Bradley Cooper Stars In HBO’s Most Overlooked 2025 TV Episode That Just Won Big

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An excellent 2025 TV episode that somehow flew under the radar is finally getting the attention it deserves, after being overlooked at last year’s Emmy Awards. The HBO episode, which premiered to rave reviews from viewers, features a surprise appearance by actor and director Bradley Cooper. It’s now receiving the industry recognition it previously missed.

The Writers Guild of America East Awards took place on March 8, 2026, but the West Coast ceremony was canceled because of a strike. Held just a week before the Academy Awards, the event celebrated Hollywood’s best screenwriters. Popular shows and movies like The Pitt, The Studio, Sinners, and One Battle After Another were among the winners, but an HBO comedy series also received a major award.

The Righteous Gemstones Season 4 Premiere Finally Won Big

The HBO comedy series The Righteous Gemstones took home a prize at the recent Writers Guild of America Awards – East, following two Emmy nominations for its season four premiere, ‘Prelude’.

Despite winning one Emmy for stunt work and receiving three Critics Choice nominations, the WGA Award for Episodic Comedy is likely the most significant achievement for The Righteous Gemstones.

If you enjoyed the HBO comedy The Righteous Gemstones when it first came out in 2019, you’re familiar with its funny cast, including Danny McBride, Adam Devine, Edi Patterson, Walton Goggins, and John Goodman. Created by McBride, the show was a major comedy hit for HBO for six years, wrapping up last year after 36 episodes.

Although winning awards like Emmys and Golden Globes is great, the WGA Award for The Righteous Gemstones is especially meaningful. It was voted on by fellow screenwriters and WGA members, showing that writers in the industry specifically recognize the quality of an episode that hasn’t gotten much attention from other major award shows.

Bradley Cooper Guest Stars In One Of 2025’s Best TV Episodes

Image via Max

Bradley Cooper made a surprise appearance in the first episode of season four of The Righteous Gemstones. This episode was a bold move for the show, taking it further back in time than ever before. While the series has shown the past in flashbacks, this was the first time it explored the Gemstone family’s history all the way back to the Civil War era.

Stephen Cooper portrays Elijah Gemstone, a deceitful ancestor of Dr. Eli Gemstone. After killing Eli, Elijah pretends to be a preacher and discovers the advantages of religious authority – particularly how it protects him during wartime. He uses this disguise to run a masterful con, essentially founding the Gemstone family and setting the stage for their future. Ironically, the Gemstones build their wealth and extravagant lives on a foundation of faith.

As a huge fan of the show, I have to say the first episode of The Righteous Gemstones season four really blew me away, mostly because it was such a surprise. There was absolutely no hint that Cooper would show up, and honestly, it was one of the most shocking TV moments of the year so far. What I also loved was how boldly they started this final season – with a long, ambitious flashback that didn’t even feature most of the usual cast, just Danny McBride directing. It was a risky move, but it totally worked!

Even if the fourth season episode of The Righteous Gemstones doesn’t get much attention at the WGAE Awards, it’s a strong contender and widely considered one of the show’s best. It’s encouraging to see a deserving, but often overlooked, episode finally receive recognition, especially when awards tend to favor well-known favorites.

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2026-03-10 19:59