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Celebrities toasted at lavish pre-Emmy bash

This year's Emmys are driving some nominees to drink.

Several celebrities teased on the red carpet Friday night at the Emmy performers nominee reception that they would start imbibing early in order to prepare for Sunday's Primetime Emmys, the three-hour ceremony honoring all things television at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles.

"Friday Night Lights" actress Connie Britton hoped to enjoy "some caviar and champagne" with her best girlfriends as she primps for the show, while "So You Think You Can Dance" host Cat Deeley revealed that she would partake in a "margarita and a swim" before the ceremony.

The plan for "Mildred Pierce" actress Melissa Leo was decidedly more dry.

"Everything is all picked out," said Leo. "There is no last-minute decisions for me, so I'll probably hop in the lovely little sauna over there at my hotel, and have a nice little sit in there, probably have a little something to eat early in the day — better than later on in the day. Eventually, the team will come over and start fluffing and primping."

Leo, who won a supporting actress Oscar for her role in "The Fighter" earlier this year, is nominated in the outstanding supporting actress in a miniseries or a movie category. Deeley is a first-time nominee in the outstanding reality TV host category, while Britton is up for her second time as outstanding lead actress in a drama series.

Dozens of this year's celebrity nominees were feted during an annual pre-Emmy soiree at Wolfgang Puck's Spectra inside the Pacific Design Center. On a stage out on the event space's balcony, nominees were presented with certificates by Academy of Television Arts and Sciences chairman John Schaffner, who individually posed for photos with each nominee.

Schaffner and "Modern Family" actress Sofia Vergara, who is nominated in the supporting comedy actress category, are in for a surprise when they peep their picture: Vergara's co-star and fellow Emmy nominee Eric Stonestreet jokingly stuck his head in the background. Stonestreet is up for the supporting comedy actor trophy, which he took home last year.

Inside, attendees feasted on a summer-inspired buffet created by Puck that included such savory dishes as sweet corn tortellini, heirloom tomato salad, roasted chicken, striped sea bass and slow braised short ribs. For dessert, partygoers plucked heavenly cupcakes and brownies from pedestals that were positioned underneath a display of large, fluffy clouds.

"I will probably just pace in the hotel room," said "Downton Abbey" actress Elizabeth McGovern, who is nominated for a miniseries or movie lead actress trophy, of her Emmy morning plans. "It starts pretty early, doesn't it? I don't think I will do too much. I will go probably get a coffee, come back, pace some more, probably read my book to calm down."

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Memorable quotes from the Primetime Emmy Awards

Heard at the 63rd annual Primetime Emmy Awards:

Guy Pearce, left, is seen with costar Kate Winslet before accepting the award for outstanding supporting actor in a miniseries or a movie for “Mildred Pierce” at the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)"Modern Family was this close to being animated. That's how much we didn't want to work with kids." — "Modern Family" co-creator Steve Levitan acknowledging the child actors on the show as he accepts the award for outstanding comedy series.
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"We are showing the world that there's absolutely nothing wrong in a relationship between an old man and a hot young woman. Looking around this room, I see many of you agree." — Steve Levitan, co-creator of "Modern Family," as he accepts the award for outstanding comedy series.
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"It was delightful working on 'Mildred Pierce.' I got to have sex with Kate Winslet many, many times. (Looking at Kate Winslet in the audience.) Thank you for allowing me to insert myself into your world of Mildred."— Guy Pearce, as he accepts the award for supporting actor in a mini-series, "Mildred Pierce."
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"I love being your good wife and I'm so grateful you have no political aspirations." — Julianna Margulies to her husband, as she accepts the award for outstanding lead actress in drama series "The Good Wife," in which she plays a politician's wife.
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"Welcome back to the 'Modern Family' award show. We've decided to throw them into the drama category and see what happens." — Host Jane Lynch, upon returning from a commercial break after "Modern Family" sweeps the first slate of awards.
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"There's Betty White. She's the reason we start the show at 5 p.m. on the West Coast." — Host Jane Lynch as she opens the show, referring to the 89-year-old White's age.
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"Katie Holmes is in the audience. I'd love to say something funny about her but I'm scared of her husband" (Tom Cruise) — Host Jane Lynch, as she opens the show.
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"Real life handed us the stories. My children walked in on my wife and I while we were in the act...Thank you to my somewhat satisfied wife and to my three traumatized children." — "Modern Family" co-creator Steve Levitan, accepting the award for writing on comedy series.

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