Over 20 acting nominees swarmed the Pacific Design Center for the TV Academy’s Performers Nominee Reception on Saturday night.
Branch co-governor Lily Tomlin was under the weather, so the voice of Porky Pig himself (Bob Bergen, the other co-governor) did all the glad handling as TV Academy CEO Bruce Rosenblum introduced those who may give acceptance speeches at the Nokia on Monday night.
Watch the video above for a snippet of the nominees parade. The only sad part is when Matt LeBlanc teases his catchphrase with a “How…” only to be followed by “..are you”, not “you doin’?” That’s butter on a bagel level substitution letdown.
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It’s the highlight of the TV Academy’s season of peer group receptions, where each slice of the TV universe gathers to toast their nominees, from editors and costume designers to producers and directors.
The “class-picture” grouping on the patio produced candid moments as nominees stood shoulder-to-shoulder for several minutes — some old friends, some meeting for the first time.
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“American Horror Story” star Sarah Paulson introduced herself to “Fargo” newcomer Alison Tolman. Meanwhile, Mayim Biyalik and Joanne Froggatt self-nominated themselves when a handler asked those who are “vertically challenged” to come to the front for the class picture.
Veteran Hollywood actors Beau Bridges, Margo Martindale and a denim-clad Billy Bob Thornton had an extended huddle, while nominee Jon Voight continued to appear wide-eyed about the multiple-pronged Emmy contender circuit.
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Allison Janney, who should win the spirit award for having a great time at two events Saturday night. The actress sits in one of the sweetest positions of all nominees: one Emmy win already in the bag for “Masters of Sex,” but still the adrenaline-charged potential to win Lead Actress in Comedy for “Mom” Monday night.
She and Tony Hale briefly danced to “Happy” at the non-dancing event.
“Don’t make everyone hate me,” Julie Bowen reprimanded Rosenblum about his public declaration that she and “Modern Family” have had a golden streak.
Undeniably consistent, the TV Academy smartly recruited ubiquitous audience warm-up guy Cory Almeida to wrangle the nominees on the mic, a nice callback of the TV year to anyone who has attended a taping of “Dancing with the Stars,” “So You Think You Can Dance,” “The Voice” or nearly any other live reality taping.
After the Performers Nominee Reception, some headed to WME’s party in Beverly Hills as many others shuttled a few blocks east to Gracias Madre. The indoor-outdoor Mexican restaurant stepped up as the new location for Women In Film and Variety’s pre-party, which got strong buzz as the night built. Selena Gomez was the marquee awards season guest star at that bash.
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Earlier in the night, Lorne Michaels and Broadway Video had gathered at the Sunset Tower as Netflix’s Ted Sarandos opened his house for an intimate casts party — it marked Netflix’s second of three Emmy week parties.
Who knew? Such partiers.
At Sarandos’, some “Orange is the New Black” stars who have no scenes together, like Jason Biggs, met some of their cast mates for the first time.
Entertainment Weekly fashioned the big coveted bash of Saturday night at Fig + Olive on Melrose Place.
Fans behind bicycle racks surrounded three sides of the street, several layers deep from the beginning through to its post-midnight finish. They tried to grab glimpses of Kerry Washington, Uzo Aduba, Taryn Manning, Laura Prepon, Kaley Cuoco and Candice Accola.
Cat Deeley made a wardrobe change between the Performers Nominee and EW bashes, her third of the day after a different dress at BAFTA’s TV tea in the afternoon. Karina Smirnoff also made a mid-evening switch, coming in the civilian entrance to Fig + Olive as the carpet was “too crazy,” she said.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson snapped shots of Betsey Brandt on his own iPhone, while a friend scampered off to bring Justin Mikita a vodka tonic. Industry faces included “Vampire Diaries” creator Julie Plec, NBCU’s Curt King, talent manager Michael Gasparro and a delegation from the Academy, as in the motion picture academy.
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Janney made her way to the EW bash, as did Anna Chlumsky, Garcelle Beauvais and giant L’Oreal stickers on the mirrors in restrooms with an emergency stash of cosmetics, even for the guys.
As the lights came up at midnight and a sea of black cars clogged Melrose Place, guests headed out with more of the makeup in the goody bags as well as EW’s Fall Movie Preview issue, where Ben Affleck and “Gone Girl” paint the cover.
On Sunday, the VMA’s draw attention to the Forum in Inglewood, NBC has a pan-corporate party, Showtime celebrates at the Sunset Tower, and the “Evening Before” party shuts down Century City.