‘The Studio,’ ‘Adolescence,’ & ‘The Pitt’ Take Top Honors at Second Annual Gotham TV Awards

New York, NY (Tuesday, June 2, 2025) – The Gotham Film & Media Institute tonight announced the winners of the second annual Gotham Television Awards at a ceremony held at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.

Winning Breakthrough Limited Series was Adolescence, one of the most talked about shows of the year, which tells the aftermath story of a 13-year-old boy, who murders a classmate. The series also won Outstanding Lead Performance in a Limited Series, awarded to Stephen Graham, and Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Limited Series, awarded to Owen Cooper. For her career-defining performance in Dying for Sex, Jenny Slate was awarded Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Limited Series.

The Studio, the hilarious behind-the-scenes of a studio executive and his team as they navigate the absurdities of Hollywood, won Breakthrough Comedy Series. Outstanding Lead Performance in a Comedy Series was awarded to Julio Torres for his performance in the surrealist Fantasmas. Poorna Jagannathan won Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Comedy Series for her role of a crime boss auntie in Deli Boys.

The Pitt took home the Breakthrough Drama Series award, recognizing this exceptional medical drama where each hour-long episode unfolds entirely within a Pittsburgh hospital. Outstanding Lead Performance in a Drama Series was awarded to Kathy Bates in Matlock, a new modern version of the classic 80s show. Ben Whishaw won Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Drama Series for his role as an assassin for hire in the spy thriller Black Doves.

Winning the Breakthrough Nonfiction Series award was the Social Studies, a look at how social media shapes the lives of a group of LA teens during a full school year.

The inaugural Outstanding Original Film, Broadcast or Streaming was awarded to Pee-Wee as Himself, which explores the life and career of actor Paul Reubens. ​Aaron Pierre took home Outstanding Performance in an Original Film for his role as a former Marine in the action thriller Rebel Ridge.

Additionally, The Gotham presented Hwang Dong-hyuk with the Creator Tribute, Brian Tyree Henry with the Performer Tribute, David E. Kelley with the Visionary Tribute, Elisabeth Moss and the cast of The Handmaid’s Tale with the Ensemble. 

Tribute, Sheryl Lee Ralph with the Sidney Poitier Icon Tribute, Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino with the Creator Tribute, and Parker Posey with the Legend Tribute.

Tonight The Gotham also announced The Gotham’s Series Creators to Watch – an initiative of The Gotham, which recognizes bold, risk-taking voices whose vision will help push the boundaries of serialized storytelling. The creators selected include Billy Luther, Zoey Martinson, Lanre Olabisi, John Onieal, Jenn Shaw, Ani Simon-Kennedy, Anu Valia, and Lindsey Villarreal. Creators will have the opportunity to attend The Gotham Week Project Market, taking place September 29 through October 3 in New York City, where they will have access to the film and media industry as well as opportunities for representation. The creators selected are alumni of previous Gotham programs.

The Premier Sponsor of the 2025 Gotham TV Awards was Vanity Fair.

The 2025 Gotham TV Award Winners:

Breakthrough Comedy Series, presented by Matt Rogers and James Scully

The Studio 

Evan Goldberg, Alex Gregory, Peter Huyck, Frida Perez, Seth Rogen, creators; Josh Fagan, Evan Goldberg, Alex Gregory, Peter Huyck, Alex McAtee, Frida Perez, Seth Rogen, James Weaver, executive producers (Apple TV+)

The Breakthrough Comedy Series jury included: Annette Davey, Lucy DeVito, Janine Nabers, Jaz Sinclair, and Jon Tenney

Breakthrough Drama Series, presented by Esther McGregor and Dominique Thorne

The Pitt

Scott Gemmill, creator; Simran Baidwan, R. Scott Gemmill, Michael Hissrich, Erin Jontow, John Wells,

Noah Wyle, executive producers (HBO | Max)

The Breakthrough Drama Series jury included: Nikole Beckwith, Marcus Gardley, Chris Giliberti, and James Ponsoldt

Breakthrough Limited Series, presented by Stephanie March and Jeffrey Sharp

Adolescence

Stephen Graham, Jack Thorne, creators; Philip Barantini, Emily Feller, Dede Gardner, Stephen Graham, Mark Herbert, Jeremy Kleiner, Brad Pitt, Jack Thorne, Hannah Walters, Nina Wolarsky, executive producers

(Netflix)

The Breakthrough Limited Series jury included: Colin Bucksey, Colette Burson, Riley Keough, Don McKellar, and Jurnee Smollett

Breakthrough Nonfiction Series, presented by Alina Cho

Social Studies

Lauren Greenfield, creator; Frank Evers, Lauren Greenfield, executive producers (FX/Hulu)

The Breakthrough Nonfiction Series jury included: Bonni Cohen, Eli B. Despres, Prentice Penny, Angela Tucker, and Jamila Wignot

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Comedy Series, presented by Matt Rogers and James Scully

Julio Torres, Fantasmas

Released by HBO | Max

The Outstanding Lead Performance in a Comedy Series jury included: Aurora Guerrero

Chris Perfetti, Meredith Scardino, and Jez Scharf

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Drama Series, presented by Carrie Coon

Kathy Bates, Matlock

Released by CBS

The Outstanding Lead Performance in a Drama Series jury included: DeMane Davis, Molly Smith Metzler, Ryan O’Nan, Zine Tseng, and Julie Yorn

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Limited Series, presented by Justine Lupe and AnnaSophia Robb

Stephen Graham, Adolescence

Released by Netflix

The Outstanding Lead Performance in a Limited Series jury included: Anna Boden, Jessica Gunning, Mike Makowsky, and Elizabeth Perkins

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Comedy Series, presented by Wally Baram, Mary Beth Barone, and Benito Skinner

Poorna Jagannathan, Deli Boys 

Released by Hulu

The Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Comedy Series jury included: Anna Chlumsky, Nia DaCosta, Matt Rogers, Graham Wagner, and Hoa Xuande

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Drama Series, presented by Shawn Hatosy and Britt Lower

Ben Whishaw, Black Doves 

Released by Netflix

The Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Drama Series jury included: Ryan Broussard, Marissa Jo Cerar, Jill Footlick, Rachel Kondo, and Ji-young Yoo

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Limited Series, presented by Sam Nivola and Chase Sui Wonders

Owen Cooper, Adolescence

Released by Netflix

Jenny Slate, Dying for Sex

Released by FX / Hulu

The Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Limited Series jury included: Ryan Cunningham, Daniel Ings, Jon Levin, and Justin Marks

Outstanding Original Film, Broadcast or Streaming, presented by Diego Luna

Pee-wee as Himself

Matt Wolf, director; Emma Tillinger Koskoff, producer (HBO | Max)

The Outstanding Original Film, Broadcast or Streaming jury included: Alex Coco, Julie Goldstein, André Holland, and Celine Rattray

Outstanding Performance in an Original Film, presented by Martine and Julio Torres

Aaron Pierre, Rebel Ridge 

Released by Netflix

The Outstanding Performance in an Original Film jury included: Ryan Destiny, Bill Holderman, Jayme Lemons, and Danielle Macdonald

About the Gotham Film & Media Institute

The Gotham celebrates and nurtures independent film and media creators, providing career-building resources, access to industry influencers, and pathways to wider recognition. The organization, under the leadership of Executive Director and award-winning producer Jeffrey Sharp, fosters a vibrant and sustainable independent storytelling community through its year-round programs, which include Gotham Week, the Documentary Development Initiative in partnership with HBO Documentary Films, the Gotham Awards, Gotham EDU, Owning It, Expanding Communities, and Filmmaker Magazine.