A television show taping is a great way for fans to get a first-hand glimpse of how their favorite show is created and a great way for the people who create the show to connect with its fan base. Fans will be able to see how much hard work it takes to produce less than 30 minutes of television programming, and may even walk away with a sense of what their favorite television actors are like in real life. The people who bring the show to fruition, including the writers, directors, producers and actors, will be able to see how some of their most dedicated fans react to the situations and jokes of a particular episode.
A television show taping can take anywhere from three to five hours, depending on how long the show is, how complicated that week's plot lines are and how many scenes the crew already shot on location. The audience will sit inside a large warehouse in a darkened section of bleachers. An emcee entertains the audience during shooting breaks, and most productions conduct giveaways of items such as scripts of that week's episode that have been signed by the whole cast. Sometimes, if the cast is willing, the audience will get an opportunity to ask their favorite cast members a few questions.
Nearly every television show taping requires tickets, which must be obtained weeks before the scheduled taping. These tickets are usually free, and can be obtained by visiting the website of the network that airs the show. You can also obtain tickets to several shows through third-party websites, such as TVTix.com, TVTickets.com and HollywoodTickets.com. Once the taping date arrives the audience lines up behind the warehouse where the taping is set to take place. After they've gone through security, which usually confiscates any cameras and phones, the audience members take their seats in the bleachers where the emcee will entertain them briefly until the cast is introduced and the taping begins. It is imperative that an audience remain silent during filming in order to ensure that the dialogue can be clearly heard and recorded.
Television show tapings provide great marketing opportunities, as the audience will know the details of a plot that has yet to be revealed to the public, thereby creating a buzz about that show between the audience and any other fans they may interact with. It is also beneficial for the production crew because they essentially have a built-in focus group whose reactions will reveal how well or poorly certain jokes go over. They also have a built-in laugh track, as the audience is encouraged to laugh when something is funny, cheer if any guest stars pop out and gasp if something unexpected happens.
The vast majority of television shows, and most sitcoms, are taped in Los Angeles, specifically in the Burbank and North Hollywood areas. There are a few shows with a live audience that film in New York, though most are talk shows. Some of the most popular show tapings include Saturday Night Live, David Letterman, the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, the View, the Colbert Report and Live! with Regis & Kelly.