Inside Emmys After Parties: Tracy Morgan, Kerry Washington, ‘Veep’, Amy Schumer Mingle With Winners and Grinners (Photos)

Champagne, shiny trophies, happy winners and those just happy to be there — TV’s elite light up awards after-parties, flock to HBO and pondered the question, “So, when are we watching ‘Olive Kitteridge’?”

COVER - Emmys After Parties 2015
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HBO wasn’t just anointed biggest winner at the 67th annual Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, the network claimed the title of party champ afterwards, as well.

After “Game of Thrones” won a record 12 statuettes, while “Veep” and “Olive Kitteridge” also scored big, the premium cable network celebrated at a pop up metropolis on the corner of Melrose and San Vicente at the Pacific Design Center, where a few squadrons from the West Hollywood Sheriffs Department and three walls of security protected the guests.

 

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) (L-R) HBO President of Programming Michael Lombardo, actress Kerry Washington, and Chairman and C.E.O. of HBO Richard Plepler attend HBO's Official 2015 Emmy After Party at The Plaza at the Pacific Design Center on September 20, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
HBO President of Programming Michael Lombardo,  Kerry Washington, and HBO Chairman/CEO Richard Plepler at the Pacific Design Center. (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

The red hues looked ripped from a “True Blood” set designer’s palette, had a rotating center feature, and lodged near the more-packed-than-normal center were HBO captains Michael Lombardo and Richard Plepler, hosting a varied crew of their own winners and non-native talent orbiting the multi-platform factory that at this point, with HBO GO and HBO Now, has technically fulfilled its mantra that it “is not TV”.

On TV’s biggest night though, the creative community flocked to the party .

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Actros Niecy Nash and Viola Davis attends HBO's Official 2015 Emmy After Party at The Plaza at the Pacific Design Center on September 20, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by FilmMagic/FilmMagic)
Niecy Nash and Viola Davis at HBO. (FilmMagic)

More telling of the social gravity, it was the names from beyond HBO who made this their party preference: Kerry Washington anchoring a central booth, Michelle Obama co-star Billy Eichner towering over his conversations, Whitney Cummings getting pulled in multiple directions, Kiernan Shipka causing a flash storm on the boulevard-width carpet, and Frances Bean Cobain (“Montage of Heck”) cushioned from the crowd by a train pals, some in flannel shirts. How appropriate.

A few steps away from Cobain, Viacom Music and Entertainment boss Doug Herzog slid by reality guru Mike Darnell, minutes before TV Academy CEO Bruce Rosenblum would head towards Michael Lombardo’s tables. (The tables had multi-color sequin table cloths, with the same color changing properties that made the Coachella “butterfly” a hands-on winner back in April.)

The team was organic to HBO's tent, not a camera fault. These two make an odd couple, but good conversation: Bill O'Reilly and Lorne Michaels. (Mikey Glazer)
Bill O’Reilly and Lorne Michaels: The steam was organic to HBO’s tent, not a camera fault. These two make an odd couple, but good conversation:  (Mikey Glazer)

 

The social cocktail at HBO led to delicious pairings like Bill O’Reilly (much taller in person) and Lorne Michaels, having a chat about their respective upcoming fall seasons – hot topics on a hot night that actually caused my camera to steam when asking them to pose for a picture.

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: Comedians Mel Brooks and Julia Louis-Dreyfus attend HBO's Official 2015 Emmy After Party at The Plaza at the Pacific Design Center on September 20, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by FilmMagic/FilmMagic)
Mel Brooks did what Jimmy Kimmel would not: refrain from eating the winning envelope. Brooks cheered Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s “Veep” win. (FilmMagic)

Dave Grohl and Marilyn Manson, two rockers at HBO. (Filmmagic)
“Sonic Highways” producer Dave Grohl and Marilyn Manson, two rockers at HBO. (Filmmagic)

All had come from the Governors Ball, where a half acre of Fiji waters (with make-up friendly straws) waited for the thirsty pouring out of the Microsoft and who had hiked 150 yards down Chick Hearn Court.

Host Andy Samberg played host a second time on Sunday night. He threw a hush-hush party at the SNL-star-favorite Sunset Tower with pal Akiva Scaheffer and pours by Tequila Don Julio. (Alex Berliner/ABImages)
Host Andy Samberg played host a second time on Sunday night. He threw a hush-hush party at the SNL’ers favorite LA haunt, the Sunset Tower. Pal Akiva Schaffer (left) and Tequila Don Julio celebrated the well received performance. (Alex Berliner/ABImages)
Tracy Morgan was the huge surprise of the night. Meanwhile, we may be looking at this year's Emmys host greeting next year's Emmys host, as Samberg and Schumer connected at the Governors Ball. (Getty Images)
Tracy Morgan was the huge surprise of the night. Meanwhile, we may be looking at this year’s Emmys host greeting next year’s Emmys host, as Samberg and Schumer connected at the Governors Ball. (Getty Images)

Inside, Gary Newman (as the head of the host network Fox) had the choice “100 tables”, immediately to the right of the entry way. He held court at the point, with the perfect vantage point to see all comers. Two section counter clockwise from Fox across the floor, Bob and Linda Gersh were settling in to their seats adjacent to the new more spacious lounge areas.

“We are so thrilled for all our winners,” Bob Gersh told me. “Jeffrey Tambor, Allison Janney, Margo Martindale, (“Olive Kittredge” winner) Richard Jenkins,” he continued. (Jenkins was the guy who said “That was Lady Gaga!” during his acceptance speech.)

Amazon's Roy Price and "Transparent" creator Jill Soloway at Amazon's downtown party. At right, Lady Gaga has become an awards night fixture, following her telecast presenting appearance with a turn at Fox's party. (Charley Gallay Getty Images/Filmmagic)
Amazon’s Roy Price and “Transparent” creator Jill Soloway at Amazon’s downtown party. At right, Lady Gaga has become an awards night fixture, hitting Fox’s party after presenting on the show. (Charley Gallay Getty Images/Filmmagic)

Tambor’s “Transparent” showrunner Jill Soloway, who won early in the night, was cracking an old-fashion full sugar red aluminum can of Coke across the hall in Cheryl Cecchettos’s “Reigning with Radiance” themed playground. The space had crystal chains dropping down from the ceiling, framing circular lounge areas for privacy and intimacy within the converted convention center space.

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: Andrea Bocelli attends the Governors Ball at the Los Angeles Convention Center on September 20, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lester Cohen/WireImage)
David Foster and Andrea Bocelli entertaining at the Governors Ball, the first time in recent history that there has been headliner level talent at the big bash. (Lester Cohen/WireImage)

“Outstanding Supporting Actress Comedy” winner and name-checked Gersh victor Allison Janney found her own privacy in plain sight. She leveraged boyfriend Philip Joncas to both carry her Emmy and lead the way, allowing her to draft off him as they cut through the room.

Emmys Governors Ball Television Academy Cheryl Checcetto
The short hike from the Microsoft Theater to the Governors Ball was rewarded with long tables of refreshments: water, wine, and hundreds of champagne glasses ready to be grabbed. (Mikey Glazer)
AMC Jon Hamm Wins Charlie Collier Josh Sapan
AMC President/General Manager Charlie Collier congratulates Jon Hamm on his long overdue win at Boa on Sunday night. AMC, BBC America, IFC And SundanceTV had a joint bash. At right, AMC Networks CEO Josh Sapan and “Sons of Anarchy” star Ray McKinnon. (John Shearer/Getty Images)

In a return to Emmy night celebrations after hosting a Creative Arts Emmys party in 2014, Comedy Central took over Boulevard3 on Sunset in Hollywood for an indoor-outdoor soiree tagged “Going for the Gold in a Town Full of Plastic”.

(Mikey Glazer)
(Mikey Glazer)

In a rare solo appearance, “Another Period” creator/star Natasha Leggero came without her popular “+1” Mayor Cutie, her dog.

True to the guitar-rock musical genre that played Jon Stewart out on his final “Daily Show” last month, the DJ inside spun the Rolling Stones “Sympathy for the Devil” as guests noshed Mexican street corn and garlic toast, acceptable indulgences when it is so late that there are no more cheeks left to air-kiss.

Ed Asner Gwendoline Christie Queen Latifah
When Ed Asner woke up on Emmy Sunday, he had no idea he would be the punchline to so many of Andy Samberg’s jokes. At right, “Thrones” royal Gwendoline Christie with actual queen, Latifah. (Filmmagic)

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Writer George R. R. Martin attends HBO's Official 2015 Emmy After Party at The Plaza at the Pacific Design Center on September 20, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
How sweet it is: “Thrones” author and creator George R. R. Martin at HBO. (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

 

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