LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) - Variety was inside Hollywood's Emmy afterparties as TV's finest celebrated their golden night with plenty of champagne, dancing and trophy gazing.
8:12 p.m. With its impressive haul of Emmy loot -- including a best comedy win for "Modern Family" -- the mood is festive and upbeat at Fox's Emmy night fete at Vibiana, where the spread includes roasted fingerling potatoes and field green salad.
8:34 p.m. And Espresso cheesecake donuts!
8:45 p.m. Malin Akerman shaved her head hours before she finished her Emmys look. The result: a stunning look that is applauded by many at the HBO party, including "Orange Is the New Black" star Pablo Schreiber.
9:03 p.m. At Fox, Gabourey Sidibe lounges at the outside "American Horror Story: Coven" table in a gauzy orangey-red dress. "It's like a big t-shirt," she said.
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9:10 p.m. Julia Roberts is barefoot in her Elie Saab pearl and stone midnight blue dress at the HBO party. She is lost and looking for her friends, hands tucked firmly in her pockets. "It helps," she says of ditching her shoes.
9:12 p.m. The cast of "Modern Family" is in a collective celebratory mood: Jesse Tyler Ferguson enjoys a heaping plate of gourmet food; Eric Stonestreet meanders his way through the crowd; Julie Bowen (looking pretty in a floor-length floral frock) chats among smoking friends; and best supporting actor in a comedy winner Ty Burrell hangs with pals by the bar.
9:13 p.m. Is Ryan Murphy's tux made of crushed velvet? It is! (Ryan Murphy, Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson and John Landgraf at the Fox party)
9:22 p.m. Weird Al Yankovic posing with fans for pictures at the entrance of the HBO party at the Pacific Design Center. "Let's stand here," he says.
9:30 p.m. The first stop of the night on the party circuit for Emmy attendees is the Governors Ball, held in the West Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center. The must-have accessory is one of those golden statuettes, and newly minted Emmy owners stop by the "winner's circle" to get their trophies engraved. But the real winner's circle is the "Breaking Bad" section, where executive producer Vince Gilligan and the cast and crew of the AMC/Sony Pictures TV production hold court. Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul and Anna Gunn exult in their acting wins. "Scandal" star Joe Morton poses with Gilligan, while "Episodes" star Matt LeBlanc chats up Moira Walley-Beckett.
10 p.m. We arrive before the winners at AMC's party at BOA, but it's nice to see Jared Harris from "Mad Men" sipping a cocktail at the bar.
10:07 p.m. Sofia Vergara sashays her way toward a reserved cabana at the Fox party wearing a mermaid-like white Roberto Cavalli gown.
10:10 p.m. Kate Mara embraces Woody Harrelson at the HBO party, who begins the conversation by saying, "I only have two episodes left" of "House of Cards." Mara has just wrapped on "Fantastic Four" while Harrelson has completed "The Hunger Games." A waiter sets down a specially created plate of berries for Harrelson, who's vegan.
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10:20 p.m. Embracing his Emmy for "The Normal Heart," Mark Ruffalo is quick to slide through the crowd, glad-handing and chatting with anyone who stops him, but never for more than two minutes. (Woody Harrelson and Mark Ruffalo at the Governors Ball)
10:21 p.m. The Governors Ball is all about mixing and mingling, and the stars and execs are up and about schmoozing. The dance floor is packed - even "Game of Thrones" author George R.R. Martin is spotted getting a move on.
10:34 p.m. At the "American Horror Story: Coven" table at the Fox party, Ryan Murphy's Emmy statuette (for "The Normal Heart") gets passed around as a plum photo prop for selfies.
10:36 p.m. Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy pose for a few photos on the red carpet before hitting Vibiana's outdoor patio at Fox.
10:39 p.m. Jason Biggs is all for stopping and indulging his fans in selfies at the HBO party. "Quick, let's pose," he says time and time again. He gets more than one set of props for his Instagram feed, which often features him and his wife, Jenny Mollen, being funny.
10:40 p.m. After failing to take home any awards on Emmy night, the Netflix party at Chateau Marmont initially seems like a somewhat subdued affair, with most of the revelers crowding into the courtyard to snack on In-N-Out burgers, fried chicken and -- in honor of "Orange is the New Black," chocolate and vanilla swirl soft-serve ice cream. Channeling his inner president, Kevin Spacey holds court at the center of the soiree, while nearby, Robin Wright is beset by admirers.
10:45 p.m. Jessica Lange is beaming and beautiful at the Fox party. When a fan gushes, "'Blue Sky' is one of my favorite movies," Lange replies, "Thank you so much. I appreciate it."
10:47 p.m. "BoJack Horseman" voicer Will Arnett is deep in discussion with "Derek" topliner Ricky Gervais at a reserved table near the bar at the Netflix party.
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10:49 p.m. "OITNB's" own Pornstache, Pablo Schreiber, has brought along brother Liev, and the two are chatting it up by the door.
10:54 p.m. Oscar winner and two-time "OITNB" director Jodie Foster has tracked down Adrienne C. Moore to catch up at one of the "Orange" tables. Elsewhere, creator Jenji Kohan has just arrived, stopping to take photos with well-wishers by the door and accepting hugs of commiseration.
10:59 p.m. January Jones fights to fit her Prabal Gurung dress into the booth at the AMC party and waves her hands with an "ah forget it." Ten minutes later she gets up and walks off with Christopher Stanley, who plays her husband on "Mad Men." (Supporting actor winner Aaron Paul with R.J. Mitte at the AMC party)
11 p.m. Jon Voight is working the room at the HBO party, particularly back near the dessert table where he's spotted talking up a couple of agents, white scarf still spotless and fully intact.
11:02 p.m. Dascha Polanco rolls by at the Netflix party in a flowing gown, cheerily nibbling on the cotton candy being handed out.
11:03 p.m. A gaggle of women flock around Aaron Paul and his Emmy at the AMC party. He graciously hugs and talks to them all.
11:05 p.m. There is some debate at the table as to whether the "man who looks like a wizard" is Robert Towne of "Chinatown" fame.
11:10 p.m. Sofia Vergara is hungry, slumped into a table sans Joe Manganiello. (Odd, right? It's an HBO party). She takes one bite of food and completely opts out.
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11:16 p.m. Betsy Brandt adjusts her dress at the AMC party before sharing a kiss with her date.
11:18 p.m. Further proof that celebrities are just like us, Robin Wright is fixing her hair in the ladies' room. (She needn't bother -- the fictional first lady is looking typically fierce.)
11:25 p.m. After checking her 'do, Wright is now dancing to a medley of '60s and '70s hits in the Chateau Marmont lobby, prompting other revelers to join in -- the erstwhile Princess Buttercup's got moves.
11:28 p.m. The dance bug is contagious -- "OITNB" stars Matt McGorry and Samira Wiley are now boogieing with friends in the bar.
11:30 p.m. One by one, several Bill O'Reilly fans pour their hearts out to the Fox News honcho, who's sitting at a table at the HBO party and not at all amused. He takes off shortly after.
11:34 p.m. Netflix's worlds collide as Kevin Spacey is spotted chatting to Alysia Reiner. Would Frank Underwood approve of Natalie Figueroa's questionable administrative practices? Probably.
11:50 p.m. Johnny Galecki is roughhousing with a friend near the HBO party's entrance. He seems fine with "The Big Bang Theory's" loss.
12:16 a.m. "The Daily Show's" and "Girls'" Jessica Williams is too busy texting to talk with Aasif Mandvi.
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12:25 a.m. "Breaking Bad" winner Aaron Paul tables his Supporting Actor Emmy to have a serious 1-on-1 bro chat with "Game of Thrones" star Peter Dinklage.
12:41 p.m. Derek Hough takes control of the mic at the HBO party, singing along with the band and channeling his inner Gatsby before breaking out some stunning moves. We'd expect nothing less from the "Dancing with the Stars" pro.
12:54 p.m. After watching Hough tear up the dance floor, Sofia Vergara gets in on the action, and it isn't long before the pair are dirty dancing to "Footloose." At one point, Hough swoops Vergara off her feet and spins her -- almost kicking a few hapless bystanders in the process.
