How to Get Free Tickets to Late Night TV Shows
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart airs on Comedy Central weeknights at 11:00pm. This is one of the most highly coveted tickets in New York City right now. To get tickets send an email to requesttickets@thedailyshow.com and include your full name, a daytime or cell phone number, and two to three dates you want to attend. The show’s website tells you to only submit a request once, multiple requests will be rejected. There’s also a chance you could get last minute tickets. To do so call the network at 212 586-2477 on Fridays around 11:00-11:30 am the week before you want to go. Only requests for the following week will be considered. You can also try for stand-by tickets the day of the show, but it’s certainly not guaranteed. The studio is located at 733 11th Avenue, between 51st and 52nd streets.
If you are lucky enough to get tickets make sure you follow the procedure to attend. Remember to respond to the confirmation. Admittance begins at 5:00pm but you should arrive at the studio at least one hour before. VIP ticket holders arrive at 4:30pm. All audience members must be at least 18 years of age.
The Colbert Report
Currently tickets are unavailable, but be sure to keep checking the website for updates. You can however, try for stand-by tickets by going to the studio at 513 West 54th Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues. Nobody under 18 is admitted.
The Late Show with David Letterman
The Late Show with David Letterman airs on CBS at 11:30 on weeknights. To get tickets you have a few options. You can submit your request using the show’s online ticket form. After filling out your information you wait to be called by the show. Once you are called you will be asked a random trivia question about The Late Show. If answered correctly you will be given two tickets to the show provided you put a your name and a guest’s name on your form. This phone call can come basically anytime including the day before the show. You can only apply once in a six month period.
You can apply for tickets to The Late Show with David Letterman in person by going to 1697 Broadway between West 53rd and West 54th Streets during the hours of 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. You are asked not to line up before 9:00 a.m. The tickets will be awarded randomly. You can submit requests up to one month in advance of the date you want to attend. If you select multiple dates you have more of a chance of getting tickets.
For stand-by tickets call 212-247-6497 beginning at 11:00 a.m. on the day you want to attend. Your name is placed on a list in order of your call. Arrive at the theater one hour before the show’s taping. There is no guarantee you will be admitted just because you were placed on the list. To attend The Late Show with David Letterman you must be 18.
Late Night With Conan O’Brien
For tickets to Late Night with Conan O’Brien call the ticket office at 212-664-3056. There is a limit of 4 tickets per request and you can only attend the show once in six months. Stand-by tickets are available by arriving before 9:00 a.m. on the morning of a taping at 30 Rockefeller Center, on the 49th Street side of the street under the “NBC Studios” sign. Only one ticket per person will be given so if you want to go with someone the person has to stand on line in the morning as well. Stand-by tickets do not guarantee entry. If you do have stand-by tickets be sure to arrive well before admittance time as stand-by guests are admitted on a first come-first served basis.
Saturday Night Live tickets are probably the hardest of all the tickets in New York City to get. Tickets are awarded by a lottery system in August. To enter send an email to snltickets@nbcuni.com in the month of August that includes all your contact information. Do not request a specific date, as you will be given tickets to a random show date. Stand-by tickets are given out at 7:00 a.m. on the mornings of the tapings. Many people camp out all night for tickets so be advised that showing up at 6:30 a.m. probably won’t do you any good. The line begins at 30 Rockefeller Center on the 49th Street side. You can select a stand-by ticket for either the 11:30 p.m. live taping or the 8:00 p.m. dress rehearsal. Only one ticket per person will be given out and it does not guarantee admission. To attend a Saturday Night Live taping you must be sixteen years old.
