Events

NBC kicked off Upfront Week on Monday morning at Radio City Music Hall. The storied site, which replaced the Hilton New York as the presentation venue, was decorated appropriately, with a theatrical stage set that involved a video screens shaped after network's peacock logo.

To add a little excitement to the reveal of one of the latest additions to its portfolio of shows, NBC brought a capuchin monkey to the event along with Justin Kirk, the star of new comedy Animal Practice.

A performance by Katharine McPhee (pictured, center) and Megan Hilty, actors from the network's musical drama, Smash, opened the presentation. McPhee also closed the NBC event, performing alongside a gospel choir.

Fox returned to the Beacon Theatre, the space used last year, for its formal presentation. The marquee flashed branded messages while staffers carrying colorful, oversize balloons directed arriving guests. Ryan Seacrest replaced Glee's Jane Lynch as the host of Fox's Monday afternoon show, which opened with a video skit of the New Girl cast interviewing other network talent as potential roommates. The presentation also saw Fox Entertainment president Kevin Reilly (pictured) hit the stage to present the fall schedule.

However, the biggest appearance at the Fox outing was made by Britney Spears, who, alongside Demi Lovato, will serve as a judge on the upcoming season of music competition X Factor.

Mary J. Blige, who was featured as a mentor on the network's American Idol, closed the Fox presentation.

The large balloons marked with the names of Fox shows also led the way to the upfront's after-party at the Trump Wollman Skating Rink in Central Park.

Planned by Fox Broadcasting Company's senior vice president of creative services, Tomiko Iwata, and designed and produced by Angel City Designs, the post-presentation reception was, like previous years, held under a tent. The neutral color scheme was contrasted by brightly hued lighting.

Structures inside the tent helped divide the space and provide seating nooks for the hundreds of guests that turned out.

Another food section was dedicated to Fox's culinary competition Master Chef, with fare served by the show's judges Joe Bastianich, Graham Elliot, and Gordon Ramsay.

On Tuesday morning ESPN returned to the Best Buy Theater for its upfront presentation, which included a performance by the Ohio State marching band. Hosted by Mike and Mike in the Morning’s Mike Greenberg and SportsCenter anchor Sage Steele, the hour-long outing included appearances by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, Nascar driver Carl Edwards, and Tyson Chandler of the New York Knicks.

The biggest news that came out of Univision's event was the appearance by ABC's Modern Family star Sofia Vergara (pictured, left). The actress matched the event's tagline, "Latinos live here," by stating, "I might work someplace else, but this is where I live."

Univision closed the shindig with a live performance by Shakira (pictured, center), accompanied by eight back-up dancers, a full band, and pyrotechnics.

Following the upfront, Univision crowded Cipriani 42nd Street for a lively reception. The historic ballroom, frequently used for high-profile fund-raisers, was decorated with gobos and circular signs that read, "Latinos live here." The tagline was also used in decals placed on the sidewalks outside key ad agencies in the city.

Shortly after Univision finished its reception, Discovery U.S. Hispanic hosted its efforts at the TimesCenter. Last year, the network's first formal upfront in years, the Discovery Communications brand took over the Pool Room at the Four Seasons for a relatively low-key breakfast event. This year's site was intended to put the focus on the programming.

Produced by Siinc Agency, the presentation for Discovery en Espanol and Discovery Familia had a simple and clean look, including on the stage, where much of the event was spent showing clips from upcoming shows.

At the reception that followed the formal presentation, cocktail tables embedded with screens displayed the brand's TV content and custom seating included a D-shaped couch to match the Discovery logo. Catering from the Cleaver Company was modern take on afternoon tea, with mini sandwiches and tea-based cocktails.

On Wednesday afternoon, ABC gathered agency execs to Avery Fisher Hall, where Jimmy Kimmel teased the entertainment group's president, Paul Lee, and made fun of CBS viewers, new NBC show Animal Practice, and Fox for hiring Britney Spears.

The ABC presentation ended with a live performance by John Legend, Kelly Clarkson, and Robin Thicke, who will star in the new show Duets.

After hosting an outing at the American Museum of Natural History last year, Telemundo moved its presentation to the 1,292-seat Al Hirschfeld Theatre on Broadway. A three-dimensional stage allowed the NBC Universal property to change the backdrop using projections. As a fun addition, Telemundo staged a telenovela on stage, complete with music and a narrator.

Popular reggaeton duo Wisin y Yandel closed out Telemundo's events.

On Wednesday, Turner Broadcasting once again packed the Hammerstein Ballroom for presentation on TBS and TNT's new line ups. Turner Entertainment president Steve Koonin made fun of last year's technical malfunction by bringing out an overhead projector. The exec wrote four words on a transparent sheet, making the joke that three of the four would happen at the event.

Conan O'Brien was a big part of the entertainment at the TBS/TNT upfront, cracking jokes about the state of Upfront Week and making fun of the broadcast networks.

After hosting a rather subdued event last year, CBS got a playful at its upfront on Wednesday afternoon. The show opened with a video skit that later hit the Carnegie Hall stage with Beth Behrs and Kat Dennings of 2 Broke Girls delivering cupcakes to Jo Ann Ross, president of network sales (pictured, center).

CBS made the most of its location by utilizing Carnegie Hall's massive stage wall as a surface for video projections.

LL Cool J and soprano Danielle de Niese performed a hip-hop-opera crossover. Later, Eli Manning took to the stage wielding the Lombardi trophy.

Late-night cartoon channel Adult Swim filled the Roseland Ballroom on Wednesday night for its presentation and party. Like last year, the event included a larger-than-life version of its owl mascot.

The owl-shaped sculpture stood on the stage at the ballroom and was used as a surface to project 3-D images on.

In addition to offer free silk screened T-shirts for guests, Adult Swim set up a "free hole," where guests could stick their hand in an opening and receive a gift.

Following the short video presentation, which had no voice over or the presence of any network executives, rapper T.I. took to the stage.

Outside Roseland, Turner brought in 50 branded pedicabs to take guests of the Adult Swim upfront to the TruTV "hang after party" five blocks away.

At Providence, TruTV had two dapper gentlemen greeting guests.

Inviting attendees to "party all night," the TruTV effort offered dance beats spun by DJ Cassidy.

Bartenders at Providence prepared fresh fruit cocktails while waitstaff passed bites prepared by chef David Bouley.

The CW kicked off its show at New York City Center on Thursday morning with a lively performance by rapper Flo Rida.

Much like last year, the network utilized multiple screens to add showcase what was happening on stage and add dynamic visuals to the event.

Thursday afternoon marked USA Network's first formal effort during Upfront Week. The event planned by senior vice president of brand marketing and digital, Alexandra Shapiro, and produced by XA, the Experiential Agency, took over Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall. Portraits of the brand's talent by Nigel Parry were the centerpiece for the event and informed the overall design.

To help spread the word about the upfront, Shapiro and her team invited more than 100 fans to tweet live from the arrivals carpet. The effort helped the #USAUpfront hashtag become a trending topic. The gathering also touted an announcement made about W.W.E. and saw wrestlers John Cena and CM Punk (pictured) make an appearance.

In keeping with its playful brand image, USA chose not to put its executives on stage, but rather allow talent like Dule Hill and James Roday to make the announcements.

A second spring bar was made out of faux birch trees.

Ontario harvest vegetables decorated the autumn area in the cocktail reception.

A wall of Canadian cottage items decorated the space near the fake lake.

Aerialists served champagne during the cocktail reception.

The dining room represented winter and was lit in an icy blue.

A thousand white teddy bears lined the back of the dining room. Guests could purchase one for a chance to win $35,000 worth of Tiffany jewelry in a raffle.

Decor & More created the centrepieces with white hydrangeas and roses, silver spheres, dogwood, and red berries.

Red macaroons from sponsor Deloitte were at every table.

Juno winner Johnny Reid ended the evening with a performance.