Questions about getting tickets, and other stuff

[Cat Hammarskjold]

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

I took the test the first two years it was online, and then I didn't for a number of years since I wrote some questions for a high school quiz show that aired on a station that also aired Jeopardy!, and I thought that made me ineligible. I've been taking the test since I found that two people who contributed to writing for that show, Jim Coury and Nishanth Uli, were on the college tournament and said that TPTB were okay with it. I think that means that I've taken the test seven or eight times due to some years having two tests. Outside of one year when I had exactly 35, I've had more than that all the other times. I think that 43 was my highest, but I usually get 39 or 40. As for O'Brien's, I'd definitely need teammates, but I'd play alone if I had to. Pub quizzes are usually heavy on film and pop music, and I don't have much depth in either of those topics, so I'd probably finish in last since the subjects I'm good at usually have minimal representation at pub quizzes. As for traffic, I remember how bad it was when our team qualified for the 2007 College Bowl Nationals at USC, and assume it's even worse now.

[doihavetoreally]

I was thinking the same as the OP. Doesn't seem like I will be getting on the show soon, might as well attend a taping.
Does anyone know when they break for winter vacation?

[twelvefootboy]

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

What are you complaining about? That's an awesome 2:30 Marathon pace!

I was hoping you'd weigh in. How early is too early or how late is too late for studio audience? Is it open seating? I think the spousal unit (me too) will not want to drag it out, but we also don't want to miss any of the experience. I assume they will give me the FAQ's when I call in to confirm our attendance 4-7 days before. But I need to calculate my marathon pace and distance from the Doubletree.

[morbeedo]

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

What are you complaining about? That's an awesome 2:30 Marathon pace!

I was hoping you'd weigh in. How early is too early or how late is too late for studio audience? Is it open seating? I think the spousal unit (me too) will not want to drag it out, but we also don't want to miss any of the experience. I assume they will give me the FAQ's when I call in to confirm our attendance 4-7 days before. But I need to calculate my marathon pace and distance from the Doubletree.

I’ve been to the AM session which starts at 11. Think you need to get there by 10:15 but check your confirmation email. Don’t know what happens if you show up late. They line you up and lead you through the studio lot in single file. You pass through a metal detector, then enter the studio and get seated in order - so no, you don’t pick your seats. There are breaks between episodes and they let you leave to use the bathroom or wander the hallways and take pictures with Alex.

For me, watching them tape 3 episodes was more than enough. Couldn’t imagine coming back for 2 more after lunch, unless I was there as the guest of a contestant. The intro video and welcome by Johnny Gilbert are really great- you’ll love it! Have fun! (Of course, your primary objective is to pay attention to what’s happening on and off stage, so you’re ready when you get the call)

As for my traffic nightmare, it was the day after Labor Day, so all the L.A. kids were going back to school, and I was driving down from my friend’s house in the Valley. Traffic was backed way way up just trying to get on the freeway. We took side roads through Beverly Glen, so we got to ogle nice homes while idling in traffic. Once we got on the 405, we were fine.

If you’re driving onto the lot, make sure you have the address from the email - 3970 Overland Ave. -because there are multiple entrances to Sony Studios. Good food options in Culver City- we liked Akasha for both breakfast and lunch

[goongas]

The O'Brien's quiz is not your typical pub quiz. It is normally written by players of the quiz, which as implied earlier is made up of former J! champs and other quiz show winners. I haven't been there in years, but from what I remember, it is not the typical pop culture quiz that you would be used to. If you are alone, ask to join a team if you see a team is low on players, from what I remember they are friendly. It is not a quiz that you will do well playing by yourself.

[alietr]

Once we got on the 405, we were fine.

I'll bet that sentence was a googlenope.

[georgespelvin]

I’ve been to the AM session which starts at 11. Think you need to get there by 10:15 but check your confirmation email. Don’t know what happens if you show up late. They line you up and lead you through the studio lot in single file. You pass through a metal detector, then enter the studio and get seated in order - so no, you don’t pick your seats. There are breaks between episodes and they let you leave to use the bathroom or wander the hallways and take pictures with Alex.

This hasn't happened to me fortunately, but they tell you that if you show up late, you won't get seated until the game in progress has completed taping. Similarly, if you leave the studio to go to the bathroom or to do whatever between games in a taping session and don't get back before the game taping begins, you can't get in until the game is completed. They don't let people in during the pauses for where there will be commercial breaks. Remember, you are attending the recording of a television show and time is money--there is a schedule for all this and a union one at that.

I was there for a recording session for the Battle of the Decades and the bathroom the audience could use was in an outside building which must have been a block away. I literally ran to the building and back because I think there was only ten minutes between recordings (not sure what the time difference is between regular games, for the ones I saw there were different contestants in each game, no repeat players who needed to change clothes).

[morbeedo]

Once we got on the 405, we were fine.

I'll bet that sentence was a googlenope.

this went right over my head

[opusthepenguin]

Once we got on the 405, we were fine.

I'll bet that sentence was a googlenope.

I can't even find the above instance when I google it. It's like Google refuses to admit the possibility.

[twelvefootboy]

For me, watching them tape 3 episodes was more than enough. Couldn’t imagine coming back for 2 more after lunch, unless I was there as the guest of a contestant.

Wow! I'm glad I asked. If a marathoner Jeopardy Junkie thinks one session is enough, we'll make sure to have escape options. I am just as interested in the rituals and logistics in a show taping as much as I want to have a sneak preview of games I'll see in the future. We'll stay until we get the "been there, done that" and "seen one, seen them all" vibe at least.

Thanks to all who have been helpful, and the OP for starting the thread for my ease of highjacking. I'll post any kernels and nuggets back on it when we return.

[alietr]

For me, watching them tape 3 episodes was more than enough. Couldn’t imagine coming back for 2 more after lunch, unless I was there as the guest of a contestant.

Wow! I'm glad I asked. If a marathoner Jeopardy Junkie thinks one session is enough, we'll make sure to have escape options. I am just as interested in the rituals and logistics in a show taping as much as I want to have a sneak preview of games I'll see in the future. We'll stay until we get the "been there, done that" and "seen one, seen them all" vibe at least.

As another data point, I stayed for the 3 games following mine, and came basck the next day for 2 more. I couldn't get enough. Of course, I was waiting to watch someone in particular lose, but hey...

[Bamaman]

For me, watching them tape 3 episodes was more than enough. Couldn’t imagine coming back for 2 more after lunch, unless I was there as the guest of a contestant.

Wow! I'm glad I asked. If a marathoner Jeopardy Junkie thinks one session is enough, we'll make sure to have escape options. I am just as interested in the rituals and logistics in a show taping as much as I want to have a sneak preview of games I'll see in the future. We'll stay until we get the "been there, done that" and "seen one, seen them all" vibe at least.

As another data point, I stayed for the 3 games following mine, and came basck the next day for 2 more. I couldn't get enough. Of course, I was waiting to watch someone in particular lose, but hey...

That would have been a long wait.

[squarekara]

This hasn't happened to me fortunately, but they tell you that if you show up late, you won't get seated until the game in progress has completed taping. Similarly, if you leave the studio to go to the bathroom or to do whatever between games in a taping session and don't get back before the game taping begins, you can't get in until the game is completed. They don't let people in during the pauses for where there will be commercial breaks. Remember, you are attending the recording of a television show and time is money--there is a schedule for all this and a union one at that.

This is all too true. They show no mercy for latecomers. My sister-in-law experienced some minor delays on the way to the studio, arrived a little late, and was not admitted. She completely missed my game. Better to play it safe and allow plenty of time for traffic.

[banana]

hi there,
my question falls under the "other stuff" definition - does anyone know where to get old episodes of the show? i'm talking 2002. years ago i found someone online that burned me a copy of my appearance but the cd was lost in a car accident. thank you for any assistance!
tana

[Jeff-thecdboy]

hi there,
my question falls under the "other stuff" definition - does anyone know where to get old episodes of the show? i'm talking 2002. years ago i found someone online that burned me a copy of my appearance but the cd was lost in a car accident. thank you for any assistance!
tana

This trader has a lot of 2002 J! episodes in his collection:

http://www.angelfire.com/planet/rinkerman/Jeopardy.html

[Linear Gnome]

This seems like a good thread for this question.

During the discussion about Alex's surgery and the change of taping schedule, I checked the J! web site and noticed that January 24 showed tapings at 11 AM and 12 PM. Based on the availability of a ridiculously cheap round trip and the ease of reusing ticketless funds from Southwest if I cancel, I currently have tickets for a round trip to LAX on January 24 with a ticket for the 12 PM taping.

I have never seen any time other than 2:15 PM for the "second" taping in a day, and I am wondering if anyone with insider knowledge has any insight regarding this strange 12 PM taping time. I have been on the fence about whether to take this trip or not, so any information about that taping would be helpful. (I tried, unsuccessfully, to call for more information.)

[AndyTheQuizzer]

This seems like a good thread for this question.

During the discussion about Alex's surgery and the change of taping schedule, I checked the J! web site and noticed that January 24 showed tapings at 11 AM and 12 PM. Based on the availability of a ridiculously cheap round trip and the ease of reusing ticketless funds from Southwest if I cancel, I currently have tickets for a round trip to LAX on January 24 with a ticket for the 12 PM taping.

I have never seen any time other than 2:15 PM for the "second" taping in a day, and I am wondering if anyone with insider knowledge has any insight regarding this strange 12 PM taping time. I have been on the fence about whether to take this trip or not, so any information about that taping would be helpful. (I tried, unsuccessfully, to call for more information.)

I would say, "be prepared for you to be told 'your tickets are for 2:15' when you call for confirmation".

[squarekara]

This seems like a good thread for this question.

During the discussion about Alex's surgery and the change of taping schedule, I checked the J! web site and noticed that January 24 showed tapings at 11 AM and 12 PM. Based on the availability of a ridiculously cheap round trip and the ease of reusing ticketless funds from Southwest if I cancel, I currently have tickets for a round trip to LAX on January 24 with a ticket for the 12 PM taping.

I have never seen any time other than 2:15 PM for the "second" taping in a day, and I am wondering if anyone with insider knowledge has any insight regarding this strange 12 PM taping time. I have been on the fence about whether to take this trip or not, so any information about that taping would be helpful. (I tried, unsuccessfully, to call for more information.)

I would say, "be prepared for you to be told 'your tickets are for 2:15' when you call for confirmation".

Yeah, that must be a typo. Even if they've made changes to the taping schedule to accommodate Alex's recovery, they probably won't seat two separate audiences for 11 and 12. It's a time-consuming process to escort people from the gate to the stage then back again. Hope you get ahold of a human to confirm.

[twelvefootboy]

This seems like a good thread for this question.

During the discussion about Alex's surgery and the change of taping schedule, I checked the J! web site and noticed that January 24 showed tapings at 11 AM and 12 PM. Based on the availability of a ridiculously cheap round trip and the ease of reusing ticketless funds from Southwest if I cancel, I currently have tickets for a round trip to LAX on January 24 with a ticket for the 12 PM taping.

I have never seen any time other than 2:15 PM for the "second" taping in a day, and I am wondering if anyone with insider knowledge has any insight regarding this strange 12 PM taping time. I have been on the fence about whether to take this trip or not, so any information about that taping would be helpful. (I tried, unsuccessfully, to call for more information.)

Don't forget to print a hard copy of your ticket! They actually take that from you. I'm sure they would work with someone who just had it on their phone, but you don't want to have that drama.
Have fun! We did. If you have time, take the studio tour as well. We didn't do that and wish we had. The little 2-3 minute trailer they show when you get there is fun to see. And Johnny Gilbert will rock your world!

[Linear Gnome]

I would say, "be prepared for you to be told 'your tickets are for 2:15' when you call for confirmation".

As of today, the situation is still clear as mud. The confirmation line says that there is no taping today (1/17) but does not have any other clarifications. The 800 number recording says that J! tapings are at 11 and 2:15 and mentions the existence of Jan. 24 as a tape date. I suspect this all means that 12 PM is a typo but they're not aware of it yet. I left a message with Lee with Group Tickets saying that I'd appreciate clarification if it's convenient.

I'll check back later in the week to see if the RSVP's brought the (likely) typo to their attention. I don't think it's in anyone's best interests to have a bunch of people show up at 11:15 for a 2:15 taping.

Might as well ask: assuming that the taping is at 2:15, about what time am I likely to be released at the gate?

(BTW, there don't appear to be any studio tours on that day.)