TV tapings offer students off-campus entertainment
By Christopher Saroki
June 22, 2003 9:00 p.m.
Los Angeles, home of celebrities, scandals and TV tapings —
that’s right, many sitcoms, talk shows and a few game shows
film within an hour’s drive from campus. Here’s how to
join the audience.
Acquiring tickets: Decide which show
you’d like to see. All shows are free, and some will even pay
you to come. Audiences Unlimited gives tickets to most sitcoms,
from “Everybody Loves Raymond” to “That
’70s Show.” You can view their lineup and reserve
tickets online at: www.tvtickets.com, or call (818) 753-3470.
However, you won’t find “Becker,”
“Frasier,” “The Price is Right,” or a few
other shows on Audiences Unlimited. To get tickets to
“Becker,” “Frasier,” and other shows filmed
at Paramount, call Paramount at (323) 956-5575. If you want tickets
to the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” call NBC at (818)
840-3537, or call Audience Associates. Audience Associates, a
smaller company similar to Audiences Unlimited, also has a
selection of TV tapings, including “The Tonight Show,”
“Becker,” and a few game shows. Check their Web site at
www.tvtix.com, or call (323) 653-4105.
For these tapings, be sure to call as early as possible, because
some shows give out tickets months beforehand. If you forget to
call early, don’t give up. There could be open spots even up
to the time of the taping. If you still can’t find the show
you’re looking for, browse www.seeing-stars.com/tapings or
www.studioaudiences.com.
The Price is Right: A Bruin favorite,
“The Price is Right” continues more than three decades
after the first show. If you don’t mind a long wait and
politically incorrect gender roles, you might want to go to
“The Price is Right.” To increase your chances of
making it to a showcase showdown, go with a group of more than 15
and show energy and enthusiasm when you are briefly interviewed.
Keep your ears open. The dorms’ Program Assistants tend to
take their floors to this show, but if your PA suffers from severe
lameness ““ or a legitimate distaste for shows which feature
mute women ““ ask your friends if you can come on down with
their floor. If you want to organize your own group (10 people or
more), you can call (323) 575-2458 for tickets. For information on
getting tickets for less than 10 people, call (323) 575-2449.
Don’t take your time, Bob Barker is getting old ““ but
he can still kick Adam Sandler’s butt.
What to expect: A lot of waiting. Expect about
two to three hours in line for “The Price is Right,”
and most sitcoms require you to come an hour and a half early. Even
if you make it on time, there is no guarantee you’ll get in,
even with tickets or reservations. The taping for a half-hour
sitcom runs about three to four hours. Even after the taping
starts, there are a lot of breaks and transitional times, during
which an MC will try to entertain you. Start times vary, but on
average you’ll leave six hours older than when you arrived.
Unless you’ve got a will of steel, you won’t be able to
read or study in line. Bring friends you can talk with for hours,
or de-strangify some strangers while you wait.
What to bring: You need to be 18 years old and
bring an official, government-licensed picture ID for the
“Price is Right,” and you should also bring your Social
Security card. Other tapings have different age requirements, the
minimum age ranging from 12 to 18. No matter what the age
requirement, be sure to bring your ID.
What not to bring: You can bring food, but you
must eat it during the waiting period. No food is allowed during
the actual taping. No electronics, not even a cell phone. Leave it
in the car.
Fundraising: You can call ahead of time and
arrange to be paid to bring a group to a taping. Groups, usually
consisting of 10 to 40 people, can earn about $12 to $16 a person.
Feel free to try to bargain for the highest possible donation. You
do not need to be an official group or have a non-profit tax ID
““ the checks, which take four to six weeks to arrive, can be
cashed by anyone.
If you simply want to attend the taping, there is a good chance
that an organization that you or a friend is involved in will be
taking advantage of this fundraising opportunity. If your group
arrives on time, but seating is full, your group will still get
paid.
