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Late Night TV Show Tapings
Jimmy Kimmel Live studio
Overview: Seeing a show being taped or filmed in person is definitely a fun adventure when you’re in Los Angeles. You have a chance to see actors in person, the TV show sets and the process of filming and interaction between directors, cameramen, actors and all that takes place behind the screen. Shows have several sets and they are partitioned.
If you are in Los Angeles, set aside a day to watch a taping of a comedy or late night talk show. Be forewarned, set aside an entire day. At least for comedies, you’ll stand in line on either a Hollywood studio lot (or on the sidewalk in front of the building where the show takes place such as the Jimmy Kimmel Live), then get ushered into the building where the tapings take place. There will be a page who will give you instructions during the taping. Mainly, laugh when the signs above the audience flash “Laugh.” Scenes usually aren’t taken once. Usually, scenes are taken several times. That means, you’ll have to laugh several times at the same jokes. There is a semi warm-up act to get the crowd ready for the taping of a show.
Plan and order tickets weeks ahead of time. Pick a date and start your ticket ordering process. This gives you and the studio and/or companies who handle tickets time to process tickets and if need be, to cancel tickets. Don’t order more tickets than you will use.
Purchase Tickets: 1 iota at www.1iota.com, On Camera Audiences at www.ocatv.com
Cost: Ticket prices vary but many are free because shows want audiences. Check the websites above.
Accessibility: Studios have wheelchair accessible seating accomodations.
Getting There: www.bigbluebus.com, http://www.culvercity.org/bus/bus.asp, www.metro.net, www.ladottransit.com