HOW TO: Follow the 2011 Emmy Awards Online

The
63rd Primetime Emmy Awards hits the airwaves at 8 p.m. ET on FOX, and now there are more ways than ever to enjoy the broadcast, eavesdrop behind the scenes and join the conversation using social media.

While you can’t legally watch the Emmys live online, we’ve whipped together this list of handy companion tools: a backstage livestream; an app that aggregates viewers’ social media activity and spits out related Emmy content in real time; a Twitter list of celebrity attendees and nominated shows; and photo-sharing sites with Emmy pictures.

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2011 Emmys Live Blog with Mashable’s Christina Warren

Last year’s Emmys began toying with the online social dialogue. This year, with social media-minded
Mark Burnett as executive producer, the Emmys and the resources below should help online participation reach new heights. Burnett is no stranger to turning TV shows into interactive powerhouses; he’s done it with Survivor, The Apprentice and
The Voice, a singing competition that recently became a 24/7 social media conversation.

Live Video

Tune into the livestream above to simultaneously watch backstage action that the cameras don’t catch during the main Emmys telecast. Returning for its second year, the backstage webcast starts at 8 P.M. ET and has added a new feature: a host. Comedian
Michael Kosta will provide commentary and jokes for you as he hangs out in the control room, where he’ll monitor footage from the show and 10 backstage cameras. Those cameras will follow presenters and nominees as they answer questions in the press room and mingle in the greenroom and the winners area. One camera will follow every move and word Lynch makes or says behind the scenes.

iPhone & iPad App

If you’re an
iPhone or
iPad user, you can download the free
Emmys app to use during the show. The app aggregates social media activity ? like reactions from your fellow viewers ? about the Emmys and a bevy of other items. On the iPhone, you’ll find news, photos and videos from this year?s telecast as well as nominee and winner information from past Emmys. On the iPad, the app uses the audio around you to find where you are in the broadcast and then syncs your iPad to that moment. Once synced, the app gives you related content to each moment of the telecast such as biographies, videos, fashion information, trivia, red carpet photos and backstage news.

SEE ALSO:
8 Twitter Accounts to Follow for #EMMYS Commentary

YouTube

Leading up to Sunday’s show, the show’s
YouTube channel has filled up with short, entertaining clips, including one of Burnett, in which he describes his social media initiatives and touts the show’s
Twitter account,
hashtag and free
app (see video number two).

Primetime Emmy Awards

1. 
   

   
   

   “Life After Emmy”

   
   

   
   

   “The Primetime Emmy Awards. Television’s biggest night. But after the acceptance speeches are given and the champagne is poured, how does life change after winning an Emmy? Jeremy Piven, Kristin Chenoweth, Jack

   
   
   HOW TO: Follow the 2011 Emmy Awards Online