So, you're going to the big shoo?
Here are my tips for going to the Late Show.
Please note that these tips were accurate as of the last time I went to the Late Show,
and may not be 100% accurate now due to changes in Late Show ticketing policies, seating
policies, and more. If you have any updates, please e-mail
me with the details so I can continue to have the most accurate information here. Thank
you.
If you want good seats, GET THERE EARLY! I can't stress that enough.
Assuming you have real tickets (all I mean by that is that you don't
have standby tickets),
get there around noon. Tickets are numbered at 2:00, but if you want to
sit in the front, get there no later than 12:00. I had ticket number five,
and I sat in the second row (the first row only has three seats) on the
far right side of the stage (near Dave's desk). At first, I was
disapointed because I had wanted to sit on the other side, near where
Dave does his opening remarks. In the long run, however, I was quite
pleased with my seat because we had a perfect view of Dave for the
entire show. If anybody knows what number tickets you need to sit in
the front row on the left side, please let me know.
Anyway, at 2:00, a CBS page will come out and number your tickets. I
suggest that you bring along a deck of cards, or a book because those two
hours from Noon to 2:00 seem longer than anything!
Spend time in Dave's neighborhood! Be sure to visit all of the stores
that Dave has shown on the show, especially Rupert Jee's "Hello Deli".
Rupert is most likely the nicest person in New
York. I strongly recomend shelling out the small amount of cash for one
of his Hello Deli t-shirts. Another must see is
K & L's Rock America, the home of Mujibar and Sirajul. A best
buy in the store is a book called "Dave's World" by Michael
Calder. It's $9.95 and it's chock full of information about Dave
and the Late Show.
Avid Dave fans will want to check out eighth avenue, the street behind
the Ed Sullivan Theater. Eighth avenue is home to the dry cleaners
where the Late Show played "May We Press Your Pants, Please?", as well
as the home of the Sloan's supermarket where
Dave once purchased canned hams for the entire audience.
Go back to the theater around 4:00. Another CBS page will be there to
tell everyone what will be happening in the next few hours. At 4:15
they will then tell you that you can, and should, use the restrooms
until 4:30. Use them. Even if you don't think you need to, it will be at least 6:30
before you get another opportunity. You can not use the restrooms during the taping of
the show.
At around 5:00 you will enter the lobby of the theater, Laurie Diamond,
Dave's assistant, will come out and give you some last-minute words.
Then, at about 5:10, you'll be ushered into the theater and directed to
a seat. The warm up guy, Walli Collins,
will come out, teach you how to clap, and then present a brief video
piece (an old comedy segment-- the one I saw was "Dave and Paul go
golfing"). At 5:20, Walli introduced the band one by one (they were
playing Green Day's "Basket Case"). The last person he introduced was Paul, who came out,
thanked us, and then asked us
if we wanted to see Dave. Then the king of late night himself came out
onto the stage and had time for one audience question, then the show began.
If you have a gift for Dave, or want to try to trade something for a
ham, keep it out of sight of the CBS pages. All of the pages encourage
you to give any gifts for Dave to them, and they'll "make sure he gets
them." ("Yeah, right.") Also, about the only time you can attempt to
get a ham is right before the show when he comes out.
If you have any suggestions for additions/corrections for this page, please feel free
to e-mail me any time.
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