LOS ANGELES - Accepting hugs left and right and clutching his best miniseries trophy for HBO's "John Adams," Tom Hanks made one thing clear at the premium cable network's packed Emmy afterparty: He's not a partier.
"It's a school night. This is all a bit of a chore, honestly," Hanks said Sunday night, grinning and waving his arms while music pumped loudly overhead.
"I'm shouting at everyone I meet, I'm taking pictures with everyone who wants to. . . . We're really glad the series won. Great cast, killer crew. . . . But I gotta be at work at 6 a.m. tomorrow," he said. "I've got about 15 minutes left in me."
Hanks, an executive producer on the historical drama, partied alongside his wife, Rita Wilson, at the outdoor bash at West Hollywood's Pacific Design Center.
"I haven't eaten since 12 noon," declared Wilson. The actress then tucked into a steaming plate of food.
The pair left 40 minutes later.
HBO had a lot to celebrate at the 60th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, with a leading 26 trophies. The afterparty was aptly stylish, defining cool elegance with a clear tent covering guests, a huge torch burning above the festivities and swirling paintings projected onto nearby walls.
A blue-green Brazilian theme lent an airy, sophisticated vibe, with chairs covered in turquoise blue dotted cloth and carpeting decorated with green leaf shapes. Oversized mesh metal vases and platformed areas lined with full-length mirrors completed the party's lavish look.
Guests including Jon Voight, Kevin Spacey, Laura Dern, Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon feasted on a menu of more than 15 dishes, including heirloom tomatoes with heart of palm, paella with Portuguese sausage and Brazilian-style ratatouille. Dessert included mango pudding.
Don Rickles chomped on potatoes and slivers of beef, his Emmy trophy just a few inches away on his table. The 82-year-old comic won for best individual performance in a variety or music program for "Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project."
"The food is excellent, the party is excellent," he said. "After this, I'm going to go home and have a drink. Vodka on the rocks."
As smooth bossa nova tunes gave way to blistering disco, made louder by a live drummer pounding along above the dance floor, the entourage from HBO's "Entourage" travelled through the party. The pack was headed by Jeremy Piven, who won his third supporting comedy actor trophy for the Hollywood-centric show.
"I'm very happy and proud of him. Three years in a row. In the sports world, that's a dynasty," said Piven's co-star Jerry Ferrara.
While Piven and "Entourage" star Adrian Grenier dodged reporters, the cast of HBO's "The Wire" laughed, drank and lamented the end of the critically lauded show after five seasons.
"It's a shame this industry as a whole couldn't come together to recognize one of the most groundbreaking shows in history," said Sonja Sohn, who played Detective Shakima "Kima" Greggs.
Across town at TV Guide's bash at the Kress in Hollywood, rock band The Bravery played a thunderous set at midnight, setting the Japanese-themed party's more irreverent rock 'n' roll tone.
Waitresses in red geisha costumes served cocktails and trays of chocolates. Revellers crowded around a huge saki bar in the middle of the space. Paper cranes hung from the ceiling.
Guests included Sandra Oh and John Krasinski. DJ Samantha Ronson spun rock tunes early in the evening and then after The Bravery's set. She didn't take kindly to a female fan who tried to photograph Ronson's gal pal Lindsay Lohan.
Later, Ronson and Lohan took pictures together kissing and hugging. Lohan, wearing a sparkling jewel-encrusted ring on her right hand, declined to talk to The Associated Press.
For many Emmy guests, the first stop on the night's party trail was the Governors Ball, held across the street from the Nokia Theatre at the downtown Los Angeles Convention Center.
The convention hall was transformed into an elegant ballroom decorated in black, silver and thousands of crystals in honour of Emmy's diamond anniversary: 60 years. More than 300 crystal-encrusted chandeliers dangled from the ceiling above tables dressed with dozens of red roses. Guests dined on king crab and avocado salad, New York strip steak and milk chocolate caramel mousse.
Paul Giamatti, Glenn Close and Alec Baldwin brought golden dates to the ball: their Emmy trophies. Host Howie Mandel ditched his bow tie. Jimmy Kimmel posed for photos with fans and a very pregnant Amy Poehler held husband Will Arnett's hand while "Saturday Night Live" producer Lorne Michaels chatted with guests.
"Entertainment Tonight" also hosted its annual post-Emmys party but The Associated Press wasn't allowed access after covering the event for the past several years. The celebrity newsmagazine pulled AP's photo credentials and denied a reporter's request to go inside, citing AP's report from June that outlined how "ET" had incorrectly reported the birth of twins to Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.
-- Sandy Cohen contributed to this report.
