How to Get Free Tickets to TV Show Tapings!

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When traveling to Los Angeles and New York you can save money on entertainment by planning in advance!  Have the unique and fun experience of attending a taping of 1 of your favorite TV shows for free!

Watching shows live is a great time and there may even be behind-the-scenes tours, opening comedy acts, and giveaways! 

Many popular shows give out free tickets!  But keep in mind, shows can change their schedule or get cancelled.   So it’s not a good idea to plan your entire trip around seeing 1 of these shows!

Also, be sure to check the ticketing page for details on age limits, dress codes, and permitted items.  Or you could be denied entry at the door!

Attend Shows for Free in Los Angeles

Here’s a look at just a few of the shows you can attend for free in Los Angeles:

Wheel of Fortune

Spin the wheel for a chance to get free tickets to a live taping of Wheel of Fortune!

You could get free tickets for up to 4 people by submitting a request (submitting a request doesn’t guarantee you a ticket).  If you have a larger group, call 818-772-6788.

Sign-up for a free Wheel Watchers Club membership to get access to VIP seats.  You could even get a chance to spin the Wheel by filling out a Contestant Application.

Important Show Rules:

• Kids under 8 will NOT be admitted

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Show Ellen your best dance moves!  Request your free tickets to Ellen’s talk show online.  If tickets are sold out online, there are a limited number of stand-by tickets for the day of filming.  To request day-of stand-by tickets call 818-954-5929 before 12:00 pm.

Once you get your tickets check out the FAQ page for answers to all your questions about what to expect on the day of taping.

Important Show Rules:

• Must be 14 or older (Photo ID required)
• Only 1 taping per season

Conan

Conan O’Brien’s late night talk show films at Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank, California, on Monday through Thursday.  You can request free tickets online.  Call 818-977-3056 from 10:30 am to 2:00 pm the day of taping for stand-by tickets.

If you have questions, email [email protected].

The Big Bang Theory

You can also get free tickets to sitcoms such The Big Bang Theory.  There are 2 different types of tickets:

• Priority – Released 30 days in advance starting at 8:30 am Pacific Time Monday through Friday.  Arrive by 5:00 pm Pacific Time (or at least 90 minutes before the show starts if theres a schedule change).

• Stand-by – Once Priority tickets are sold-out, you’ll have a chance for stand-by tickets. You’ll get a line number at check-in and are NOT guaranteed admission.

Important Show Rules:

• You must be 18 or older
• Limit – 2 shows per person each season

You can also get tickets to other sitcoms and talks shows like Dr. Phil on this site.

Free Tickets to Some of Your Favorite Shows in New York City

Here are a few shows you can attend for free and how to get tickets (keep in mind some shows get policies change and some shows get cancelled):

Saturday Night Live

Enter the Saturday Night Live ticket lottery by emailing [email protected] (1X per household) during the month of August only.  In your email include your contact information and do NOT request a specific date!

If your name is drawn, you’ll receive 2 tickets to the dress rehearsal or live taping for free!

If you don’t win tickets in the drawing, you can try for stand-by tickets, given out each day of taping at 7:00 am on the West 49th Street side of Rockefeller Plaza.   These tickets do NOT guarantee admission and are handed out on a 1st-come, 1st-served basis.

Important Show Rules:

• Must be 16 or older to attend

The Today Show

You could get the chance to talk with folks like Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie, and Al Roker on live TV!  Each morning fans stand in Rockefeller Plaza to watch The Today Show filming.   You do NOT need tickets, but RSVP to speed up the check-in process and get more information.

Check out their site for tips on planning your trip and getting on the show!

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

You can get free tickets to The Tonight Show at showclix.  Follow The Tonight Show on Twitter to find out when tickets will be released and book fast because tickets don’t last long!

You can also get stand-by tickets (admission NOT guaranteed) under the NBC marquee on the 49th Street side of 30 Rock.

Important Show Rules:

• Must be 16 or older to attend (Photo ID required)
• Groups of more than 4 aren’t allowed

The View

You can also get free tickets to The View online.  The show films at ABC Studios in New York City.

If you’re unable to book a ticket online, you can get stand-by tickets as early as 9:30 am Eastern Time on a 1st-come, 1st-served basis.

Important Show Rules:

• Must be 16 or older (Photo ID required)

Don’t Live Near Los Angeles or New York City?  Get There for Cheap!

Use your miles and points to get to Los Angeles and New York City for cheap!

Some ways to fly to Los Angeles or New York using miles and points:

• United Airlines – There are lots of ways to earn United Airlines miles.  Including transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points to United Airlines.  Check out my post on how to use United Airline miles.

• Southwest – Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest.  And if you earn the Southwest Companion Pass, a friend can fly with you for (almost) free!

• British Airways – Folks who are a short flight from Los Angeles or New York might transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points or American Express Membership Rewards points to British Airways.  Because short flights can cost fewer miles on British Airways versus other airlines.

You can also search for good deals on paid airfare with Google Flights.

Stay for Free!

Link:   My Favorite Hotel Credit Cards

You can stay for cheap or free at hotels with points you earn from credit card sign-up bonuses!  Hotel Hustle and AwardMapper can help you find hotels that you can book with points!

You can also transfer flexible points like Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards to different hotel programs.  And check out my posts on all the ways to earn Hilton and Hyatt points!

Folks with the Chase Freedom, Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card, or Chase Sapphire (no longer available) must have the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Ink Plus, or Chase Ink Bold to be allowed to transfer points to airline and hotel partners.

Note:  Folks who want to book paid stays could use discount sites like Orbitz, Expedia, or TravelPony for deals.  But remember you won’t get stay credits to earn elite status (and might not have your elite status recognized). Airbnb is another great way to save money on accommodations that have a more local feel, especially for longer stays.

Bottom Line

If your travels bring you to Los Angeles or New York City, you could attend tapings of your favorite shows for free!

But you should know that tickets are limited and there’s no guarantee that your ticket will be honored.  Read the restrictions listed on the ticketing page, so you’re not denied at the door!

Watching your favorite TV stars in person is exciting!  And your friends and family watching at home may even spot you in the audience!