here's kabc's george pennacchio. ? it's time to -- >> reporter: dressed in kermit green olympic gold medalist ryan lochte quickstepped to "the muppets show" theme song. last week he dealt with protesters. this week there was extra security in place just in case. did it give you a little extra confidence going out on the dance floor knowing there was some extra eyes on you? >> yeah, going -- knowing there was extra security and everything helped me out a lot but in the back of my mind, i was still like nervous. >> there was a little powwow before it all started and i saw that there were more security people. >> reporter: after two weeks of dancing, another olympic gold medalist, laurie hernandez, is in first place. >> to go home after gymnastics practice and watch the show and then turn around and be on it is just like mind blowing to me. >> reporter: adding up two weeks of dores and another athlete james hinchcliffe is in second place. >> natural dancing ability isn't a hard worker and i'm a perfectionist and competiti

george pennacchio of kabc in los angeles got a preview. >> it's going to be just like you walk into an enchanted garden. >> reporter: the theme of this year's governors ball, nature's elegance. floral expert kevin lee will use tens of thousands of flowers to make it happen. taking it all one step further, well, producer cheryl cecchetto. >> we're producing this incredible light installation dripping with wisteria and garland and ivy. it's magnificent. it's like a fortress with cypress and three-dimensional artwork. >> reporter: the cocktail, the moonlighter, will get a twist of nature besides the vodka and other spirits in it. >> so, i wanted to have this very crisp, clean drink with kind of bright bursts of green and lavender. >> reporter: plenty of wine to enjoy from sterling vineyards and this chocolate company from kentucky. >> we drove 32 hours with 38,000 pieces of chocolate. quite the adventure. >> reporter: there was also a big meal for all the guests including turf and turf. >> we have a time roasted filet and serving that with a slow braised short rib. >> reporter: but first

los angeles, this george: hi, everyone and welcome to "on the red carpet at the emmys," i'm george pennacchio live at the microsoft los angeles and it is now official, the emmy red carpet is now open. the 68th annual primetime emmys and the stars will be arriving soon, but the truth is, this party got started all during this past week. on friday night alone, there was an emmy celebration for all of the performers who are nominated. a golden harvest moon couldn't outshine tv's brightest stars dazzling the red carpet at the many still elated at the thought of taking home emmy gold. >> to be here and to be nominated, having the show nominated is a wonderful time for us and all involved. >> this feels good when you know you're in a race with people who have put in the work and are a part of something special. >> you work so hard and you get to celebrate on a different level with a >> it's the night of your life happening every day for a week. >> there is nothing like that feeling. george: some still in shock to be invited. >> i was nominated last year and i thought it was a fluke. what if they fi

in los angeles, george pennacchio for abc news. >> if you could bring those to new york -- >> he is alwayscarpet, dapper. dapper. >> he's earned it. >> that's what's making news >> good morning, it is 30:00 a.m., thursday, september 8. >> we're following breaking news, i-95 in delaware is closed because thousands of blank pennies are lying all over the road surface, we'll explain in a live report. >> police are looking for the thieves who targeted asian-american immigrants in northeast philadelphia. >> accuweather is predicting record heat today, dangerous conditions has schools taking off today. >> let's go over to david murphy

george: this is "on the red carpet at the emmys," i'm george pennacchio live just outside the microsoft are greeting the stars as they arrive for television's biggest night. is there any bigger star than my good friend jennifer lewis from tv's blackish and her good friend miles brown also from blackish. general of, you're having a blast and you just arrived. having , i have -- am the time of my life. i'm so excited about our show, we're going to win tonight, i know it. >> whatever she says. george: that's miles, we showed your picture that you took in the car on the ride over. did you feel like you were being pampered all the way here?