The Hollywood Reporter and SAG-AFTRA kicked off Emmy weekend with an all-star cast on Friday night, toasting TV’s finest talent during Emmy Nominees Night.
The celebration, sponsored by Glenfiddich, Heineken and Shake Shack, was held at the Stanley II mansion overlooking Los Angeles and welcomed some of this year's top contenders, including ShogunAnna Sawai and Hiroyuki Sanada e Baby Reindeer Featuring Richard Gadd, Jessica Gunning, Nava Mau and Tom Goodman Hill. (See photos from the event.)
The night began just after sunset, with Abbott Elementary SchoolTyler James Williams as the first guest on the red carpet. Despite being nominated for the third consecutive year, Williams said DAY that the Emmy recognition never gets old: “There's a lot of really good TV out there, so the fact that we're nominated and considered and celebrated, it's always super special. And I think everyone works so hard every year that we never see each other, so it's a really cool time to see your friends and people you've worked with before.”
Inside the event, among the first arrivals are Quinta Brunson, Selma Blair, Nikki Glaser, Fargo showrunner Noah Hawley and ShogunTadanobu Asano took in the 270-degree view of the city from the home’s living room, which features an infinity pool for prime photo ops. Guests munched on platter-served appetizers and a wide selection of charcuterie, as well as flyers for Shake Shack’s Black Truffle Burger and Black Truffle Parmesan Fries. A bar menu featured several Heineken options and a trio of themed cocktails, appropriately named “City of Stars,” “Red Carpet Cocktail,” and “The FYC.”
The party featured a series of cast reunions, with Sawai and Sanada stopping to take photos together while Reserve Dogs co-stars D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai and Devery Jacobs have stayed in touch. Woon-A-Tai is nominated for best actor in a comedy and the FX series is, for the first time, up for best comedy series; he said DAY of recognition for the show's final season after long snubs, “We've been working hard for a long time to make this happen, it's something that's been in the works for a very long time.”
Sanada also gave his contribution Shogun'has already achieved record-breaking success, taking home 14 Emmys at the Creative Arts ceremonies before more wins are expected at Sunday’s Primetime Emmys show. “It’s a lot for me,” the star admitted. “We spent a long time making this show and it was a great team effort, a great collaboration between East and West. Then a great response from the audience and now this. It’s a lot.”
Gadd, Gunning and Mau proved to be very popular participants, with Gadd stopping for selfies; Gadd said DAY that the last five months since the show came out “have been pretty overwhelming. So much has happened I can't believe it; it's been such a whirlwind. I'm still catching my breath.” Also taking part in the celebration Tricks creators Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky, while The morning show candidate Mark Duplass mingled with comedian Alex Edelman and True Detective: The Land of the NightKali Reis and Zachary Quinto made the rounds.
Halfway through the event, DAY President Joe Shields led a toast, opening the lower level of the house to guests for a peek at the hidden nightclub and screening room, located behind a secret door in the library. DJ Kiss played all night and kept the party going late into the evening.
Also among the stars in attendance were Lisa Ann Walter, Alex Borstein, Harvey Guillén, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Liza Colón-Zayas, John Bradley, Lisa Rinna, Lilly Singh, Aja Naomi King, Sherry Cola and Heidi Klum.