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LAist had a backstage seat inside the Emmys 2013 press room, and we were able to catch a few candid comments from the winners—without the worry of being cut off by the band mid-speech. From the looks of our liveblog, it seems that those of us backstage didn't miss much anyway. Some winners stayed a minute, and others took their time, basking in their moments.
Here are some of our favorite quotes/stories:
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Veep, when asked where she's going to put her statue: "I'm going to sleep with it!" And what the win meant to her: "It means a ton because I've lost many more times than I've won." (She said she's lost the Emmy 10 times.)
Gail Mancuso, Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series for Modern Family: "I was very fortunate as a child that my parents let me watch as much TV as possible."
Jim Parsons, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for The Big Bang Theory, on what he's going to do to celebrate tonight: "I prefer to read in bed…that's because I'm 100." And when asked what the moment feels like just before they announce the winner of an Emmy: "It's that feeling you have when you narrowly miss getting into a car accident."
Tracey Wigfield, Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, for 30 Rock on how she's going to celebrate tonight: "I will probably get drunk with my parents who are here." And when asked where she got her dress? "The mall in Topanga." When writing partner Tina Fey was asked about a possible 30 Rock reunion show in the future: "It'll be an IMAX movie, it will be a minute long and show at the Museum of Natural History." And on Fey's assessment of Cecily Strong as a Weekend Update anchor on SNL? "I think she's a good choice…you have to be comfortable being yourself on camera, which I think she will be great at."
Mark Burnett, one of the executive producers of The Voice, which won Best Reality Show on how the win might end comparisons to American Idol: "This is a very different show…"This is a kind show…There's no humiliation in the show…We've never felt a comparison ourselves." (Take that, Seacrest!)
Anna Gunn, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for Breaking Bad, on her win: "I'm glad there are people out there that enjoy Skyler." And on the haters on the web: "What the Skyler haters do they do, it doesn't have anything to do with me."
Jeff Daniels, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for The Newsroom when asked by the AARP on what he meant that the Emmy was better than their award for Best actor over 50. "I flew up there for a special because I never get anything…It meant a lot…You gave me a golden barcalounger—I use it to hold my meds." When asked about the scariest thing about filming Dumb and Dumber 2 (which, btw, got a lot of applause in the press room): "There are some things we are going to do in Dumb and Dumber 2 that make the toilet scene [in the first movie] look lame…pales in comparison." And the best? "I get to work with a comedic genius [Jim Carrey.]"
Stephen Colbert and his team from The Colbert Report also got a warm welcome in the press room. In a meta moment, he was mocking the "stupid news" to the reporters in the room: "We get to be a shadow of the news we're mocking." And when asked what he credits the win over The Daily Show to: "I'm grateful that Jon [Stewart] took the summer off during the voting period…though John Oliver did a great job." Side note from Colbert: Jon Stewart's Emmy streak hasn't been broken since he's one of The Colbert Report's executive producers.
Michael Douglas, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie for Behind The Candelabra, said that while he thought beforehand about his top/bottom comment, "I wasn't prepared for the response for the two-hander." He clarified: "In acting, you're only as good as your partner…I wouldn't be onstage without Matt." And he talked about his son Cameron, who is in federal prison in solitary for drug-related charges: "I've been told that that I can't see him [for] two years...I'm very disappointed with the system."
Claire Danes, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Homeland, was asked how she stayed out of trouble as a young actress: "I think I was very fortunate to live in a time that not everyone had cameras on [their] cellphones…"I took three years off to go to college. I was an idiot in the privacy of my own dorm room."
Eric Stonestreet of Modern Family, which won Outstanding Comedy Series, on the reception the cast and producers got when entering the press room: "Very tepid." [It was a little awkward, yes.]
Breaking Bad cast and producers got a much bigger welcome to the press room, after winning Outstanding Drama Series. Creator Vince Gilligan credited streaming services for keeping the show on the air. "I think Netflix kept us on the air…I don't think our should would have lasted beyond season two…"It's a bold new era in television."
That's all, from the Emmys press room. See you next year.
Related:
Complete List of Emmy 2013 Winners
LAist's Liveblog
