Creative Arts Emmys 2025 Night 1: ‘The Studio’, ‘The Penguin’ & ‘Severance’ Shine with Big Wins
The Peacock Theatre in downtown Los Angeles hosted the Creative Arts Emmys 2025 Awards, and the opening night was nothing short of amazing. The evening set the groundwork for one of television’s most anticipated award seasons with its glittering victories, humorous moments, and potent acknowledgement of unseen talent.
A Night of Big Wins
With an outstanding “nine Emmy Awards,” Apple TV+’s The Studio took first place on the first night, securing its place as a favourite among viewers and reviewers. Following closely behind was HBO Max’s The Penguin, which won “eight trophies” for its extensive success in visual effects, prosthetic makeup, hairstyling, costumes, sound editing, and sound mixing.
Nearby, Disney+’s Andor demonstrated its supremacy in the technical category by winning accolades for special visual effects, production design, picture editing, and costumes, while Apple’s Severance took home six honours. Additionally, Netflix’s Arcane and Love, Death + Robots each took home four prizes, demonstrating the increasing popularity of animation in popular programming.
HBO Max’s The Pitt* and Netflix’s “Adolescence” concluded the evening with “two awards apiece,” while Prime Video’s “The Boys” and Netflix’s “Bridgerton” each took home three prizes.
Star Power on Stage
The evening was full of unforgettable moments from the biggest personalities in Hollywood, and it wasn’t just about the numbers. Bryan Cranston’s performance in The Studio was another career high point, and Julianne Nicholson won a well-earned Emmy for her work in Hacks.
Merritt Wever received praise for her performance in Severance, while Shawn Hatosy from The Pitt also received a statue. Both audience applause and recognition for plays that have been year-round favourites were brought about by these acting triumphs.
Maya Rudolph Brings the Energy
“This is the real Emmys,” Maya Rudolph said, setting the tone for the evening with her signature humour. There are a lot of talented bad guys in this room, and this is the Emmys for the individuals who do all the magic.
Her remarks struck a chord with the audience of producers, designers, editors, and other creative professionals who frequently operate in the background yet are essential to creating the magic of television.
Lighthearted Moments
There are always some oddball moments at award presentations, and the Creative Arts Emmys 2025 this year were no exception.
The win for Outstanding Costumes for ‘Bridgerton’ was one of the highlights.
John Walter Glaser’s wardrobe malfunction—his trousers kept slipping down in the middle of his address—overshadowed his winning speech. Fortunately, the audience erupted in laughter before they could bring him to his knees.
Desi Lydic of The Daily Show, who took home the Emmy for Performer in a Short Form Comedy, had yet another heart-stopping moment. She issued a tongue-in-cheek thank you to “the Deep State” and sarcastically attributed her victory to watching “too much Fox News.”
And in what was possibly the most surprising moment of the evening, Robby Hoffman, the writer of “Hacks,” vaped informally on stage before to presenting the cinematography award, demonstrating that the Creative Arts Emmys do indeed have a more laid-back atmosphere than the Primetime program.
What’s Next at the Creative Arts Emmys
Dozens of statues were distributed on the first night, but the festivities are far from finished. 49 additional prizes will be given out on night two in categories like image editing, makeup, casting, and writing.
Fans may watch all the highlights of the Creative Arts Emmys 2025 event on FXX Saturday, September 13 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, even though it isn’t broadcast live. The event will also be accessible on Hulu until October 7 for those who would rather stream.
Winners List – Night One
*The Studio (Apple TV+) – 9 awards
* The Penguin (HBO Max) – 8 awards
* Severance (Apple TV+) – 6 awards
* Andor (Disney+) – 4 awards
* Arcane (Netflix) – 4 awards
* Love, Death + Robots (Netflix) – 4 awards
* The Boys* (Prime Video) – 3 awards
* Bridgerton* (Netflix) – 3 awards
* The Pitt (HBO Max) – 2 awards
* Adolescence (Netflix) – 2 awards
Final Thoughts
Although the Creative Arts Emmys 2025 don’t usually receive as much attention as the Primetime Emmys, insiders believe that this is where the magic starts. These hidden heroes influence the productions that captivate our imaginations, from sound design and editing to hairstyling and costumes.
With Severance, The Studio, and The Penguin in the forefront and some incredible on-stage moments, Night One of the Creative Arts Emmys 2025 served as a reminder that television is a true team sport and that every little detail counts.