Tom Doyle sits in a folding chair for six hours, mesmerized by a TV production about the making of … mac and cheese.
That’s right. The little comfort food has hit the big time, heading to the small screen on an installment of the “Food Network Challenge” show. And Doyle watched it all happen.
“I watch the Food Network quite a bit,” he readily admits. “When the opportunity came to see behind the scenes, I knew I had to go.”
The show was recently shot at the Comcast Digital Media Center in Englewood, and Doyle, a local actor, couldn’t pass up the real-life role of playing an audience member.
He got into the taping for free. That’s how TV shows work. “They find that actors feed off of audiences and do better,” says Katurah C. Rogers, director of promotions for Audiences Research Inc. The Los Angeles-based business gets paid by sitcoms, specials and awards shows to put people in seats. They do that by offering free tickets.
In the past, a lot of shows relied heavily on local audiences. Now, more and more people are centering their vacations on shows. “We have people who come from Europe, from foreign countries. They come to Hollywood specifically to see a show,” Rogers says.
The QVC Network in Philadelphia has even put together packages that include hotel and dinner reservations and advance admissions to its tapings.
Use the Web to get tickets
How do you get these tickets to see Oprah, Jay Leno or your favorite shopping network pitch person? The simple answer is the Web. You can try calling or sending snail mail to shows individually, but they’ll keep referring you back to their websites for detailed information on how to get tickets.
And while the tickets are free, the way to secure them ranges widely.
For instance, “Saturday Night Live” has a ticket lottery in August. “The Oprah Winfrey Show” wants you to call its reservation line until you get through. And the “Late Show with David Letterman” asks that you send an e-mail that includes three possible show dates and your phone number. They’ll call you back, but you’ll have to answer a random trivia question to see Dave live.
Some shows offer standby tickets on the day of the taping. Others ask you to call a phone line for same-day tickets.
And still others don’t give you that choice. Like Oprah: She’s got the hottest show to see for free – not only because she’s Oprah but because she gives presents to her audience members, everything from cleaning products to cars. She doesn’t allow walk-ins.
Beware of scam artists. They’ll try to sell you a ticket and guarantee your seat for a particular show. “This is the wacky, wild world of television production,” says Rogers. All tickets are free, and no show is ever guaranteed. “We were doing the taping for ‘8 Simple Rules for Dating my Daughter,’ and the star, John Ritter, died on the set. People were still upset that the taping was canceled.”
As for Doyle, he hopes to head to New York for more foodie shows. “I’d love to be in the audience of Emeril, but my mom wants me to see ‘The Price Is Right’ before Bob Barker retires.”
Tom Doyle, “Come on down.”
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INSIDER’S GUIDE
Here is a sampling of how to get tickets to some of the more popular shows:
NEW YORK
“Late Show with David Letterman”
Ed Sullivan Theatre, 1697 Broadway, between West 53rd and West 54th streets
Tickets: Online forms at cbs.com, in-person request at the theater Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Standby tickets: 212-247-6497; also opens at 11 a.m. on taping days.
Tape times: Year-round Monday-Thursday at 5:30 p.m, Friday at 4:30 p.m.
Get there: Seventh Avenue/53rd Street subway, bus or taxi.
Tip: If you submit an online request, you’ll get a return call confirming your reservation – but be prepared to answer a trivia question. Only those who answer it correctly will get in to see the show.
“The Daily Show”
733 11th Ave., between 51st and 52nd streets in Midtown Manhattan
Tickets: E-mail the show at requesttick
ets@thedailyshow.com. Be sure to request three dates and leave your cellphone number. Standby tickets may be available at 5 p.m. on taping days but are not guaranteed.
Tape time: Monday-Thursday 6 p.m.
Get there: Columbus Circle subway, bus or taxi.
“The Colbert Report”
513 W. 54th St., between 10th and 11th avenues
Tickets: Currently not taking requests. Check back at comedycentral.com
Tape times: Monday-Thursday at 7 p.m.
Transportation: Columbus Circle subway, bus or taxi.
“Saturday Night Live”
NBC, 30 Rockefeller Plaza
Tickets: By lottery. Send e-mail in August to snltickets@nbcuni.com.
Tape times: 8 p.m. dress rehearsal, 11:30 p.m. live show
Get there: Rockefeller Center subway, bus or taxi.
Tip: No specific request dates, day-of-
show tickets available at the NBC box office starting at 7 a.m. on the 49th Street side of Rockefeller Plaza.
PHILADELPHIA
QVC Shows
QVC Studio Park, 1200 Wilson Drive, West Chester, Boot Road exit off Route 202
Tickets: 800-600-9900 or e-mail StudioPark@QVC.com
Tape: Various days of the week and times. Check website for schedule.
Get there: Free parking on-site.
Tip: The QVC Packages can be found from time to time on the website under QVCTours.com. They range from $135 per person to $230 per person. Also, the Inn at Chester Springs has packages that include the studio tour, and they say you can get tickets to shows once you’re there. Their website offers them for $230 for two. It includes hotel, dinner, breakfast, arrival gift and studio tour.
CHICAGO
“The Oprah Winfrey Show”
Harpo Studios, 1058 W. Washington St., Chicago, just west of Interstates 90/94 and north of Interstate 290
Tickets: Oprah.com or 312-591-4799.
Tape time: Days vary; morning taping 7 a.m., afternoon taping 11 a.m.
Get there: Drive or take cab; street parking and nearby commercial lots.
Tip: No standby or walk-in tickets available; no show date or topic choice.
LOS ANGELES
“The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”
NBC Studios, 3000 W. Alameda Ave., Burbank
Tickets: Online info at nbc.com or write to The Tonight Show with Jay Leno/Tickets, 3000 W. Alameda Ave., Burbank, CA 91523. Day-of-show tickets available at 818-840-3537 or by coming to the box office at the studio 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Tape times: Days vary; time is 4:30 p.m.
Get there: Drive or take taxi; street parking.
“The Price Is Right”
CBS Studios, 7800 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, entrance is on Fairfax Avenue south of Beverly Boulevard
Tickets: 323-575-2458 or cbs.com or send a self-addressed envelope to The Price Is Right, 7800 Beverly Blvd., LA, CA 90036.
Tape times: Days vary; times are 1:15 p.m., 2:30 p.m. or 4:30 p.m.
Get there: No audience parking at the studio. Park at The Grove Shopping Center on Grove Drive, south of Beverly Boulevard and east of Fairfax Avenue.
“Deal or No Deal”
Culver Studios, 9336 W. Washington, Culver City
Tickets: Online at Jampackedtvshows
.com. No standby tickets.
Tape times: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., various dates. Shooting resumes end of July.
Get there: Drive or take a taxi. Parking is in paid lots at 3846 Cardiff Ave. and 3844 Watseka Ave.
“Wheel of Fortune”
Sony Studios, 10202 Washington Blvd., Culver City
Tickets: 800-482-9840 or wheeljeopardytickets.com . Write for tickets at The Wheel of Fortune Tickets, P.O. Box 3763, Hollywood, CA 90028.
Tape times: Days vary; times are noon or 3:15 p.m. Shooting resumes in July.
Get there: Drive or take a taxi. Parking is free on the studio lot at the Overland Parking garage.
“Jeopardy!”
Sony Studios, 10202 Washington Blvd., Culver City
Tickets: 800-482-9840 or jeopardy
.com. Write to Jeopardy! Tickets, P.O. Box 3763, Hollywood, CA 90028.
Tape times: Days vary; times are at 1:15 p.m., 2:30 p.m. or 4:30 p.m.
Get there: Drive or take a taxi. Parking is free on the studio lot at the Overland Parking garage.
– Sari Padorr
