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On the evening of Jan. 19, EW exclusively went where no press outlet had been been before: to the meeting where Screen Actors Guild Awards producers decided who sits where during the glitzy show, airing live on TBS and TNT this Sunday, Jan. 30. EW watched the SAG team figure out where to put 716 folks (mostly large, boldfaced casts from the nominated movies and TV shows) on the ballroom floor of the Shrine Exposition Center. How do they decide where everyone sits? “We try to be fair,” explains producer Kathy Connell. “If people were all the way in the back last year, we’re going to try to move them up this year. And vice versa.” Here are some tidbits from the night’s decisions:
• The Social Network: With a star-studded cast — Jessie Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Rooney Mara, Max Minghella, and Justin Timberlake — Network gets a prime spot right up front, to the left of the stage. Producers decided to put presenter and SNL alum Amy Poehler at the same table so she could be near fave SNL host Timberlake. Minghella is attending with actress Kate Mara (127 Hours), sister of Network‘s Rooney Mara.
• Glee: Just try to seat a cast as big as Glee, which could have as many as 42 attendees when you factor in producers and dates. Lea Michele, Jane Lynch, and Co. will be up front, off stage left, where the Dexter folks were last year.
• The Kids Are All Right: Just behind Social Network will be The Kids Are All Right, including Annette Bening and her hubby Warren Beatty. Who wouldn’t want a pair of Hollywood royals up front? “That’s another we have to consider,” explains producer Jon Brockett. “High-profile dates!”
For a full breakdown of where the stars will be sitting at this Sunday’s Screen Actors Guild Awards — including deets on where Natalie Portman and her Black Swan cohorts will be, and why Mariska Hargitay, Hilary Swank, and Hugh Laurie are all sitting together — pick up the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly, on stands Friday, Jan. 28. (The SAG Awards will be simulcast live on TBS and TNT at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.)
Tanner on Twitter: @EWTanStransky
More from EW.com:
Screen Actors Guild Awards on EW’s Must List
Awards Season Calendar 2011: See it here!
SAG Awards give ‘True Grit’ stars some love: A look at Oscar implications
SAG’s TV nominations: What did they miss?
SAG Awards: ‘Modern Family’ and Betty White(!) nab honors
Oscar predictions: Post-SAG rankings
Shweeeeeet! Wish I could sit with either Glee or with Hargitay and Swank.
I wish i can sit on michael c. hall lap
Like.
i see plastic sheets in your future
Wow I would LOVE to do these seating arrangements hahaha. But why isn’t Amy Poehler with Tina Fey! Wouldn’t that make more sense? haha.
That’s what I thought. Amy Poehler grouped with pretty bland people?
Why is she even there? She & Tina Fey have no talent. Fey gets kudos for maligning a great American female because she looks like her.
Barry…I hope you’re kidding. “No talent”? Surely you’re confusing Tina Fey with the hate-filled, idiot woman she impersonates.
Tease! I wanted to know where Hugh Laurie will sit!
It says he’s with Swank and hargitay
I would definitely want to sit next to Hugh Laurie. He seems like the kind of person that always has something witty/interesting to say. And dang it, those blue eyes of his are mesmerizing.
Yea. Me too… He is just too hot.
Wow, I would absolutely love to sit with Amy Poehler and Will Arnett (I assume he’ll be there with her). That would be so frickin awesome.
Why does EW keep pushing Annette Bening ad nauseam? She leaves me cold.
I think it is because EW goes for buzz and the buzz is that Benning is going to win the OSCAR, so she will get the EW push.
There is buzz that Bening will win the Oscar? I thought Portman was a sure thing by anyone’s prediction.
I wanna be at the social Network table…where’s Armie Hammer though?
Mariska Hargitay and Hilary Swank? I smell something fishy there. Why they sitting together?
Because they are Best Friends..lol
Yeah, they’re best friends alright.
Such riveting news.
What a riveting article! I’m totally buying the magazine for this alone.
The Glee cast should be sitting outside the door. They have become the most overated show and cast of characters (except for Jane who we still love from 2 1/2 Men)on TV.
I will watch the SAG to see my goddess Marisaka Hargitay. If she smiles for the camera I’ve got my day. She’s beautiful.
A table with Mariska (beautiful), Hilary and Hugh. Now that is a gathering of talents.