This year, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences shook up the 66th annual Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live by tapping first-time host Seth Meyers and deviating from the standard Sunday telecast in favor of a Monday-night show. But when it came to the many satellite events surrounding the award show, tradition reigned with festivities starting long before the broadcast, and heavy-hitting fixtures on the party circuit like the Governors Ball and HBO’s Emmy party creating massive celebrations for the evening’s big winners.
Audi kicked off the celebrations as early as Thursday night, with a cocktail party that took over Cecconi’s restaurant and its neighboring parking structure, which Event Eleven’s Tony Schubert converted into a futuristic-looking space with the aid of LED lights.
Sequoia Productions' Cheryl Cecchetto also turned to LED ligths—and Versa tubes and dynamic lasers—to create the lively “kaleidescope of color” theme at this year’s Governors Ball, which saw more than 3,600 guests flood the West Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center following the telecast.
Meanwhile, HBO’s annual fete took over the Pacific Design Center’s fountain plaza across town in West Hollywood, where guests danced well past midnight amidst a colorful backdrop inspired by 1960s fashion designer Paco Rabanne.
Here’s a look at the major events that took over town during Emmy week.
A dynamic array of colorful Versa tubes and LED lights illustrated the theme of this year's Governors Ball and added a dramatic, eye-catching element.
Sequoia Productions’ Cheryl Cecchetto worked with the academy to give more than 3,600 guests a variety of entertainment options as they dined at the West Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center on Monday night. Shadow dancers from the Debbie Allen Dance Academy performed alongside the venue’s perimeter, while Judith Hill sang from a central rotating stage, and Extreme Beam synchronized routines to pulsating lasers.
Organizers brought the ball's "kaleidoscope of color" theme to life by creating dining sections dominated by red, orange, yellow, green, blue, or purple hues and by using backdrops featuring all of the shades in the bar setups. La Premier added to the color-blocked look with floral arrangements in coordinating colors.
Bright throw pillows and tablecloths enlivened lounge areas that dotted the hall. Patina Catering’s three-course meal included a grilled peach and heirloom tomato salad starter, filet of beef for the main course, and s’mores—complete with a sprinkling of chocolate Pop Rocks—for dessert.
HBO vice president of special events Cindy Tenner collaborated with designer Billy Butchkavitz for the network’s annual bash, which took place at the Pacific Design Center’s fountain plaza for the 12th consecutive year. The pair found inspiration for the event's colorful look in the 1960s fashion designs of Paco Rabanne.
A dazzling acrylic chandelier descended from a 28- by 28- by 28-foot white cube that sat in the middle of the space.
Organizers tapped Los Angeles-based artist Kymm Swank to produce an eye-catching pattern for the party’s press wall. Swank created an 8- by 6-foot acrylic painting, which was then digitally scanned and reproduced to create the whopping 150-foot-long press wall.
Audi kicked off Emmy celebrations on Thursday night by taking over Cecconi's in West Hollywood. Event Eleven's Tony Schubert converted the parking lot into a party-ready space by erecting 10-foot-high walls decorated with LED lights.
The magazine hosted its annual party at Fig & Olive on Saturday night, where sponsor L'Oréal created an activation allowing guests to experiment with its Makeup Genius app.
In order to create an old Hollywood vibe, Event Eleven's Tony Schubert bookended the magazine's logo with an Art Deco graphic, which he then splashed along walls. In keeping with the 1920s theme, guests could pose for pictures in a photo booth featuring black-and-white stripes.
On Saturday, Variety and Women in Film took to Mexican restaurant Gracias Madre on Melrose, where vibrant floral arrangements sat in equally bright cans of Mexican products.
“As the first industry event at Gracias Madre, we focused on their organic cuisine and cocktails and based our decor on their naturally beautiful space—upscale, Mexican chic in a modern garden,” said Kate Mazzuca, managing director of marketing at Variety. “We emphasized their natural wood, metal, and textile elements and added pops of jewel tones—jade, indigo, blood orange, and magenta—throughout to add a festive, playful vibe.”
Guests sipped a mix of specialty cocktails, including “La Quinceanera,” which included a mix of tequila, muddled kiwi, mint, lemon, agave, lime bitters, and shaved ice.
Organizers made use of the trees in Gracias Madre’s outdoor patio, hanging decor from branches.
Attendees could experiment with the new Samsung Galaxy Tab S.
At a “Selfless Selfie” station, photographer Mark “the Cobrasnake” Hunter snapped guests as they shot pictures of themselves using the Samsung Galaxy S5 phone. The brand donated money to Women in Film for every picture taken.
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles took to the SLS Hotel on Saturday to toast British and American Emmy nominees. In a nod to BBC America, which co-sponsored the event along with Jaguar, organizers created a display featuring the network's Doctor Who logo alongside a variety of teapots.
White roses sat in containers resembling London cabs at the event, where guests nibbled on scones and drank tea as well as cocktails.
At Backstage Creations' Emmy Awards Giving Suite at the Nokia Theatre, designer Josh Johnson created a luxe lounge awash in neutral colors. Celebrity guests received the throw pillows from Johnson's upcoming line, which he used to decorate the space, as well as products from the likes of Nerium Skincare, Bose, and more brands.
An acrylic sculpture atop a tufted bench served as a head-turning centerpiece.
In addition to serving as a gifting suite, the room provided celebrities with an area to relax backstage during the show. While there, they could grab a coffee from the Tim Hortons bar, a Bartenura and MYX cocktail, or snacks from Cold Stone Creamery and Sabra Hummus.
Celebrities such as Emmy host Seth Meyers signed a suitcase in an effort to raise money for the Television Academy Foundation.
Showtime gobos dotted the pool and walls at the Sunset Tower Hotel on Sunday night.
At the network’s 13th annual Luxury Lounge at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Bevely Hills, Pandora Jewelry created a Plinko-style game that determined if guests would receive a necklace, ring, or pair of earrings, depending on where the chip landed.
