‘Widow’s Bay’ Just Became the Biggest Winner of the Emmys Before the Main Show Even Starts

Awards season has a rhythm to it, and the Creative Arts Emmys have carved out their own particular role in that rhythm. Handed out over two nights before the star-studded Primetime ceremony, these awards tend to fly under the radar even though they often set the tone for what’s coming.

This year’s Creative Arts Emmys were spread across September 5 and 6 at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater, honoring everything from guest acting and casting to editing, sound, and stunt work. Night two in particular leaned into scripted television, handing out the kind of below-the-line and guest-performance honors that rarely get airtime during the main broadcast but still carry real weight.

By the time the dust settled, one freshman comedy had quietly run away with the night. ‘Widow’s Bay‘ picked up eight awards, more than any other series at this year’s ceremony, putting the debut season on a very short list of shows that dominate before the Primetime Emmys even begin.

The show’s haul included Best Casting for a Comedy Series, along with Best Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series in the half-hour category. Betty Gilpin also took home the win for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her work on the series, adding an individual acting trophy to the show’s overall total.

‘Widow’s Bay’ wasn’t the only show to have a strong showing on night two. HBO’s ‘DTF St. Louis’ followed with six wins, including major supporting acting victories for David Harbour and Linda Cardellini, along with directing and writing honors for creator Steve Conrad. ‘Spider-Noir’ picked up five awards despite its recent cancellation, while ‘The Pitt’ and Apple TV’s ‘Pluribus’ each closed the night with four wins apiece.

The evening also delivered one of its most emotional moments when the late Rob Reiner was honored with a posthumous Emmy for his guest role on ‘The Bear,’ earning a standing ovation from the room. Shailene Woodley picked up her first-ever Emmy win as well, taking Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her work on ‘Paradise,’ while Ernest Harden Jr. won the corresponding guest actor award for ‘The Pitt.’

Elsewhere on the ballot, ‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’ was named Best Movie, and ‘South Park’ took home Best Animated Program for the first time since 2013. ‘DTF St. Louis’ also swept both limited-series supporting acting categories, marking the first time those awards were presented at the Creative Arts ceremony rather than folded into the main Primetime broadcast.

This year’s overall nomination tallies help explain why the field felt so competitive heading into the weekend. ‘The Pitt’ led all series with 25 nominations, while ‘Hacks’ earned 24 nods for its fifth and final season, setting a new single-year nomination record for a comedy. Apple’s ‘Pluribus’ wasn’t far behind with 18 nominations of its own.

For ‘Widow’s Bay,’ the eight-win night gives the show real momentum going into the main event. The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards are set to air September 14 on NBC and Peacock, and a strong Creative Arts showing has historically served as a meaningful signal for how a freshman series might fare once the cameras turn to the bigger categories.

Whether that momentum translates into major wins for Outstanding Comedy Series or its lead performers remains to be seen, but ‘Widow’s Bay’ has already proven it’s one of the season’s most decorated new shows. With the Primetime ceremony still a week away, the show’s early success has set a high bar for everyone else on the ballot.

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