Summer is over, which means awards season is just gearing up. First on our roster of events to eat (and drink) through? The Emmys.
The annual awards show, put on by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, is about honoring the best in television. This year's nominees are spread across an impressive mix of streaming and prime-time shows. Game of Thrones leads the pack with 23 nominations (including one for Maisie Williams!), and The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story is just one behind with 22 nods.
There's one more reason to step away from your Netflix login or pause whatever is playing on your Apple TV: The Emmy Awards' red carpet provides an ideal backdrop for some great #TBTs. Remember when Mindy Kaling and Ellie Kemper were just funny ladies on The Office? Both are bonafide TV stars now. Before she was was voted into Veep 's oval office, Julia Louis Dreyfus was Seinfeld 's fresh-faced supporting actress. In the years when her Empire character Cookie Lyon would have been behind bars, Taraji P. Henson was making her first appearance in low-cut jeans at an Emmy Awards after-party.
See some priceless red carpet throwbacks of stars at their very first Emmys, ahead.
Jimmy Fallon
First: 54th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, 2002
Young Jimmy — just a lowly SNL scribe.
Photo: STEWART COOK/REX.
Jimmy Fallon
Most recent: 66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, 2014
What's that suit made out of? Could it be h ost material?
Photo: Stewart Cook/REX.
Rami Malek
First: 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards Party, 2010
Baby Elliot Alderson, pre-hacking side hustle.
Photo: Alex J. Berliner/BEI/REX.
Rami Malek
Most recent: Television Academy’s Peer Group Celebration, August 2016
Malek is a big-time actor now, and Eliot is doing big-time hacks.
Photo: MediaPunch/REX.
Mindy Kaling
First: 58th Annual Creative Arts Emmy Awards, 2006
Mindy Kaling, when she was better known as The Office 's fast-talking Kelly Kapoor.
Photo: Matt Baron/BEI/REX.
Mindy Kaling
Most recent: 67th Primetime Emmy Awards, 2015.
Mindy didn't walk the red carpet, but showed up as a presenter.
Photo: Michael Buckner/Variety/REX.
Kevin Spacey
First: 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, 2008
While Frank and Claire Underwood were ascending to D.C. royalty, Kevin Spacey was chilling on the 2008 Emmys red carpet.
Photo: Picture Perfect/REX/Shutterstock.
Kevin Spacey
Most recent: 66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, 2014
Spacey and CNN star Ashleigh Banfield on the 2014 red carpet (she obviously didn't suffer the same fate as journalist Zoe Barnes).
Photo: Rob Latour/REX.
Tracee Ellis Ross
First: ET and Glamour 's post Emmy Party, 2003
This was a good year for animal print, and an even better year for this Girlfriends star.
Photo: Stewart Cook/REX.
Tracee Ellis Ross
Most recent: 67th Primetime Emmy Awards, 2015
Fingers crossed the Black-ish nominee brings mom Diana Ross for some mother-daughter red carpet time.
Photo: Jim Smeal/REX.
Maisie Williams
First: Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Evening with Game of Thrones, 2013
Williams' golden trim is serving a Stark vibe.
Photo: Jim Smeal/BEI/REX.
Maisie Williams
Most recent: 67th Primetime Emmy Awards, 2015
We're not sure what Arya Stark would think of this look — but Williams looks stunning.
Photo: Picture Perfect/REX.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
First: 44th Primetime Emmy Awards, 1992
A throwback to Louis-Dreyfus' Seinfeld days.
Photo: BEI/REX/Shutterstock.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Most recent: 67th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, 2015
As Veep 's Selina Meyer, J.L.D. is comedy's commander in chief.
Photo: Jim Smeal/REX.
Keri Russell
First: 51st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, 1999
Keri Russell could wear that dress to Sunday's Emmys and it would still be on our best-dressed list.
Photo: Peter Brooker/REX.
Keri Russell
Most recent: 62nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, 2010
Standing solo on the red carpet, Russell is giving off an ethereal vibe in this pink dress.
Photo: Jim Smeal/BEI/REX.
Bryan Cranston
First: 55th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, 2003
Is he the one who knocks?
Photo: D STEINBERG/BEI/REX.
Bryan Cranston
Most recent: 66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, 2014
The Breaking Bad star was all smiles...and whatever is going on with that mustache.
Photo: Rob Latour/REX.
Felicity Huffman
First: 55th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, 2003
Felicity Huffman, who's been married to William H. Macy since 1997, only played a desperate housewife on TV.
Photo: Peter Brooker/REX.
Felicity Huffman
Most recent: 67th Primetime Emmy Awards, 2015
A marriage 19-years-strong.
Photo: Matt Baron/REX.
Taraji P. Henson
First: Entertainment Weekly Emmy Party, 2003
While Cookie Lyon was in prison, Taraji P. Henson's film career started taking off.
Photo: Picture Perfect/REX.
Taraji P. Henson
Most recent: 67th Primetime Emmy Awards, 2015
Does Cookie ever play around? Taraji certainly doesn't.
Photo: Jim Smeal/REX.
Sofia Vergara
First: 62nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, 2010
TV's highest-paid actress before Modern Family 's peak.
Photo: Picture Perfect/REX.
Sofia Vergara
Most recent: 67th Primetime Emmy Awards, 2015
Five years later, and she has Magic Mike star Joe Manganiello on her arm.
Photo: Jim Smeal/REX.
Ellie Kemper
First: 62nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, 2010
Ellie Kemper in her Erin Hannon days.
Photo: BDG/REX/Shutterstock.
Ellie Kemper
Most recent: 67th Primetime Emmy Awards, 2015
She's on the red carpet, dammit! It's a miracle!
Photo: Jim Smeal/REX.
Elisabeth Moss
First: 61st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, 2009
Mad Men 's HBIC.
Photo: Peter Brooker/REX.
Elisabeth Moss
Most recent: 67th Primetime Emmy Awards, 2015
Has life after Mad Men turned Elisabeth Moss into Betty Draper?
Photo: Jim Smeal/REX.
Kerry Washington
First: 63rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, 2011
Oh, the red carpet? It's handled.
Photo: Jim Smeal/BEI/REX.
Kerry Washington
Most recent: 67th Primetime Emmy Awards, 2015
Olivia Pope is a gladiator, and Kerry Washington is, too.
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