EMMYS GET LAUNCHED IN A FLASH OF FASHION

As about 400 fans lined up across the street from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium late Sunday afternoon, the TV stars of this year and yesteryear ignored the 85-degree thermometer reading during the arrival ritual at the 37th annual prime-time Emmy Awards.

The stars of “Miami Vice,” this year’s most-nominated show, also received the biggest cheers from the fans. Befitting the show’s trendy fashion element, Don Johnson arrived in a glittery tuxedo with salmon-colored bow tie, while co-star Philip Michael Thomas sported a deep purple shirt.

But Thomas, who stayed outdoors working the crowd until 10 minutes before air time, said he didn’t feel any pressure to dress up just because he’s representing “Miami Vice.” “No, I dress this way every day,” he said.

Other fashion statements: Cybill Shepherd wearing a strapless velvet full-length gown and high-top fluorescent orange Reebok sneakers, which she said she planned to wear through the ceremony; Tom Selleck in a cream-colored double-breasted jacket; Linda Gray in a sheer dress revealing just about everything beneath it; and Mr. T. in a Japanese-style robe.

While many of the biggest behind-the-scenes names in television slipped by virtually unnoticed--including ABC Entertainment President Lewis Erlicht, a contingent of writers, and director Jay Sandrich from “The Cosby Show”--the fans went wild for the arrivals of such TV notables as Stephen Furst and Howie Mandel of “St. Elsewhere,” Joan Collins with fiance Peter Holm, Tony Danza (“Who’s the Boss?”), Ted Danson (“Cheers”) and Angela Lansbury (“Murder, She Wrote”).

Stars of days gone by, including Adam West (“Batman”), Robert Vaughn (“The Man From U.N.C.L.E.”) and Dwayne Hickman (“Dobie Gillis”) also escaped the attention of the massed photographers as they slipped inside for the ceremonies.