Tequila Shots! The White Lotus Group Dancing! Birthday Cake for Jean Smart—Inside HBO Max’s Epic Emmy After-Party
As soon as the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards concluded with The Pitt taking home the night’s top drama prize, the winners—Noah Wyle and Jean Smart—and the starry cast of The White Lotus trekked to West Hollywood’s San Vicente Bungalows for the HBO Max after-party, where they drank, danced, and celebrated past midnight.
Held at the ultra-private members’ club, HBO Max transformed the lush garden oasis into a celeb-packed bonanza. The Bungalows’ swimming pool was drained and filled entirely with ice, chilling hundreds of bottles of Champagne. Servers ringed the pool offering unlimited pours. Guests were also treated to endless caviar, an all-you-can-eat sushi bar, specialty sips from a custom tiki bar, and even a private room for karaoke.
Walton Goggins was among the first to arrive. The best supporting actor nominee for The White Lotus may have lost the prize to Tramell Tillman, but he was in great spirits and looked effortlessly cool in a Louis Vuitton ensemble: a white single-breasted tuxedo jacket, an unbuttoned white silk shirt, and black trousers. He roamed the tropical grounds and soon joined his White Lotus co-star Michelle Monaghan on the dance floor. The two swayed to Jennifer Lopez’s hit “Waiting for Tonight.”
Sam Nivola spotted his cast mates dancing and snapped photos on a professional camera he’d brought to the party. He spent the night capturing candid moments of friends, including Olivia Rodrigo and Iris Apatow. The trio socialized at the bar, where Rodrigo savored a dirty martini. Nearby, Parker Posey, a best supporting actress nominee for The White Lotus, chatted with David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, by the sushi bar as chefs turned out fresh-baked crab and spicy yellowtail hand rolls.
Colin Farrell, a nominee for lead actor in a limited or anthology series or movie for The Penguin, arrived at the soirée with his 15-year-old son, Henry, and was immediately greeted by Justin Theroux. As they chatted, Farrell slung an arm around Theroux and the former costars shared big laughs—they worked together on the 2006 film Miami Vice. After their catch-up, Farrell wolfed down pigs in a blanket, a runaway hit among partygoers. Kaitlyn Dever, nominated for guest actress in a drama series for The Last of Us, enjoyed some, too.
Across the cottage-like complex, Smart—who won her fourth best actress in a comedy Emmy for Hacks—settled into one of the Bungalows’ outdoor booths, surrounded by meticulously pruned greenery. She refueled with a Brussels sprouts salad and received congratulatory hugs and kisses from Hacks creators Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky. Soon, Smart’s costars Megan Stalter and newly minted Emmy winner Hannah Einbinder—her fourth nomination and first win, for supporting actress in a comedy—joined the celebratory powwow. Then servers brought out two white cakes topped with sprinkles to mark Smart’s 74th birthday and Stalter’s 35th. The crowd sang “Happy Birthday,” and Smart told Stalter, “Make a wish! Make it a good one.” The two blew out their candles, and Stalter kissed Smart’s hand in thanks.
Around 10:30 p.m., Wyle made a triumphant entrance, strolling into the fête clutching his two Emmy trophies. After five acting nominations in the 1990s for playing a rookie doctor on ER without a win, he finally took home his first Emmy for lead actor in a drama series for The Pitt. He earned a second on Sunday night as a producer. With his wife, actress Sara Wyle, by his side, he nestled into the Bungalows’ oak-paneled living room and was greeted with a huge ovation. “It’s been an incredible night. A dream come true,” Wyle told a guest as they hugged. The couple celebrated with a shot of tequila and an orange wedge.
Wyle’s costar Katherine LaNasa was a surprise winner in the supporting actress in a drama series category, edging out several contenders from The White Lotus, including Carrie Coon. LaNasa and her husband, Melrose Place alum Grant Show, joined Wyle in the cozy living room to loud, enthusiastic cheers. “I’m feeling overwhelmed with joy,” LaNasa said, taking a quick breather from mingling with friends. “I’m humbled to have gotten these votes from my fellow members of the Academy. It’s so meaningful to me.” The veteran actress stunned in an Old Hollywood–style strapless ivory ball gown with a ceil-blue bow. “I feel very beautiful in this Jason Wu gown,” she added. “I’m very humbled that he made it for me.”
Perhaps the night’s biggest surprise was Jeff Hiller, who won best supporting actor in a comedy for Somebody Somewhere, marking his first Emmy. “I feel like I’m on top of the world,” Hiller said as he zigzagged through the club’s interior courtyard, Emmy in hand.
Just after midnight, LaNasa hit the dance floor. Then the cast of The White Lotus—including Aimee Lou Wood, Lalisa Manoban (Lisa from Blackpink), Jason Isaacs, Nicholas Duvernay, and Monaghan—linked up to dance the night away. As French DJ duo Doppelganger spun crowd-pleasers like “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye, the group twirled, bopped, and gyrated for a rousing send-off. It was a final hurrah as the TV awards-season cycle officially came to a close.
The late-night bash wrapped well past 1 a.m., with Wyle among the last to leave. Guests were gifted HBO Max–branded slippers, and many happily swapped out their heels for the slip-ons. Winners departed San Vicente Bungalows with an Emmy in one hand and their Louboutins in the other, sauntering to their cars.
DAVID JON @DAVIDJONPHOTOGRAPHY1/12Noah Wyle
DAVID JON @DAVIDJONPHOTOGRAPHY2/12Aimee Lou Wood, DJ Doppelganger, Michelle Monaghan, Lalisa Manobal, Jason Isaacs, Nicholas Duvernay, DJ Doppelganger