Filed under: baby boomer, top-feature, tourist attractions
Late Night Television in NYC – Be A Part of the Live Audience
During a visit to New York City, you are likely to see celebrities dining, shopping, or even just strolling down the street. But what if you want to hear them talk about their latest movie, perform some music, or try to answer that difficult question that has been buzzing around the media? The answer is late night television. Many visitors to New York don’t know that tickets to see the Late Show with David Letterman are free – and you never know who might take the stage on any given night. For a chance to see your favorite celebrity up close and personal, attending a taping of the David Letterman show will be a fun (and once again, free!) way to spend an afternoon.
If this sounds too good to be true, it sort of is. The one obstacle with attending a taping of the Late Show is getting tickets. The Ed Sullivan Theater can fit approximately 500 people into every taping, and there are a lot of tourists and native New Yorkers who want those seats. Luckily, there are a few different ways to secure your seat. With a little advance planning, you can be singing along with the CBS orchestra in no time.
There are three main ways to secure tickets for the David Letterman show:
1. Apply online through the online ticket form. You will be asked to provide three desired dates to attend and your phone number. Then wait for that magic call.
2. Apply in person at the box office. Again, you will be notified by phone if chosen. The minimum age to attend a taping is 18 years old.
3. Stand-by tickets. If you haven’t made arrangements before your trip to NYC, it is still possible to attend by receiving a stand-by ticket. Call the theater at 11am on the day of the taping and your name will be added to the stand-by list. After all the ticketed guests have been accommodated, you might find yourself filling in one of the leftover seats.
In preparation for writing this post, I applied online for two tickets – 3 weeks in advance of the days I wanted to attend. A week in advance, I received a phone call with an enthusiastic voice at the other end of the line: ‘You have been chosen to attend a taping of the David Letterman Show! But before Dave gives you a ticket, he wants to make sure you’re a big fan, so you must answer a trivia question…’
I had done some research and knew about this trick Letterman has up his sleeve. In the past, 3 questions were asked, and all you had to do was get 1 right. These days, his peppy interns are asking just 1 question, and you must answer it correctly to get your tickets. Otherwise, they’ll tell you to keep watching the show, and apply again in the future. Luckily, many other Letterman fans had posted the questions they had to answer online. Here are the top questions and their answers:
The band director of the CBS Orchestra is Paul Shaffer – what instrument does he play? ANSWER: Keyboards.- What is the name of Dave’s Production Company? ANSWER: Worldwide Pants.
- What is the name of the deli around the corner Dave references often? ANSWER: Hello Deli
- Who owns the deli? ANSWER: Rupert G
- Who is the show’s announcer? What is his nickname? ANSWER: Alan Kalter, nickname, Big Red.
- Who is the show’s stage manager? ANSWER: Biff Henderson
When I answered my question correctly, I realized that this is just the first tactic to get you excited to see a taping of the Late Show. The tickets are less attainable than ones for other shows, and this makes them desirable even though Letterman has been on the air for 30 years. While on the phone with a helpful ‘audience coordinator’ I learned that Letterman never tapes on Fridays – and two shows are taped another day of the week. My tickets would be waiting at the box office for the 2nd taping on a Monday. I had to arrive at the theater at 4:00 pm to collect my tickets, and the taping would take place from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm. Government-issued photo identification is required to attend – and as I learned – was checked many times.
When the day of the taping arrived, I couldn’t wait to see who would be taking the stage at the Ed Sullivan Theater. This historic theater has welcomed the Beatles, Elvis Presley, and countless other mega-stars. Before turning down 53rd Street en route to the theater, I could hear hoards of teenage girls screaming. As I came around the corner, I caught a glimpse of Justin Bieber waving to his fans before disappearing into the side entrance. His fans sang his songs outside for the next hour.
At 4:00 pm I arrived to collect my tickets. Several cheery interns checked our IDs before providing us with tickets and directions on returning to the theater for a ‘line up’. I realized that while guests are allowed to pick up tickets between 3:30 pm and 4:30 pm, that the best tickets were going early. Arrive at the beginning of the window your ‘audience coordinator’ provides and not only will you get the best tickets, but you will have time for a drink before the taping begins.
Just a couple blocks away from the theater is a tiny Mexican cantina called Mi Nidito (little nest in Spanish). The modest storefront on 8th Avenue doesn’t adequately portray the authentic flavors you will find inside. I have never had a margarita so tasty, smooth, and refreshing – including ones sipped in Mexico. We had an hour in between receiving our tickets and returning to line up – just enough time for a margarita ($10) and nibbling on complimentary chips and salsa.
The next part is the least fun. Trying to get 500 people to line up in some sort of order was broken by a short comedy routine by one of the interns and a list of rules. (No eating, no drinking, no photography, no cat calling). Before I knew it, the tedious part was over, and we were seated inside the Ed Sullivan Theater. After an introductory comedy routine, the CBS Orchestra came out and played a few songs to liven up the crowd. And then, a few minutes before taping began, out came Letterman himself with a few jokes for the audience and he even took a few questions.
Then the show began. It was fascinating to see the camera work, what happens during commercials, and watch Letterman think on his feet as he interviewed the guests. In the lead up to the Super Bowl, Martha Stewart was on with suggestions for appetizers at a Super Bowl party, which wound up in a comical food fight between the two. I quickly understood why Letterman has been captivating audiences for three decades.
The show lasted precisely one hour – filled with jokes, a performance by Justin Bieber, a comical top-10 list, and interview with Led Zeppelin lead singer Robert Plant. At 7:00 pm, the day’s work was complete, and after a standing ovation, the audience filtered out of the theater.
New York is often described as a city full of electricity. If you’re looking to experience some of that buzz, some of that atmosphere that only the Big Apple can deliver, taking a seat in the Ed Sullivan Theater is a great place to start.
The Basics:
- The Late Show with David Letterman. Ed Sullivan Theater. Broadway and 53rd Street. (map)
- Tickets are free. Government-issued ID is required. Bring a sweater – Letterman likes to keep the theater cool.
- Mi Nidito, Mexican Cantina. 8th Avenue between 51st & 52nd Street. (map) Excellent $10 margaritas.
Photo Credit: All photos from the personal collection of Jessica Colley.
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