Election Night Watch Parties on Ice as Anxiety, Action Sweep Hollywood

There’s a common refrain running through Hollywood regarding election night plans: Put the champagne on ice.

Celebratory and star-packed shindigs of years past — basically anything prior to 2016 — are just that, history, and have been replaced by casual, more intimate and anxiety-filled gatherings. The reason? It’s complicated, and best explained by one of the industry’s most politically active producers.

“The biggest change for me personally is the understanding that we most likely will not have a confirmed outcome by the end of election night. We’ve now seen major swings with vote-by-mail being counted later than in-person voting, so the idea of doing a ‘party’ on election night doesn’t make sense due to that uncertainty, and others probably feel the same way,” explains Jamie Patricof, founder of Hunting Lane, an auteur-driven film, TV and documentary production company and a longtime political activist. “The 2016 election was also traumatizing for a lot of people, and the fact that 2020 extended until that Saturday has changed the course of election night plans. For me, it’s now more important to be with friends, family and people who have poured their hearts, time and effort into getting candidates elected that are critical to the policies and issues important to them and us. There are plenty of other days and nights to have parties.”

Patricof counted among the thousands inside New York’s Javits Center in 2016, site of what was expected to be a roof-raising, glass-shattering celebration for Hillary Clinton. But as the results came in, Donald Trump emerged as the 45th president of the United States and the good vibes made the opposite of a graceful exit as they were vacuumed out in a flash, leaving wounds that still seem fresh.

“I’m personally still traumatized from being at the Javits Center so I’ll likely be doing something less official and I would not be surprised if others felt the same way,” relays another industry professional attendee, echoing the same sentiment as Patricof. “The experience is seared into my memory. The slow disappearance of campaign staff as early numbers came in, abandoned fully stocked bars. I stayed until late to watching the coverage on the big screens with the small number of people that remained because if I left it was really happening.” As a result, the insider says they will be hunkering down at home: “I will say I’m cautiously optimistic but mentally preparing myself for the worst.”

The same can be said for the entertainment industry professionals surveyed by The Hollywood Reporter in the days leading up to Nov. 5. Another one of Hollywood’s most politically active producers reports that they will be “pacing” on the set of their new movie while watching results trickle in. A well-placed communications executive will be playing poker with friends as a distraction. Couch surfing with remote in hand for more than a handful who were asked to share plans. “People are honestly too scared to jinx anything,” one said. Pizza and cable news is on the menu for a veteran manager. Kelli McNeil-Yellen, writer, producer and founder of KLA Media, will be focusing on a different menu by tackling a challenging recipe from Julia Child.

“My husband [director/cinematographer Alexander Yellen] and I got a mid-priced bottle of pinot noir to accompany the meal — nothing in the celebratory price range but also nothing cheap — and are tackling the original Julia Child boeuf bourguignon recipe from scratch for two reasons: One, it’s going to take hours to make and hopefully keep our minds off things, and secondly, we’re going to need some comfort food and we can’t think of anything that sticks to your ribs better than an OG Julia Child recipe,” said McNeil-Yellen.

As for Patricof, he plans to be stuck like glue “to all the pundits I’ve spent every day and night with for the last few years.” He continued: “This is like my Super Bowl. I can’t wait for the Steve Kornacki cam [on NBC]. I totally envy and respect anyone who can play Monopoly Deal and enjoy Tuesday night by taking their mind off the election. I will definitely be taking advantage of watching four windows at once on YouTube TV.”

But that will only come after a long day for Patricof whose other plans on Election Day highlight another trend. Due to the exceptionally tight race between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, some insiders aren’t keen to kick up their heels and crack open a cold one. Instead they are laser-focused on taking action through phone banks, canvassing, political rallies and last-minute organizing to squeeze out every possible vote.

Patricof is teaming with congressman Eric Swalwell for what is being billed by organizers as “the largest all-day phone banking event ever.” It’s dubbed Everyone for Kamala and will kick off at 10 a.m. ET on Hovercast, a virtual events platform with interactive live streaming features that drive viewers to take action. Viewers will be able to participate in grassroots phone banking alongside politicos and notable names like Ben Stiller, Jessica Alba, John Legend, Kelly Rowland, Ken Jeong, Mark Cuban, Kerry Washington, Joel McHale, Mark Ruffalo, Uzo Aduba, Bellamy Young, Bradley Whitford, Tony Goldwyn, Sophia Bush, Carole Radziwill, Quentin James, Mark Feuerstein, Shannon Watts, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ben Winkler, Doc Rivers, Ashlyn Harris, Max Greenfield and others.

Similarly, Stars in the House hosts Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley Jackson are revving up a second installment of their Election Day Vote-A-Thon, this one in partnership with nonpartisan groups Broadway Votes and Joy to the Polls. As a fundraiser for the Entertainment Community Fund, the event will feature some of Broadway’s brightest stars like Lin-Manuel Miranda, Martin Short, Matthew Broderick, Neil Patrick Harris, David Burtka, Rachel Bloom, Jonathan Groff, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Josh Groban, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Rosie Perez, Wayne Brady, Jessie Mueller, Shoshana Bean, J. Harrison Ghee, Andrea Martin, Javier Muñoz, Rachel Bay Jones, Nina West, Lauren Patten, stars from the original Broadway cast of Hairspray, members of the cast of Glee and many others during a six-hour livestream. The event will feature musical and dance performances and anecdotes from the front-lines at the polls.

A rep for the Women’s March confirmed that the organization is hosting a “working day” calling Latina voters at its Boyle Heights headquarters. The watch party and phone bank is an all day affair, scheduled from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

For those craving in-real-life activities, there will be options.

The Harris-Walz campaign is hosting an event at a private office on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. “Instead of sitting and biting your nails alone while watching the election results, do this with us and other like-minded people,” reads the official event invite, that says the watch party is hosted by Obama alumni and local community members.

California Democrats will be toasting the races and watching results at an undisclosed location in Downtown Los Angeles where elected officials, statewide leaders and party insiders are expected to be on the scene. Partners on the event, which begins at 8 p.m., include Adam Schiff for Senate, L.A. County Democratic Party and L.A. County Federation of Labor.

Local Republicans have plenty of options for watch parties. A representative for the L.A. GOP directed THR to its website for a rundown of gatherings on Tuesday night. There’s a Patriot’s Celebration at Matt Denny’s Ale House in Arcadia, a watch party at Roscoe’s House of Chicken & Waffles in Long Beach, an event at Tower 12 in Hermosa Beach, a gathering at Arnie’s Cafe in Tujunga (“Dress Patriotic,” reads the invite), and a large bash at Coco Beach Bar & Grill in Marina Del Rey hosted by Denny Schneider and feature master of ceremonies Scott Carter, comedian John DiResta and local elected officials.

“Join us for the night we’ve all been fighting, praying and waiting for nine years,” reads a flyer promoting the latter event. “It will be a night of familiar faces, old and new friends gathering to celebrate Trump’s return and to honor, Shiva Beghari, an unsung hero of L.A.’s MAGA movement who has sacrificed much for the cause.” Also on the program: “Some offensive, politically incorrect comedy.”

While champagne may be on ice for tomorrow, other Hollywood insiders are still proceeding with caution when it comes to the rest of the week. “We have no idea what this week will bring us,” reads an invite that landed in our inbox today. “We will still love to have you join us for an early screening…”

No word yet on how many RSVPs are rolling in as the future of American politics gets decided at the polls. But as for that producer who will be pacing on set, she passed along some final thoughts via email: “We are all feeling that democracy will prevail.”