They’re the moments that viewers didn’t get to see during Sunday night’s 67th Emmy Awards — as the winners came backstage at the Microsoft Theater in L.A. there were hugs, kisses, and quick quips as they made their way to the pressroom and to pick up their real Emmy (the ones they were handed on stage were stunt awards!).
Allison Janney, who won for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, admitted she was “mind-blowingly nervous” as she sat in the audience waiting for the winner to be announced.
“I was overwhelmed and felt like there were so many people to thank,” the Mom star admitted moments after her win. “I’m having a very surreal moment. I feel a little faint and giddy.” Her former West Wing costar Bradley Whitford (who won an Emmy for his guest role in Transparent) was among the first to congratulate her.
Jeffrey Tambor, who won the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series award for his role as a transgender woman in Transparent, was relieved that he didn’t forget anyone in his heartfelt acceptance speech. “I wrote it down because I knew if I got the award my hands would be shaking and I still am,” he said. Empire‘s Terrence Howard was among the first to congratulate Tambor, embracing him warmly.
You would think after winning six Emmys, Julia Louis-Dreyfus would remember to write down the names of everyone she wanted to thank in her speech.
But the Veep star, who won for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, was a little flustered backstage as she said, “I forgot to thank the producers of the show!” The Seinfeld alum worried that there would be some people hating on her when she returned to her seat.
Despite winning her fourth Emmy in a row, the 54-year-old admitted hearing her name called out “doesn’t get old. “I was just shaking like a leaf getting up there.”
The actress, who plays commander-in-chief Selina Meyer on the hit HBO series was asked how she’d do if she was to take part in a Republican-style presidential debate.
“I would do terrible in a debate setting,” she insisted. “I can barely get through accepting this award without sounding like an idiot.”
Scandal‘s Kerry Washington admitted that she was “super-excited” about Regina King winning (as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for American Crime), saying, “We were standing backstage and I was the first one to hug her.”
King smiled as she stepped backstage. “I don’t even remember what I said because this is all still a blur and I’m buzzing,” she said. “It’s a little surreal, pretty awesome. Whoever I forgot to thank, just know I love you and I’m floating right now.”
“Gold goes well with whatever you have on,” she added, as she clutched the trophy to her ivory beaded dress.
In case you were wondering, Jimmy Kimmel didn’t actually end up swallowing the piece of cardboard with the Emmy winner’s name on it. The talk show host shoved it into his mouth while presenting the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.
Fellow presenter LL Cool J revealed,”I bet Jimmy Fallon $10 that Jimmy Kimmel would swallow the paper. He didn’t so I won.”
Later Matt LeBlanc, who was also nominated in that category and lost, showed how he felt about Kimmel’s stunt, giving the comedian the bird.
I’m sorry Matt LeBlanc #emmys pic.twitter.com/hCbQR3PF0r
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) September 21, 2015
Meanwhile, the team from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart were the most raucous crew backstage, chanting and cheering after their win for Outstanding Variety Talk Series, and as he walked backstage Jon Stewart got a loud and sustained round of applause and cheers.
It’s been six weeks since he ended his run as the host of The Daily Show, and Stewart was asked in the pressroom about what it was like shooting the last month of the show. He said that they played “a lot of Ultimate Frisbee,” before adding, “I don’t think we reflected on it a whole lot until [Bruce Springsteen sang] ‘Born to Run’ ” at the end of the last show.
As for his life now, the comedian-turned-director joked, “If I knew what life was going to be like, I would have left earlier.”
After Inside Amy Schumer won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series, Amy Schumer said backstage that there was someone else she wanted to thank for her win. “I want to thank my niece, Ida — we have the exact same body,” she said of the toddler who she has nicknamed #theduchess on Twitter, “and Jesus.”
When someone remarked that the awards look even better in person, Schumer misunderstood what they were referring to, quipping, “My boobs?”
“I’m so excited,” she added. “This year has been so cool.”
Asked about people looking to her now to speak out, Schumer revealed, “I feel great about it. I didn’t set out to be a role model but I feel like I am in some ways. I look at it as a great privilege and opportunity. I feel that we’re empowering women and making them think.”
