Anybody here ever score tickets to the Letterman show?

[Guest]

When I submitted an application for the Letterman show taping (I'll be coming to NYC in mid-June), the application said that those called would have to answer trivia questions regarding the show. I was hoping someone reading this would know what kind of questions they ask...

[Doe Be Doe]

I am not a Letterman fan by any means. But, two or three years ago a good friend of mine came to town and he loves Letterman. So we stood in line outside the show, maybe an hour or hour and a half before taping. (I think taping is at 5.) I don't know if he had written ahead in advance for tickets and was told to be in line or whether we just showed up. There were young interns who came around asking questions. My friend was asked about some football team. The intern laughed at the reply and gave us entry tickets. We were in and told to remain sitting for about 30 minutes then Letterman came out and told a few jokes and answered questions - for about 3 minutes - then left and came back to do the taping. Orlando Bloom was the guest. Boring! Dave messed up some sketch and they redid it, but the whole thing was over in less than an hour.

 

Despite not being a fan, it was a fun experience.

 

Hope this helps.

[Decatur Guy]

I was on the second row of a taping in the '90s. My friend in NYC got the tickets, so I don't know what was involved.

[happyguy2]

Someone told me the studio is super cold. Anyone ever hear this? I have often thought of trying to get tickets when I visit NYC - but some other fantastic activity, show or whatever always seems to come up.

[+ sam.fitzpatrick]

I attended Late Night with David Letterman in the 80's at Rockerfeller Center. We went in the a.m. to get a # to for the stand by line before the show. I understand there's the opportunity to call the morning of taping to get a spot in the standby line.

 

http://www.cbs.com/late_night/late_show/tickets/standby.php

[instudiocity]

Someone told me the studio is super cold. Anyone ever hear this? I have often thought of trying to get tickets when I visit NYC - but some other fantastic activity, show or whatever always seems to come up.

ALL STUDIOS ARE SUPER COLD until the lights come on. Leno, 2-1/2 Men, Drew Cary, every one of them is super-cooled before taping. After 4 hours of taping 2-1/2 Men at 10 at night, I appreciated starting out cold.

[OrdinaryJoe]

I got tickets through the advance request system a couple of times. The first time I ended up not being able to go, but the second time I did. It was better than getting them day-of as yo can skip a line. There are two lines, and when you pick up your tickets they direct you to the right line, which is the first one let in.

 

Both times the experience was almost identical. They called, but not with much notice. I seem to remember that it was only about a week before the show. They asked a question each time and the questions were ones that a regular Letterman watcher would know. It seemed to me that they were wanting to give tickets to people that actually watch the show. One question was "there is a deli beside the theatre...what is the name of the guy who runs it?" The answer, of course, was Rupert. For the life of me I can't remember the other question, sorry.

 

It was a very cool experience. Yes, the theatre is cold but you don't really notice it. Perhaps you would if you you were in a tshirt and shorts. They have a warm up comic, someone comes on and explains the rules, I understand that sometimes Letterman comes out pre-show and talks to the audience and sometimes he doesn't. He did with my show. There was a woman wearing a Letterman sweatshirt she had just bought at the store beside the theatre. He asked her much she paid for it ($60) and then gave her $60. It was funny. He didn't chat long, but for a few minutes.

 

Then it's onto the show.

 

Enjoy if you go.