After clinching the title of Best Reality Competition Series, "The Traitors" has made a clean sweep at the 2025 Emmys, securing five wins and leaving their slate spotless. While accepting the award on behalf of the series, host Alan Cumming acknowledged the challenging times we are living through, stating, "It's a tough era we're in, but it's wonderful that our show injects a bit of joy into life." He also extended his gratitude to the show's extensive cast, crew, and devoted fanbase for their unwavering support.
"Thank you to the Academy; your support means the world to us. We truly appreciate it. Thanks to everyone who tunes in to watch our show. Thanks to all those who throw 'Traitors' parties and dress up as me. We notice you, and we adore you," he remarked. Adding a touch of humor, Cumming continued, "Thank you to our cast, our wonderfully eccentric cast, and our crew in Scotland, who had to come to terms with the fact that a Scottish summer can sometimes be a paradox in itself."
"The Traitors" outshone its fellow nominees, including "The Amazing Race," "Survivor," "Top Chef," and "RuPaul’s Drag Race," which had previously dominated the category. The RuPaul-led drag competition series had claimed the Best Reality Competition Program award consecutively from 2018 to 2021 and again in 2023, before "The Traitors" entered the awards race and clinched the title in 2024. The Scotland-set reality competition show had already triumphed in all four categories it was nominated for at the Creative Arts Emmys a week earlier. Notably, Cumming secured the Best Reality Host title for the second consecutive year, while the show also took home Emmys for Reality Picture Editing, Directing, and Cinematography.
With five Emmys in its pocket from the 2025 cycle, the Cumming-hosted show has firmly established itself as a major, enduring awards contender following a successful third season. Season four of "The Traitors" is expected to premiere in January, and the series has already been renewed for a fifth season. The franchise's Emmys dominance comes hot on the heels of NBC picking up a civilian version of the beloved game. Cumming will return to host the competition series, which will feature a cast of everyday individuals, as opposed to the main show that currently showcases reality TV stars and other notable personalities.
Regarding his hosting style, Cumming told The Hollywood Reporter that he approaches "Traitors" as if he's "playing a character." He elaborated, "I'm called Alan Cumming, and I look like Alan Cumming, but that's where the similarities end. It's quite amusing to me because I'm asking people to truly believe that I reside in that castle, don those outfits, and even sound like that. I'm sort of subverting the traditional form of hosting. It's thrilling, and I stumbled upon it by accident."
The 77th Emmy Awards aired live from the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles on Sunday, broadcast on CBS and streamed on Paramount+. One weekend prior, the 2025 Creative Arts Emmys handed out dozens of awards, primarily to below-the-line categories.
