What did the show look like behind the scenes?
The BBC had a team at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles, which was shut down to traffic and onlookers as celebrities in black cars took over.
Droves of celebrity handlers dressed in black – from security staff to publicists – were posted throughout the area – which also sits across from Crypto.com Arena, the home to the LA Lakers. While the ceremony and red carpet is mostly confined to the Peacock Theater, the set-up around it is vast.
Next door at the JW Marriott hotel, ballrooms were converted into press workspaces where celebrities and their teams milled about throughout the ceremony, reuniting cast-mates who hadn’t seen each other since they wrapped filming.
The road to this area was long, windy and done on foot. Once a winner accepted their prize on TV, they were taken across the street to get their awards engraved, take photos and chat with reporters.
They were escorted through a series of covered spaces, where they popped into one ballroom specifically for photos, another to speak with print and digital media, and then another section cordoned off just for TV interviews.
This area was also where winners got their awards engraved. Dozens of golden Emmy statues were set up on tables here, which passers-by (including yours truly) can gawk at and take photos of.
So, in every way, “backstage” isn’t really “backstage” at the Emmys. It’s more like “next door”.
