Some select comments from those who took home the trophies:

Tina Fey, on her character Liz Lemon in the Emmy-winning comedy 30 Rock:

“Liz is sort of close to me, a truthful portrayal of a woman in her 30s in a male workplace. She’s the antithesis of those Sex and the City ladies, not having a lot of sex and not wearing fabulous clothes. She’s more regular. She’s a person whose only successes in life have been in the realm of work so she’s a little stunted in her personal endeavors. She’s like me, obedient and cautious, with a real jealous streak that needs to be tamed. I like trying to use her uglier qualities as a jumping off point for stories.” 

Robert Duvall, on his turn as Print Ritter in Broken Trail:

“I really feel like what you need for a Western is a good hat and a good horse.  On Open Range with Costner I broke some ribs.  I wanted to make sure I was ready with a horse that was bomb-proof.   I wanted to develop a good seat, and practice drawing a weapon.  I only ride when I have an objective.”

Thomas Haden Church on his role as Tom Harte in Broken Trail:

“Before I reported to Alberta, I had to tighten up in the saddle and grow a moustache. It was not negotiable. If you want to have credibility in a Western, you have to have a moustache. Why? Razors were few and far between and mirrors even scarcer. They actually called them nose and chin whiskers. It was the first time I ever grew a moustache.  My mom thought it was fake.” 

Church was reportedly the first one at the Governors Ball catered by Patina and vino from Napa’s BV and then it was off into the night for the other fetes. 

The Godiva chocolate bar at the scrumptious ET/People Magazine bash at Walt Disney Hall, where Duran Duran rocked the house that Gehry built

The fourth annual Entertainment Tonight Emmy party sponsored by People left its longtime home at the Mondrian for the culturally loftier climes of downtown’s Walt Disney Concert Hall, yet retained the fun indoor/outdoor vibe, with Dave Koz and bandmates setting the mood outside. Guests lined up for a Patina-created buffet featuring mini-scallop burgers, planked salmon and a mashed potato bar with truffle butter, Rocquefort crumbles, apple wood smoked bacon and more to swirl on top. Kodak took keepsake pix and Maybelline New York and Garnier Fructis handed out goodies before the big excitement of the evening: Duran Duran’s performance.

At the HBO party, designer Billy Butchkavitz outdid himself with an ornate purple and gold Thai theme, complete with a massive Buddha blessing the proceedings on the terrace of the PDC. But it was James Gandolfini and The Sopranos crew that stole the spotlight, just as they did on the telecast and for the seven memorable seasons before they went to black. Kanye West—man, was he busy that night, playing with Justin Timberlake and John Legend at two other venues—grabbed a second helping of the tasty Thai cuisine. Makeup artists from Laura Mercier got the beauty on partygoers as the dance floor filled with revelers. Network executives out from New York, quite pleased with the proceedings, were among the last to leave.

Across a closed San Vicente, DirecTV went all out in throwing its first-ever Emmy night bash, to celebrate the upcoming launch of 100 HD channels. Erected on a softball field, well, if you build it they will come. The dome featured video projections inside and out and stole the night’s top prize for high-tech innovation. Creating a hip, club-like atmosphere, the party attracted a black-clad crowd, with DJs AM and Brent Bolthouse spinning the tunes. Bolthouse Productions & SBE did their usual stunning job with attention to detail, down to the oversized, thick bronze silk napkins and gorge flower arrangements. 

TV Guide’s party at Les Deux was a lot about the music, as it always is. It wasn’t just West’s surprise appearance with John Legend, who had been billed as the headliner, but Teri Hatcher jumped on stage to perform with Band From TV, featuring DH co-star James Denton, Hugh Laurie, Bob Guiney, Bonnie Somerville and Greg Grunberg.

Things got a little hazy—in a good way—inside the specially constructed dome for the DirecTV bash set up on a softball field across from the PDC 

The night before, NBC/Uni threw a refreshingly red carpet and paparazzi-free hot-ticket party, now in its fourth year. Guests crammed into Spago, cruising and schmoozing with Ben Silverman, Lorne Michaels, Larry David, Tony Bennett, Tina Fey, Heidi Klum and Seal, Debra Messing and Patricia Arquette—and the Deal or No Deal ladies. As usual, the raw bar—piled with lobster, crab, shrimp and oysters was a big hit, but the newly launched Absolut 100 (proof) was a little scary if a breathalyzer test was in one’s near future.

All through the week, suites hosted the Emmy crowd. Some of the highlights: 

Sonya Dakar’s Emmy Beauty Boot Camp provided red-light collagen treatments, lipo-massage, sunless tanning by the new Sun Style, lash application, hair styling and a gift lounge featuring ABS, the Sports Club/LA and an eco-friendly gift bag  from Green Girl Guide. At Platinum Guild International, guests were treated to La Prairie hand and face treatments, caviar and champagne, as jewelry expert Michael O’Connor advised scores of nominees how to bling it big time from a $20 million stash of jewels. Tony couldn’t afford this, but Edie Falco ended up sporting $2 million worth: 20-carat diamond and platinum earrings and a 14-carat diamond and platinum ring.  HBO’s 5th annual Luxury Lounge with its Belvedere Beauty Bar—always good to get toasted while having your toes done, right?—attracted so many nominees and celebs over the weekend (130+) that some, gasp, had to wait in line. But the “BadaBing Crush” and the “Ari Gold Standard” were awaiting, not to mention products from Klipsch, PF Flyers, Hanky Panky, Freeze 24-7, CAO cigars, Adriano Goldschmied “Entourage” jeans, Sephora and Mrs. Beasley’s cupcakes. Among the attendees: James Gandolfini, Kevin Dillon, Aidan Quinn, Edie Falco, August Schellenberg, David Chase, Aida Turturro, Doug Ellin, Lorraine Bracco, Tim Daly and William Shatner.

Jane Ubell was running around making introductions at her Madison & Mulholland/Mix Media green suite in the penthouse of a nearby hotel. A crush of people including Tim Daly, David Boreanz, Greg Grunberg, Michael Urie and Cheryl Hines jammed in to see the Tango commuter car (George Clooney owns one of the first) and Vectrix’s electric scooter (hot in the Hamptons and in Malibu) on display, and to be gifted by Zuca luggage, Lady Lanell’s Swarovski crystallized sandals, Chuao Chocolatier, Butler couture handbags, Nvey eco-makeup, Head shampoo and Magnolia Audio/Video.

CHEM AND FUME-FREE SILKY SHINY HAIR

Colorist Susan Henry had a problem. Actually, several serious ones. She was getting physically ill from the effects of ammonia used in hair color, laid out by many symptoms which will not be detailed here. But she loved her work and her clients at salons including Privé, José Eber and Umberto, so she set out to create a non-toxic, all natural hair color. Her daughter was studying botany at Humboldt State, and Susan was inspired by their walks through a nearby redwood forest. What resulted—after several years of trial and error-- is a patented, eco-friendly formula made from plants, fruit kernels, wheat germ and natural oils. But unlike other hair colors or henna billed as natural, Susan’s formula lasts as long or longer than the typical chemical color concoction, which is what makes it so amazing.

The next step: recently opening her own salon with long-time colleague Aitch, a blow dryer-wielding artiste. Step into their little gem of a place on Doheny and you will NEVER smell any chemical fumes, but you will notice many happy clients of Susan’s “Natural Color Process,” and the ace team of stylists including Aitch and Kiki who can do you up for a night on the town or speed you back to work, tresses looking fab. 

Shades, 144 S. Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills, 310..275-4882 

A TASTE THAT REFRESHES

A case of 24 12-ounce Icio flasks goes for $40 at www.iciowater.com

Flavored waters are reaching critical mass but one taste amongst the peaches, watermelons, raspberries and kiwis that hasn’t really worked is mint. Why? One major label’s mint tastes like drinking mouthwash, which is pretty much enough to make you use it like mouthwash, and spit it out. 

Somehow the folks behind the newly launched Icio (pronounced I-see-oh) have taken the concept of mint water to a new level. Infused with natural peppermint extract, the purified bottled water comes in a 12-ounce flask--perfect for back pocket or purse. No sugar, no additives, just delish.

EMMY SCENE AND HEARD

Bill Macy: “I’ll lose to Robert Duvall any day.” Evan Handler, upon hearing that Sex and the City isn’t on KTLA at 11 anymore: “I don’t like the cut ones so much, but I do like the residuals.”