Donna Block is not nominated for an Emmy this year, but you might spot the Valley Center resident sitting among the celebrities at the annual TV awards show tonight.

But keep your eyes open. Block might be in a seat near the stage, but then she might appear several rows back after a commercial break. As the camera pans the audience at the show's end, she might be spotted in yet another seat.

Block is a seat-filler, one of a team of people who dart into the studio audience to fill the seat of any guest who is a no-show or has stepped away for a bathroom break, a drink at the bar or for a smoke. Though this will be her first stint at the prime-time Emmys, she is a veteran at warming chairs at more than a dozen other award shows.

Awards shows carry an air of importance, so producers do not want viewers to think certain celebrities found better things to do with their night. If somebody is absent or can't make it through an entire three hours without a break, seat-fillers are called in to make the auditorium appear packed.

"They have coordinators who look for the empty seats," Block said. "Ninety percent of the time, they bring us in and put us in seats prior to the show starting. Then as guests come in, we just move to another empty seat."

Coordinators give signals about where seat-fillers are needed during commercials. While that may mean waiting in the wings for a cue to come in and keep a seat warm for a few minutes, Block said she gets to see about 95 percent of the show while in the auditorium, although usually not from the same seat.

"That's the pay for doing this," she said, explaining that seat-fillers are not paid, but do get their tickets for free.

That may make the folks in the upper balcony feel like chumps.

The public has been able to buy tickets to the Emmys since the event moved from Pasadena Civic Auditorium to the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles in 1998, but they're not cheap. About 2,000 tickets to the top balconies and part of the first balcony are sold for $200 to $400. As with most years, tickets sold out last month.

As a seat-filler, Block has access to a section not available to the public, and often is seated somewhere in the first 10 rows.

"I don't even know the amount of shows I've done," Block said about her two years as a seat-filler. "I imagine it's somewhere around 15 or so. Several I've done twice."

Easy to do

Block, a real estate assistant and independent distributor for the whole food nutritional product Juice Plus, may seem far removed from the celebrity world usually invited to awards functions. But access to that world wasn't that hard.

"My boss's nephew is in the industry, an actor, and he and I were talking one day and he said, 'You know, you can go to those for free,' " she said.

Block learned about Web sites that provide seat-fillers to shows that need them. AudiencesUnlimited.com provides tickets for awards shows, specials and many ongoing programs such as "According To Jim," " America's Funniest Home Videos," "New Adventures of Old Christine" and "Two and a Half Men."

At least two sites that deal exclusively with seat-fillers require applicants to submit a resume, a cover letter and a photograph.

One site, SeatFillersAndMore.com, provides seat-fillers for the Grammy Awards, The BET Music and Comedy awards, VH-1's "Big In '06," the NBA All-Star Game, the Vibe Awards, the Latin Grammy Awards and others.

SeatFiller.com lists the BET network's hip-hop awards in Atlanta as its only pending show.

The Academy Awards uses in-house seat fillers and does not rely on outside agencies.

Last Sunday, Block was in the audience for the Creative Arts Emmys, which recognizes behind-the-scenes talent such as art directors, costume designers, cinematographers, casting directors and sound editors.

Although she didn't know the names of the people getting awards, Block said she had a good time because she liked the shows they worked on and enjoyed host Carlos Mencia.

The Daytime Emmys wasn't quite as enjoyable, she said, because she doesn't watch any of the shows being recognized.

"It was kind of boring to me," she said. "I don't watch soap operas."

Rubbing elbows

As a seat-filler, Block has seen great music, moving acceptance speeches and stunning dance routines on stage, but some of her more memorable experiences have come from the audience.

While attending separate Screen Actors Guild awards shows, where nominees are at dining tables, Block sat with the cast of the movie "Crash" and with the cast of "Grey's Anatomy."

"Patrick Dempsey (from "Grey's Anatomy") said to me, 'Oh, are you on our show now?'" Block said. "I said, 'Yeah, didn't you know?' "

She also has fond memories of seeing Shirley Temple, watching Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder perform at the Lady of Soul show and watching Paul McCartney sing with Jay-Z at the Grammys.

At last Sunday's award show, Block said she saw director Spike Lee, "Ugly Betty" star America Ferrera and singer Billy Ray Cyrus, who was one seat away from her.

Companies that coordinate seat-fillers usually ask for 200 to 400 people per event. Block said her worst experience came when she worked at the last BET awards and there were too many seat-fillers. She spent part of the show outside the auditorium in a holding area.

"That was a first for me, but I wasn't out for too long," she said.

All dressed up

Seat-fillers usually are asked to wear something formal for the events, but told to stay away from white because it stands out. Block said shows like the BET awards are hipper and trendier, so they ask for nightclub attire.

"It gives a girl an excuse to dress up," said Block, who went on a shopping spree for dressy gowns once she started working as a seat-filler. "But I keep my eye out for sales. I got quite a few dresses when Robinson-May went out of business."

Block learned Tuesday that she would be attending tonight's awards show, her first prime-time Emmys.

"I'm very excited at being able to attend this," she said. Block bought a glittery short gown specifically for the show.

She was told to arrive at 11 a.m. sharp today at Pickwick Gardens Conference Center in Burbank, where she and other seat-fillers will be given lunch and an orientation. From there, they will ride in a shuttle to the Shrine Auditorium.

The Emmys start at 5 p.m. but will be broadcast locally at 8 p.m. on Fox.

Seat-fillers are selected individually. Block said she always goes to events alone, but has met a friend, Sharon Gilliam, who lives in Los Angeles and is often at the same event. Gilliam also will be at the Emmys.

This is the start of awards season on television, so Block said she expects to attend more shows, but she is particularly excited about the Emmys.

"My biggest disappointment is that the Chargers play at 5," she said about today's San Diego game against the New England Patriots. "Not to be able to watch it live is just killing me."

But Block said she'll TiVo the game.

"There will be more Chargers games, but the Emmys is just once a year," she said.

Contact staff writer Gary Warth at (760) 740-5410 or gwarth@nctimes.com.

Emmys and more …

- The 59th Primetime Emmy Awards will be broadcast at 8 p.m. tonight on Fox from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Ryan Seacrest hosts. Read more about tonight's broadcast in today's TV Times.

- Saving the Emmys: Hostile, outspoken hosts might boost the ratings: The Donald, Rosie to the rescue? See Page G-1.

- The broadcast networks are trying hard to make you enthusiastic about the new fall season. See Page G-3.