Last Updated: Monday, September 12, 11:30 a.m.
Before we find out whether FX’s “The People v. O.J. Simpson” will top FX’s “Fargo,” whether Beyonce will make an Emmys appearance for “Lemonade” (she plays in Northern California the night before), or which of host Jimmy Kimmel’s skits will go viral, Hollywood has a lot of Emmy partying on its plate.
Check out TheWrap’s guide to the choicest invites.
What’s New and Cool?
Following the lead of repetitive Emmy voters themselves, Hollywood’s Emmy week rituals have largely stuck a template. Here’s who’s shaking that up this year.
*New Party*
Vanity Fair and FX
Craft (Century City)
Saturday, Sept. 17, 5:00 p.m.
From the moment “The People v. O.J. Simpson” debuted on the heels of “Fargo,” this party columnist sounded the alarm that FX’s Emmy party would be “the one.”
Looks like the guys who own Oscar night knew that too.
Sneaking in to the happy hour timeslot abandoned by NBC on the night before the Emmys, this is Saturday’s hot ticket. President John Landgraf and company have 56 nominations, so beyond pin-drop moments of “Shall I take off my watch and jewelry?” and “deus ex alien ships,” don’t forget about FX’s other achievements like “The Americans” and “American Horror Story.” Overlooking the MPTF’s bash later that night, this is like a pre-pre-party.
Buzzfeed’s “Buzzies”
Hyde Sunset (West Hollywood)
Wednesday, September 14
Buzzfeed always counter-programs the entertainment industry’s tentpole gatherings when they join the party, like bringing beer pong to Comic-Con or clearing out all of their workspaces for an office dance party. Celebrating the most “LOL, OMG, WTF, Cute, Fail Moments in Entertainment this Season”, here’s a peek at the invite for the #BuzzFeedBuzzies.
*Too Cool for TV*
Vanity Fair, YouTube, Big Frame Party with Shiseido
Platform (Culver City)
Friday, Sept. 15
Kudos to the digital future for holding onto their home turf in the non-traditional awards weekend real estate of Culver City. This crowd has eyes on the Streamy Awards, their industry’s prestige show that comes two weeks after the Emmys on Oct. 4. With the subscription service YouTube Red now churning out scripted episodic originals, they will soon follow Amazon and Netflix to the Emmys stage.
*Brand New Hotspot*
Entertainment Weekly
Friday, Sept. 16
Nightingale Plaza (West Hollywood)
No, this is not Fig & Olive giving itself a name change.
After several years hosting this party at the Melrose Place restaurant, the Comic-Con party kings move their talent-heavy Emmys bash across the street. This will open the SBE nightclub most recently known as a construction site, and before that, Greystone Manor. Things are coming together at the last minute for the space, as SBE just registered the “NightingalePlaza.com” domain last week (Aug. 22).
Returning Events
Whether they break the mold (the Creative Coalition’s Advocacy Awards) or hold to a winning formula (CAA at Bouchon), these will have flashbulbs popping.
Audi
Catch (West Hollywood)
Thursday, Sept. 15
The TV Academy’s auto partner evolves from their default mode, moving to a new location after years of entertaining Emmy and Golden Globe nominees, and a broader guestlist of industry scenesters, at Cecconis. Two non-LA personalities will split duties on the decks, with Hannah Bronfman and Brendan “15 Hottest Men to Follow on Instagram” Fallis both DJing what I’m calling the culprit behind Friday morning’s hangovers.
Friday, Sept. 16
The Creative Coalition’s TV Industry Advocacy Awards
Sunset Tower Hotel (West Hollywood)
Robin Bronk’s under-the-radar, under-embraced knot of talent (Jill Solloway, Tony Hale, Michael Kelly, Niecy Nash and more) speaking from the heart to a tiny room about the causes they care about is a contrast to the bombast of the rest of the weekend. Talent reps should take note.
Television Academy’s Performers Nominee Reception
Pacific Design Center
This is where most of the acting nominees show up for a class photo. It’s a relaxed cocktail evening with the voters who propelled the nominees on to that dais. Of all the Television Academy’s official walk-up events to the show, this is the one worth calling in the favor to see.
WME
Catch (West Hollywood)
CAA
Bouchon (Beverly Hills)
Gersh
Home of Gersh Senior Managing Partner Leslie Seibert and Steven Siebert (Little Holmby area)
“World Class Cocktails” from mixologist Tyson Buhler featuring Ketel One Vodka will be poured for the likes of Kyle Chandler, JEffrey Tambor, Allison Janney, David “Robert Kardashian” Schwimmer, Courtney B. Vance, and Angela Bassett, amongst others.
UTA
Molly & Jay Sures’ House (Brentwood)
BAFTA TV Tea
Saturday, Sept. 17
The Boxwood at the London Hotel (West Hollywood)
BAFTA LA’s awards weekend afternoon parties are popular and packed.
Comedy Central
Boulevard3 (Hollywood)
There’s no punchline on the invitation this year. Perhaps they emptied the joke tank for “The Comedy Central Roast of Rob Lowe” last week. Comedy Central gets back on the Emmy party grid smartly sliding into the “night before” slot with the “Broad City” women, Amy Schumer, Key and Peele, and the South Park guys.
Showtime
Sunset Tower, 7-10 p.m.
David Nevins and Matt Blank always huddle the Showtime family (including Les Moonves) for a swanky poolside pause before the amplitude of Emmy Sunday. I’d say it’s a sanctuary from the weekend’s noise, but they usually have a headlining musician play the small room, the only brand to regularly add this flair for either the Oscars or the Emmy circuit. John Legend and KT Tunstall have played the dimmed terrace in previous years. British musician Jamie N Commons plays this year.
Claire Danes, Jay Pharoah, Maura Tierney and more are expected poolside as George Clooney‘s Casamigos Tequila flows.
MPTF 10th Annual “Evening Before”
Century Park (Century City)
Just like they do the night before the Oscars, industry bigshots raise millions for the MPTF’s retirement home in Woodland Hills and their other programs. If you’re invited to this one, go. If you’re not, buy tickets to the MPTF’s upcoming anniversary party with George Clooney next month.
Emmy Night: Downtown L.A. By the Show
Governors’ Ball, dubbed “Nature’s Elegance”
Sunday, Sept. 18
L.A. Convention Center
Immediately After the Telecast
The Academy persists in choosing a non-sequitur as a theme every year, like “Nature’s Elegance.” (This is the actual slug for the 2016 event, though it may also be a room freshener spray.) To their credit, they do this multi-thousand person dinner party three times this year due to the two Creative Arts Emmys Balls the weekend before. The entire industry is in the room for a blink of the eye, so make the most of that time, and then it’s a collective Keyser Soze as cars roll out.
300 gallons of cocktails will be poured, including 500 bottles of Brett Ratner‘s Hillhaven Lodge Whiskey.
Fox Networks, 20th Century Fox Television, FX, and Nat Geo Joint Party
The Vibiana Cathedral
See above for FX’s strong year. This beautiful footprint recently hosted Ray J’s wedding, and in years gone by, was the site for Entertainment Tonight’s now-defunct Emmy’s Night Bash. Fun fact: Prince played the ET Emmy party 10 years ago at the Skybar in West Hollywood.
After Parties: West Hollywood
HBO
Pacific Design Center (West Hollywood)
HBO still owns Emmy night.
The Grand Dame of TV has 94 nominations and every figure from all sides of the business fills the sprawling tents. Theoretically, you could close nearly any deal necessary if everyone wasn’t chowing down, sliding into cushy banquettes, and stargazing at surprise guests like Mick Jagger in years past. HBO nominee Beyonce would be the whale this year.
A 24-foot high indoor fountain sculpture (above) is the centerpiece of the party, complementing a 100-foot-plus “water lounge” and the party’s oceanic-hued water theme. Billy Butchkavitz crafted this ornate party footprint for the 18th consecutive year and Wolfgang Puck caters. People actually sit, eat, and stay here…all night.
Amazon
Sunset Tower (West Hollywood)
Roy Price has 16 chances to add on to the Emmy collection in the trophy case in Amazon’s Santa Monica office.
AMC, BBC America, & IFC
Boa (West Hollywood)
600 invitees are expected to toast “Better Call Saul”, Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie‘s “The Night Manager”, “Luther”, “Orphan Black”, “Documentary Now!”, and “Portlandia”.
Netflix
Ted Sarandos usually hosts a talent-only gathering at his house the night before the Emmys, and sometimes after awards shows as well, but they are as cloistered as their ratings data.
Gone from Emmy Week: NBCU’s party at Boa and last year’s People’s “One to Watch” event, which was one of the hottest. The People event will be at another time.
Lounges, Suites, and Sideshows
Vanity Fair Social Club
Saturday, Sept. 16
Platform in Culver City
VF’s Krista Smith’s touch is all over this collection of TV-related panels put on by the magazine’s publishing side as a workspace for bloggers and digital media. Highlights include Trisha Yearwood, Joey Graceffa (of Youtube and “Amazing Race” fame), Yara Shahidi, and “How to Get Away with Murder” costume designer Lyn Paolo who has been winning Emmys since 1992.
Ultimate Primetime TV Lounge presented by Dreamhouse Marketing & Branding Group, The Accessories Council & Madison & Mulholland
Saturday, September 10, 11am to 6pm (Hollywood)
This “superfriends” of gifting suites, with several agencies join forces, takes place a week early. The allied lounge benefits the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance. BMW Eyewear and Masquelogy skincare are on the block amongst other swag that organizers say is “super secret”.
Kari Feinstein Style Lounge
Thursday, Sept. 15-Friday, Sept. 16
Original swag suite maestro Kari Feinstein returns with snowboards, surfboards, and a trip to to try out the latter at the Moon Palace Jamaican Grande resort in Ocho Rios in Jamaica.
GBK Lounge
Friday, Sept. 16-Saturday, Sept. 17
Beverly Hills
DPA Gifting Lounge
Thursday, September 15-Saturday, September 17
Luxe Hotel (Beverly Hills)
Ecoluxe Lounge
Saturday, September 17
Stardust Penthouse at the Beverly Hilton (Beverly Hills)
“#SelfiesWithSanta” and a Christmas in September theme make this an odd – but media savvy – counter-play to Emmy weekend. There won’t be any other Emmy parties dressing up as a holiday party. This benefits Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Salute to British Entertainment
Thursday, Sept. 15
British Consulate
Party organizers “The Anglophile Channel” tout “Downton Abbey” executive producer Gareth Neame as a guest.
Celebrity Page Emmy Nominee Kick Off Party
Thursday, Sept. 15
Sofitel
Celebrity Page is a celebrity news magazine show on the Reelz channel. No, it is not that other one hosted by Ross Matthews from the glassed-in studio on Hollywood Boulevard.
No invites in your inbox? Fear not, cowgirl. The famed Saddle Ranch on the Sunset Strip is having it’s 17th Anniversary Party on Wednesday, Sept. 14. You can see the Sunset Tower across the street, so it’s somewhat close to some Emmy action. Get on that bull.
All parties are private and by invitation only. For real time updates during Emmy weekend follow @CelebSightings on Twitter and Instagram.
Please send additions, updates,and invites to the author Mikey Glazer here.