Emmys: Rami Malek, Constance Zimmer, 'Stranger Things' Cast Rev Up Awards Weekend (Photos)

“Stranger Things'” jerky boyfriend Joe Keery was not hitting the Emmy party circuit this time last year.

Catch LA, which opened in on Melrose Ave in West Hollywood with Audi’s annual prelude to Emmys weekend bash, was not even on the social circuit last weekend.

Both made debuts on Thursday night.

The rooftop was a social sea of Emmy nominees (Constance Zimmer and Rami Malek, pictured at top), returning veterans (Cuba Gooding Jr., Tony Hale and “Modern Family” boss Steven Levitan), a sprinkling of music industry crossovers (Mary J. Blige and Father John Misty), and a shooting star from celebrity gossip, Justin Bieber‘s rumored girlfriend Sofia Richie at the first real Emmy weekend event.

Also Read: Emmys 2016: 36 Nominees Who Could Become First-Time Winners (Photos)

Introducing....the rooftop at Catch on Melrose.

Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Audi

Just a few steps east down Melrose from where Audi has celebrated the Emmys for the past six years at Cecconi’s, we passed a 2017 R8 before boarding branded elevators to ride to the rooftop restaurant, opening its doors for the first time.

The event permit came in just the day before.

Ariel Winter and Jamie Foxx (Getty Images)

Inside the open air rooftop, Michael “Benjamin Linus” Emerson grabbed drinks at the island bar as Ariel Winter smoked cigarettes on the Melrose side of the wraparound patio.

“Transparent” star Melora Hardin tucked into a mint condition booth, as champagne and mouth-burning arancini passed through the indoor-outdoor space, with guests wandering in search of bathrooms in a restaurant and nightlife venue yet-to-be colonized by the social savvy crowd.

John Sciulli/Getty Images

The pristine playground, from NYC based restaurant and nightlife guys Mark Birnbaum and Eugene Remm, amped up the spirit of the TV Academy’s auto partner’s party. It was a proverbial upshift from an event which had become formulaic recently. The place was packed well after the 10 p.m. planned curtain with an industry-heavy crowd letting loose before the big weekend and a fresh energy.

Cat Deeley (Getty Images)

Also Read: Emmy Parties 2016: Hollywood's Hottest Invites Before and After the Big Show

Zach Braff, Audi SVP Jeri Ward and ElizabethBanks. (Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for Audi)

Also Read: Jimmy Kimmel Eats Bull Penis to Keep Salary Secret From James Corden (Video)

Stranger Things' Joe Keery, Galen Gering

“Stranger Things'” jerky boyfriend Joe Keery and soap star Galen Gering. (Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Audi)

The guest list included a healthy dose of celebrity lifestyle marketers (Dino Magis, Laurie Ziegler, EFG’s Joyce Sevilla, Brandlink’s Greg Link, Ricky Abramson and Tara Ink’s Tayo Otiti), reps and execs (The Weinstein Company’s Katie Doyle, TV agent Jeff Greenberg, manager Alex Sherkarchian) and media personalities like “Entertainment Tonight”s” Carly Steel and Joe Siyam, Elaine “Fashionlane” Daneshrad, Time Inc.’s INSTANT chief Kirstin Benson, Access Hollywood’s Diana Dasrath, and Mashable’s Entertainment Editor Josh Dickey, a Wrap alum.

WME is next up in the space, celebrating its Emmy nominees with a party there tonight (Sept. 16) before the venue’s own “Grand Opening” party on Saturday night.

Ana Calderon, Father John Misty Audi Emmy Party

Ana Calderon and Father John Misty (Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for Audi)

Jamie Foxx and Tasha Smith; “50 Shades of Grey” author E.L. James and Niall Leonard (Getty Images)

Photo credit: Selma Fonseca

Future guests should have their phones out upon arrival. They will be greeted by a generation-spanning celebrity photo montage in the lobby, which is destined to be an Instagram photo stop.

It features JFK at the head of a class photo that includes Drake, E.T., Mike Tyson, Mr. Clean, Abe Lincoln, Gene Simmons, Michelle Obama, Mickey Mouse, Marilyn Monroe, and Britney Spears amongst pop culture icons and a front row spot for what appears to be Catch LA owners Mark Birnbaum and Eugene Remm.

Also Read: 11 Stars Who Could Jolt the Emmys With Upset Wins (Photos)

On the carpet, the 2017 R8 is ready for its close up. (Getty Images)

Emmys 2016: 36 Nominees Who Could Become First-Time Winners (Photos)

Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross, "Black-ish"
If Anthony Anderson were to win for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series this year, it would mark his first win after one previous nomination. His co-star Tracee Ellis Ross could also become a first-time winner this year for her role on the ABC family comedy.
ABC
Ellie Kemper and Tituss Burgess, "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"
After missing the cut for nominations last year, Ellie Kemper could snag her first Emmy for her role on Netflix's "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt." Tituss Burgess is also up for an Emmy in the supporting category.
Netflix
Aziz Ansari, "Master of None"
"Parks and Recreation" alum Aziz Ansari will have a few chances to win his first Emmy this year, including in the acting, writing and directing categories, as well as Outstanding Comedy Series for Netflix's "Master of None."
Netflix
Rami Malek, "Mr. Robot"
USA broke through at this year's Emmys in a big way with "Mr. Robot," and a win for newcomer Rami Malek would be a big win for both the actor and the network.
USA
Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell, "The Americans"
Fans were happy to see FX's "The Americans" finally get some recognition, and both of its leads would be first-time winners if they were to walk away with a trophy.
FX
Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright, "House of Cards"
Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright have both been nominated multiple times for their work on Netflix's "House of Cards," but neither have come out on top yet.
Netflix
Kirsten Dunst, "Fargo"
"The People v. O.J.'s" Sarah Paulson is heavily favored to win in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie category, but a win for Kirsten Dunst would be a first for the "Fargo" star.
FX
Cuba Gooding Jr., Courtney B. Vance, David Schwimmer, John Travolta and Sterling K. Brown, "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story"
The cast of the Ryan Murphy miniseries "People v. O.J." swept the limited series acting nominations, and most of them -- even the veteran actors -- would be first-time Emmy winners this year.
FX
Hugh Laurie and Tom Hiddleston, "The Night Manager"
Hugh Laurie earned multiple Emmy nominations for the Fox medical drama "House," but never took home the trophy. His co-star, Tom Hiddleston, on the other hand, is a first-time nominee.
AMC
Kerry Washington, "Confirmation"
"Scandal" star Kerry Washington was left out of the Lead Actress in a Drama Series category this year, but could still win her first Emmy for her role as Anita Hill in the HBO movie "Confirmation."
HBO
Emilia Clarke, Lena Headey, Maisie Williams and Kit Harington, "Game of Thrones"
With the exception of Peter Dinklage, HBO's "Game of Thrones" hasn't had any of its actors take home Emmys, but Dinklage and four of his co-stars have another shot this year.
HBO
Keegan-Michael Key, "Key and Peele"
Interestingly, the Emmys chose to nominate Keegan-Michael Key in the acting category over his partner Jordan Peele. Neither half of the duo has yet to win an Emmy.
Comedy Central
Constance Zimmer, "UnReal"
Along with "Mr. Robot," Lifetime's "UnReal" was one of the cable shows to make big waves last summer, and as a result star Constance Zimmer is up for her first Emmy in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama category.
Lifetime
Alec Berg, "Silicon Valley"
Comedy veteran Alec Berg has written for both "Seinfeld" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm," but he has yet to win an Emmy. He'll have a few shots with HBO's "Silicon Valley" this year, including in the writing, directing and series categories.
HBO
Miguel Sapochnik, "Game of Thrones"
"Game of Thrones" earned heaps of praise for this season's penultimate episode, which featured an epic and sweeping battle scene. Much of the credit goes to director Miguel Sapochnik, who scored his first Emmy nomination for the episode.
HBO
Beyonce Knowles and Kahlil Joseph, "Lemonade"
Beyonce is a force to be reckoned with in music, but she's up for her first Emmy this year alongside co-director Khalil Joseph, with whom she collaborated on her big HBO visual album "Lemonade."
HBO
Rob Delaney and Sharon Horgan, "Catastrophe"
Amazon's under-appreciated comedy "Catastrophe" was left out of the Outstanding Comedy Series category, but co-creators and stars Rob Delaney and Sharon Horgan were recognized for the writing in the show's pilot.
Amazon
Robert and Michelle King, "The Good Wife"
Husband-wife duo Robert and Michelle King will have one last chance to score an Emmy for their CBS drama "The Good Wife" this year with a writing nomination.
CBS
Sam Esmail, "UnReal"
Like "Mr. Robot" star Rami Malek, creator Sam Esmail earned his first two Emmy nominations for the USA drama, for writing and Outstanding Drama Series.
USA
Marti Noxon and Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, "UnReal"
"UnReal" co-creators Marti Noxon and Sarah Gertrude Shapiro missed out on a Drama Series nomination for their Lifetime show, but the duo did score a writing nomination this year.
Lifetime