The 2025 Creative Arts Emmys delivered one of the most unexpected twists in recent memory when late-night star Jimmy Kimmel walked away with the award for Outstanding Game Show Host, defeating some of the most established figures in the television industry.

The announcement, made Saturday night at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, sparked cheers, groans, and a whirlwind of debate across Hollywood and beyond.

Kimmel, best known for Jimmy Kimmel Live! and his often viral award-show monologues, claimed the honor for his work on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, a revival he has helmed since 2020.

His victory came against stiff competition: Jeopardy!’s Ken Jennings, Family Feud’s Steve Harvey, Press Your Luck’s Elizabeth Banks, and Saturday Night Live’s Colin Jost, who earned a surprise nomination for his turn hosting the reboot of Weekend Wagers.

The crowd reaction inside the theater was a mix of shock and applause.

Kimmel himself seemed taken aback as he took the stage, beginning his acceptance speech with a self-deprecating joke: “I guess this means I’m officially America’s favorite game show host… which is news to Steve Harvey.”

Laughter rippled through the audience, but it was what came next that drew both respect and emotion.

Kimmel dedicated his Emmy to the late Regis Philbin, the original host of Millionaire, whose charisma set the gold standard for the format.

“Regis showed us what it meant to invite America into the room with you, question by question, laugh by laugh,” Kimmel said.

“This award belongs to him as much as it does to me.”

But outside the theater, the reaction was far less unified.

Fans of long-running hosts like Harvey and Jennings flooded social media, expressing disbelief that Kimmel — whose primary career has always been in late-night comedy — triumphed over figures who have carried the game show industry on their backs for decades.

One viral post on X read: “How do you snub Ken Jennings, who literally saved Jeopardy after Alex Trebek? This feels like Hollywood politics, not recognition. ”

Others defended the Academy’s decision, pointing out that Kimmel’s tenure on Millionaire brought fresh life to a format many thought was past its prime.

“People forget he started in game shows,” one fan commented, referencing Kimmel’s Emmy-winning work as co-host of Win Ben Stein’s Money in the late 1990s.

“This isn’t his first rodeo.

He knows the rhythm, he knows how to play to both the contestant and the audience.

This was overdue.”

Industry insiders have also speculated on what the win reveals about Emmy voters’ mindset in 2025.

Some suggest nostalgia played a key role, with voters rewarding Kimmel for bridging generations of television rather than sticking strictly to traditional game show veterans.

Others argue the decision reflects the Emmys’ ongoing effort to spotlight mainstream names that attract headlines and social media buzz.

Elizabeth Banks, who had been widely considered a dark horse in the category, offered gracious words backstage.

“Jimmy’s fantastic, and if it takes a late-night guy to get people talking about game shows again, I’ll take it,” she said, though her smile suggested a hint of disappointment.

Ken Jennings, by contrast, simply tweeted: “Congrats to Jimmy.

I’ll keep answering questions.”

Steve Harvey, who has dominated ratings with Family Feud for more than a decade, did not release a public statement immediately, but several fans pointed out that Harvey has won multiple Daytime Emmys in the same category — and may not have needed this accolade to cement his legacy.

Television critics were quick to note the broader implications.

Some see Kimmel’s win as evidence that game shows are being reshaped for a new era, where nostalgia, celebrity appeal, and viral moments carry as much weight as the traditional skills of timing, charisma, and audience connection.

Others worry the decision could discourage networks from developing new hosts and formats, leaning instead on familiar names who can command headlines.

The win also places Kimmel in rare company, making him one of only a handful of hosts to earn Emmys across multiple formats.

His résumé now spans late-night, game shows, and even awards-show hosting, where he has famously emceed the Oscars multiple times.

As the debates continue, one thing is clear: Kimmel’s surprise victory has reignited conversations about the state of television entertainment in 2025.

Are audiences and voters craving fresh energy in traditional formats? Or is this another case of Hollywood rewarding star power over the grind of industry veterans?

For Jimmy Kimmel, however, the answer was simpler.

Clutching his Emmy backstage, he laughed, “I can’t wait to see what Steve Harvey says about this tomorrow.

Honestly, I’m more scared of his reaction than the Emmy voters’ decision.”

Whether seen as a deserved recognition or a controversial upset, the night belonged to Kimmel — and the shockwaves from his win will be felt long after the curtain falls on this year’s Emmys.