In a glittering ceremony held on Saturday night, Maya Rudolph emerged as a standout winner at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards 2024, securing her sixth career Emmy. Rudolph won the prestigious award for best character voice-over for her stellar work on the Netflix animated show “Big Mouth,” where she brings life to the character of the Hormone Monstress. This particular triumph adds another feather in the cap of the former and future Saturday Night Live (SNL) star, who still has three more nominations awaiting her.
“I’m really proud to be a part of this show,” Rudolph said, emphasizing the humanizing elements of the series. Overwhelmed by emotions, she also confessed that her current menopausal state may have added to her tears of joy. “It’s making me cry because I’m very menopausal,” she remarked with a smile.
The Creative Arts Emmys serve as a precursor to the main Emmy Awards and are dedicated to recognizing behind-the-scenes artistic and technical achievements in television. This year’s event is particularly momentous as Dan and Eugene Levy are scheduled to host the main Emmys ceremony on September 15 at 8 PM EST.
The night also marked a milestone for Angela Bassett, who won her first Emmy for Best Narrator. Bassett took home the honor for her narration of the National Geographic show “Queens.” The category is typically filled with high-profile names, but it’s rare for winners to make an appearance. Bassett’s heartfelt reaction was a highlight of the evening. “Oh my god, wow, my first Emmy,” she exclaimed, visibly emotional. “I couldn’t be more thrilled and more grateful.”
Backstage, Bassett shared her admiration for the all-female production team behind the wildlife documentary, describing how it resonated with her. “It just touched my heart,” she said. “So I said yes.
.” The evening added another accolade to Bassett’s illustrious career, already adorned by two Oscar nominations and an honorary Academy Award she received earlier this year.
The ceremony also saw Pat Sajak, the iconic host of “Wheel of Fortune,” win Best Game Show Host for his final season on the longstanding show. This marks his fourth win in this category and his first since 1998, adding another chapter to his remarkable career.
Saturday Night Live demonstrated its craftsmanship prowess with six wins in various categories, including makeup and production design. Rudolph, who previously won two Emmys during her time as an SNL cast member, is currently nominated for two more awards for her recent hosting stint on the show. These awards will be presented on Sunday. Additionally, she plans to return to SNL this fall to portray Vice President Kamala Harris, just in time for the show’s 50th season and the upcoming election season.
Rudolph also has a nomination at the main Emmys ceremony for Best Actress in a Comedy for her role in the Apple TV+ series “Loot.” Though she is considered a long shot for the win, many eyes are on the favored Jean Smart for “Hacks” and Ayo Edebiri for “The Bear,” a show leading the comedy category with 23 nominations.
In the realm of animation, Netflix’s “Blue Eye Samurai” continues its winning streak. The critically acclaimed samurai series secured the Creative Arts Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program, following its previous triumph of three juried Emmys in categories such as Storyboard, Production Design, and Character Design. “Blue Eye Samurai” had a stellar year, also clinching six wins at the Annie Awards, standing tall against other significant contenders like “The Simpsons,” “Bob’s Burgers,” “X-Men ‘97,” and “Scavengers Reign.”
Other notable mentions from the evening include the Ron Howard-directed documentary “Jim Henson: Idea Man” winning four awards, and “Welcome to Wrexham” taking home three, including Best Unstructured Reality Show. The long-running show “Shark Tank” received the award for Best Structured Reality Show. Adding a touch of crossover to the proceedings, the telecast of the Oscars won four Emmys, including Best Live Variety Special.
FX’s “Shogun,” the top nominee this season with 25 Emmys nominations, celebrated a win for the team behind their post-show featurette. Seventeen more awards for the series are yet to be distributed, slated for Sunday’s ceremony, which will primarily focus on scripted television.
Published: September 08, 2024, 12:24 PM IST
