On Sept. 6, 2025, the Television Academy announced early winners from Night One of the Creative Arts Emmys, with Bryan Cranston, Julianne Nicholson and multiple craft victories for The Penguin, plus casting honors for The Pitt and The Studio.
Key Takeaways
- Bryan Cranston won Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for The Studio.
- The Penguin secured several craft awards, including prosthetic makeup, contemporary makeup and hairstyling, and contemporary costumes for a limited series.
- The Pitt won Casting for a Drama Series.
- Julianne Nicholson took Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for Hacks.
- Andor and Bridgerton earned wins in fantasy/period costume and production design categories.
- Severance and The Studio were recognized for production design in their respective formats.
- Stunt awards went to The Boys (coordination, performance) and The Righteous Gemstones (comedy coordination).
- The Creative Arts Emmys broadcast is scheduled for FXX on Sept. 13 at 8 p.m. ET/PT and will stream on Hulu through Oct. 7.
Verified Facts
The Television Academy released a Night One winners list on Sept. 6, 2025, naming recipients across technical and guest performance categories. Confirmed winners in the initial update include Julianne Nicholson (Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, Hacks) and Bryan Cranston (Guest Actor in a Comedy Series, The Studio).
The Penguin was a notable craft winner, taking home awards in Contemporary Makeup (Non-Prosthetic), Prosthetic Makeup, Contemporary Costumes for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, and Contemporary Hairstyling. These wins reflect recognition across multiple departments for the limited series.
Series recognized for production design and costumes included Severance (Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary Program, one hour or more), The Studio (Production Design for a Narrative Program, half-hour; also Casting for a Comedy Series), Andor (Fantasy/Sci‑Fi Costumes and Production Design for a Narrative Period or Fantasy Program), and Bridgerton (Period Costumes and Period or Fantasy/Sci‑Fi Hairstyling).
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Guest Actress in a Comedy Series | Julianne Nicholson — Hacks |
| Guest Actor in a Comedy Series | Bryan Cranston — The Studio |
| Casting for a Drama Series | The Pitt |
| Contemporary & Prosthetic Makeup | The Penguin |
| Period Costumes / Hairstyling | Bridgerton |
| Fantasy/Sci‑Fi Costumes / Production Design | Andor |
| Production Design (Contemporary) | Severance |
| Stunt Coordination / Performance | The Boys; The Righteous Gemstones |
Context & Impact
The Creative Arts Emmys honor technical, guest performance and behind‑the‑scenes achievements that often predict or complement nominations at the Primetime Emmys. Craft wins can raise a program’s profile ahead of the main telecast.
Multiple craft awards for a single title, as seen with The Penguin, highlight coordinated excellence across departments (costume, makeup, hairstyling). Casting wins for The Pitt and The Studio underscore industry recognition of ensemble and guest‑casting choices that shape a series’ reception.
These awards also reflect trends in television production for 2024–25, including investment in practical and prosthetic effects, period/fantasy design, and stunt work for action-heavy series.
Official Statements
The Television Academy issued the Night One winners list and confirmed the Creative Arts Emmys broadcast plans for FXX and streaming on Hulu.
Television Academy
Unconfirmed
- Several categories in the initial live update (animation, choreography, multiple picture editing and music categories) did not have winners listed in the source feed and remain unconfirmed in this summary.
- Any additional Night One winners not shown in the initial update should be verified against the Television Academy’s official release.
Bottom Line
Night One of the 2025 Creative Arts Emmys highlighted both celebrated performers and key technical contributors, with Bryan Cranston and Julianne Nicholson noted among guest performance winners and The Penguin earning multiple craft awards. The Creative Arts telecast will air on FXX on Sept. 13 and stream on Hulu through Oct. 7, ahead of the Primetime Emmys.