How do you get tickets to the Colbert Report, Daily Show, Saturday Night Live and other TV show tapings in NYC? Here are tips for getting tickets, whether you're visiting NYC or live here. And who knows, in addition to seeing a live taping of your favorite TV show, you may even get a glimpse of yourself on TV from a shot of the studio audience.
1. The Colbert Report
I'll confess: I love this show–it's how I get most of my political news since frankly, it's not only funnier, it's often a more honest take (taking the irony into account of course) than what you're likely to get from major U.S. news sources. The night I went Colbert's guest was Lord of the Rings Director Peter Jackson, and Colbert wore hobbit feet–simply awesome 🙂
Tickets: Sign up online at www.colbertnation.com/tickets. Note there are currently only 3 dates in September available, so move fast when you see availability!
Standby: Sign up for standby tickets at 4pm in front of the studio; but note that it can be tough getting in on standby
Studio Location: 513 West 54th Street between 10th and 11th Avenues
Arrive By: 4:30pm (or by 6pm if on a VIP ticket)
Taping Begins: 7:30pm
Rules:
- May request up to 4 tickets at a time
- Tickets are non-transferable and may not be sold
- Must be 18 or older
- Must present valid photo ID with date of birth, at check-in
- May book tickets once every 6 months
- No eating or drinking in the studio
- No recording devices
2. The Daily Show
Tickets: Sign up online at www.thedailyshow.com/tickets. Currently there are only several September dates available.
Standby: Don't count on getting in on standby; even many of those with tickets won't get in since a ticket does NOT guarantee admission–it's first come first served, hence the line
Studio Location: 733 11th Avenue between 52nd and 51st Streets
Arrive By: 2:30-3pm (by getting there early, you have a better chance of getting in)
Taping Begins: 6:30pm
Rules:
- May request up to 4 tickets at a time
- Tickets are non-transferable and may not be sold
- Must be 18 or older
- Must present valid photo ID with date of birth, at check-in
- May book tickets once every 6 months
- No eating or drinking in the studio
- No recording devices
3. Saturday Night Live
Tickets: To enter the Saturday Night Live ticket lottery for the upcoming 2012-2013 season send an email in the month of August only to snltickets@nbcuni.com. Please include all contact information and do not request a specific date. If you are selected, you will receive two tickets to a random show date and time. You may only send one email per household and all audience members must be at least 16 years of age. Please note that entering the lottery does not guarantee tickets, and you will only be notified in the event that you are chosen.
Standby: Stand-by tickets are distributed at 7am on the 49th st. side of 30 Rockefeller Plaza on the morning of the show. You may choose a stand-by ticket for either the 8pm dress rehearsal or the 11:30pm live broadcast. Aside from minimal, necessary breaks, all stand-by line members must remain in line at all times. Stand-by tickets are limited to one per person and are issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Every member of the line is required to present a valid photo ID when the ticket is issued, as well as at the return time. A stand-by ticket does not guarantee admission
Studio Location: 30 Rockefeller Center
Arrive By: 7:15pm for dress rehearsal / 10:45pm for the live show
Begins: 8pm for dress rehearsal / 11:30pm live show
Rules:
- Ticket lottery request must be sent in August only
- Tickets are non-transferable and may not be sold
- Must be 16 or older
- Must present valid photo ID with date of birth, at check-in
- Small purses only; anyone with luggage, backpacks, large bags will not be admitted
- May book tickets once every 6 months
- No eating or drinking in the studio
- No recording devices
4. Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Tickets: Call the ticket office at (212) 664-3056 4-6 months in advance. If no dates are available at the time you call, keep checking back.
Standby: Arrive no later than 9:00 a.m. on the morning of the taping under “NBC Studios” marquee on the 49th Street side of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Any standby tickets not handed out at 9:00 a.m. will be placed at the NBC Studio Tour Desk on the second floor of the NBC Experience Store in Rockefeller Plaza. Only one standby ticket per person. Since the show overbooks to ensure a full studio audience, standby ticket does *NOT* guarantee admission.
Studio Location: 30 Rockefeller Center
Arrive By: 4:15pm
Taping Begins: 5:30pm
Rules:
- May request up to 4 tickets at a time
- Tickets are non-transferable and may not be sold
- Must be 16 or older
- Must present valid photo ID with date of birth, at check-in
- Small purses only; anyone with luggage, backpacks, large bags will not be admitted
- May book tickets once every 6 months
- No eating or drinking in the studio
- No recording devices
Have you been to a live taping of The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, Saturday Night Live, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon or another TV show?
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