Tweeting away backstage at The Emmys

After that overheated red carpet, I was thrilled to get back to the media tent where it was air conditioned and there were cold drinks and wonderful food. Once the show began, I started to post items on Twitter like an man possessed and I loved hearing from people as they followed along.

For those of you who are not on Twitter (you should join and follow my tweets!), I’m posting some highlights here from what went down backstage. (These are from tweets, some are more than 140 characters because I lumped two or more together)

Hope you enjoy!

** Jeff Probst is backstage. He now has two more Emmys than Angela Lansbury. He was asked about Kanye:”I’m glad no one came onstage & messed with me. I would have put a forearm to their left cheek.” Probst says maybe perennial winner Amazing Race should “pull an Oprah” and take themselves out of the competition.”

** Shohreh Aghdashloo is backstage now: “When I heard my name, I couldn’t even understand until my husband said, “It’s your name.”

** Alec Baldwin says politics is “even more nerve-racking” than acting. He’s not ready to run for public office. Says”I literally am shocked that I won again.” Says the dream guest star for 30 Rock is Paul McCartney. They are trying to get him…. Baldwin says brother Billy Baldwin was going to be his Emmy date but had to stay him with his kids because Chynna Phillips is on road.

** Jessica Lange is just asked what the nickname “Cougar” is. She said: “Where have I been?” Says half of her Emmy belongs to Drew Barrymore.

** Cherry Jones asked if there will be female president in real life:  “I think the only reason Hillary Clinton is not our president is because a man named Barack Obama came from the midst.” … Two-time Tony winner says of Emmys: “It’s just all so much bigger .it;s just dawning on me that there were millions of people watching.” … Of her gig on 24: “I love television and I didn’t think I would.” …Says being locked in a safe room with Jack Bauer was, I think, a real high point.” … Is asked what she’d do about health care if she were REALLY president: “I’d go for broke. Universal health care.”

** Supporting actor winner Michael Emerson (Lost) says people “are a little bit terrified” when they meet him thinking hes like his character. … Says he was”flabbergasted & disoriented. I may have appeared to be calm but I have no idea what came out of my mouth.”

** Tina Fey is backstage & said the new dream guest star for 30 Rock would be Meryl Streep & she would be a great love interest for Alec Baldwin …. Was asked about Miley Cyrus‘ stripper pole pics: “I think working the pole is a right of passage in western culture.” … She really was surprised at the third consecutive win because a lot of unexpected things happened during the show.

** Bryan Cranston backstage: “It’s such a thrill. You look at the nominees and I feel that every one of them was justifiably there.” … “I feel humbled and naturally surprised and shocked whenever something like this happens.”… “Awards are presented to actors but without the writing, none of us would be on stage.”

** Glenn Close backstage now: Says her character of “[Patti] is not evil….would you ask that if she were a man?”… Says playing her part “is like living a novel … ” Says more and more people like watching it all at once on DVD. … On choosing a part: “I know in the first five pages if something really grabs me … I think it’s in the elegance of the writing.” … Credits the emergence of HBO for changing the landscape of TV & says cable is where actors want to go because of writing .

** Mad Men cast backstage, Jon Hamm at mic. He’s the most handsome man alive. … Says it’s remarkable for a cable series to win best drama once, much less two.