Emmy Parties Preview 2014: How to Spend This Week on a Champagne Diet

TheWrap Party Report guide to the new Emmy party circuit leading up to “Emmy Monday,” Aug. 25

MTV’s Video Music Awards crash into the new Forum in Inglewood on Sunday, Aug. 24 — the night before the Emmys. This creates the rare celebratory confluence on the order of last November’s bizarre Thanksgiving-Hanukkah overlay.

The demographics and talent differ. So far, MTV has only announced Usher, Ariana Grande and 5 Seconds of Summer as both guests and performers, while last year’s Emmys had Sir Elton John. Give the statute to the group in North Hollywood, please.

Also read: 14 Biggest Snubs and Surprises of 2014 Emmys (Photos)

In moving the ceremony to Monday for the first time since 1976, there is a corresponding shift in what has been a stable party template over the past few years. Also, the Emmys are in August, one month from today.

Also read: Emmys 2014: The Nominees From ‘Fargo’ to ‘True Detective’ (Photos)

Prepare your party clothes now. Here’s your first look at the best bashes:

Saturday, August 16

Creative Arts Emmys Show and Creative Arts Ball
Beginning at 4 p.m.
Nokia Theatre and L.A. Convention Center
I am getting word that last year’s show should be wrapping up any minute now.
It’s a marathon. They hand out 4,325 Emmys and the cut-offs for running over speech-time are as sensitive as “Game of Thrones” justice. The TV Academy has done a creative job — ahem — of pairing showrunners with their star talent to present awards together. Additionally, some winners get a promotion bonus in the form of a presenter slot on the following week’s primetime telecast. A full “Creative Arts” Governors Ball follows, and these guests drink, dance and stay.

Wednesday, August 20

Directors Nominee Reception
DGA, West Hollywood
Even if you don’t win, you’ll get a certificate to frame and hang on your wall.

300. Lily Tomlin Jim Carter
Jim “Mr. Carson” Carter (not a director) gets his certificate at the Performers Nominee Reception in 2013. (Mikey Glazer)

The TV Academy hosts receptions throughout August for each tranche of nominees from particular peer groups, like costume designers and main titles producers. It’s a chance for each slice of the TV universe to congregate. Other key peer group receptions are listed below in this roundup.

Thursday, August 21

Audi Emmys Celebration
Cecconi’s, West Hollywood

(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

After moving their traditional Globes party from the Sunday a week prior to the Thursday before the show, they now follow suit with moving their Emmy party to Thursday night as well.

Consistently upscale and similar in tone to an agency gathering, Michael Patrick and Andrew Lipman — as the faces of the brand in the film community — bring a lot of their actor and producer buddies to this always packed party.

Unlike an agency party, Eric Stonestreet took over the dance floor last year.

*NEW* Two Feet Project Dinner
Riva Bella, West Hollywood

Th fundraising dinner angled towards “engaging, educating, and empowering” Kenyan youth benefits Two Feets’ work using sports as a gateway platform for education. Behind the scenes, Brillstein and Forbes’ social entrepreneurship influencer Evan Kirkpatrick are involved.

Writers Nominee Reception
Television Academy, North Hollywood

The writers' line-up. (Invision)
The writers’ line-up. (Invision)

Always the funniest stop of the week. Writers take the TV Academy stage and prove which type of social personality they have lurking inside: a Seth MacFarlane or a Woody Allen.

OK! TV Awards Party
Sofitel L.A., Beverly Hills

This is not the magazine who regularly hosts awards weekend parties. This is the syndicated TV show. ItGirl PR handles submissions.

Friday, August 22

*Top Invite* CAA Emmy Party
Bouchon, Beverly Hills

Gabrielle Union, Mick Jagger, Jimmy Fallon
Gabrielle Union, Mick Jagger, and Jimmy Fallon at CAA’s Bouchon bash last September. (Brandon Clark/AB Images)

So many faces, and not just from TV. Last year, Chris Paul and Dwayne Wade mingled amongst J. Lo, Eva Longoria, Sofia Vergara, NPH, and the Kevins – Spacey and Huvane.

Adam Berkowitz, Seth MacFarlane, Bill Maher, Mitchell Hurwitz
Adam Berkowitz, Seth MacFarlane, Bill Maher, and Mitchell Hurwitz on Emmy Friday last year. (Alex J. Berliner/AB Images)

Producers Nominee Reception
The London West Hollywood, West Hollywood

Saturday, August 23

BAFTA LA TV Tea Presented by BBC America and Jaguar
2 – 5 p.m.
SLS Hotel, West Hollywood

Michelle Dockery seeing the sunlight at the SLS. Jim "Mr. Carson" Carter also made the rounds last year. (Getty Images)
Michelle Dockery seeing the sunlight at the SLS. Jim “Mr. Carson” Carter also made the rounds last year. (Getty Images)

Despite the Emmys moving by a day, BAFTA is staying put on Saturday afternoon, creating some space in the weekend. This always gets a few surprises, like Michael Douglas‘ attendance last year.

BAFTA LA Chair Gary Dartnall and guest of honor Kevin Spacey. (Getty Images)
BAFTA LA Chair Gary Dartnall and guest of honor Kevin Spacey. (Getty Images)

Women Making History Brunch
Skirball Center
For all you need to know on this new entrant, click here: Sophia Bush and ‘Nashville’ Creator Callie Khouri to Be Honored Emmy Weekend (Exclusive)

TV Academy’s Performers Nominee Reception
Evening
Pacific Design Center

The 2013 class photo. (Mikey Glazer)
The 2013 class photo. (Mikey Glazer)

The only place you get a “class picture” of the acting nominees in one place. It’s a surreal mashup of genres and eras chit-chatting on risers. Also, on par with HBO, this party usually has great food and people actually eat here.

This one is also heavy on executives.

Entertainment Weekly
9 p.m.
Fig + Olive, West Hollywood

141. Jess Cagle, Tu Burrell, Jack McBrayer
Ty Burrell and Jack McBrayer greet the now editor of People and editorial director of EW, Jess Cagle at Fig and Olive two nights before the Emmys last year. (Getty Images)

Entrance is as hotly contested as their Comic-Con party last month. This is a choice invite for talent, executives and producers alike. With their TV season preview issue around the corner, it’s perfect timing.

Tony Schubert (Event Eleven) is producing, designing the space in a theme of Old Hollywood. He is also doing Audi, so this makes him as busy as double nominee Allison Janney.

The bird's eye view of EW. (Getty Images)
The bird’s eye view of EW. (Getty Images)

Women In Film and Variety’s Pre-Emmys Party
Evening
Gracias Madre, West Hollywood
Moving from Scarpetta in Beverly Hills, last year’s event drew Elisabeth Moss, Zac Posen, Laura Prepon, Julie Bowen, Kiernan Shipka and behind the scenes stars like Christopher Lloyd, Jennifer Salke and Dana Walden. Mercedes provides the rides. On the busiest Emmy party day this year, Kerry Washington, Robin Wright, Michelle Dockery, and execs from Nancy Dubuc, Bela Bajaria, Nina Tassler, and Abbe Raven to Michael Lombardo, David Nevins, and Jennifer Caserta will all be at Gracias Madre.

WME
8 p.m.
Private Residence (Location Redacted)
With the size and depth of their TV department and business partners, there have been printed face books (not the website, but actual directories) of the guests in previous years.

Sunday, August 24

MPTF “Evening Before” Fundraiser
7 p.m. 
Century Park in Century City

The “Evening Before” party has to stay put, even if they moved the Emmys to December 24 or January 1. This one’s not going anywhere.

Showtime’s Emmy Eve Party
Sunset Tower, West Hollywood

Showtime 2013 Emmy Eve Siorre
The Sunset Tower, awards show party ground zero. (Invision for Showtime)

They always have a great musical performance (e.g. John Legend) in the intimate space. This year, KT Tunstall is the booking. It’s a refined counter-programming to the MTV circus in town.

From their own network, the party-unfriendly Claire Danes always shows. Other Showtime nominees like Matt LeBlanc, Lizzy Caplan, Edie Falco, Jon Voight and Mandy Patinkin are expected. Audi and Heineken return as sponsors.

MTV Video Music Awards
The Forum in Inglewood

Emmy Night: Monday, August 25

The 66th Emmy Awards on NBC
Live on both coasts at 5 p.m. PDT

The point-of-view on the Emmys carpet. (Mikey Glazer)
The point-of-view on the Emmys carpet. (Mikey Glazer)

Because it is a Monday, there will be usual commuter traffic. Also, there is a new arrivals and red carpet set up (on Chick Hearn drive, not on the Nokia plaza), the TV Academy is sending out red-font warnings to arrive as early as 2:30 p.m.

The point-of-view of winners: Bryan Cranston and Dean Norris backstage in 2013. (CBS via Getty Images)
The point-of-view of winners: Bryan Cranston and Dean Norris backstage in 2013. (CBS via Getty Images)

Governors Ball
L.A. Convention Center, immediately following the telecast

2014 Governors Ball Sneak Peek Press Preview
The theme: Kaleidoscope of Color. Here are some mood boards and renderings of what it will look like in the Convention Center. (Invision for the Television Academy)

Cheryl Cecchetto and Russ Patrick have 7,000 guests to handle over the two balls on back-to-back weekends. Despite all the work that goes in to this seating chart (below), almost nobody sits down. Why would you? The whole TV industry is in the same room for about an hour before people start peeling off. Move and hustle, people. Tick-tock.

(Mikey Glazer)
(Mikey Glazer)

Fox’s Pan-Corporate Party (Not the Official Name)
Official Name: FOX Broadcasting/Twentieth Century Fox Television/FX/National Geographic Channel Celebrate their 2014 Emmy Award Nominees
8 p.m.
The Vibiana, Downtown

Steven Levitan,  Julie Bowen, and actor Ed O'Neill toast Fox last fall. (Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Fox)
Steven Levitan, Julie Bowen, and actor Ed O’Neill toast Fox last fall. (Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Fox)

They’ve outgrown italian restaurant Soleto — maybe because of FX’s 45 Emmy nominations alone.

Add in 18 for Fox, 12 more shared between Fox and Nat Geo for “Cosmos” (welcome to the party) and 44 for the studio, and there’s a potential gold rush here. This will be a change from when Entertainment Tonight used to host their Emmy party in the old cathedral.

HBO
Pacific Design Center, West Hollywood

HBO's Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Post Award Reception - Inside
Mick Jagger and Laura Dern at HBO’s Emmy Night Party 2013. (Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

A lush and gorgeous tapestry that feels hard to believe is a tent, wedding caliber paper invites and maybe Mick Jagger — the belle of all the balls.

(Mikey Glazer)
(Mikey Glazer)

*New Location* Netflix Primetime Emmy Celebration
9pm, Chateau Marmont

"The Square's" Karim Amer and Jehane Noujaim flank Ted Sarandos at Netflix's Creative Arts party last Saturday night, August 16. (Eric Charbonneau for Netflix)
“The Square’s” Karim Amer and Jehane Noujaim flank Ted Sarandos in victory at Netflix’s Creative Arts party last Saturday night, August 16. (Eric Charbonneau for Netflix)

They keep their “cards” close to the vest. Eschewing sponsors and party publicity, they are hunkering down in the cloistered Chateau on Emmy night. This will be their second bash of the season, hosting a hush-hush post-Creative Arts party at Cecconi’s last Saturday.

Swag Suites and Lounges

HBO Luxury Lounge
Saturday Aug. 23 and Sunday, Aug. 24
Four Seasons, Beverly Hills
Update: Pandora jewelry will be featured, along with Logitech, Desigual, Nautica, Gendarme, Proper Pillow, and Brahmin.

DPA Pre-Awards Gift Suite
Thursday, August 21-Sunday, August 24
Rodeo Penthouse at the Luxe Beverly Hills

Nathalie Dubois is going all in with a suite covering both the Emmys, MTV VMA’s, and the fall’s new shows. Top gifts: a trip to Copa de Arbol in Costa Rica and tons of jewelry and fashion. Save time. It’s big.

EcoLuxe Lounge
Sunday, Aug. 24
Beverly Hilton
Includes more media and industry VIP types than HBO’s strict list. They will be handing out travel, beauty, pet stuff and cocktails. Debbie Durkin oversees.

Pending and Details to Come
Lorne Michaels and Broadway Video’s talent-only Sunset Tower soiree on Saturday night, NBCUniversal’s cross-brand pre-show bash, and AMC’s Emmy night celebration.

However Seth Meyers chooses to unwind after the credits roll will also figure in to the late night plans. The recent awards show trend is that the host’s after-party rocks.

All parties are by invitation and confirmation only. More updates to follow as details solidify.

Please send additions, updates and invitations to Mikey Glazer here.

Previously: Pre-Emmys Week

Performers Peer Group Celebration
Monday, July 28, 7 – 9 p.m.
Montage Beverly Hills

PR / Television Executives / Professional Representatives / Production Executives Emmy Celebration
Wednesday, July 30, Evening
The London West Hollywood

Choreographers Nominee Reception
Sunday, Aug. 10, Evening
The Television Academy, North Hollywood

TV Academy’s Dynamic and Diverse Reception
Tuesday, Aug. 12, Evening
The Television Academy, North Hollywood

Interactive Media Nominee Reception
Wednesday, Aug. 13, Evening
The Television Academy, North Hollywood

Reality and Documentary Nominee Reception
Friday, Aug. 15, Evening
The Television Academy, North Hollywood

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