Ask Joe's TV Ticket Tips
"How do I get tickets to my favorite show?"

One of the most frequent questions I get asked is for tickets to TV shows here in NYC. I always tell them you need 3 things: planning, patience and persistence.

Many of these shows require you to send in a postcard for tickets, but many programs also offer same-day standby seats. Below is a selection of shows that are produced in New York with information about their ticketing policies.

Late Night With Conan O'Brien
To request 2 tickets, call the NBC Ticket Line at 212-664-3056 or send a postcard with your name, address and daytime & evening phone numbers to:

Conan Tickets
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112

Tapings are Tuesday through Friday at 5:30pm. Audience members must be 16 or older. Also, standby tickets are given out each morning of a show taping at 9am under the 49th Street entrance to the GE Building. Tickets are given out one per person and do not guarantee admission.

Late Show with David Letterman
To request 2 tickets, send a postcard with your name, address and daytime & evening phone numbers to:

Late Show Tickets
The Ed Sullivan Theater
1697 Broadway
New York, NY 10019

Two (2) tickets per postcard. Please send in only one postcard--multiple requests will be discarded. The minimum age to attend The Late Show is 18. Due to the volume of ticket requests, it may not be possible to award tickets to everyone. Please be aware that the waiting time might be in excess of 9 months. Late Show tapings are Monday thru Wednesday at 5:30pm and Thursday at 4:30 and 7pm.

STAND-BY TICKET POLICY

Stand-by tickets are available on the day of the show only by calling (212) 247-6497 at 11:00am. The phones will be answered until the allocation is gone, at which time you will receive a recording. Only 2 tickets will be issued per caller and the recipient must have identification to match the name given when calling in.

TRL
The hot MTV afternoon request show is as much a hit on the streets below its Times Square studio with fans' necks arched up to glimpse a view of Carson Daly or the hot new band that week. You can call for tickets one month before you'd like to attend at 212-398-8549. (An MTV staffer will call you when your spot is confirmed). Standby is a long shot but if you want to try, show up at least two hours before the 3:30 taping at 1515 Broadway at 44th Street.

Daily Show with Jon Stewart
The show tapes Monday - Thursday at 6:45pm. Call 212-586-2477 between 11am and 4pm EST, Mon-Thurs for tickets. The show tapes at 513 W. 54th Street between 10th & 11th Avenues

Emeril Live
Food Network conducts an Emeril Live ticket lottery so that each fan has a chance to attend a taping. Sign-up for the lottery occurs once or twice a year. We will post entry dates on www.foodtv.com before the next lottery entry period begins. Please note that Food Network cannot accept any requests for tickets by phone or take phone calls regarding the lottery. Please do not call. Winners will be picked in groups just before we begin taping blocks of episodes. If your name is picked, a member of the Emeril Live staff will notify you by phone 15 to 30 days before the taping date. Good luck to all!

Live! with Regis and Kelly
Tapings are Monday through Friday at 9:00 AM. Audience members must be 18 or older. Requests should be sent twelve months in advance by postcard and should include your name, address and phone number. Limit of four tickets. The show is taped live at 7 Lincoln Square (67th and Columbus). For standby tickets, arrive at 7 Lincoln Square no later than 8:00 AM. Standby tickets are available on a first come first serve basis.

Live Tickets
Ansonia Station
P.O. Box 230777
New York, NY 10023-0777
(212) 456-3054

Saturday Night Live
Tapings are on Saturdays at 11:30 pm to 1:00 am. Tickets are also given for the rehearsal show at 8pm. A ticket lottery is held each year at the end of August. Only postcards sent in August will be accepted. Audience members must be 16 or older. Standby tickets are distributed at 9:15 AM at NBC on the mezzanine level of the 49th Street side of Rockefeller Plaza and are limited to one person. They do not guarantee admission.

SNL Tickets
NBC
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112

NBC Today Show
Tapings are Monday through Friday from 7 to 9 am. Audience is welcome at the kiosks located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza and 49th Street.

Good Morning America
Join Good Morning America at their exciting new Times Square location, every weekday morning from 7 to 9 am. You can be part of the live audience at 44th and Broadway for musical performances and more. For further details, call 212-580-5176.

The View
The show airs LIVE Monday - Friday from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon. Ticket holders must arrive at the studio at 320 West 66th Street by 10:00 a.m. SHARP. We operate on a first come, first served basis, as ticket distribution may be in excess of studio capacity. You can get free tickets to 'The View' by writing to:

'The View' Tickets
320 West 66th Street
New York, NY 10023

Remember, please include your name, address, and daytime phone. People will receive tickets for shows approximately 12-16 weeks from the date their request is received. All audience members must be at least 18 years of age.

STANDBY TICKET POLICY

We frequently have tickets available for people who show up day-of-taping at our studio. Those wishing to come standby must arrive at our studio before 10:00 a.m. and put their name on our standby list. We'll distribute any available tickets on a first come, first served basis.

Maury Povich
Tapings are Tuesday - Thursday at 10:30am and 1pm. Audience members must be 18 or older. Tickets should be requested by postcard or by calling (212) 244-7545. For standby tickets call the day before the show and arrive 2 hours before taping.

Maury Tickets
15 Penn Plaza
New York, NY 10001

Ricki Lake Show
Tapings are Wednesday & Thursday at 3 & 5pm and Friday at 1 & 3pm. Audience members must be 18 or older. For tickets, call 212-352-8600 or go to www.ricki.com. There are no standby tickets but if you arrive early, you might get in.

Ricki Lake Show
Chelsea Studios. 221 W. 26th Street (bet. 7th & 8th Aves.)

The Montel Williams Show
Tapings are Tuesday - Thursday at 10am, 1pm and 4pm. Tickets should be requested at least 2 weeks in advance by calling 212-989-8101, sending an email to tickets@montelshow.com or sending a postcard. Standby tickets are available one hour before taping at Unitel Studios, 433 W. 53rd St. bet. 9th & 10th Aves.

Montel Tickets
433 W. 53rd St.
New York, NY  10019

Sally Jessy Raphael
Tapings are Monday - Wednesday at noon & 3pm. Audience must be 17 or older. Tickets should be requested one month in advance by calling 212-244-3595, sending an email to mgold@thesallyshow.com or sending a postcard. Standby tickets are available two hours before the tapings at USA Studios, 15 Penn Plaza, Seventh Ave. bet. 30th & 31st Streets.

Sally Tickets
15 Penn Plaza, OF2
New York, NY 10001

The People's Court
Tapings are Tuesday & Wednesday in the morning and afternoon (the show will let you know exact taping times with your tickets). Tickets should be requested a month in advance by calling 888-780-8587 or sending a postcard. The show tapes at 401 Fifth Avenue between 38th & 39th Streets.

The People's Court Tickets
401 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York  10016