scott and Britt Lower.
Quebec’s Jessica Lee Gagné made history as a double nominee for both cinematography and direction on Severance. She is one of several Canadians breaking through behind the camera this year.
HBO’s The Penguin and Netflix’s Adolescence Battle in Limited Series
HBO’s The Penguin, starring Colin Farrell, scored 24 nominations, including acting and producing nods for Farrell himself.
However, it faces stiff competition from Netflix’s Adolescence and Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, with powerful performances by Stephen Graham, Cooper Koch, and Javier Bardem.
Major Emmy Snubs Raise Eyebrows
Notably absent from this year’s list are The Handmaid’s Tale, Squid Game, and Netflix’s Four Seasons. Despite past acclaim, these series received little to no recognition.
Fan favourites like Steve Carell and Tina Fey were also left off the roster, while Only Murders in the Building saw its stars Steve Martin and Selena Gomez excluded despite the show’s overall success.
Reality and Talk Categories Announced Early
CBS announced early nominations for non-scripted categories, with The Daily Show, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and Jimmy Kimmel Live contending for best talk series.
For reality/competition, Survivor, The Amazing Race, and RuPaul’s Drag Race are once again in the spotlight.
Emmy Awards Air This September
The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards will broadcast on Sunday, September 14 from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, hosted by comedian Nate Bargatze.
With Canadian stars like Seth Rogen and Martin Short at the forefront, this year’s Emmys offer a landmark moment for Canada’s creative influence on the global television stage.
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