Emmy Countdown: Rehearsal stand-ins play stars while bleacher fans await the real thing

Emmy Countdown: Rehearsal stand-ins play the stars

LOS ANGELES — A look at the hours leading up to Sunday’s 61st Primetime Emmy Awards:

ALWAYS A WINNER

Mindy Brandt picked up four Emmys on Sunday, a couple on Saturday and a few others on Thursday and Friday in her role as a stand-in during four days of intensive rehearsals for the Emmy Awards.

Brandt has worked with the Emmys, Oscars, Golden Globes and similar programs since 1987.

“I’ve probably given 1,500 acceptance speeches,” she said.

In the last rehearsal before the real show, Brandt played Christina Applegate, Heidi Klum, Mariska Hargitay and Tina Fey.

At one point a pretend presenter opened an envelope and said, “The Emmy goes to — for this rehearsal only — Christina Applegate.”

The stand-ins not only go onto the Nokia Theatre stage and pick up a statuette, they gush about how happy and surprised they are.

“When they put that trophy in your hands, you feel this energy. You can’t help but get excited,” Brandt said.

SUN-BLEACHED BLEACHERS

Fans began filling the bleacher seats outside the Nokia Theatre before noon, hours ahead of the stars’ arrivals.

The excitable crowd was ready to scream and cheer, but initially there was nothing to see except the empty red carpet and TV crews setting up lights.

Heads swiveled at the sight of a shiny cocktail dress but it was just a production assistant.

The Southern California sun beat down all the while.

“I want to peel off my clothes,” said Tina Hernandez of Huntington Beach, who rolled her jeans up to her knees to cool down. “It’s uncomfortable, but we’re just lucky to be here.”

EMMY NEIGHBORS

The Emmy venue is in a growing part of downtown centered around an entertainment complex.

Susie and Marcus Hess, who recently moved to Los Angeles from Tacoma, Wash., were thrilled to have the Emmys in their new neighborhood but had to crane their necks to see around a wall shielding the red carpet.

“It’s not very fan-friendly, said Susie Hess.

She said she was eager to see what stars were wearing.

“The faux pas and the beauties together,” she said.

SECURITY WITH STYLE

The envelopes with the Emmy winners’ names arrived at the Nokia Theatre in the custody of accountants.

Handcuffs secured metal briefcases containing the envelopes to their wrists.

“What we do here is no different from what we do for all our clients,” said Andy Sale, a partner in the firm Ernst & Young.

But with a special wardrobe.

Mieke Velghe said she had to put some thought into choosing a dress, making sure the fasteners on her gown matched the silver handcuffs.