Emmy Countdown: ‘Modern Family,’ ‘Mad Men’ nominees party at pre-Emmy soirees

Emmy Countdown: Nominees party at pre-Emmy soirees

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — The champagne is popped and the hors d’oeuvres are served as the television world begins partying in preparation for Sunday night’s 62nd annual Primetime Emmy Awards, going live to all U.S. time zones for the first time in recent memory. Here are the latest happenings from Hollywood:

STICKING TOGETHER: Celebrities roaming the Entertainment Weekly and Women in Film pre-Emmy party late Friday night seemed to stay in packs. Fellow comedians Kathy Griffin and Bill Maher chatted outside the restaurant at the luxurious Sunset Marquis hotel, while adroit “Parks and Recreation” co-stars Adam Scott and Aubrey Plaza held court on the patio.

Seth MacFarlane, nominated for original music and lyrics for “Family Guy,” and Seth Green, nominated in the voice-over category for “Robot Chicken,” kept each other in stitches near the bar. Inside, invitees filled golden goodies bags with free makeup. Other attendees included Craig Robinson from “The Office” and Jason Ritter from the upcoming “The Event.”

BOYS’ NIGHT OUT: The men of “Modern Family” reunited Friday night at the Emmys’ performers nominee reception at Wolfgang Puck’s Spectra inside the Pacific Design Center. Emmy nominees Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet and Fred Willard, along with Nolan Gould, who plays Burrell’s son on the ABC comedy, mingled at the posh cocktail party.

“I’m trying to maintain as much normalcy on the day as possible,” supporting comedy actor nominee Ferguson said on the red carpet of his Emmy day plans. “And then, like, someone’s coming over to my house to do my hair. Like what is it that needs to be done? A little gel? Apparently, someone wants to put the gel in my hair for me, so there you go.”

On the other side of the party, “Dexter” actor James Remar and other attendees filled their plates with Chinese chicken salad, Shangri La lobster and miso-glazed salmon. Partygoers also feasted outside on the balcony on short ribs and sweet plantains while listening to a jazz band perform such tunes as “I Kissed a Girl” and the theme song from “Frasier.”

Nominees in attendance, including “Mad Men” actress Elisabeth Moss and “Breaking Bad” star Bryan Cranston, were presented with certificates by Academy of Television Arts and Sciences chairman John Schaffner, who recalled accidentally stepping on Glenn Close’s gown at a Screen Actors Guild event before he handed the “Damages” star her accolade.

“One time, somebody stepped on my train, and my front went down,” Close revealed.

GLEEFUL TRIO: “Glee” is the contender to beat at tomorrow night’s Emmy awards. Last month, the hit freshman musical-dramedy scored 19 nominations, the most of any series this year.

Just days after getting that news, the show’s executive producer Ryan Murphy was at a Paley Center writers tribute with Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan, his “Glee” co-creators __ a trio without a nickname.

“We should get (one),” Murphy noted, “like ‘Brangelina.’ What could we be?”

“‘R-ia-ad,’” Falchuk added, laughing.

Brennan, who looks a bit like the shaggy Shaggy from the “Scooby-Doo” cartoons, said he will take the longest to prep for the Emmys red carpet. “This is eight hours of prep,” he joked. “I have a whole team of people.”

Murphy, a 2004 nominee for directing “Nip/Tuck,” has done the Emmy-carpet thing before. His advice to Falchuk and Brennan? “Go expecting nothing,” Murphy replied.

AP Entertainment Writer Mike Cidoni contributed to this report.

Online:

www.emmys.com/