With a week still to go before the much-anticipated 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards, the Creative Arts Emmys took the spotlight this past weekend, honoring the exceptional contributions of artists, technicians, and creators who work behind the scenes in television. Held over two consecutive nights at the prestigious Peacock Theater at L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles, the ceremonies celebrated the unsung heroes of television, with statuettes handed out in 99 categories covering a wide spectrum of the TV production industry.
What Are the Creative Arts Emmys?
The Creative Arts Emmys are a part of the broader Emmy Awards but are specifically designed to celebrate technical and behind-the-scenes achievements that are integral to the success of television shows. While the Primetime Emmys focus on high-profile awards like acting, directing, and writing, the Creative Arts Emmys acknowledge the enormous contributions made by costume designers, editors, sound mixers, lighting designers, casting directors, and many more. This year, the categories ranged from Outstanding Hairstyling to Outstanding Technical Direction and Outstanding Special Visual Effects.
An edited version of this star-studded event will be aired on FXX on September 14, and for those who can’t tune in then, the ceremony will also be available for streaming on Hulu from September 15 through October 9, giving audiences ample time to relive the weekend’s best moments.
Shōgun Breaks Records with Unprecedented Emmy Wins
The weekend’s biggest story was the sweeping victory of the epic historical drama Shōgun, which took home an astonishing 14 Emmy Awards. Additionally, the series’ companion documentary, The Making of Shōgun, secured another win, pushing the show’s total to a record-breaking 15 Emmy wins in a single year. This historic achievement broke the previous record held by the acclaimed miniseries John Adams. Shōgun’s wide-ranging wins spanned both technical and creative categories, proving its exceptional craftsmanship across the board.
The series dominated major categories like Outstanding Cinematography for a Series (One Hour), Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Period or Fantasy Program (One Hour or More), and Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Season or a Movie. These wins underline the show’s attention to detail in every aspect of production, from its breathtaking set designs and visual effects to its stunning cinematography that brought the samurai epic to life.
Major Wins for The Bear and Only Murders in the Building
While Shōgun stole the spotlight, other fan-favorite shows made their mark during the weekend ceremonies. FX’s critically acclaimed series The Bear, known for its raw portrayal of a chef’s struggle in a family-owned restaurant, earned numerous wins across several categories, including Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation. One of the most notable wins for The Bear was Jamie Lee Curtis taking home the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series award for her moving performance in the episode “Fishes.”
Jon Bernthal also shined for his role in the same episode, earning Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. The Bear’s episode “Forks” received the Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (Half-Hour) award, which added to the show’s growing list of accolades.
Only Murders in the Building, another widely beloved show, also saw its fair share of success at the Creative Arts Emmys. The series, which stars comedy legends Steve Martin and Martin Short alongside Selena Gomez, scored multiple wins, including Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score) and Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for the song “Which of the Pickwick Triplets Did It?”. This marked a huge milestone for songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who joined the elite EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) club with their Emmy win, making them two of the few artists in history to earn all four major entertainment awards.
Celebrating Onscreen and Offscreen Talent
While the Creative Arts Emmys are traditionally known for celebrating behind-the-scenes talent, onscreen performers were also recognized for their outstanding contributions. In addition to Jamie Lee Curtis and Jon Bernthal’s wins, Néstor Carbonell, known for his compelling work in Shōgun, took home the award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series. Michaela Coel, celebrated for her role in the drama series Mr. & Mrs. Smith, also won Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series. These performances, while guest roles, had an enormous impact and were rightfully acknowledged for their excellence.
Surprises and Historic Wins: Pat Sajak, Alan Cumming, and Angela Bassett Shine
The Creative Arts Emmys often deliver surprise wins and emotional moments, and this year was no exception. A particularly emotional highlight was Pat Sajak’s win for Best Host for a Game Show for his final season on Wheel of Fortune. After decades as the beloved host, this victory served as a fitting farewell to one of television’s most iconic personalities.
Alan Cumming’s win for Best Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program was another standout moment. Cumming’s victory, for his role as the host of The Traitors, broke RuPaul’s eight-year winning streak in the category, making it a significant shift in the awards landscape.
Notably, Angela Bassett secured her first Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Narrator for her work in Queens: African Queens. This marked another milestone in the decorated career of the actress, who continues to be a major force in both film and television. Other first-time Emmy winners included Eric André, who took home the award for Best Performer in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series, and Sandra Oh and Awkwafina, who won as producers for Quiz Lady, which triumphed in the Best Television Movie category.
Technical Excellence: Celebrating the Backbone of Television
The weekend’s Creative Arts Emmys put a spotlight on the invaluable technical aspects of television that often go unrecognized. Categories like Outstanding Cinematography, Outstanding Production Design, Outstanding Lighting Design, and Outstanding Sound Mixing celebrated the highly skilled professionals whose work creates the foundation for some of television’s most beloved shows.
For example, Saturday Night Live, which continues to be a cultural juggernaut after more than four decades on air, earned multiple wins in technical categories such as Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Variety Series and Outstanding Makeup for a Variety Program. The show’s episode featuring Ryan Gosling as host was a particular standout, winning multiple awards including Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series.
Another notable winner was Life Below Zero, which earned the award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Reality Program for its breathtaking visuals in the episode “Bulletproof”. The show’s ability to capture the harsh, rugged beauty of the Alaskan wilderness has been a standout feature of the series, and this recognition was well-deserved.
Saturday and Sunday Ceremony Highlights: Key Winners
Across both ceremonies, numerous shows and individuals were honored for their exceptional work in a wide range of categories. Some of the notable highlights from the Saturday ceremony include:
- Outstanding Animated Program: Blue Eye Samurai
- Outstanding Casting for a Reality Program: Love on the Spectrum U.S.
- Outstanding Choreography for Variety or Reality Programming: 76th Annual Tony Awards, “Opening Number” and “Lifetime Achievement”
- Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program: Girls State
- Outstanding Commercial: “Fuzzy Feelings,” Apple – iPhone + Mac
- Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program: Girls State
- Outstanding Game Show: Jeopardy!
Meanwhile, Sunday’s ceremony also featured some major wins, including:
- Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series: The Bear
- Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (Half-Hour): The Bear
- Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: Jamie Lee Curtis, The Bear
- Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: Néstor Carbonell, Shōgun
- Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics: “Which of the Pickwick Triplets Did It?” from Only Murders in the Building
- Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour): The Bear
The Road to the 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards
With the Creative Arts Emmys now concluded, the focus shifts to the upcoming 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards. The weekend’s wins have already set the stage for what could be a highly competitive Primetime Emmy ceremony, with shows like Shōgun, The Bear, and Only Murders in the Building poised to make a big splash. Many of the behind-the-scenes winners from the Creative Arts Emmys could also pave the way for their respective shows to sweep major categories at the main event.
In conclusion, the 2024 Creative Arts Emmys have once again demonstrated the incredible depth and diversity of talent in television. From groundbreaking achievements in visual effects and sound to remarkable guest performances, this year’s honorees have raised the bar for television excellence. As we look ahead to the Primetime Emmy Awards, one thing is certain: the creative forces behind today’s best TV shows continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the world of entertainment.
