Emmy Awards

Jeffrey Dean Morgan, the guy known for bashing everything on "The Walking Dead" ... thinks Emmy-night celebs did something very un-Negan -- easing up on President Trump bashing.

We got JDM flying out of LAX Monday and he said the Trump attacks were toned down this year, but not because Hollywood, in general, approves of POTUS. Keep in mind ... there were still plenty of jabs at 45 and his administration-- just ask Sean Spicer. But still less than last year's slugfest on then-candidate Trump.

Whatever the reason, Jeffrey's just happy folks are getting away from politics at award shows.

He also got a big laugh out of our on-the-nose name suggestion for the kid he and Hilarie Burton are expecting.

Dick Gregory's family didn't hear a peep from anyone involved with the Emmys regarding honoring the iconic comedian, and they absolutely consider it a slap in the face.

One of Dick's sons, Christian Gregory, tells TMZ the omission Sunday night from the In Memoriam segment was especially disrespectful due to his father's legacy. Christian points out most actors and producers of color wouldn't even be working in TV without Dick's civil rights activism and success in entertainment.

As we reported, Gregory, Charlie Murphy, Harry Dean Stanton and Frank Vincent were all left out of the tribute. Murphy's camp had been contacted for photos, but he was still absent from the broadcast segment.

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences hasn't offered an explanation, but they've added all of them -- except Vincent -- to the Academy's website memoriam.

Keyshia Cole trusted a 12-year-old amateur singer to help her belt out a song at a post-Emmys bash ... and the result was simply awesome.

Keyshia performed her song, "Trust," Sunday night at the Golden Soiree at Viva Hollywood -- and she invited a 12-year-old named Serenity, who happens to be in the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

We're told Serenity's a huge fan of Keyshia's and had requested to sing with her -- a wish that was granted by Jimmy Iovine's son, Jamie ... who's close pals with Keyshia.

As you can see, the duo was a hit with the crowd ... and Keyshia even gave a special shout-out to Serenity and Jamie afterward.

Charlie Murphy's rep says he sent the Emmys photos for the show's In Memoriam segment so there is NO excuse for having excluded him.

Domenick Nati tells TMZ, an Emmys producer reached out to him on August 18 asking for photos to include as part of the show's In Memoriam. Domenick obliged and said the producer emailed him 6 days later, saying they could do a nice tribute with what he'd sent.

So when the tribute finally aired Sunday on national television, Domenick was outraged it came and went without Charlie being mentioned. Dick Gregory, Frank Vincent and Harry Dean Stanton were also left out.

Domenick says a producer for the Creative Arts Emmys -- which aired Saturday night on FXX -- also reached out, and that program DID feature Charlie. He says cutting out Charlie, who died in April, from the main broadcast ... on network TV, where his fans were watching, was a big sin.

We've reached out to the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, so far no word back.

Chris Pratt gave us a peek into the current state of his relationship with Anna Faris, and it's pretty clear he still has love for her.

Check out the video ... it starts out a little rough, with Chris explaining he didn't get an invite to the Emmys.

After some dinosaur talk, he squarely addresses Anna and says she killed as a presenter and then gives a plug for her show.

As we reported, the couple has separated and both have stopped wearing their wedding rings. But it sure seems ... no hard feelings.

The stars were out in droves Sunday night after the 69th annual Emmy awards in L.A., and the place to be was Beauty & Essex in Hollywood ... it actually looked like you needed an Emmy to get inside.

Donald Glover came with 2 and what looked like a PEH ... that's personal Emmy holder. Alexander Skarsgard, a supporting actor winner for "Big Little Lies," played doorman and didn't want to let "30 Rock" alum Jack McBrayer inside.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who won for "Veep" again breaking the record for most Emmys won by a performer for the same show, Busy Philipps, and Keegan-Michael Key were there too. And don't forget Sarah Paulson.

Looked like an epic party ... if you could get inside.

Chris Hardwick thinks someone's got some 'splainin' to do after the Emmys overlooked several celebs, including a "legend" in its In Memoriam segment.

We got Chris leaving Beauty & Essex Sunday night in L.A., and brought him up to speed -- the Emmys forgot to honor Dick Gregory, Charlie Murphy, Harry Dean Stanton and Frank Vincent who all died this year.

The showrunners for the 2017 Emmys forgot to honor some noteworthy performers during their in memoriam segment ... including Dick Gregory, Charlie Murphy, Harry Dean Stanton and Frank Vincent who all died this year.

During the memorial montage of Hollywood stars who passed away so far in 2017, a bunch of TV stars, producers and other figures in showbiz were remembered except the above 4 guys ... and many people noticed the omissions, including Common.

It's odd ... all 4 actors had performed in TV shows and series in their careers at one point or another. Gregory had starred in "Reno 911!" and "Wonder Showzen", Murphy in "Chappelle's Show" and "The Boondocks" and others, Stanton in a number of TV roles and Vincent in "The Sopranos."

Still ... the Emmys failed to recognize them regardless.

The Emmys have wrapped ... everyone saw what went down on the show's broadcast, but check out all the happenings from behind the scenes!

The Microsoft Theater held the event's 69th year where "Big Little Lies" and "The Handmaid's Tale" came up big. Nicole Kidman took home an award for best actress for her work on 'BLL' and 'THT' took home the hardware for outstanding drama.

Sean Spicer seems to have fully turned on Donald Trump ... 'cause he just made a cameo at the Emmys to dog his former boss alongside Stephen Colbert.

Colbert, who's hosting this year, was going in on the Prez at the start of the show Sunday when he eventually cracked a joke about the size of the audience, saying it was impossible to know how big it was without some help. That's when he intro'd Spicer, who came onstage with his signature podium.

Spicer came out suited and booted and did a callback to one of his first press conferences under Trump, saying ... "This will be the largest audience to witness an Emmys, period! Both in person and around the world." Colbert quipped ... "Wow, that really soothes my ego."

The audience roared at the surprise visit from the former White House Press Secretary, who resigned earlier this year.

Dave Chappelle's waited a long time for his first Emmy, so you better believe he's showing it off ... EVERYwhere!

We got the comedian walking around WeHo Tuesday brandishing his trophy, and he had a very logical reason for waving it around in public.

Dave's clearly proud of winning the Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his post-election monologue on 'SNL' -- but also admits the whole awards thing's kinda silly. Remember, he had a HUGE show of his own back in the day, and never won.

Still, Chappelle's grateful, and tells us how he's gonna keep the Emmy close. Maybe too close.

Hell yeah, Tamar Braxon's going onstage and celebrating if "The Real" ends up winning a Daytime Emmy Sunday night ... even though the show fired her last year.

Tamar -- on an upcoming appearance on "Home & Family" -- was undaunted by her pink slip, insisting she's not only going to the ceremony ... if the show wins, she'll go onstage to get what's hers.

The singer was a co-host from 2013 to 2016 before she was given the boot.

In case you're wondering ... "The Real" has stiff competition for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Hosts ... with "Live with Kelly" and "The View" among the nominees.

Johnnie Cochran's protege, Carl Douglas, has sympathy for his former O.J. Simpson trial opponent, Marcia Clark ... but only up to a point.

Carl came on "TMZ Live" to talk about 'The People v. O.J. Simpson' cleaning up at the Emmys. Marcia was there with Sarah Paulson, who played her and ended up winning a trophy. Sarah made a special shout-out/apology to Marcia during her acceptance speech.

You gotta hear Carl's take on Marcia getting hammered by the public in the wake of the trial.

Fair to say, he enjoyed Marcia's moment in the spotlight more than he did Jimmy Kimmel's crack about Cochran being in hell.

Another night, another shot of Lindsey Vonn in a smokin' hot dress in West Hollywood ... this time, hitting the Emmy party scene with Kate Beckinsale.

Vonn attended the Emmys earlier in the night in a burgundy dress -- but after a quick wardrobe change, was back on the scene at The Nice Guy.

Lindsey's worked damn hard for that physique -- besides being a world class skier, she's been showing off her squat sessions on Instagram.

You done messed up, Tiger Woods.

Producers Ashley Baumann-Sylvester and Barton Kimball were thrilled to have won an Emmy for "The Voice" ... maybe Ashley more so than Barton.

We got them leaving The Governor's Ball Sunday where they riffed on the suggestion that Miley Cyrus and Alicia Keys would make good Supreme Court justices. Check out the clip -- Ashley loses sight of the question ... all in good fun.

We even asked about Jimmy Kimmel faking out the Emmy crowd with a Bill Cosby introduction ... they had some choice words for that too.

Jill Soloway has lots of rules to live by ... one of which she shares with Jeffrey Tambor.

The "Transparent" creator doubled down when we caught up with her at the Amazon Emmys After-Party in WeHo. Jill's adamant transgender people -- NOT white cisgender males -- need to play themselves in Hollywood.

Jill's also got a strong take on Donald Trump.