No trip toLos Angelesis complete without a bit ofHollywoodshow business on your itinerary. Luckily, there are multiple opportunities to see a taping of your favoritetelevision showslive to get a sneak peek of the TV magic you see at home. Plus, good news: tickets to the majority of shows are free.
Watch the casts ofThe Connerscrack up the audience, be amazed by incredibly smart people onJeopardy!,or laugh along with witty talk show hosts likeJimmy Kimmel. If competition shows are more your style, try scoring tickets toThe Voiceor The Masked Singer, which both film in the Los Angeles area. Participating on a game show (likeWheel of Fortune) is feasible but typically involves a test or video submission in advance, so check the rules before planning your trip.
Being in the audience during a taping gives you a behind-the-scenes glimpse of how these shows are actually produced while providing a look at your favorite stars up close and personal—something that’s on every L.A. visitor’s bucket list. Each show has a specific ticket system that sometimes involves a wait list—or waiting in person—so be sure toplan far in advanceand anticipate lines so you don’t miss your opportunity.
Between tapings—most take place inBurbank—fill your TV-loving vacation withstudio toursatWarner BrothersandUniversal Studios Hollywood, and visits to nearby L.A. neighborhoods that are pop culture staples in themselves. We’ve got tips on amazing things to do inHollywood, as well as the celebrity-friendly communitiesSanta Monica,Venice Beach,West Hollywood, and the inimitableBeverly Hills.
Check outDiscover Los Angeles' guideon how to attend live tapings for even more info.
Talk Shows & Competitions
Laugh and hear remarkable stories from guests with Jennifer Hudson onThe Jennifer Hudson Show. See what movie stars are talking about onJimmy Kimmel Live. Watch political wags and celebrities go toe-to-toe onReal Time With Bill Maher.And, as mentioned, on the grounds of Universal Studios Hollywoodand adjacent Universal CityWalk, attend a taping to seeExtra’s Billy Bush chat with celebs like Chris Evans and Demi Lovato.
Talk shows are a great way to see A-listers in person—usually dressed in on-trend fashions and perfectly coiffed. Another perk from sitting in the audience: you might get on TV too, since many talk shows include shots of the audience, or even pull one or two folks into the show for a gag or two. Glossy who’s-best shows likeThe VoiceandAmerica's Got Talentalso let you see talent—some good, some bad—as well as A-list judges and performers.
Some shows distribute their own tickets via their websites; others use ticket agencies, such as1iota. You may even get paid a stipend to be in the audience for shows like The Food Network.
Game Shows
Match wits with the contestants onJeopardy!Spin the wheel with Vanna and Pat onWheel of Fortune. Bring out your pom-poms and pork pie hats forLet’s Make a Deal. These game shows and other classics are mainstays in Los Angeles; most have been running for decades. Want to be a contestant? For some shows, that just means reserving a free ticket online and getting a callback to attend (then syncing up vacation plans), then crossing fingers that you’ll get picked from the audience. For some shows, it’s a little tougher to make the cut. ForJeopardy!, you’ve got to prove your prowess by passing a 50-question test eitheronlineor at a regional in-person screening.Wheel of Fortuneasks for avideo submission.
If you simply want to sit in the audience for popular game shows likeWheel of Fortune,The Price is Right,orFamily Feud,check outOn-Camera Audiences. Just keep in mind that show tapings are often overbooked, so a ticket is not always a guaranteed seat (show up a little early to keep your odds high). Most game shows require that audience members be at least 18, but bothWheel of FortuneandJeopardy!welcome audience members as young as 8.
Sitcoms
Crack up at the hilarious extended-family dynamics ofThe Upshaws, or watch the antics of the cast ofLopez vs Lopezas the show is being filmed.Sitting in the audience while these and other sitcoms are staged gives you an incomparable behind-the-scenes take of all that goes into producing a professional comedy show. While familiar shows are a big draw and usually a good bet for a great show, don’t hesitate to take a chance on a pilot or a new show; you might wind up seeing the birth of the next hit sitcom or TV star.
The main resources for getting tickets areOn Camera Audiencesand1Iota;their websites list TV shows offering tickets within the next 30 days at studios in the Los Angeles area. There are other sites, too, such asShadow Casting, andOS | LA Productions. If you don’t score tickets when they are first released, additional and standby tickets may be released at a later date.
Insider Tips
Attending a TV show taping is a blast, but there are a few tips you can follow to make sure it’s memorable—and only in a good way.
1) Be sure to get there early if you want a good seat (or any seat at all, as studios overbook the tickets).
2) Expect to stay at least three hours, especially for sitcoms, which can take a long time as scenes get reworked and reshot. Bring a snack and a book for downtime. (At longer tapings, audience members might be treated to pizza, but don’t count on it.)
3) Bring a sweater; studios are kept notoriously cool to compensate for the hot lights on stage.
If you’re hoping for an on-camera appearance, do your homework ahead of time. What types of things is the show looking for? It might be a silly costume for a game show likeLet’s Make a Deal,or it might be well-dressed people for a cameo appearance in a talk show. Also, be enthusiastic: employees sometimes tap the most eager audience members to be part of the show.
