Where's the party at?

The 2007 Emmy night party scene is a lot like the Emmy nominations themselves: The usual cast of characters in unusual settings, dressed up in new clothes. But that's not to say nothing at all has changed. There's one new party, some new locations and a variety of themes, decor and entertainment that should change up the annual celebrations.

Entertainment Weekly is having its usual pre-Emmys bash on Saturday night in Hollywood. Familiar fete-throwers "Entertainment Tonight" (teaming again with People magazine), TV Guide, Fox and HBO are all having their annual parties post-show on Sunday. And of course, there's the official Emmy Governors Ball, held next to the show itself at the Shrine.

The changes? "Entertainment Tonight" has left the Mondrian on Sunset (finally) and headed downtown to the Walt Disney Concert Hall. TV Guide will keep hanging out in Hollywood but not at Social Hollywood. Its affair this year will take place at Les Deux, the infamous Hollywood haute spot where, oh, no, Lindsay didn't get served her last drink the night she crashed her car for her first DUI. They will tent the adjacent parking lot to create Versailles-like gardens and walkways, which may not be the best of plans. From my experience, those tents can be toxic.

"ET" and People hope that stars leaving the Shrine will hit their nearby party first. They also hope the new venue will eliminate the annoying overcrowding at the SkyBar. For several years, stars were asked to cool their heels in the Mondrian hotel lobby until there was room on the packed poolside patio. Ouch. Then there was the torturously slow Mondrian valet. Urban legend has it that there are still people waiting for their cars from last year's party.

There's one hot Emmy party that comes with no baggage. DirecTV is launching its HD 100 programming with a big bash inside an inflatable space. Think: hot air balloon.

Here's the scoop on where you'll need to go to celebrate with the gold statue-lugging winners and commiserate with the game-faced losers after the Emmys.

The Official 59th Emmys Governors Ball
Location, location: The Shrine

Hue and cry: Black and white

Theme: Um, the Emmys? Oversized Emmy statue silhouettes will be looming around the large dining room.

Bells and whistles: A rotating stage in the center of the room with a décor blend described as Art Deco and modern nuevo, enhanced by voile ceiling treatments and chandeliers, all designed by Keith Greco Décor.

Wining and dining: Organic haute cuisine from Patina Group's chef Joachim Splichal, such as mango and Dungeness crab, beef filet mignon, milk chocolate mousse and berries in a Dove dark chocolate cup. Beaulieu Vineyard wines and 360 bottles of Laurent Perrier Champagne. But who's counting? Voss is the official Emmy water.

Music makers: Norman Roper's Orchestra playing everything from '20s golden oldies to current Top 40s.

Star count: Everybody. This is the first Emmy party pit stop for everyone who was at the show.

HBO
Location, location: The usual HBO party spot, the plaza at the Pacific Design Center, West Hollywood.

Hue and cry: Purple, gold and lavender

Theme: Thai One On

Bells and whistles: Thai furniture, textiles and art from the Chiang Mai region, including elephant chairs, purple tenting, exotic garlands and orchids, 28-feet-tall gold statue tent centerpiece. Party decor by Billy Butchkavitz.

Wining and dining: Wolfgang Puck's Thai-inspired dishes: mee krob, bamboo steamed bass, panang curry braised short ribs, banana and honey spring rolls, chilled fruit soups, lemongrass upside-down cake. Moët & Chandon bubbly, Belvedere vodka, Newton Vineyard wines and Voss water from Norway.

Music makers: DJ Qool Marv of New York, percussionist Ravi Jakhotia of L.A. and Thai dancers and musicians.

Star count: With close to 90 Emmy noms, HBO is still the hottest ticket in town. But will this year's fete feel more like a wake? Expect the cast of canceled "Rome" to commiserate with "The Sopranos" gang. It's also a buh-bye bash for "Deadwood" and David Milch's surfer series "John From Cincinnati" cast. Stars from the still-kicking "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and the Kiwi sensation "Meet the Conchords" are bound to be upbeat; they don't cost much to make!

TV Guide
Location, location: This year, TV Guide takes over Hollywood's still hot spot, Les Deux.

Hue and cry: Deep red, gold and black

Theme: French burlesque meets Marie Antoinette. Restaurant and patio space will be linked to the tented parking lot with 12 bars, plush lounge seating and a 40-foot stage for musical performances.

Bells and whistles: Not much to speak of. Custom drinks in an Olay-branded champagne flute. A snack bar with fresh vegetables, cheeses, dips and chips from Nabisco.

Wining and dining: A French-inspired menu to include croque-mitaines, prosciutto-wrapped prawns, pommes frites and caviar on a toasted brioche.

Music makers: Samantha Ronson will spin. Band from TV, featuring Greg Grunberg ("Heroes") on drums, James Denton ("Desperate Housewives") on guitar and Hugh Laurie ("House") on keyboard, will open for Grammy winner John Legend.

Star count: Past attendees include Wilmer Valderrama, Jessica Simpson, Jeremy Piven, Marcia Cross, Sandra Oh, Mira Sorvino, Mandy Moore and Zach Braff.

'Entertainment Tonight'/People
Location, location: The Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall, downtown.

Hue and cry: Colors are neutral toffee browns, gray and black enhanced by wood and metal. The outdoor Blue Ribbon patio also features a nifty mosaic fountain.

Theme: Basic Emmys

Bells and whistles: Makeup and skin-care consults at the Maybelline New York/Garnier Beauty Bar. Watch the arrivals and the show on LG hi-def TVs scattered throughout the party space. Before you leave, do not forget the prized Cole Haan gift bag full of eco-friendly goodies.

Wining and dining: Patina Group nummies such as feta-terranean tomato tart, mini-smoked scallop burgers, fig and goat cheese, beef short rips, roulade of asparagus, cedar-planked salmon, blinis with caviar. Still got room? Try the Godiva chocolate tree with fresh strawberries, brownies and marshmallows, all drizzled with chocolate. Wash it all down with Entertain-mint Mojitos, A-List Twists and Paparazzi Punch.

Music makers: KCRW DJ Jason Bentley will spin. But the headliner is the Grammy-winning band Duran Duran, with Dave Koz playing piano on the patio.

Star count: Last year brought out Eva Longoria and Tony Parker, Tyra Banks, Jon Voight, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Joan Collins and Jenna Elfman. Musta been the valet problem.

DirecTV's HD 100 Party
Location, location: West Hollywood Municipal Park, conveniently across the street from the HBO bash.

Hue and cry: DirecTV's signature colors, white, black and blue.

Theme: Can you say hi-def?

Bells and whistles: The party will take place inside a sphere -- the balloon part of a hot-air balloon. There will be a sign made out of flat screens spelling out 100 HD at the party entrance. And did I mention that all the Emmy winners and nominees (code for losers) will be getting a free flat-screen TV -- and other goodies?

Wining and dining: Along Came Mary will cater.

Music makers: DJ AM (Nicole Richie's ex-fiancé) and DJ Brent Bolthouse will be spinning

Star count: Everyone who wants another flat-screen TV. Actually, expect a big industry turnout since the sponsors with HD platforms include Showtime, MTV, Disney/ESPN, NBC, A&E, Turner and Fox.

Entertainment Weekly's Fifth Annual Pre-Emmy Party
Date: Saturday, Sept 15

Location, Location: David Judaken's new Hollywood hotspots Opera and Crimson, a combined 10,500 sq ft space that accommodates 700. (1650 N. Schrader Avenue)

Hue and Cry: Red and black, animal prints and snake skins.

Theme: The Night Before, when everyone is still a winner.

Bells and Whistles: Crimson 's decadent décor is a rock n' roll fantasy: faux chinchilla and python skin walls, red mosaic tile ceiling, smoked mirrors, tattoo print images, a raindrop waterfall, and a cocktail waitresses dressed as Catholic schoolgirls. Party on! Opera is a seductive theatrical setting with a fogscreen virtual doorway, suede tufted walls, zebra wood floating ceilings, arched halls, wood panels and bars.

Wining and Dining: Food? It'll be good and there will be a lot of it. But the drinks sound better: The Fat Lady Sings, The Phantom and my personal fave, The Drunken Groupie, which some also jokingly refer to as The Courtney Love.

Star Count: Anyone who was – or wants to be – in the magazine. Last year's list included Denis Leary and Lindsay Lohan. This year's guests will be Marcia Gay Harden, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Emily Deschanel, John Krasinski, Tim Daly, Eric Mabius, Emily Procter, Rex Lee, Terry O'Quinn and more.

British American Film and Television/ Los Angeles
5th Annual Primetime Emmy Nominees Tea Party
Date: September 15
Locatlon, location: Hollywood's historic Wattles Mansion - designed in 1907. Think wood floors, beamed ceilings, a wood-paneled library, sprawling terraced gardens with ponds and fountains.
Theme: A proper High Tea party. Warning: do not sip your tea with a spoon left in your cup. It's just not done.
Hue and Cry: Traditional. Waterford tea and Wedgewood china. Classic floral arrangements by Alicia's Garden.
Bells and Whistles: Celebrity teapots! The public is invited to bid on celeb-designed teapots (by casts of "24," "Medium," "Weeds", 'American Idol," "Big Love," "CSI: Miami, "The Office," The Tudors," "Ugly Betty" and more. Also up for grabs: walk-on TV roles and tickets the 08 "American Idol" finale and post party. All proceeds benefit the Educational Outreach programs of the TV Academy Foundation and BAFTA/LA. Begins Sept 5 at www.charityfolks.com

Wining and Dining: mini-scones, Battenburg cake, clotted cream, crustless watercress sandwiches, lots of fresh fruit, and, naturally, pots and pots of tea. Did we mention Grey Goose vodka, Beaulieu wine and bubbly, Dove chocolates and Voss artesian water?

Star Count: Every British, Australian, NewZealand and Canadian TV player. Think Hugh Laurie, Jesse Spencer, Ricky Gervais, Simon Cowell, Kiefer Sutherland, Rachel Griffiths and more.

NBC/Universal's pre Emmy Party
Date: Sept 15

Location, location: Spago, as usual.

Wining and Dining: Duh, Wolfgang Puck? And the party sponsor is
Absolut 100.

Bells and Whistles: No red carpet. No photographers. Think low-key and star-powered. Great schmoozing and lots of room to roam around with no distracting loud rock bands. Actual conversations can be had (and overheard) at this bash.

Star count: All the NBC/Universal nominated show makers and stars and everyone who wishes them well the next night.