My Day with Conan O'Brien
Today I was in the audience for the Conan O'Brien show! It was a wonderful experience; one I would definitely recommend if you have the time while in NYC. I reserved the tickets online a couple of months ago. Here's an (approximate) timeline of the day.
2:30 - I arrive at Rockefeller Center. The confirmation email says to show up at 4:15, but it also says the tickets are first come, first serve. I always get nervous about these things (and I didn't have anything better to do) so I arrived ready to wait there awhile. At least they let us wait indoors and not outside like the Colbert Report. There were only four other guys there, so I felt good with my chances.
3:00 - An NBC page arrived and gave us tickets with numbers. He said we'd be allowed into the studio according to those numbers. I was number three. Then he said to come back at 4:25. Schweet! I went to ramble aimlessly around Rock plaza for awhile. Had a conversation with a Swedish guy about skating in the rink. I enjoy acting like I know what I'm talking about with tourists.
4:00 - I head back to join the queue to get into the show. I laugh to myself at the huge crowd waiting in the last chance line. I'm mean, I know. Stood in line in the hallway for awhile; didn't stand next to anybody interesting. Looked lonely and bored. It's not my fault I don't know anybody in NYC that has off on Tuesdays.
4:30 - After getting anxious just from having to stand next to strangers for that long, the pages started ushering us through security and into the elevators that go up to the studio. On the way, they handed us a free Conan O'Brien t-shirt. Wow, they really take care of their audience! From there, another page sat us . I was in the front row, on the aisle!!! Possibly the best spot in the house. More sitting and waiting while the house filled up.
5:00 - The house-warming guy (is that the correct term?) came out and started to get us excited for the show. He was pretty funny; I think I've seen him on the show. He's the guy that always does the stupid cheer gag.
5:10 - Conan appears! He came out and did a routine for the crowd. He shook my hand! After a few jokes, he started dancing with a couple of guys behind me (he does this every show, from what I hear.) The guys got a little into it and were acting quite drunk, frankly. I think Conan was genuinely a little freaked out by them, but, in typical Conan fashion, chalked it up to homoeroticism and hugged them. He then introduced the band and had the two guys come down and give Max a hug. Max bestowed drumsticks on the two guys. Conan then threatened to beat up a tough-looking audience member in the parking lot after the show. Then he kneeled down next to me and told me that there was no parking lot.
5:30 - Taping begins. His monologue centered on the Olympics and Saddam's hunger strike. After sitting at his desk, he and Max do a "small talk moment" about the Olympics. Then Conan announces that they're passing the torch of apathy for the next Olympics. Here's where I may be in the shot. I was sitting right behind the guy that the torch gets passed to. I know you can see my hands - I was wearing a tan jacket. Bruce Willis was the first guest - he was pretty forgettable. Made us clap whenever he pressed the "applaud" button. Drooled over working with Halle Berry. Managed to call Michelle Kwan "Nancy Kwan."
Conan's second sketch was one of my favorites, "Conan's Lullabye", where he sings about lots of awful things in a lullabye sing-songy fashion.
The second guest, some girl from 24, came off as a deer in headlights. She had a couple of good stories though. The band was okay.
After Conan signed off, he sang a little song he called "The end of the show song". Something only his audience gets to hear. After he left, the guy who plays Triumph came onto the set. He showed us a clip that he recorded a couple of weeks ago wherein Triumph goes to Chinatown to celebrate the Chinese New Year, the year of the dog. Absolutely hilarious! I laughed so hard I cried. I think they recorded our laughter so they could show it later on.
Then I came home and Dave Chapelle was next door at his movie premiere. That's New York!
**Disclaimer: This was NOT a typical NYC day.**
2:30 - I arrive at Rockefeller Center. The confirmation email says to show up at 4:15, but it also says the tickets are first come, first serve. I always get nervous about these things (and I didn't have anything better to do) so I arrived ready to wait there awhile. At least they let us wait indoors and not outside like the Colbert Report. There were only four other guys there, so I felt good with my chances.
3:00 - An NBC page arrived and gave us tickets with numbers. He said we'd be allowed into the studio according to those numbers. I was number three. Then he said to come back at 4:25. Schweet! I went to ramble aimlessly around Rock plaza for awhile. Had a conversation with a Swedish guy about skating in the rink. I enjoy acting like I know what I'm talking about with tourists.
4:00 - I head back to join the queue to get into the show. I laugh to myself at the huge crowd waiting in the last chance line. I'm mean, I know. Stood in line in the hallway for awhile; didn't stand next to anybody interesting. Looked lonely and bored. It's not my fault I don't know anybody in NYC that has off on Tuesdays.
4:30 - After getting anxious just from having to stand next to strangers for that long, the pages started ushering us through security and into the elevators that go up to the studio. On the way, they handed us a free Conan O'Brien t-shirt. Wow, they really take care of their audience! From there, another page sat us . I was in the front row, on the aisle!!! Possibly the best spot in the house. More sitting and waiting while the house filled up.
5:00 - The house-warming guy (is that the correct term?) came out and started to get us excited for the show. He was pretty funny; I think I've seen him on the show. He's the guy that always does the stupid cheer gag.
5:10 - Conan appears! He came out and did a routine for the crowd. He shook my hand! After a few jokes, he started dancing with a couple of guys behind me (he does this every show, from what I hear.) The guys got a little into it and were acting quite drunk, frankly. I think Conan was genuinely a little freaked out by them, but, in typical Conan fashion, chalked it up to homoeroticism and hugged them. He then introduced the band and had the two guys come down and give Max a hug. Max bestowed drumsticks on the two guys. Conan then threatened to beat up a tough-looking audience member in the parking lot after the show. Then he kneeled down next to me and told me that there was no parking lot.
5:30 - Taping begins. His monologue centered on the Olympics and Saddam's hunger strike. After sitting at his desk, he and Max do a "small talk moment" about the Olympics. Then Conan announces that they're passing the torch of apathy for the next Olympics. Here's where I may be in the shot. I was sitting right behind the guy that the torch gets passed to. I know you can see my hands - I was wearing a tan jacket. Bruce Willis was the first guest - he was pretty forgettable. Made us clap whenever he pressed the "applaud" button. Drooled over working with Halle Berry. Managed to call Michelle Kwan "Nancy Kwan."
Conan's second sketch was one of my favorites, "Conan's Lullabye", where he sings about lots of awful things in a lullabye sing-songy fashion.
The second guest, some girl from 24, came off as a deer in headlights. She had a couple of good stories though. The band was okay.
After Conan signed off, he sang a little song he called "The end of the show song". Something only his audience gets to hear. After he left, the guy who plays Triumph came onto the set. He showed us a clip that he recorded a couple of weeks ago wherein Triumph goes to Chinatown to celebrate the Chinese New Year, the year of the dog. Absolutely hilarious! I laughed so hard I cried. I think they recorded our laughter so they could show it later on.
Then I came home and Dave Chapelle was next door at his movie premiere. That's New York!
**Disclaimer: This was NOT a typical NYC day.**