Styles & Scenes

Inside HBO's big Emmy bash

Neither Prince nor Pink performed at the lavish HBO Emmy bash at the Pacific Design Center. They were busy at their respective gigs – the ET/People party at the Mondrian hotel and the TV Guide bash at Social Hollywood.

But some of the dancers gyrating to the pulse-pounding, percussion-heavy disco tunes (think “Jungle Boogey”) at the HBO Emmy bash were reportedly pros hired to get the party started.

And it worked. Aida Turturro, who plays Tony’s sister on “The Sopranos,” was the first to do a victory dance for HBO’s 26 Emmy wins. She also tried (unsuccessfully) to drag Olympic figure skater Sasha Cohen on the floor but the adorable Skater Girl was too busy doing HBO star-gazing.

And there were plenty of luminaries, honchos and Emmy winners to watch in the clear plexi-tented sprawling patio party, decorated with starfish squiggled carpets, pinky orange lights, bubbling water fountains and buffet tables piled high with beet salad, chicken, pork chops, spicy seafood, and dessert tables littered with tiny crème brulees and baby brownies.

A red-gowned Edie Falco was enthralled with a man performing sleight-of-hand magic tricks at the “Sopranos” table while Lorraine Bracco –in glittery gold -  chatted with a pal from Miami, where the show has - and will continue to be – shooting. Stevie Van Zandt – not a bit surprised that “24” won big and pleased about “The Office” acclaim - chowed down at a table next to his jovial "Sopranos" co-starJames Gandolfini.
Warren Beatty looked engrossed in deep conversation with New York Times film writer Sharon Waxman while his “Mrs. Harris” Emmy nominated wife Annette Bening talked about her daughter’s fashion sense with a friend she’d not seen since Carrie Fisher’s birthday party.

A few folks looked up briefly when cameras flashed as Paris Hilton slithered by the “Sopranos” table, but they quickly went back to celebrating. Candy Spelling and her son Randy arrived together but  quickly seemed to go their separate ways.

Lisa Kudrow didn’t get a gold statue but she still reveled in the validation from her nomination for “The Comeback.”

“It does feel sweet that we got three nominations and so much good press,” she admitted. As she thanked a People scribe for complimenting her black Valentino dress, Kudrow’s handsome French hubby Michel Stern piped in, “It is the back that is even more gorgeous. That is why I wanted her to get onstage, not to pick up that silly thing, but to show the gorgeous back!”

Okay, sweet. But no more Moet & Chandon pink bubbly for you.

“Ray” director Taylor Hackford congratulated an overwhelmed Kelly MacDonald ("The Girl in the Café”) while his Emmy-winner "Elizabeth" wife Helen Mirren, heavenly in a white chiffon Morgana Le Fay gown, hugged her Emmy-holding co-star Jeremy Irons. And it's not easy to hug when holding an Emmy. You could easily put someone's eye out with that sharp winged thing.

Across the room, HBO’s other Jeremy - Jeremy Piven - was literally holding court, his “Entourage” Emmy safely standing on his table.  Wearing his now loosened up ascot, Piven was getting high fives, backslaps and hug-it-outs from Kevin Connolly and Nicky Hilton, Adrian Grenier, Perrey Reeves,  friends and fans while his Emmy date – his exhausted mom – sat staring at her empty plate with her hands cupped over her ears.

There’s only so much disco a mom can take. Even for her Emmy-winning, ascot-wearing actor son.

The only person enjoying Piven’s win more than Piven was Ari Gold’s assistant Lloyd, played by Rex Lee. So is he worried about Piven’s ego explosion after getting a shot of Emmy gold?

“Oh, I don’t think so,” Lee confided. “And even if the worst thing happened and he got a big head and became insufferable, I could still – if I wanted to – avoid him when we weren’t working. But I get the best of him at work. He’s brilliant and kind-hearted and it’s a blessing to have such great onscreen chemistry.”

At midnight, the party was barely beginning to thin out. Exhausted Emmy host Conan O’Brien was outside talking with Megan Mullally, holding her Emmy and talking about her new talk show, natch. O’Brien’s wife had taken her high heels off and was teetering in her bare feet waiting for their car at the backed-up valet.

Grenier - without any entourage at all  – ran down the street and hopped into a small car, probably to whisk over to a hotter party around town. But Lee ran outside to tell departing pals, “You go on. I’m staying here at HBO.”

Wise move, Lloyd.

Photo Credits:
Adrian Grenier's only faux pouting about Jeremy Piven's Emmy win at the HBO shindig. I think.
WireImage/John Sciulli
Lisa Kudrow arrives at HBO's bash with husband Michel Stern. And he's definitely watching her back!
WireImage/Mark Sullivan
Photo Credits: The queen and her consort -  Helen Mirren and Jeremy Irons - put their heads together at the HBO Emmy party
WireImage/John Sciulli

Where the stars will party on Emmy weekend

Okay, let's stop yer whining about the unfair Emmy voting screw-up.

Time to start thinking about more important issues, like the Emmy party line-up.

Why? Because the after-parties are where stars from snubbed shows like "Desperate Housewives" and "Lost" who aren't attending the broadcast may turn up. That's why.

Here's how the TV industry's big weekend is shaping up.

Saturday, August 26

Emmy weekend kicks off Saturday with BAFTA/LA’s annual Emmy Tea Party at the Park Hyatt in Century City from 2-5 p.m. It’s a terribly civilized party (yeah, right) with a casual patio feel for Emmy nominees from the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, sponsored by BBC America.

Good guesses for the Tea Party guest list would be Helen Mirren and Taylor Hackford, Jeremy Irons, Sir Ben Kingsley, Hugh Laurie, maybe even Kiefer Sutherland, since he was actually born in London. 

The place to be the night before the Emmys is Spago for NBC/Universal Television Group’s popular Pre-Emmy party. it’s being billed as an 'informal gathering' with no red carpet and no annoying party reporters trolling for soundbites with tape recorders.

The party is a relative newcomer to the Emmy fete scene, started just two years ago and co-sponsored first by Details, then Vanity Fair. Now it's become “the place to be seen the night before the Emmys,” according to Variety, who certainly should know.

Expect stars and honchos from the NBC-U family including NBC, USA, Sci-Fi and Bravo, as well as luminaries like past attendees Conan O’Brien (this year’s broadcast host), Donald Trump, Hugh Laurie, Jill Hennessy, Mary Tyler Moore, Hugh Jackman, Danny DeVito, Heather Graham, Carmen Electra, and Sylvester Stallone.

Natch, it's likely that nominees Jaime Pressley, Mariska Hargitay, Steve Carell, Debra Messing, Alan Alda, Allison Janney and other “West Wing” alum will show up. Oh, and let’s not forget those competitive “Project Runway” folks.

Sunday, August 27

Right after the awards, there’s the official Emmy Governor's Ball held next to the Shrine. The big unveiling was held today so watch this space for more party poop next week.

But there’s also the popular Entertainment Tonight/People Emmy splash on the Skybar pool area in the Mondrian. Expect every star at the Emmys to at least do a drive by.

The big draw, besides chatting with ET and People reporters which is always high on a star’s list of things-to-do, is the party’s gluttonous goody bag given democratically to every party guest, not just Emmy-going stars. We're talking a Cole Haan natural canvas and leather 'Weekender' bag worth $400, literally stuffed with $2,500 worth of fabulous freebies.

Then there’s the TV Guide soiree at the swanky Social Hollywood, the site of the first Emmy Awards and this season’s hot new party place. Punky rock singer Pink will get the party started at 10. p.m. Just in time to drown out all the "You rock!" and/or  "You were robbed!" for the winners/losers who’ll roll in after hitting the Gov Ball, always the first pit stop.

HBO always has their hot ticket Emmy party at the Pacific Design Center. No official word yet but with so many nominations, the cable network’s bash will again be the most sought after invite of the night. Guaranteed entrance to anyone clutching an Emmy.

Also expected: Annette Bening with hubby Warren Beatty, Jeremy Irons, Ellen Burstyn, Cloris Leachman, Alfre Woodard, funny guys Bill Maher, Larry David and George Carlin, Jeremy Piven and his “Entourage,” a couple of “Six Feel Under” stars, some “Sopranos,” the Queenly Helen Mirren and former “Friend” Lisa Kudrow, who was nominated for her role on the swiftly cancelled HBO series, “The Comeback.” Hey, If she wins, will HBO resurrect the show and call it “The Second Comeback?”

The big Fox Network/Studio annual shindig will be back at Spago this year. Stars Kiefer Sutherland, Jean Smart and other “24” stars as well as the actors from “House," “American Idol,” and “Arrested Development” are likely to show up.

This year's party décor, designed and executed by Rob Smith at Laurels Events, will be pure platinum.

“We literally take everything out of the restaurant and re-skin the interior of the restaurant and the furniture,” says Smith. This delicate Spago facelift procedure starts at 7 a.m. on Emmy day. And actresses think they have it rough getting dolled up for the awards.  At least they don’t have to get ‘reskinned.’ Or do they?

Expect gleaming platinum lacquered furniture, crystal chandeliers in glass boxes, mirrored table tops for a flattering sheen on every happy face, and Swarovski crystals on the floor. “It’s all about the flow,” says Smith, “We want the party space to feel spacious, upscale, refined and elegant because everyone will be wearing their best evening attire.”

And hopefully carrying a few bright shiny Emmy statues.

Photo Credit: Eva, Flicka, Marcia and Nicollette were like the Four Muskateers at last year's post Emmy Governor's Ball bash. So what party will the un-nominated "Desperate" gals show up at this year? Gentleman, place your bets.
WireImage/Steve Granitz

Alien Surfers coming to HBO?

Okay, so "Deadwood" is on life support and even if the show wins a dozen awards at the Emmys on Aug 27, the 2007 truncated fourth season (two two-hour episodes) will be the show's death rattle.

But for loyal "Deadwood" fans already experiencing the four stages of grief - denial, anger, cancelling HBO subscriptions, acceptance - is there any hope for a "Deadwood" feature film?

HBO Films pres Colin Callender was his usual raised-eyebrow-sly-smile self on that topic. But he did leak a clue about "Deadwood" creator/writer David Milch's new HBO pilot project, "John from Cincinnati."

"Soon you'll have alien surfers," Callender consoled.

Wait, aliens? "Cincinnati" has previously been described as a 'drama set in Southern California's surfing community,' a 'surf noir' tale, and by Milch himself as being 'pretty strange.' Now there are aliens? And will any of them curse with the proclivity of Al Swearengen? Your guess is as bad as mine.

So... has the earlier Emmy date affected HBO?

"Yes, it affected my vacation," Callender joked. But he was serious. He'd just changed his flight to Hawaii to leave a day later.

Wise move. Under Callender's command, HBO has earned 39 Emmy Awards so it's good odds there will be more this year. And despite the aliens in HBO's future, Callender will receive the Kieser Award for his humanizing HBO projects at the annual Humanitas luncheon on June 28.

Photo Credits: HBO Films pres Colin Callender celebrates with "The Life and Death of Peters Sellers" Emmy nominee Charlize Theron at the HBO 2005 Emmy after-party. 
WireImage/Eric Charbonneau