Last night, the 65th annual Emmy Awards took to the Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live downtown, where returning host Neil Patrick Harris delivered an expectedly uncontroversial and musical show, produced by executive producer Ken Ehrlich. Among the presenters were Matt Damon, Jimmy Kimmel, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Sofia Vergara, Kerry Washington—and many more A-listers. One of the show's highlights was a performance by Elton John, who appeared on the Emmy stage for the first time for a tribute to Liberace, the subject of the wildly Emmy-decorated HBO biopic Behind the Candelabra.
Off the telecast stage, the parties continued late into the night—and they began a solid week ahead of the show.
Among the biggest after-parties were the Academy's splashy annual Governors Ball, which this year got a far-out enchanted forest theme, produced for the 16th year by Sequoia Productions, led by Cheryl Cecchetto. Rather than a standard showing of greenery, the event included stylized trees and an expansive canopy of faux, futuristic foliage hanging overhead as 3,800 guests dined on Patina's catering in the West Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center—billed as the largest sit-down dinner in the United States. (The same look and feel also greeted about 3,000 guests at the Emmy Creative Arts Ball a week earlier.)
Also among the night's big festivities: Big winner HBO's Pacific Design Center bash, which got a fanciful peacock feather-hued look created by the network's Cindy Tenner and longtime design partner Billy Butchkavitz. A 28-foot-high chandelier comprised of blue and green lanterns was the decor centerpiece under a massive clear tent.
Here's a look inside the Emmys biggest bashes and lounges.
This year the academy's Governors Ball got an imaginative enchanted forest theme, produced and designed by Sequoia Productions, led by Cheryl Cecchetto. Decor included stylized trees and an expansive canopy of futuristic faux foliage hanging overhead. Bill Ferrell Company and Sosa Sisters handled the scenic fabrication, and pieces from Classic Party Rentals, Lux Lounge Event Furniture Rentals, and Resource One linens contributed to the overall look.
Each of the 400 tables had its own distinctive look with a dramatic flower arrangement from La Premier that included silver manzanita branches, calla lilies, roses, and orchids. The ballroom continually changed colors throughout the evening thanks to Images by Lighting. Irma Hardjakusumah was the technical director. In addition to Patina's dinner—a menu that included a starter of Little Gem lettuce salad, a main of filet mignon, and a dessert of Caramelia Namelaka—Marich Confectionery premium chocolates and Beaulieu Vineyard paired for a wine and chocolate section in the event space. Grey Goose poured the night's signature "Emmy" cocktail.
Goodman Audio met the challenge of working with a circular, rotating stage for the live entertainment, and all the sound equipment was in the ceiling of the convention hall, out of sight. Icarus handled the rigging.
Jessica Mauboy, the Red Hot Band, L.A. County High School for the Arts, and Lucent Dossier provided the evening's entertainers.
HBO's huge bash, overseen by vice president of special events Cindy Tenner with designer collaborator Billy Butchkavitz, took place in the Pacific Design Center's fountain plaza. Organizers took inspiration for the massive, colorful alfresco party space from peacock feathers, with a color palette of blue and green with silver accents.
Inside HBO's clear tent, a 28-foot-high, 24-foot-round chandelier from Set Masters was the party's centerpiece, and a lounge within the structure provided additional seating.
Abstract peacock feather designs decked everything from the carpeting to floral vessels and linens. Translucent blue skin dressed the event's custom dining pavilion. Rentals came from Town & Country.
A 200-foot-wide, 25-foot-tall upholstered wall, created by Special Event Contractors, created an unmissable backdrop for an installation of blue and green lanterns. Images by Lighting handled the lighting, and Bart Kresa handled the projection design.
Wolfgang Puck created a custom menu for the event that included passed hors d'oeuvres, dinner, and dessert—with selections like chilled Maine lobster and salted caramel pecan brownie tarts. Hot Club Vignati and DJ Spider provided the entertainment. A Lorac makeup lounge—conveniently located right next to the photo station—provided touchups during the evening.
The colorful peacock theme carried through to the graphic press wall.
The Television Academy, led by executive producer Barbara Chase, hosts an array of peer group receptions leading up to and in support of the big night—like receptions for music nominees, writer nominees, diversity and SAG-Aftra nominees, and others. The theme for all of these events at the Television Academy’s Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre is consistent from reception to reception; this year, it was “Fly Emmy International,” inspired by the 1960s-era flight.
At the 1960s-theme Emmy receptions, an arrivals and departures board set up over the bars listed the signature cocktails provided by Grey Goose.
At the Emmy receptions, vintage suitcases and clocks sat along the entranceway alongside a “Fly Emmy International” sign. Four menus from Savore Catering & Events represented various airlines and cuisines: Italian Airlines, Island Airways (serving Asian-fusion dishes), Air USA (serving American food), and Mediterranean Air. Waitstaff wore '60s-style attire. Items from the Universal and Warner Brothers property departments added to the vintage look and feel.
For the second year Audi was the official sponsor of the Emmys' backstage greenroom and this time collaborated with fashion brand Altuzarra to create a stylish and luxe space for nominees, presenters, and award recipients at the show. The Event Eleven-produced setting featured pieces of vintage furniture, custom-made sofas (one with built-in phone chargers), subdued lighting, and a grey and purple color palette.
Meant to showcase the features found in Audi’s TDI vehicles, the materials, lighting, and furniture within the Audi greenroom focused on elements of efficiency and luxury, exemplified by items like a bar cart.
Inside HBO's luxury lounge at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, Motorola gifted its new Motorola Moto X smartphone. To promote the colorful gadgets, the brand set up a candy-bar buffet in colors that matched the handsets.
Jewelry brand (and returning company to HBO's luxury lounge) Pandora came up with a new twist on gifting its products this season: Guests pulled open bow-tied drawers to discover a printed card that corresponded to a jewelry gift. Other sponsors around the space included Solstice Sunglasses, Logitech, and the Four Seasons spa.
Sephora and Marc Jacobs Beauty provided makeup touch-ups and manicures in a Four Seasons suite transformed into a sleek black-and-white salon-like space.
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles hosted its annual Bafta Los Angeles TV Tea at the SLS Hotel on Saturday, honoring this year's nominees from America and Europe. Sponsors included BBC America and Audi along with American Airlines and Champagne Taittinger.
Floral centerpieces paid homage to England, and nominees enjoyed traditionally British tea and scones, as well as cocktails. Guests could also bid on silent auction items to raise funds for Bafta Los Angeles's community outreach and education programs.
Emmy nominee and Homeland star Morena Baccarin hosted Los Angeles Confidential magazine’s Emmy kickoff party at Mr. C Beverly Hills, produced in partnership with Alor Swiss Watches and Moroccanoil. Ketel One vodka poured its spirits at an ice bar.
At Mr. C for the Los Angeles Confidential preparty, produced by NVE: the Experience Agency, Earth Harp Collective performed live music using harp strings rigged through the venue.
Audi and Altuzarra kicked the festivities off early with a preparty at Cecconi's a full week ahead of the awards. Event Eleven produced and designed the event, where an Audi gobo shone over the entrance and a backdrop took inspiration from a photo taken at the end of a Fashion Week runway. "Because we had a fashion partner, we thought it would be fun to incorporate a subliminal touch. The lights at the top are custom parabolic lamps meant to evoke flash bulbs going off," said Event Eleven's Tony Schubert.
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At the Audi preparty, Event Eleven's Schubert said the backdrop wall had a graphic print meant to make a "bold, loud statement in the space."
Decor at the Bellafortuna awards gifting suite at the Montage Beverly Hills included a giant horse alongside a photo-ready throne-like bench.
At Backstage Creations' Emmy Awards Giving Suite for celebrities backstage at the Nokia Theatre, Josh Johnson designed a luxe, primarily white-hued central seating area to give what is ordinarily a standard subterranean room within the venue a decidedly more chic look.
Entertainment Weekly's annual pre-Emmy party took over Fig & Olive in West Hollywood. Guests hung out in the gallery-inspired L’Oréal Paris butterfly lounge and snapped pictures in the Bebe photo booth.
On Saturday, Showtime hosted its "Emmy Eve" party at the Sunset Tower Hotel in West Hollywood, toasting the network’s record 31 nominations. A gobo projecting the brand's logo helped decorate the space.
Svedka provided specialty cocktails at bars topped with framed social media prompts, and Georgetown Cupcake Los Angeles supplied on-theme cupcakes.
Variety and Women in Film toasted the female Emmy nominees with a party at Scarpetta at Montage Beverly Hills. Talent signed a board and cork holder from Gallo Family Vineyards, a piece Women in Film will auction at its big fund-raiser later this year. In a similar activation for sponsor Yoplait Greek, the brand donated $100 per signature to breast cancer research.
