Inside the 2024 Emmy Pre-Parties

After moving last year to January, the Emmy Awards are back in a September time slot — and on Sunday Sept. 15, father-son duo Eugene and Dan Levy will co-host the 76th annual show airing live on ABC from the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live in DTLA from 5-8 p.m. PT.

Leading up to the Television Academy's biggest night, Emmy nominees, presenters and spirited industry folks were eager to celebrate at a returning roster of beloved annual pre-parties, benefits, gifting lounges and festivities. Here's a refresher on this year's nominations (favorites like The Bear, Hacks, Only Murders in the Building and Abbott Elementary will square off for best comedy series; shows including Shogun, The Crown, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Slow Horses and The Morning Show are in the running for best drama; and the limited series race includes Baby Reindeer, True Detective: Night Country, Fargo, Ripley and Lessons in Chemistry) and an inside look at how the revelry went down.

BAFTA TV Tea Party

After four years of postponement (due to the pandemic, Queen's death and strikes), the BAFTA TV Tea party returned on Saturday, Sept. 15 with a posh afternoon soiree on the terrace of the Maybourne Beverly Hills.

Abbott Elementary's Sheryl Lee Ralph spoke about her love of Beverly Hills and many years in L.A. (which she originally came to on account of Sidney Poitier) before having a personal catch-up with True Detective star Jodie Foster.

Over passed sandwiches (like cucumber, salmon and vegan chickpea), scones and sweets — and signature Johnnie Walker Blue Label cocktails like A Rising Star's Negroni — industry figures mingled in the sun and honored excellence in the television industry exhibited by guests including Foster, Quinta Brunson, Jessica Gunning, Lisa Ann Walter, Mark Duplass, Nava Mau, Richard Gadd, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Nikki Glaser, Hiroyuki Sanada, Ncuti Gatwa, Jonathan Pryce, Tom Hollander, Ella Purnell, Bowen Yang, Cosmo Jarvis and Takehiro Hira.

Joyce Pierpoline, BAFTA North America Board Chair, was thrilled to be back and sung the praises of new Consul General Paul Rennie OBE. "We’re so delighted to bring everyone together today not only to celebrate this year’s achievements in television but also to raise awareness for BAFTA North America’s Learning, Inclusion and Talent programs," she said. "Across film, television and games, we are committed to providing mentorship, education and financial aid for local communities, underserved students, and emerging artists."

Partygoers at the event presented by BBC Studios, Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic and FIJI Water snapped photos at a booth by BritBox and experienced the Maybourne's new  Prêt-à-Portea concept —merging the fashion and pastry worlds through creations inspired by couture moments, like lemon scones and coffee mousse, praline, chocolate sable and cocoa nib rochers.

Keegan-Michael Key made the rounds with his wife Elle Key, Palm Royale creator Abe Sylvia is readying to start filming the show's second season and other guests included Aja Naomi King, Alex Edelman, Carrie Coon, Garcelle Beauvais, Joshua Jackson, Mayan Lopez, Nicole Beharie, Noah Hawley, Patton Oswalt, Peyton List, Phillipa Soo, Tyler James Williams, Walton Goggins and Zoe Lister-Jones — plus Courtney LaBarge Bell, Jonathan Katz, Josephine Coyle, Sally Habbershaw, Tracy Ifeachor, Alexa Jago, Tara Grace and Wayne Watkins from BAFTA.

As it expands its presence in North America, BAFTA's next event will be the inaugural New York Tea Party on Oct. 6 at The Pierre during the New York Film Festival.

UTA Pre-Emmy Party

UTA kicked off the weekend on Friday, Sept. 13 with a swanky soiree at Sunset Tower toasting its more than 150 nominated clients — for projects including Baby Reindeer, Hacks, The Crown, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, The Morning Show, The Gilded Age, Shōgun and The Bear. Last year, the talent agency behemoth scored wins for titles like Succession, Beef, The White Lotus and Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, and it already took home 10 Creative Arts Emmy wins.

Mingling over Johnnie Walker Blue Label cocktails and passed bites (from pasta with peas to indulgent chocolate chip cookies) and to sounds by DJ Andre Power were contenders including Dakota Fanning, Nicole Beharie, Jeff Schaffer, Derek Tsang, Jessica Gunning, Jonathan Van Ness and Alexander Woo; and UTA executives including CEO Jeremy Zimmer, President David Kramer and Vice Chairman Jay Sures.

Other clients and friends who turned out to celebrate at the shindig that continued late into the night included Julianne Hough — featured in this month's issue of Los Angeles and who'll be hosting our second annual beauty awards on Sept. 26 — Michaela Jaé Rodriguez (who appeared on Los Angeles' June Pride cover) and Cord Jefferson (featured in Los Angeles and whom we celebrated with an Oscar party).

The always fashionable Tracee Ellis Ross, Adam Scott with wife/producer Naomi Scott, Aaron Paul, Courtney B. Vance, Ke Huy Quan and Jay Ellis were also in the house.

Steven Levitan, HBO and Max Content Chairman and CEO Casey Bloys, Miramax CEO Jonathan Glickman and CEO and President of Warner Bros. Discovery David Zaslav showed their support — and guests left with jewelry gifts from Swarovski.

The Hollywood Reporter x SAG-AFTRA's Emmy Nominees Night

Guests at the THR x SAG-AFTRA party arrived at the Stanley II house in West Hollywood on Friday, Sept. 13 to panoramic city views and smells of Shake Shack — which served its new limited-edition black truffle burger and black truffle parmesan fries (and bags to-go).

Inside, Emmy nominees and industry notables sipped Champagne, Heineken and Glenfiddich signature cocktails (City of Stars, the Red Carpet Cocktail and The FYC) while toasting to achievements in television.

Baby Reindeer’s Richard Gadd, Jessica Gunning, Tom Goodman-Hill and Nava Mau made the rounds. (Did they expect the reception they've gotten to the Netflix show? "Absolutely not!" said Goodman-Hill.)

Christine Chiu caught up with Lisa Rinna (both ladies will be celebrated at Los Angeles' beauty event on the 26th), Mark Duplass headed for the photo booth with his wife Katie Aselton, Lisa Ann Walter talked summer travels and Hacks' Paul W. Downs loved our June cover story with Hannah Einbinder. ("It was a great piece," he said.)

Also mingling were Shōgun’s Tadanobu Asano, Moeka Hoshi, Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai; Selma Blair (who was just in New York for fashion week); Trace Lysette; Carl Clemons-Hopkins; Alex Borstein; Quinta Brunson; Noah Hawley; Aja Naomi King; Heidi Klum; Mayan Lopez; SAG-AFTRA Secretary-Treasurer Joely Fisher; Noah Hawley; and Alex Edelman.

THR President Joe Shields thanked SAG-AFTRA while toasting the nominees with a glass of Glenfiddich 21-year old scotch — before inviting guests downstairs for the dance party with DJ Kiss that continued late into the night.