Have you ever been to a taping of The Big Bang Theory?

Cafe Society
1

It looks like there’s a good chance that I might be able to go to one and the information I’m finding is a little sparse.

I read the “Have you been to a TV taping” (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=667101) thread and there’s some general information but I’m looking for a little more specific data in a couple areas:

  1. The instructions say to go to Gate 8 at Warner Brothers and park in basement 1. (“Just east of Bartham Blvd and Forest Lawn.”) Thanks to Google Maps I can find where this supposedly is, but if anyone can tell me exactly where I will be turning and where to head once I do so, I’d appreciate that.

  2. The information says to be there at least an hour early. Would earlier than that be better? If so, by how much? Am I wrong in assuming that there’s some point where they’d turn me away for being too early?

  3. What I’ve been able to find out is that the taping may take about 4 hours and I should bring a jacket. No weapons, cell phones or cameras are allowed. Any other

Thanks for any information. I’m really looking forward to this if it works out.

2

This thread describes C K Dexter Haven’s experience attending a taping. Note, though, that he went as a guest of someone who worked on the show, so his experience may not be typical.

3

Okay, this may be somewhat of a hijack, for which I apologize, but if OP does attend the taping maybe he can answer this, or maybe someone else can.

Of course it is no secret that many people believe this show is laugh-tracked. What I don’t understand is how many times on this show there will be something funny that is revealed only by a camera move, and the audience will not laugh until whatever the funny thing is appears on the TV, but it would have been obvious to a live audience long before. For example, Leonard is talking to Sheldon but Sheldon has left the apartment. The audience will be completely silent during the monologue, but as soon as the camera reveals that Sheldon is not there they will laugh. Of course the audience would have known that Sheldon was not there and would not know when to laugh. Or how the audience didn’t react to Penny and Raj in bed together until the camera panned to show them both, when a live audience would have already known. How is this possible with a live taped show?

4

I’ve seen other live sitcoms, so I can speak to this.

Positioned above the viewing audience are banks of televisions that are a live feed of what the cameras are taping. Although it’s fun to watch the proceedings live, the fact that the set is farther away and that there are crew members and cameras in your line of sight means that it’s actually easier to watch the taping on the TVs themselves (with your peripheral vision catching the live action version, too).

The fun part of watching live is (a) the energy of the live audience, which usually makes things funnier than if you were watching home, alone, and (b) watching all the actors and crew set up for take after take, etc. Perhaps not all sit coms can afford to shoot chronologically, but there are few enough sets on BBT that for that show, it’s probably likely.

So even though you can see the prep work involved in any “reveal” beforehand, the fact that you’re watching on the TVs provided means that you still get the benefit of how the cameras and direction is used for comic effect.

5

All well and good but even in** CK Dexter Haven’s** response there’s nothing about the parking–something I’m really hoping to get, unfamiliar as I am with Burbank driving.

6

You might try sending a PM to Dex.

7

I just Googled “Warner Brothers Gate 8” (without the quotes) and found a ton of information.

8

It was several years ago, and I don’t remember about parking in any detail. My recollection is that there were clear signs (and guards) to direct us.

They held everyone in a waiting room until letting people in, so getting there early is good but getting there too early is useless. And, again, my experience was several years ago so the process might have changed.

It was glorious fun, though!

9

You know, I’m not stupid. My mother had me tested. But I didn’t think of that. D’oh.
So I did it, and my confusion stayed the same for quite a few of the entries. When I use Google Maps, (and in some of the answers) it shows Gate 8 on the north side of the street. However, there was one that clearly shows it on the south side and further contains an image that makes me think that’s where it must be.

I’m very thrilled about getting to experience this. We had a trip planned to Southern California and my lovely wife just surprised me by telling me she had arranged to get the tickets.

Thanks, good people.