From the Museum of Modern Art to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and prestigious venues in between, Emmy voters have been offered a banquet of For Your Consideration events over the past three months.
Networks, streamers and studios have been pulling out all the stops to win their votes during this first round of balloting before the nominations are announced July 15.
Some events are very successful, others not so much. Points are scored for access to talent after screenings and Q&As, along with plentiful food and drink at the receptions afterward. Demerits are accrued for those talent who skip any gladhanding and bail out immediately after the panel discussions.
Many events involve arriving early and heading into the reception late so when there is a scarcity of food, things can devolve into a Hunger Games scenario and people get very hangry. It’s not a good look for the entities that sponsor these FYCs, and easily avoidable by better planning and a slightly bigger budget.
Other events are well-run and stop just short of premiere-level hospitality and star power.
During the FY-season, we experienced both ends of that spectrum in Los Angeles and in New York. Here’s a look at 18 events we attended in chronological order of their occurrence.
The Voice
The Venue: Edition Hotel in West Hollywood
The Vibe: Some grumbling that none of the coaches participated, particularly Adam Levine in his first season back in quite some time
The Reception: Passed sliders and a cocktail bar in an indoor/outdoor area that’s narrow but has a great view of the city.
The Takeaways: Most people didn’t know that all of the department heads are women and that nearly all of them have been there since the first season in 2011. Those who came late to the party came in Season 2. That tells you, 27 seasons in to this Emmy-winning reality competition show that The Voice is a great place to work–and they promote from within.
The Agency
The Venue: San Vicente Bungalows
The Vibe: Movie stars in a TV show that might otherwise get overlooked bring much-needed attention to the Paramount+ series
The Reception: When you have Michael Fassbender, Jeffrey Wright and Jodie Turner-Smith working the [very small] crowd, not much else is needed, but there were plenty of appetizers and drinks served in the upstairs private space.
The Takeaways: Although Richard Gere skipped out of the schmoozefest after the panel discussion, his presence brought even more gravitas to the event. Coupled with that of Fassbender, who’d also just played a spy in Black Bag, and Wright, it was a winning combination and a memorable evening.
Conan O’Brien Must Go
The Venue: Aero Theatre in Santa Monica
The Vibe: After seeing Conan get into bed with actor Javier Bardem in Spain, the comedian got a rousing welcome upon entering the theater
The Reception: none
The Takeaways: It’s a tossup on whether doing the new season of his travel show in places like Austria and New Zealand was as fun as his first time hosting the Oscars, which he’ll be doing again next March. Variety’s Michael Schneider did a bang-up job at getting funny anecdotes and one-liners out of many people’s all-time favorite late-night host.
American Primeval
The Venue: the small theater at the Academy Museum
The Vibe: Old West meets Hollywood in a series that deserves more viewership
The Reception: Guests packed into a lobby area off the theater that we’ve never seen being used for a reception. The line for the bar practically ran the length of the room.
The Takeaways: Authentic period costumes from the series were on display, and the costume designer worked the room after participating in a panel discussion following a screening of one episode. It’s funny how leather and fringe never seem to go out of style.
Abbott Elementary
The Venue: Academy Museum
The Vibe: One of the very few broadcast shows to get the full FYC treatment, and at the premier location in Los Angeles for these events
The Reception: Guests filed to the top floor of the museum on the seemingly never-ending succession of escalators until they reached the sweet spots, either under the dome looking over the Hollywood Hills or the “other room” above Wilshire Boulevard. Plentiful food and beverage awaited.
The Takeaways: This ABC comedy keeps getting better and fondness keeps growing for its talented creator Quinta Brunson, who had just recently hosted Saturday Night Live, and her cast, including favorites Sheryl Lee Ralph and Lisa Ann Walter. They’re certain to add more Emmy statuettes to the already bulging trophy case.
Pee-wee as Himself
The Venue: the theater at the Museum of Modern Art
The Vibe: The buzzy buildup was worth the wait to see the first episode of the Paul Reubens documentary, which ran nearly as long as a feature film
The Reception: Il Gattopardo restaurant served up bite-size Italian appetizers to the crowd of 175 people who mixed and mingled near the bars in a private downstairs area.
The Takeaways: Director Matt Wolf interviewed Reubens for more than 40 hours about everything about his school theater days to joining The Groundlings in Los Angeles, behind the scenes of Pee-wee’s Playhouse and his overall ambition under which he carefully hid important aspects of his being – and that’s only in the first episode. Yes, it was during this documentary filming that Reubens decided to publicly acknowledge his sexuality for the first time.
Chimp Crazy
The Venue: the theater at 30 Hudson Yards
The Vibe: The latest from the team that made Tiger King had people wondering if it could live up to that culture-defining series
The Reception: A brightly-lit anteroom on an upper floor of the office building didn’t supply a cozy atmosphere. There was a long line for burgers that were custom-made with fillings and different buns, as well as passed appetizers.
The Takeaways: You cannot make characters like former nurse-turned-exotic-animal-broker Tonia Haddix up. Director Eric Goode exposes her in all her white trash glory. And what happened to Tonka, the chimp in question, I’m still not sure.
America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
The Venue: the Halo in the Wall Street district
The Vibe: A large, clattery room made the panel discussion hard to hear, but the performance was like you were on the 50-yard line
The Reception: Not very ample passed hors d’oeuvres left the large crowd clamoring for more. Making up for it: photo opportunities with the cheerleaders were abundant after fast-moving lines.
The Takeaways: Who knew that many of the cheerleaders have other full-time jobs, including some in the medical profession? Also, surprise – being a Cowboys cheerleader is like being in a sorority, a life-long sisterhood of the traveling pom-poms.
The Four Seasons
The Venue: Aero Theatre in Santa Monica
The Vibe: Disorganization regarding parking and shuttle buses threw a bit of a damper on to the event, but star power made up for it
The Reception: Held on the outdoor patio of the Fairmont Miramar Santa Monica, talent including Tina Fey, who didn’t stay long, Will Forte and Kerri Kenney greeted swarms of well-wishers. While waiting in line, guests snagged large coconut-encrusted shrimp on skewers from the waitstaff.
The Takeaways: Based on the classic Alan Alda film, he has a part in this fun series which also stars Steve Carell and Colman Domingo. It’s rare to see Carell as the bad guy. But that’s his role in this tale about three couples who vacation together until circumstances pull them apart.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
The Venue: the theater at the Pacific Design Center
The Vibe: The headlines about this case were coming fast and furiously but creator Ryan Murphy was not there to add any of his insights about the anthology series which follows his take on Jeffrey Dahmer
The Reception: The crowded lobby area of the theater saw waiters holding trays above their heads to the point where grabbing any food was a lost cause.
The Takeaways: The case about the brothers who killed their parents in 1989 couldn’t be any hotter but the moderator didn’t ask any of the panel about how the show and a separate documentary may have factored in to these new legal challenges to set Erik and Lyle free.
Paradise
The Venue: Mars Bar (behind Mother Wolf)
The Vibe: Although not billed as an FYC event, this swanky cocktail reception featured personal interactions with series star Sterling K. Brown and creator Dan Fogelman
The Reception: A beautifully designed room with comfy couches and vintage mirrors provided the backdrop for the soiree, which served up a variety of savory pizzas and other delectable appetizers. An outdoor bar took the overflow from the festivities inside and provided a quieter place to network with colleagues.
The Takeaways: Hulu knows how to set itself apart with its choice of hotspot venues and head honcho Craig Erwich is always a gracious host. Brown and Fogelman are together again in a show entirely different than their long-running hit This Is Us. Series star Julianne Nicholson couldn’t make it, sadly, as we wanted to laud her for playing Dance Mom in Hacks.
Netflix is a Joke Presents: FYSEE LA Comedy Night
The Venue: The Comedy Store
The Vibe: To be in the comedians’ natural habitat, a place most audience members had probably not been in years, added a huge element of excitement
The Reception: Pizza and hot dogs served on the outdoor patio as several of the comedians made the rounds and posed for pictures. Guests were clamoring to greet Jamie Foxx who seem thrilled to be there but had limited time to spend schmoozing.
The Takeaways: While Foxx was the beloved headliner being interviewed by his daughter and the audience was thrilled to see him in such fine form after his stroke, every other comedian who took the stage made you want to view their specials on Netflix. We’re talking about Sarah Silverman, Mike Birbiglia, Fortune Feimster and Tom Segura.
Nobody Wants This
The Venue: Academy Museum
The Vibe: Doing a podcast during a live Q&A session was perhaps not a great idea
The Reception: Upstairs at the museum’s always beautifully lit dome, the food quality and quantity was not up to Wolfgang Puck standards. Everything, including macaroni and cheese served in small pots, seemed to have onions or scallions in it which is not a great smell on people’s breaths as they speak in close quarters.
The Takeaways: The breakout comedy about a hot young rabbi (Adam Brody) and his podcaster shiksa girlfriend (Kristen Bell) was absolutely charming and we will soon see a second season. Circle October 23 on your calendars. New showrunners are on board and guest stars will include Leighton Meester and Alex Karpovsky.
The Wrap’s Women of Comedy Emmy Showcase
The Venue: Crescent Theater in Beverly Hills
The Vibe: An unusually slow-moving line spilled out onto the street and a number of guests were turned away for this first-ever event put on by the trade publication
The Reception: A pre-reception in the building’s lobby featured chicken salad sandwiches and a limited drink menu.
The Takeaways: Moderator Whitney Cummings was a welcome presence. She brought out the funny in candid conversations with panelists including Lisa Ann Walter, Bridget Everett, Abby Elliott, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Christa Miller, Julianne Nicholson, Brenda Song, Iliza Schlesinger and Sasheer Zamata.
A Night in the Writer’s Room
The Venue: Four Seasons Hotel Beverly Hills Los Angeles
The Vibe: Some of television’s brightest and funniest scribes graced the stage in three separate panels moderated by Variety staffers
The Reception: The pre-reception on the hotel’s patio featured long bar lines and a shortage of food. Guests waited aimlessly in a buffet line with chafing dishes that were never refilled. Waiters passed tiny squares of grilled cheese sandwiches.
The Takeaways: The drama panel featuring writer-showrunners from Severance, Paradise, The Pitt, Yellowjackets and The Last of Us proved to be funnier than the comedy panel. The shows represented on that one included Nobody Wants This, What We Do in the Shadows, Hacks, Abbott Elementary and St. Denis Medical. The limited/TV movie panel was repped by The Better Sister, Long Bright River, Dying for Sex, The Penguin and Monsters: the Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.
The Penguin
The Venue: Paramount Pictures Studios
The Vibe: The high-intensity limited series starring Colin Farrell brought out an enthusiastic audience on a Sunday afternoon in Hollywood
The Reception: The weather was perfect and even ran a bit chilly for the outdoor reception after the screening of the dramatic finale. Hearty food offerings included hot dogs and pastrami sandwiches and a variety of dessert pastries and cookies.
The Takeaways: Give Colin Farrell’s makeup man Mike Marino an Emmy, stat! The same could be said for the actor himself in the title role and also his foil, the previously little-known Cristin Milioti. Executive producer and writer Lauren LeFranc is one of the most articulate Batman boosters in the DC Universe.
The White Lotus
The Venue: Academy Museum
The Vibe: A reported 4,000 RSVPs made for a frenzy surrounding the event
The Reception: Thai food, of course, with beef, noodles, corn and salmon served from buffet lines in both of the top floor rooms, along with several specialty cocktails themed to Season 3 of the series
The Takeaways: The cast is so starry (among them Carrie Coon, Walton Goggins, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Parker Posey, Jason Isaacs) that there had to be two separate panels, both ably moderated by Paul W. Downs, EP and star of another HBO Max hit show, Hacks. Everyone spoke of the brilliance of creator Mike White and how he likes to perform all the lines for his actors. Because the writer/director, now off doing Survivor, knows exactly what he wants.
Mountainhead
The Venue: DGA Theater
The Vibe: Comedy cred for a feature film HBO doesn’t do many of lately
The Reception: A full dinner with beef, salmon and pasta served from buffet lines. Somehow there’s always enough space for everyone to find a table.
The Takeaways: Steve Carell is funny even participating in the panel from a remote location that wasn’t disclosed. He and co-stars Ramy Yousef, Jason Schwartzman and Cory Michael Smith obviously had a ball making the film on short notice with Succession’s Jesse Armstrong. The cast signed on without there even being a script and loved the Utah location where most of the film was shot.
