On Emmy night January 15th, Los Angeles will not only earn its stripes as the "entertainment capital of the world" but will also become planet Earth's "epicurean epicenter."
The Television Academy – which normally is more engaged in awarding the creators of tasty plot twists for hungry worldwide audiences -- has assembled a massive culinary cadre of chefs, servers and event experts to stage an unprecedented series of rapturous black-tie food and drink extravaganzas for 8,000 attendees in honor of the Emmy Awards 75th Anniversary.
Over a period of three evenings one of the world's largest convention centers is being transformed into a savory spectacle befitting 8,000 entertainment industry celebrities, directors, studio executives, craftsmen and artists who make television possible for millions of fans and lovers of one of the world's fastest growing entertainment mediums.
The consecutive galas are part of celebrations leading up to and including the January 15 telecast airing on FOX.
The sheer size, scope and challenge of staging these consecutive Governors Gala gatherings at the Los Angeles Convention Center, adjacent to downtown L.A. LIVE's Peacock Theater, is unprecedented as a result of a quick ramp-up made necessary by the TV and film industry's recent labor strife. Producers have had only six weeks versus the six months normally accorded such an endeavor.
The thousands of attending luminaries will be bathed in such splashes as specially crafted "Emmy gold chain" stretching longer than an entire football field and cascading playfully down from two stories above onto the dance floor.
An additional staggering 11 miles of that same custom shimmering flowing finery will be wrapped around 12 enormous translucent pillars. Featured against this dramatic backdrop will be the iconic and renowned "Emmy Winners Circle" where thrilled Emmy recipients will gather to witness their statuettes affixed with personalized plaques by white-gloved attendants.
Befitting the proceedings will be a massively towering two-story Emmy aureate statue bearing witness to the crowning career achievements of television's brightest stars.
Television Academy President and CEO Maury McIntyre said, "Our goal was to mark this amazing milestone of Emmy's 75th Anniversary with a historic celebration bringing the industry together in recognition of the tens of thousands of people who play key roles in telling great stories that enthrall international audiences."
In this shimmering ballroom and in the midst of an equally shimmering cast of celebritydom, Cheryl Cecchetto – who over the past two-and-a-half decades has staged extravaganzas for the Emmys and countless other Tinsel Town festivities – was asked by the Academy to create an evening particularly appropriate to this moment.
Cecchetto said, "As with any epic milestone occasion like this, we wanted to fuse just the right mixture of history with contemporary culture to create something memorable and historic in its own right."
In that spirit, her team focused for the 75th on Emmy's one timeless constant: Gold – as in the Emmy statuette. According to Cecchetto's reckoning of all like Hollywood events, a record 5,000 gold light fixtures are being installed to accompany specially made tablecloths and napkins replete with hand-woven goldthread. Over 1,500 yards of materials are being sewn with over 500 hours spent on the process. This prep surpasses even that of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Food prep includes an estimated 2,000 handmade sushi rolls and poke bowls, 12,000 butternut squash agnolottis utilizing 4,000 pounds of squash and over 10,000 single-serving desserts.
Appropriately on these nights celebrating stars of the screen will be an unparalleled thespian cast of celebrity chefs including such notables as Jet Tila, Sherry Yard, Rose Schwartz, Warren Schwartz and Stephanie Izard, providing signature dishes and delectable deserts.
Included in the celebratory libations are those supplied by the Academy's official Emmy Awards season partners: Johnnie Walker is marking the occasion with a curated selection of four signature Johnnie Walker Blue Label cocktails expertly crafted by DIAGEO Reserve World Class award-winning mixologist Charles Joly; Franciacorta is providing numerous varietals of sparkling wines from the finest wineries in the north of Italy, synonymous with quality and the first to obtain Italy's DOCG recognition in 1995; JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery will pour from its exceptional wine portfolio and as a special gift, Emmy winners will receive an exclusive, custom bottle of ISOSCELES while their statuettes are personalized within the Gala's "Winner's Circle"; and, FIJI Water will keep hydrated with Earth's Finest Water. As an added flourish, Drybar will provide their services to nominees and winners with touch up stations at the Gala.
Fittingly it will take a "cast of thousands," or nearly that, to pull the event off with a staff of 750 servers, runners, management and support personnel handling every need for the guest list of 8,000 which rivals similar needs for the inauguration of a U.S. President.
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About the Television Academy
The Television Academy strives to shape and advance the dynamic television landscape; cultivate a diverse, inclusive and accessible professional community; and advocate for the television industry while capturing the spirit of a new generation of content creators and industry professionals. Through innovative programs, publications and events, the Academy and its Foundation foster and empower storytellers. The Academy also celebrates those who excel in the industry recognizing their achievements through awards and accolades, including the renowned Emmy Award. Membership in the Academy is open to working professionals in the television industry. For more information, please visit TelevisionAcademy.com.
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