LOS ANGELES—Year after year, a lavish list of talented A-list actors and actresses, from Billy Porter to Sandra Oh, come together in downtown Los Angeles to toast the excellence of the television industry at the Primetime Emmy Awards. This season, with various related events like the annual Governors Ball put on hold, guests will attend the virtual event on Sept. 20 from the comfort of their homes. While L.A. may not see heavy-hitters like Hulu and Audi setting up out-of-the-box activations and photo-worthy events this year, we can still look back and take tips from past Emmy moments.
Emmy Awards 2019
In 2019, the 71st Emmys Governors Ball—the Television Academy's official after-party, held at the L.A. Live Event Deck—drew more than 4,000 winners, nominees, and members of the entertainment industry. For the second consecutive year, the gathering was a reception-style event throughout the indoor-outdoor venue. Cheryl Cecchetto and her team at Sequoia Productions designed and produced the event for the 21st consecutive year, while longtime collaborator Patina Catering created a tasting menu of small plates and reinterpretations of classic dishes. The ball had a "Brilliance in Motion" theme, evoking swirling water through a dramatic ceiling installation that used more than 310,000 strands of silk thread and almost 77,000 individual crystals.
Photo: Jerry Hayes Photography
At the ABC, Disney Television Studios, FX Networks, Hulu, and National Geographic Emmy Award Post-Party, Disney's networks took over the outdoor space at Otium. The event, which was designed and produced by Sterling Engagements, was inspired by the last day of summer and filled with lush greenery, citrus trees, and bright florals. The step-and-repeat, with floral design from Shawna Yamamoto Event Design, set the tone for the evening. At the event entrance, guests could snap photos in a tunnel of twinkle lights.
Photo: Maya Myers Photography
Audi hosted an event at the Sunset Tower hotel. The gathering, which was produced by Anchor Street Collective, had a greenery-filled, eco-friendly design inspired by the brand’s sustainability efforts such as the electric Audi e-tron SUV, which was on display. Decor and rentals were reused and recycled following the event. The event featured a sushi station by Sushi Nozawa, the catering arm of Sugarfish, plus a portrait studio by the Collective You and DJ sets by Reggie Watts and Alexandra Richards. Celebrity attendees included Elizabeth Banks, Laura Dern, and Milo Ventimiglia, who were chauffeured to the event in 2019 Audi Q7 and A8 vehicles. See more: Emmys 2019: Design and Production Highlights From the Week's Most Glamorous Parties
Photo: Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Audi
Emmy Awards 2018
In 2018, Cecchetto and her team at Sequoia Productions created a starry-night effect, using 28,000 individual LED lights suspended from the ceiling. Furniture, table linens, florals, and other decor came in shades of blue, gold and silver metallics, and white. Previously a seated dinner at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the new venue allowed for an indoor-outdoor reception format.
Photo: Jerry Hayes Photography
Longtime collaborators Patina Catering created a menu of more than 35 different small plates, including tabletop snacks, tray-passed hors d'oeuvres, and a variety of small-bite stations. The menu also included an assortment of vegetarian and vegan items, plus dessert stations. Ketel One Family-Made Vodka, the official spirits partner of the Emmys, poured specialty Emmy-inspired cocktails. See more: Emmys 2018: 28 Splashy Decor Ideas From the Week's Biggest Parties
Photo: Jerry Hayes Photography
Emmy Awards 2017
In 2017, the Hollywood Reporter teamed up with the Beverly Center to host a panel discussion dubbed "Candidly Costumes." The event took place in the newly renovated Michael Mina food hall and featured a discussion with Emmy-nominated costume designers. Stoelt Productions handled production and decor, creating photo galleries for each show that was nominated and filling the space with sleek, white furniture and white flowers. The stage featured a greenery backdrop branded with the hosts’ logos.
Photo: Courtesy of Stoelt Productions
Variety magazine teamed up with nonprofit organization Women in Film for their annual pre-Emmy celebration, held at Gracias Madre. The event drew A-list TV stars such as Viola Davis, Sarah Paulson, and Alexander Skarsgard. A photo booth at the event featured a feminine, blue floral backdrop, where Emmy nominee Samira Wiley and wife Lauren Morelli posed.
Photo: Andreas Branch/Variety/REX/Shutterstock
The Variety and Women in Film event was sponsored by Halo Top. The ice cream brand provided dessert for the party; an ice cream bar featured flavors such as birthday cake and sea salt caramel, and guests could add a variety of toppings. See more: Emmys 2017: Inside the Glitzy Gatherings From the Television Academy, HBO, Fox, and More
Photo: Stewart Cook/Variety/REX/Shutterstock
Emmy Awards 2016
In 2016, the Television Academy's Governors Ball and Creative Arts Ball featured an organic look, featuring more than 50,000 hydrangeas, 80,000 roses, and 20,000 succulents. Classic Party Rentals provided the guest and catering rentals, and ShowPro brought in the lighting equipment for design by Matt Levesque of First Circle Design. Goodman Audio handled the sound, Irma Hardjakusumah the technical design, and Matt Ringer the technical direction.
Photo: Nadine Froger Photography
Entertainment Weekly hosted its annual pre-Emmy party at Nightingale Plaza; the venue was the new lounge from SBE, formerly known as Greystone Manor, and the event was the first one held in the space. Shown here, Event Eleven used stacked vintage television sets as the backdrop for a slow-motion video booth. See more: Emmy Awards 2016: 22 Pictures From the Biggest Parties
Photo: Line 8 Photography
