When TV cameras minimize to celebrities on the Emmys, what viewers don’t see are the individuals quietly slipping out and in of rows to verify the viewers seems to be full on the awards present. Purposefully wearing darkish clothes so that they don’t stand out, seat fillers on Sunday may discover themselves subsequent to stars like Seth Rogen, Scarlett Johansson or Selena Gomez. They only higher not take a photograph with them.
This yr, a type of individuals was Yahoo’s Kelly Walsh. As a fan of awards exhibits, she utilized to attend on a whim, paid her personal approach from Boston to Los Angeles and wound up navigating parking garages, adhering to strict gown codes and subsisting on little or no meals or water — all for the prospect to sit down in the course of tv’s greatest night time. On this interview with Yahoo’s Taryn Ryder, Kelly reveals what it’s actually prefer to be a seat filler on the Emmys.
How I received the gig
I’d seen individuals on TikTok and Instagram speaking about being seat fillers for award exhibits, and it simply appeared so enjoyable. I Googled it and located this website: seatfillersandmore.com. I made a profile and noticed there was an possibility to use for the Emmys. Actually, the entire thing seems to be type of sketchy, like a type of web sites the place you’re like, How did you not get scammed?
The appliance was actually easy: You ship in a headshot and your license or passport info. I’m assuming it’s to allow them to run some type of verify to ensure you’re not a stalker. I assumed, “I’m not going to get this, however I’ll simply throw my identify in.”
I created an account on Sept. 3, and three days later, I received the e-mail saying I’d been authorised. Immediately, I used to be going to be a seat filler on the Emmys.
Planes, parking garages and many strolling
I booked my very own flight and lodge. It’s not a paid gig — you cowl all your personal prices. Flights weren’t low-cost; it was about $600 spherical journey. I used some [credit card] factors [to help cover the cost]. The lodge was the costliest half. Individuals requested me, “How a lot do they pay you?” and I used to be like, “Oh no, you don’t receives a commission in any respect.”
Test-in on Sunday was between 1 and three p.m. PT at this random parking storage by the L.A. Conference Middle that exhibits up on Google Maps as “completely closed.” I bear in mind considering, “That is so shady.” Nevertheless it wasn’t. You wait in line, they verify your ID, provide you with a purple ribbon to pin in your gown so that they know you’re a seat filler, after which they march you what feels just like the longest approach doable across the Conference Middle and Crypto.com Area to a tent out again.
It was the world’s warmest tent, filled with a whole lot of us, there have been no actual directions. Simply water and handwritten numbers on index playing cards. Then you definitely sit and look ahead to hours, listening on your group [number] to be known as. Once they do name you, you line up once more, shuffle by means of hallways and wait some extra till somebody wants your seat. It’s a whole lot of standing and a whole lot of strolling.
Kelly on the Emmys. (Courtesy of Kelly Walsh)
The foundations
The primary e-mail spelled it out: you’re there to mix in. You’re taking the seat of somebody who most likely paid $25,000, or so I used to be advised, contained in the venue. You’re not there to make mates, you’re not there to take footage and also you’re undoubtedly not there totally free meals or drinks. In the event you’re seen with alcohol, you’ll be eliminated. In the event you refuse to maneuver when requested, you’ll be eliminated. They weren’t messing round.
Gown code was strict: males needed to be in tuxedos or darkish fits, ladies in formal clothes that have been darkish and easy. No pink, no white, no frills, nothing too lengthy. Flats are really helpful because you’re in your toes for hours. In the event you introduced a handbag, it needed to be a small clutch — and also you held onto it the entire night time as a result of there’s no coat verify.
Even with all these guidelines, issues occur. At one level, the [scent of] perfume within the room was so overpowering — everybody’s fragrance and cologne — I received a migraine. I requested safety if I may get some water so I may take my migraine treatment, as a result of we have been advised we weren’t allowed to purchase drinks. The safety guard simply checked out me and mentioned, “That’s insane. Go get one thing to drink. If anybody hassles you, inform them my identify. Then come again.” He was nice. However the fragrance state of affairs? It was like strolling right into a teenage boy’s locker room — simply brutal.
Contained in the present
My first placement [of the night] was technically on the second stage, however throughout a industrial break I seen different seat fillers with ribbons making a beeline right down to the principle flooring. No one was yelling at them, so I simply adopted. That’s how I ended up proper in the course of all the things.
Kelly shares behind-the-scenes moments from contained in the 2025 Emmys. (Courtesy of Kelly Walsh)
I used to be undoubtedly sitting close to individuals who have been vital, however not essentially the celebrities themselves. I may inform they have been writers or manufacturing individuals, however I had no thought who they have been. You’re feeling a bit of awkward — I do know you’re somebody, however I can’t ask, ‘Who’re you?’ So I simply sat there, smiled and tried to be well mannered.
Nate Bargatze’s vibe
At first, I assumed his countdown bit was intelligent — like, “OK, it is a humorous method to get individuals to maintain their speeches brief.” However nobody revered it. All of them simply saved speaking. Fairly shortly, it stopped being humorous and simply received awkward.
The lady sitting subsequent to me mentioned, “Get this man off stage,” underneath her breath. You can really feel the viewers souring on it. Typically they’d flash the rating and it might say one thing like destructive $36,000, and other people would go “Ooh,” however the speaker wouldn’t cease. The power within the room shifted from lighthearted to uncomfortable. Everybody simply needed him to maneuver on.
The night time’s large winners
[I loved to see] Adolescence successful a whole lot of awards. I assumed the performing was nice, so I used to be aggressively clapping each time they gained. However the individuals round me weren’t clapping. It felt like this bizarre, petty factor I used to be simply observing — why aren’t you clapping? It stood out to me as a result of it was such an enormous night time for them, and I used to be surrounded by individuals who appeared unimpressed or didn’t need to present assist. I simply saved considering, That’s unusual. Then I noticed I probably wasn’t sitting within the Netflix part.
Stephen Colbert was by far the spotlight of the night time. When he gained, the power was unreal. The entire room stood, cheering and clapping — apart from perhaps three guys in entrance of me who stayed seated. His speech was so filled with optimism. He mentioned, “I’ve by no means cherished my nation extra desperately. God bless America.” Individuals cherished it. You can really feel the room buzzing together with his power. It was electrical.
Stephen Colbert and the crew from The Late Present With Stephen Colbert. (Chris Pizzello/AP)
Expectations vs. actuality
Would I do it once more? Positively. In the event you go in anticipating to sit down subsequent to celebrities or take selfies, you’re going to be disenchanted. It’s not glamorous. However if you happen to go in simply completely satisfied to be there, you’ll have the very best time. You’re a part of the present, even if you happen to’re invisible. Not everybody will get to do that. I really feel actually fortunate that I did.
This has been edited for size and readability.
