Although the Emmy Awards are all about television, not every special moment during the ceremony happens in front of the cameras.
The impromptu star-crossings in the theater aisles and many of the congratulatory exchanges backstage may never make it to your TV screen. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. From inside the Nokia Theatre to the red carpet outside, from the press rooms to the trophy table backstage, here’s a running list of what you didn’t see on TV:
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3:05 p.m. PDT: Nearly two hours to showtime and things are already heating up in the bleachers next to the red carpet. Two early carpet walkers, Lea Michele of “Glee” and Mary Murphy of “So You Think You Can Dance,” quickly get cheeky with the crowd. Michele, in an elegant red gown, elicits whoops and cheers with a big wink. Murphy, meanwhile, indulges a fan who shouts, “Do the ‘Hot Tamale.'” She responds with her signature arm pump.
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3:20 p.m.: Emmy host Jane Lynch, tall and chic in strapless purple, her left arm stacked with blingy bracelets, makes an appropriately show-stopping entrance. “Thank you so much for coming!” she shouts as the crowd cheers wildly. “She should be freaking out right now, but she looks so calm,” notes one bleacher sitter, Vanessa Baenza.
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3:27 p.m.: Eric Stonestreet of “Modern Family” gives better than a wave, a wink or a grin to the crowd. He throws a bagel, one he’s autographed with black marker. “I’m going to varnish it and keep it,” says Susan Bieszczat, who was lucky enough to catch it.
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3:42 p.m.: If Kathy Griffin fans were hoping for something semioutrageous, they weren’t disappointed. The comedian, dressed in red, stopped on the red carpet long enough to grin and then give the crowd a double one-fingered salute, using both hands. “We love her!” exclaimed bleacher sitter Victor Fierros.
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3:55 p.m.: “What’s up everybody?” shouted last year’s Emmy host, Jimmy Fallon, before he and “30 Rock” star Tracy Morgan got into a scuffle on the red carpet. But it was all in jest and the former “Saturday Night Live” alums kissed and made up afterward as Steve Carell calmly looked on.
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4 p.m.: Here’s hoping the stars had a late lunch. An hour before the show and the concession stands have already shut down. Meanwhile, an announcer is badgering people to take their seats. They ignore him, knowing there is no rush. “I wanted a drink, but, of course, it’s already closed,” complains Seth Myers of “Saturday Night Live.”
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4:57 p.m.: It’s three minutes to show time now and the rush is on for people to get to their seats. As they do, a man walks on stage and tells them, “I am Gary Natoli, sometimes stage manager to the stars.” Then he explains the drill: “Please keep your speeches short and either funny or emotional. And short. Did I mention short?”
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5:02 p.m.: Inside the theater, there’s a battle for last celebrity to take a seat, and the competition includes David Spade, John Slattery, Michael Bolton and Katie Holmes. But it appears the Emmy goes to (or would if there was such a category) to Ryan Seacrest. But that’s probably because he has 100 jobs to do.
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5:14 p.m.: Backstage at the trophy table, workers carefully line up dozens of real Emmy trophies in anticipation of the rush that is about to begin. As they’re getting them in place, the night’s first winner is announced on stage: Julie Bowen for best supporting actress for “Modern Family.”
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5:30 p.m.: As they hold their Emmys backstage, Ty Burrell and Julie Bowen contemplate the success of their show “Modern Family,” which swept the first four comedy awards of the night. “People are going to hate us,” Burrell tells his onscreen wife. “They are going to hate us a little,” Bowen replies.
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5:37 p.m.: Business is brisk at the trophy table now as the show continues to unfold. “I’ll take one of those,” says Michael Spiller after winning the comedy directing prize for, yes, “Modern Family.”
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5:34 p.m.: No commercials for the Emmy audience. During commercial breaks they are serenaded by the house band. So far they’ve heard Duffy’s “Mercy,” Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” and Cee Lo Green’s “Forget You” — the censored version.
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5:41 p.m.: You could cut the tension in the Nokia Theatre with one of the wings from an Emmy trophy when Charlie Sheen launched into his speech. Before the clip reel, he spotted Jon Cryer, his former “Two and a Half Men” co-star, and shot him a finger pistol.
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5:49 p.m.: Melissa McCarthy was so overcome with joy after winning the lead actress in a comedy series award for “Mike and Molly” that she dropped a few of her roses from her bouquet on the stage. They were later picked up by a stagehand.
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5:53 p.m.: “I’m really more surprised this time, I have to tell you,” Jim Parsons said as he juggled his Emmy, a bottle of water and a winner’s envelope with his name inside after taking the award for lead actor in a comedy series for “The Big Bang Theory.” He also won it last year.
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6:06 p.m.: While “The Daily Show” head writers were busy delivering their acceptance speeches after winning the Emmy for outstanding writing for a variety or comedy series, some of the show’s other writers were busy off camera tickling the show’s star, Jon Stewart. Turns out he’s quite a giggler.
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6:08 p.m.: Melissa McCarthy straightens her tiara before signing for her Emmy trophy. “You’ve got to carry that around all night,” someone tells her. “I’m OK with that,” she says, giving her prize a hug.
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6:13 p.m.: How did Michael Bolton go from white tux to Captain Jack Sparrow outfit in a matter of seconds? He had that band of 1990s dancers waiting at the ready just off camera to rip it off and outfit him with his Velcro pirate garb.
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6:15 p.m.: “Say cheese.” Members of the “The Amazing Race” production team whip out their cell phones and pose for pictures with one another as they meet at the trophy table to collect their Emmys for outstanding reality show.
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6:23 p.m.: The stars align inside the Nokia Theatre during commercial breaks. During one intermission, Laura Linney gave Laurence Fishburne a smooch while Julianna Margulies chatted with Jon Hamm. Meanwhile, Andy Ritcher stuck by his pal Conan O’Brien’s side.
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6:34 p.m.: But where is he going to put them all? “Can I get mine shipped?” Jon Stewart asked when he arrived at the trophy table to collect two Emmys for his work on “The Daily Show.” They bring his total over the years to more than a dozen. “We’re very lucky,” he said.
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6:53 p.m.: “What do I do?” asked Martin Scorsese as he arrived at the backstage trophy table to collect his award for best direction of a drama series for “Boardwalk Empire.” Well, he may have an Oscar, a couple of Directors Guild of America awards and some lifetime achievement trophies, but this was his first Emmy.
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6:57 p.m.: Kyle Chandler was so shocked to win the Emmy for outstanding lead drama actor that he forgot to thank his wife until the band started playing him off the stage. In a tender moment, he paused and stared at her from the stage with his hand held at his heart.
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7:05 p.m.: Julianna Magulies collects numerous backstage accolades for her speech as well as her win, prompting a round of repeated thank yous from the actress.
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7:10 p.m.: “I’m going to stab somebody!” Kyle Chandler says as he collects his Emmy. Well, not on purpose, probably. The wings on those things are really pointy.
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7:28 p.m.: During the annual memorial tribute to the departed, the biggest response inside the Nokia Theatre was for Elizabeth Taylor, Peter Falk, Andy Whitfield, Laura Ziskin and Jill Clayburgh. Instead of remaining in a silent darkened theater as usual, the room was filled with bright white light.
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7:45 p.m.: It’s been two hours since her name was called and Melissa McCarthy is still backstage, only now her publicist is wearing her tiara and her sister is carrying her bouquet. Yes, McCarthy is still holding that Emmy for lead actress in a comedy series.
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7:55 p.m.: “Mad Men” creator Matt Weiner drags the show’s Jon Hamm and John Slattery into a backstage interview with “The Insider.”
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7:55 p.m.: Gwyneth Paltrow wasn’t joking. The TelePrompTer was totally black when she came on to introduce the outstanding comedy award. It remained off for the rest of the show.
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8 p.m.: Before the confetti even hit the floor, many Emmy show attendees were out of their seats and headed for the door. Not the cast of “Modern Family,” however. The members of the show, which won five awards, including best comedy series, lingered on stage, exchanging hugs.
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8: 05 p.m.: Kate Winslet was so excited about her Emmy win for lead actress in a miniseries or movie that she nearly took home the prop Emmy she was handed. “That’s so funny, I just walked off the stage with it!” she said as she traded the prop backstage for the real thing.
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8:14 p.m.: The producers and cast of “Modern Family” flood the trophy table. Producer Ilana Wernick asks a colleague to take her photo as she claims her Emmy. “I need you to take a picture of me touching it because I never touched one before,” she says.
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8:17 p.m.: Trophy table workers carefully box up the remaining Emmy trophies and stash them away. Some lucky winners will take them home next year.
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8:21 p.m.: Outside the Nokia Theatre, as the red carpet is being dismantled, Emmy attendees weave through a carefully constructed security maze to get to the Governors Ball. Stephen Colbert is in a hurry and doesn’t stop to pose for a photo with one fan, who walks alongside him and snaps one anyway.
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Reporter Solvej Schou and AP Entertainment Writer Ryan Pearson contributed to this report.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.
