Imagine putting on a party for 3,000-4,000 people who happen to be television’s most talented and well-recognized in the industry.
Then imagine doing it every year, managing all the moving parts and trying to top yourself.
That’s the challenge that Cheryl Cecchetto and her company, Sequoia Productions takes on every year in producing the Governors Ball for the Emmy Awards. (And being the best in the business with a stellar track record, they also do the Governors Ball for the Academy Awards.)
For the Emmy Awards, there are actually two separate Balls, with the first one following the Creative Arts Emmys which were held on August 16 and the second after the Primetime Emmys on August 25, both held in the West Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center.
The goal is for all the nominees, presenters, winners and invited guests to toast each other in a memorable – and gorgeous – gala celebration with outstanding entertainment.
This year’s Ball fused modern lighting technologies with creative color concepts and a three-course dinner from acclaimed chef Joachim Splichal’s Patina Group catering, accompanied by wines by Beaulieu Vineyard, cocktails by Grey Goose and chocolates by Cellar Door Chocolates. The “kaleidoscope of color” themed bash featured dazzling displays of color throughout the venue emanating from thousands of LED lights, media-enhanced Versa TUBES and lasers.
Cecchetto had promised that the party would be a sensory delight, offering sights, sounds, cuisine and hospitality that were unique– and guests were thrilled.
“I come to this every year and this is the most beautiful Ball that I’ve seen in the venue,” said one impressed attendee at the Creative Arts Ball.
“This year’s theme and décor are metaphors for the creative excellence, vibrancy and richness of our industry and this television season,” said Governors Ball committee chair Russ Patrick.
On the menu: a first course salad of grilled peaches and heirloom tomatoes with figs, almonds and buratta, followed by a main course of filet mignon, golden potato purée and caramelized cippolini. For dessert, a contemporary scrumptious lee delicious take on chocolate s’mores designed by Patina Restaurant Group’s Executive Pastry Chef Carlos Enriquez.
At the Creative Arts Ball, Emmy winners in attendance included: Allison Janney (Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series, Masters of Sex), Anthony Bourdain (Outstanding Informational Series, Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown), Bill Simmons (Outstanding Short-Format Nonfiction Program, 30 For 30 Shorts), Don Was (Outstanding Music Direction, The Beatles: The Night That Changed America), Jane Lynch (Outstanding Host for a Reality-Competition Program, Hollywood Game Night), Joe Morton (Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series, Scandal), Tabitha and Napoleon Dumo (Outstanding Choreography, So You Think You Can Dance) and Tate Donovan (Outstanding Short-Format Nonfiction Program, 30 For 30 Shorts).
Other guests partaking in the festivities included Adam Reed (Archer), Amber Nash (Archer), Beau Bridges (Masters of Sex), Bob Newhart (The Big Bang Theory), Carrie Brownstein (Portlandia), Carrie Preston (True Blood), Chris Parnell (Archer), Fred Armisen (Portlandia), Gary Cole (Veep, Bob’s Burgers), James Lipton (Inside The Actors Studio), Jim Rash (Community, The Writers’ Room), Joel McHale (The Soup / Community), Jon Voight (Ray Donovan), Judy Greer (Archer), Kumail Nanjiani (Silicon Valley), Laverne Cox (Orange Is The New Black), Mandy Moore (So You Think You Can Dance), Margo Martindale (The Americans / The MIllers), Matt Weiner (Mad Men), Morgan Freeman (Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman), Natasha Lyonne (Orange Is The New Black), Neil deGrasse Tyson (Cosmos: A SpaceTime Odyssey), Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad), and Zach Woods (Silicon Valley).
– Hillary Atkin
