‘Widow’S Bay’ Rules Early Emmys With 8 Wins – ‘The Pitt’ Scores 4 As Reiner’S Posthumous Win Stirs The Crowd

Widow’s Bay Dominates the Early Emmys in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES – Apple TV’s offbeat horror-comedy Widow’s Bay ran away with eight early Emmys at the weekend’s retooled ceremonies, taking home honors in cinematography, sound, music and production design among others. The show’s star power was felt in the guest-acting category as Betty Gilpin scored best guest actress in a comedy for her turn on the series.

Gilpin brought her trademark sharp humor to the stage and even read a rapid-fire comic poem as part of her acceptance, keeping the room laughing as she thanked collaborators and poked fun at show business itself. The creative team behind Widow’s Bay left with a haul that underlines the series’ technical strengths and its appeal to Emmy voters this year.

Press Room Moments

Photographers caught winners in the press room after the ceremony – Ernest Harden Jr. with his guest-actor trophy for The Pitt, Betty Gilpin clutching her award for Widow’s Bay, and Linda Cardellini alongside David Harbour posing with their limited-series supporting trophies for DTF St. Louis.

Those snapshots captured a mix of jubilation and relief on a night where the backstage energy matched the brisk tempo of the ceremony itself.

"After decades of work, this feels unreal – I’m just floating, like I finally got to bring Louie to life in front of people who saw him," said Ernest Harden Jr., reflecting on his first major recognition.

‘The Pitt’ Builds on Last Year’s Momentum

HBO Max’s The Pitt continued its Emmy streak, taking four awards Sunday and cementing its reputation after a breakout first season. The medical drama – the year’s top nominee with 25 nods – added trophies in categories including prosthetic makeup and guest acting in a drama.

Ernest Harden Jr., a 73-year-old actor and first-time Emmy nominee, won for his portrayal of Louie Cloverfield – the ER’s weathered presence and a man wrestling with alcoholism in his final days. Harden was visibly moved when his name was announced and later told reporters the moment felt like a long-awaited recognition.

Music and Emotional Wins

Singer-songwriter Andrew Bird and composer Gavin Brivik collected the award for original music and lyrics for a song written about Harden’s character – a rare, quiet musical highlight in a show that doesn’t lean heavily on tunes.

“It was a beautiful moment to set to music,” Bird said backstage, acknowledging the show’s trust in giving the song a meaningful scene.

DTF St. Louis and Limited Series Standouts

In the limited-series categories, DTF St. Louis led the pack with six awards. The wins were a milestone for co-stars David Harbour and Linda Cardellini – both claiming their first Emmy trophies in their established TV careers.

Harbour earned best supporting actor in a limited series after three nominations, while Cardellini took best supporting actress in a limited series on her fourth nomination. Cardellini grew emotional onstage, thanking the people who helped her reach what she called a "dream come true."

Rebranding the Weekend – What Changed

The Television Academy rebranded the Creative Arts Emmys this year, folding them into what are now presented as the first two nights of the 78th Emmy Awards. That shift included moving five categories that usually appear on the main telecast to the earlier ceremonies, increasing the weekend’s star power.

The bulk of the prizes – many honoring behind-the-scenes craftspeople – were handed out over Saturday and Sunday, with the ceremonies edited together to air Sept. 12 on FXX and stream on Hulu the next day. The primetime ceremony will follow on Sept. 14 at the Peacock Theater, hosted by Mariska Hargitay and airing live on NBC and Peacock.

Other Notable Winners and Surprises

Vince Gilligan’s Apple TV rookie Pluribus won four trophies, including editing, production design and sound mixing, staking a claim as a contender in the drama ranks. Both Widow’s Bay and The Pitt could potentially pad their totals by up to six more Emmys on the final night.

Shailene Woodley picked up her first Emmy as best guest actress in a drama for her work on Paradise. Meanwhile, Spider-Noir – the Nicolas Cage series that was canceled after one season by Amazon Prime Video – took home five awards for visual effects, stunts and more.

Rob Reiner’s Posthumous Win and a Somber Ovation

One of the night’s most emotional moments arrived when Rob Reiner was named best guest actor in a comedy for his appearance on The Bear. Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were killed in December; their son has pleaded not guilty to charges related to their deaths.

The announcement prompted a long, respectful ovation, with friends and fellow performers like Jamie Lee Curtis among those paying tribute in the crowd. Reiner’s acting career had already earned him Emmys decades earlier, and the posthumous win added a somber note to an otherwise brisk, celebratory night.

Documentaries, Music and Weekend Winners

Mariska Hargitay was among the winners this weekend, earning two Emmys for her documentary My Mom Jayne about Jayne Mansfield, adding to her earlier career honors. Bad Bunny collected his first career Emmy for his Super Bowl halftime show – a production that amassed seven trophies at Saturday’s ceremony.

The edited Creative Arts shows will give viewers a condensed look at the technical and guest-acting achievements that set the stage for next week’s primetime telecast, where much of the competition will be decided live.

What’s Next – The Final Night and Broadcast Plans

Saturday and Sunday’s winners have already reshuffled the leaderboard, but both Widow’s Bay and The Pitt still have the chance to increase their totals on Sept. 14. The final primetime ceremony – airing live from the Peacock Theater on NBC and streaming on Peacock – will settle the night’s remaining high-profile categories.

For now, the early ceremonies handed out dozens of trophies that celebrated everything from prosthetic makeup to original songs, delivering a weekend of Malibu-style drama and backstage celebrations that felt very Los Angeles.