Emmys Rambling Reporter: Inside Jimmy Kimmel’s Afterparty, Chris Rock’s Security Spat and More

You Shall Not Pass

During Jimmy Kimmel’s opening monologue, the Emmys host instructed everyone to take their seats because “this is an important event.” Many viewers at home probably noticed the same thing Kimmel saw standing on top of the stage — all the empty seats in prime rows reserved for famous faces. The reason many of those went unfilled is because a horde of stars didn’t make it in before Kimmel went live on ABC. Security quickly pulled a barricade on a large group, starting with last year’s host Andy Samberg at the front of the line, who was forced to wait along with Chris Rock (with girlfriend Megalyn Echikunwoke), John Oliver, Natasha Lyonne, and Saturday Night Live stars Cecily Strong, Aidy Bryant, Kyle Mooney and Beck Bennett. (Lyonne spent time scrolling through photos on her phone of her Frankenstein-dressed Emmys date Fred Armisen and telling Samberg about arriving in a rented hearse.) One unnamed actor, not in that bunch, pressed his luck and called over several Microsoft Theater staff members to convince them that he was important enough to get in while Kimmel was still cracking jokes during the monologue (his diversity comments sparked laughter and praise from Samberg and crew). “This is my actual seat,” Strong joked to Samberg when Kimmel instructed everyone to find theirs. The first award of the night went to Louie Anderson for Baskets, causing Bryant to exclaim, “He’s soooo good.” Cut to the first commercial break, and the barricade still hadn’t been lifted, prompting Rock’s girlfriend to push him toward the front to lead the charge past the guards. “What’s going on!” Rock yelled. Just then, security gave the go-ahead for everyone to go to their seats, well into the commercial break.

 

Thanks for the good times @emmys20l6! ??Dream Elsa Lanchester gown by @sally_lapointe ?? masters: @tcarterphillips @bobbyeliot @mollygreenwald ??

A photo posted by Natasha Lyonne (@nlyonne) on Sep 18, 2016 at 11:47pm PDT

Kimmel’s Food Fest

He claimed not to know anything about an afterparty when Matt Damon teased him that he would see him at one later during their well-received surprise bit onstage, but Jimmy Kimmel definitely had intel on the night’s hottest and most exclusive post-show party — his own. Kimmel beelined for West Hollywood’s The Lot for his private “World Class™” afterparty, built around his love of food and drink (despite a diet that calls for fasting two days a week.) Described as a “foodie’s paradise,” Kimmel invited chefs and bartenders from all over the country to serve the two-time Emmy host’s favorite items paired with cocktails for a mini food and booze festival. On the menu (in addition to music by Mayer Hawthorne) were pairings from various cities including: Adam Perry Lang’s BBQ paired with a Hilhaven Lodge Whiskey Old Fashioned (Los Angeles); Chris Shepherd’s Korean braised goat dumplings with a Bulleit Bourbon smoke daddy by bartender Charles Joly (Houston); Jon and Vinny’s Cubano sandwich paired with Tequila Don Julio 1942 (L.A.); Frankie’s meatballs with a Ketel One Vodka molto bene by bartender Ricky Gomez (New York); Pizzeria Bianco’s margherita pizza with a Tanqueray No. 10 bottled green gin and juice by bartender Andy Seymour (Phoenix); and Salt & Straw ice cream with a Ciroc Hollywood sunset by bartender Andy Seymour (Portland). Quirky party win: Guests checked their shoes and boogied barefoot until 3 a.m. Making the rounds were John Mayer, Anthony Bourdain (smoking a pipe), Leslie Jones and, yes, Matt Damon. There was a strict no-photo policy, with signs everywhere, all against the looming backdrop of Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network, which maintains office space right next door. 

Jimmy Kimmel and chef Adam Perry Lang enjoy Don Julio 1942 at his post-show party at The Lot in West Hollywood, Calif., on Sept. 18, 2016. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Diageo)

Best Instagram

WME agent Richard Weitz got a nice shout-out from the Microsoft Theater stage from Veep showrunner David Mandel as he picked up the Emmy Award for best comedy series. But it wasn’t just his name. Instead, Mandel — a first-time winner after multiple noms for Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm and writing and directing episodes of Veep — thanked “Richard Weitz’s Instagram,” basically making the veteran rep Instafamous. Sort of. Weitz’s account is still set to private so he gets to approve all potential followers. He wasn’t thinking of that on his way into the Governors Ball after the show, however. “I love Dave Mandel and I’m happy for the show,” Weitz tells THR. “It was a surprise to be mentioned and very funny.” As for why his Insta activity has generated so much interest, Weitz blames THR, which named him in July as one of the top 15 Hollywood insiders to follow on the photo sharing platform. “I have fun with it,” he explains of his strategy. “And it’s taken on a life of its own now.”

Eleven’s Emmys

A strange thing happened during Emmys weekend: The pint-sized actors of Netflix’s Stranger Things stole a sizable chuck of the spotlight from more accomplished TV stars. Not only did Millie Bobby Brown, 12, Gaten Matarazzo, 14, and Caleb McLaughlin, 12, get the party started inside the Microsoft Theater on Sunday night performing a live rendition of Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson’s hit “Uptown Funk,” the trio also donned Stranger Things-approved costumes to hand out lunch bags with peanut butter sandwiches supplied by Jimmy Kimmel’s mother (Brown even wore Eleven’s wig and rode a bicycle down the center aisle). “It’s very fun and exciting to be here,” Brown told THR of their Emmy shenanigans. (Brown spun through the party circuit with cameos at the Governors Ball, WME’s event at Catch L.A., where she stayed past midnight with her parents, and BBC America/BAFTA L.A.’s TV Tea Party.) “Jimmy Kimmel loves our show and we love him.” As for McLauglin, he described their newfound fame thusly: “A lot of people come up to us and say that they are a big fan of us and then I say, ‘I’m a big fan of you also.’ It’s crazy.” Brown admitted her personal favorite star sighting was a guy from Friends. “David Schwimmer. Yeah, I like him.”

 

Such an honor to be invited to the Emmy’s 2016 and meet so many amazing people best day ever!!!

Overheard

The walk from the Microsoft Theater after the show to the adjacent L.A. Convention Center for the Governors Ball proved to be a stuffy and stuffed journey with A-list executives and talent forced to stand and wait for nearly 10 minutes. When a staffer reminded the waiting guests that they were, in fact, waiting to get into the Governors Ball, Mr. Robot actor Michael Gill attempted to relay the message to his companions, House of Cards actress Jayne Atkinson and 11.23.63‘s Cherry Jones, but slipped up, saying, “This is the line for the Governors Balls.” Atkinson quipped, “No wonder it’s so sweaty in here.” Even though the sun had gone down, guests were rushing to get outside and out of the balmy Microsoft Theater, heading straight for tables filled with Fiji water (official H20 of the Emmy Awards) outside the Convention Center to hydrate. … Ryan Murphy told THR in the Governors Ball — before exiting for a night that would include stops at both the Fox and HBO parties — that he wouldn’t have to leave the country because his longtime collaborator Sarah Paulson finally won an Emmy. “Our long national nightmare is over. I cared more about her winning than anything,” he explained. … Jimmy Fallon made a pit stop in the men’s restroom before rushing to his seat to catch the start of the show. After washing his hands, the late-night host fixed his hair while looking in the mirror, prompting another gentleman to exclaim, “You look gorgeous, as always.” Fallon, without missing a beat, responded, “But my toupee glue is showing.” … The lack of alcohol in the lobby bar caused many disturbed guests to stomp their feet, but not House of Cards producer Dana Brunetti and his Emmy date, Kate del Castillo. The actress, known for getting close to Joaquin Guzman (aka El Chapo), smiled and said she hadn’t had a problem finding a drink because, “I know people who know people.”