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Questions about getting tickets, and other stuff

Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2017 12:35 am
by Cat Hammarskjold
Since I've still never been called to an audition before, let alone having the 3+ auditions it seems to take to get on the show, I have a feeling that I won't be able to get on the show before the expected degenerating into a vegetable or dying in the next few years. Anyway, I was driving by a billboard yesterday advertising brand new low-cost flights from Cincinnati to Los Angeles. So I was wondering how hard it is to get tickets to watch the taping, and if it was possible for audience members to get lunch at the Sony commissary. I know the food is extremely overpriced, but it's one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Also, is the Wednesday night quiz at O'Briens only open to people who have been on Jeopardy! before, or can members of the general public take part in it as well?

Re: Questions about getting tickets, and other stuff

Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2017 10:59 pm
by trainman
Cat Hammarskjold wrote: Mon Nov 20, 2017 12:35 amSo I was wondering how hard it is to get tickets to watch the taping, and if it was possible for audience members to get lunch at the Sony commissary.
It's very easy to get audience tickets (via this page), but, unfortunately, audience members aren't allowed to visit the commissary (or go anywhere else on the Sony lot beyond the J! stage).

Re: Questions about getting tickets, and other stuff

Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2017 11:29 pm
by twelvefootboy
I just added this experience to my bucket list after joining this board and decided not to wait until I was already in the neighborhood. I missed out on Space Shuttle launches because I procrastinated.

Me and missus have tickets for both tapings on Tuesday 12 December. I used my name for the morning session and her name for the afternoon, just in case they are rationed. They don't seem to be.

If you want to catch this next one, my tickets were cheap as long as I came back on the 13th, so I didn't try for two days (or expect to have the stamina). PM me if you are there and I'll buy you a beer, or a saucer of milk. I hope you get to be in front of the camera sometime! From Joplin, MO, the flight was about $300, but I used airline miles that were only good on the days I picked.

The Doubletree by Hilton in Culver City is where you can stalk SUPPORT some of the contestants.(only vicariously - no creeping) I think the room was about $150 bucks on booking.com.

I hope other boardies can add some advice in advance. Zerobandwidth has already helped me out with intel. I plan to dress like an eskimo because I'm sure it's cold, but Pasha didn't notice. I think it will be fun to see the taping several months later.

Re: Questions about getting tickets, and other stuff

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 2:53 am
by Peachbox
Not sure what your transportation plans are, but here are a couple of options I've tried.

If you take a cab from LAX to the Doubletree, the fare should be $25-$30. Or, you can catch the LAX "C" Shuttle from the airport and take it to the LA Bus Center. From there, take the Culver City 6 (green bus), northbound, to Centinela Ave and walk 5-10 mins to the Doubletree. The hotel, nearby Westfield Mall, or Promenade at Howard Hughes Center all have dining options.

You can also get from the Doubletree to Sony Studios by taking the Culver City 6 northbound to Washington Blvd, then either walk about 1 mile or take the Culver City 1 eastbound to Overland Ave., and walk down Overland to the Sony garage, where you'll give your name and wait to be escorted to Studio 10. The studio is a bit chilly, but didn't seem that bad to me.

Re: Questions about getting tickets, and other stuff

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 3:34 am
by Cat Hammarskjold
I'm not planning to stalk Jeopardy! contestants at the Doubletree. I have a friend who has wanted me to visit for a while that lives about 30 miles away, which I realize is many hours of traffic in California, but I'll probably have to rent a car to get to him, the studio, fulfilling one of my other wishes to swim in the Pacific Ocean, etc. Unfortunately, it seems like the really cheap airline tickets need about 2-3 month advance knowledge, and they only have the tickets up on the Jeopardy! site for December.

Re: Questions about getting tickets, and other stuff

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 7:24 am
by kristinsausville
twelvefootboy wrote: Mon Nov 20, 2017 11:29 pm The Doubletree by Hilton in Culver City is where you can stalk some of the contestants. I think the room was about $150 bucks on booking.com
Well that's not creepy at all.

The contestants are stressed out enough in the morning without people in the lobby staring at them.

Re: Questions about getting tickets, and other stuff

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 9:21 am
by zerobandwidth
twelvefootboy wrote: Mon Nov 20, 2017 11:29 pm The Doubletree by Hilton in Culver City is where you can stalk some of the contestants. I think the room was about $150 bucks on booking.com.
Is this a typo? That is significantly less than the "Sony corporate rate" that I was quoted as a contestant! :o

Re: Questions about getting tickets, and other stuff

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 10:10 am
by Cat Hammarskjold
kristinsausville wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2017 7:24 am
twelvefootboy wrote: Mon Nov 20, 2017 11:29 pmb
The Doubletree by Hilton in Culver City is where you can stalk some of the contestants. I think the room was about $150 bucks on booking.com
Well that's not creepy at all.

The contestants are stressed out enough in the morning without people in the lobby staring at them.
If you didn't see my later response about my intention to visit one of my friends and either stay at the friend's place or somewhere near where the friend lives, I'm not going to stalk the players. I only wondered about lunch from the Sony commissary since I've been told that this is a very big place where I could be in a totally different part of the room, and I was wondering if it was possible to eat at the same place that the Jeopardy! greats get to eat. I would never try to distract the contestants themselves.

No one yet has answered my question about whether or not the Wednesday night quiz at O'Briens is open to the general public, or just to people who have appeared on the show before.

Re: Questions about getting tickets, and other stuff

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 10:48 am
by acthomas
Cat Hammarskjold wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2017 10:10 am No one yet has answered my question about whether or not the Wednesday night quiz at O'Briens is open to the general public, or just to people who have appeared on the show before.
Assuming this is the correct website -- which I think it is -- it's open to everyone who wants to play.

http://obrienspubquiz.com/

Which is good, because I'm definitely going the next time I'm in town!

Re: Questions about getting tickets, and other stuff

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 11:50 am
by twelvefootboy
zerobandwidth wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2017 9:21 am
twelvefootboy wrote: Mon Nov 20, 2017 11:29 pm The Doubletree by Hilton in Culver City is where you can stalk some of the contestants. I think the room was about $150 bucks on booking.com.
Is this a typo? That is significantly less than the "Sony corporate rate" that I was quoted as a contestant! :o
Not a typo, but a lowball memory. Complete price is $181.50. I just checked online and it is still listed at $170 for Tuesday night the 12th. I can't figure out how to paste the screenshot. Yah, you always gotta worry about "corporate rates". I think the breakfast option was another 23 bucks apiece.
kristinsausville wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2017 7:24 am
twelvefootboy wrote: Mon Nov 20, 2017 11:29 pm The Doubletree by Hilton in Culver City is where you can stalk some of the contestants. I think the room was about $150 bucks on booking.com
Well that's not creepy at all.

The contestants are stressed out enough in the morning without people in the lobby staring at them.
Sometimes I compose a post, and then look at it and decide - this says more about me than about the subject of the post. Is this mock outrage? Does it inform or contribute? Is it just a vanity posting? Then, delete, delete, delete...

I will edit the posting with the phrasing "support the contestants" instead of the attempted playful term "stalk the contestants". (Which I actually borrowed from a previous contestant but I didn't know how to strikethrough until now). My apologies to any whom are/were offended. No more joking without the mandatory "lol" qualification or smiley face. :lol:

Re: Questions about getting tickets, and other stuff

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 12:11 pm
by NoWhammies10
The HHonors Club rate for Doubletree Culver City is $126, FWIW.

Re: Questions about getting tickets, and other stuff

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 12:12 pm
by alietr
twelvefootboy wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2017 11:50 am Sometimes I compose a post, and then look at it and decide - this says more about me than about the subject of the post. Is this mock outrage? Does it inform or contribute? Is it just a vanity posting? Then, delete, delete, delete...

I will edit the posting with the phrasing "support the contestants" instead of the attempted playful term "stalk the contestants". (Which I actually borrowed from a previous contestant but I didn't know how to strikethrough until now). My apologies to any whom are/were offended. No more joking without the mandatory "lol" qualification or smiley face. :lol:
I know you meant it innocently and jokingly. It's unfortunate, but there have been way too many cases of cyberstalking and/or harassment of contestants. You struck a raw nerve on that one.

Re: Questions about getting tickets, and other stuff

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 1:20 pm
by seaborgium
zerobandwidth wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2017 9:21 am
twelvefootboy wrote: Mon Nov 20, 2017 11:29 pm The Doubletree by Hilton in Culver City is where you can stalk some of the contestants. I think the room was about $150 bucks on booking.com.
Is this a typo?
Inasmuch as it has a dollar sign before and "bucks" after the numeral.

Re: Questions about getting tickets, and other stuff

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 2:28 pm
by opusthepenguin
seaborgium wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2017 1:20 pm
zerobandwidth wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2017 9:21 am
twelvefootboy wrote: Mon Nov 20, 2017 11:29 pm The Doubletree by Hilton in Culver City is where you can stalk some of the contestants. I think the room was about $150 bucks on booking.com.
Is this a typo?
Inasmuch as it has a dollar sign before and "bucks" after the numeral.
:lol:

Re: Questions about getting tickets, and other stuff

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 3:07 pm
by morbeedo
Cat Hammarskjold wrote: Mon Nov 20, 2017 12:35 am Since I've still never been called to an audition before, let alone having the 3+ auditions it seems to take to get on the show...
Take a look at this poll from the Jeopardy! Fan. I'm banking on joining the cohort of just 1 audition because I've had miserable luck with the audition selection process

I've been to two tapings - both times for the morning session - so much fun! Make sure you get some good photos with Alex Trebek

I should add that L.A. traffic is even worse than you could ever imagine. It took me 1 hr 45 min. to drive the 18 miles from Valley Village to Culver City - and I left the house at 7:15 AM!!! Nightmare

Re: Questions about getting tickets, and other stuff

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 3:59 pm
by triviawayne
morbeedo wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2017 3:07 pm
Cat Hammarskjold wrote: Mon Nov 20, 2017 12:35 am Since I've still never been called to an audition before, let alone having the 3+ auditions it seems to take to get on the show...
Take a look at this poll from the Jeopardy! Fan. I'm banking on joining the cohort of just 1 audition because I've had miserable luck with the audition selection process

I've been to two tapings - both times for the morning session - so much fun! Make sure you get some good photos with Alex Trebek

I should add that L.A. traffic is even worse than you could ever imagine. It took me 1 hr 45 min. to drive the 18 miles from Valley Village to Culver City - and I left the house at 7:15 AM!!! Nightmare
The poll is interesting; I want to know how many tests passed (granted, we don't actually know passing, but we could ask "feel you passed because you scored at least 35") on average just to get an audition

Re: Questions about getting tickets, and other stuff

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 5:39 pm
by georgespelvin
acthomas wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2017 10:48 am
Cat Hammarskjold wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2017 10:10 am No one yet has answered my question about whether or not the Wednesday night quiz at O'Briens is open to the general public, or just to people who have appeared on the show before.
Assuming this is the correct website -- which I think it is -- it's open to everyone who wants to play.

http://obrienspubquiz.com/

Which is good, because I'm definitely going the next time I'm in town!
I've been there twice, each time with people knowing in advance that I would be there. As you might expect, it is extremely tough pub trivia, probably the toughest there is, and probably at the level of formal national and international trivia competitions. Unless you are really good at knowledge questions (think good enough to be competitive in an A rundle in Learned League), you may find yourself in over your head--as I was. To echo Kristin's statement, I wouldn't just go there to gawk at "Jeopardy royalty", although that probably isn't your intent.

Re: Questions about getting tickets, and other stuff

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 6:09 pm
by dhkendall
georgespelvin wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2017 5:39 pm Unless you are really good at knowledge questions (think good enough to be competitive in an A rundle in Learned League), you may find yourself in over your head--as I was.
He shouldn’t have too much of a problem

(For me, a “floundering in C rundle” LLama, I still want to try O’Briens (albeit on a team with some damn good players) when my Call comes because O’Briens!

Re: Questions about getting tickets, and other stuff

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 6:16 pm
by georgespelvin
In that case, I know they are always looking for new blood because not everyone shows up every week. You would be welcomed with open arms. :D

Please forgive my earlier negative assumptions. I'm in a sour mood this week. In fact, I was about to delete my prior comment but Dave had already responded to it.

Re: Questions about getting tickets, and other stuff

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 7:59 pm
by floridagator
morbeedo wrote: I should add that L.A. traffic is even worse than you could ever imagine. It took me 1 hr 45 min. to drive the 18 miles from Valley Village to Culver City - and I left the house at 7:15 AM!!! Nightmare
Always have someone with you in the car so you can drive in the carpool lane. That has saved me in cities like La many times.