On Sept. 6, 2025, at the Creative Arts Emmys, casting awards went to HBO Max’s The Pitt, HBO Max’s The Studio and Netflix’s Adolescence, giving each series a notable credential as the larger Emmy races continue.
Key Takeaways
- The Pitt won Casting for a Drama Series; casting directors credited were Cathy Sandrich Gelfond and Erica Berger.
- The Studio and Adolescence claimed casting honors in their respective categories, boosting both shows’ awards momentum.
- The Studio led the night with nine Emmys overall; The Penguin followed with eight and Severance took six.
- Severance (Season 2) remained the most nominated show with 27 nominations; The Pitt had 14.
- Guest acting trophies were split across titles: Julianne Nicholson and Bryan Cranston won guest honors in comedy; Merritt Wever and Shawn Hatosy won guest honors in drama.
- Casting-for-Limited-Series has tracked closely with Outstanding Limited Series in recent years; casting’s predictive value varies by category.
Verified Facts
The Casting for a Drama Series Emmy was awarded to HBO Max’s The Pitt, credited to casting directors Cathy Sandrich Gelfond and Erica Berger. The announcement came during night one of the Creative Arts Emmys on Sept. 6, 2025.
Apple TV+’s Severance (Season 2) led all programs with 27 nominations this year and is widely viewed as the frontrunner in the Outstanding Drama Series race, though rival shows with strong creative awards traction—like The Pitt, which has 14 nominations—are considered potential upsets.
The Studio emerged as the night’s top winner with nine Creative Arts Emmys. Other multi-winners included The Penguin (8), Severance (6), Adolescence (2), The Pitt (2) and Hacks (1).
Guest actor and actress awards were split across series: Julianne Nicholson won Guest Actress in a Comedy Series and Bryan Cranston won Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for performances tied to Hacks and The Studio respectively; Merritt Wever and Shawn Hatosy won Guest Actress and Guest Actor in a Drama Series for Severance and The Pitt.
Context & Impact
Casting awards can raise a show’s profile among voters and the public, especially for newer series. The Pitt’s casting win gives the freshman medical drama a credibility boost against a heavily nominated frontrunner like Severance.
Historically, Casting for a Limited Series has most often aligned with the winner of Outstanding Limited Series. In the past two decades, that linkage diverged only twice, and the connection has held steady over the last five winners (The White Lotus, The Queen’s Gambit, Watchmen, Beef and Baby Reindeer).
By contrast, Casting for a Comedy Series is a less reliable predictor in recent seasons. Before 2022, the casting winner usually matched the eventual Outstanding Comedy Series winner, but results since then have been mixed: Abbott Elementary (casting winner) did not repeat as Comedy Series winner in 2022, and The Bear repeated in 2023 and 2024 while Comedy Series winners differed.
Casting for Drama has been a strong indicator of the eventual Outstanding Drama Series winner in recent years, succeeding in five of the last six seasons, including last year’s Shōgun.
We appreciate the recognition of our casting team’s work and the actors who brought these roles to life.
Casting representatives (statement)
Unconfirmed
- Whether The Pitt’s casting win will significantly change the Outstanding Drama Series outcome remains uncertain—historical patterns show casting can help but does not guarantee a series win.
- No independent official tabulation beyond the Emmy announcements has suggested different overall win totals for the night.
Bottom Line
Night one of the Creative Arts Emmys reinforced the creative momentum behind several contenders: The Studio dominated the creative categories while casting wins for The Pitt and Adolescence add weight to their bids. With Severance still the most-nominated series, the main Emmy races remain competitive and could hinge on how voters weigh craft awards as the ceremonies continue.