IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR THE TELEVISION ACADEMY – Antoni Porowski, from left, Jeremiah Brent and Jonathan van Ness with their Emmy for Outstanding Structured Reality Program for “Queer Eye” in the press room during night two of the Television Academy’s 2025 Creative Arts Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theater on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Mark Von Holden/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Content Services)
The two-day extravaganza sees nearly 100 categories awarded. Here’s what the untelevised ceremonies are like:
The premise: The best description is if you made a whole show out of that middle, bathroom-break part of a typical awards show, where dedicated, brilliant and largely unfamiliar craftspeople celebrate the high point of their careers. But things are relative too. The celebrities that do present and win seem all the more starry. Maya Rudolph and Jimmy Kimmel are the down-to-earth ones at most shows; here, they’re the A-list.
The vibes: It’s both more formal and more casual at the same time. They get about 50 awards out each night and make their 2½-hour deadline with a vicious efficiency the big shows couldn’t hope to match. It’s ALL awards, no bits or performances. But also, there’s swearing and very little sense of ceremony.
The winners: Picture the teeming crowd onstage accepting best picture at the Oscars. That happens throughout the Creative Arts Emmys, but they’re not just hangers-on — they’re ALL Emmy winners. FOURTEEN people won best cinematography of a reality show for “The Traitors.” THIRTY people won best writing for a variety special for “SNL 50.” But only one person can talk, and only 30 seconds. The play-off music starts the second a second voice is heard.
The missing: “Unfortunately, the Grammys couldn’t be here tonight,” presenter Harvey Guillén said to laughs after announcing the telecast’s win for its choreography. And neither could Barack Obama, as presenter Jordan Klepper announced very slowly after naming the former president the winner of the narration category.
▶ Want to know more? Read the highlights from Night 1 and Night 2 of the Creative Arts Emmys
