Audiences Unlimited / Studio audiences

TRAVEL BY NIC…….The Perpetual Tourist!

 

Audiences Unlimited / See Dad Run / Paramount Studios -5555 Melrose Ave, Hollywood, CA

Hurray for Hollywood!!  I love seeing the behind the scenes magic that happens while filming movies & TV programs.  So the family participated in a taping of See Dad Run, a Nick-at-Night program that is taped at Paramount Studios.  I want to share our experience, however keep in mind each studio may handle studio audiences differently.

We chose to get our tickets through “Audiences Unlimited”, they are a reputable place that makes reservations for studio audiences all the time.  It does not cost anything to participate, but do expect to spend a good part of your day being involved in this experience!  Taping times will vary, our show started at 5:30pm and they informed us to arrive 60 minutes prior.  The entrance for this particular show was along a wall on “Gower Street”.  A parking lot was offered, don’t know the price, because free parking was available on Gower Street, so we parked for free!!  Audiences Unlimited is aware of your reservation, but entrance is not guaranteed, they let you know that it is on a 1^st come 1^st serve basis.  So we did arrive at 3:45pm.  Participants need to be over 16 years of age and they asked that we bring ID.  They also tell you not to bring your cell phone in.   Soooooo, here’s the real scoop....for us anyway!! (Not going to guarantee that the next bunch won’t go through a metal detector and have their ID’s checked!)  They only checked our printed reservation, not our ID’s and practically everyone had their cell phone out.  We did use a little discretion about blatantly pulling out our cameras/phones in front of a page, but for the most part, photos were taken!

They let us through the gate around 4:30pm, where we had a chance to go to the bathroom and get water before they took us into the studio.  From there we enjoyed the cool air while they played music to entertain us.  Since my husband and I work production we found it interesting watching all of the camera man, stage assistants, producers, and set people.  Really the time went fairly quickly.  Oh ya, remember the rule about 16 or older…..rules are broken when the star of the show or any of the folks working on the show have guests!  Matter-of-fact, we had Scott Baio’s wife and child right in front of us and one row over.

The studio audiences area is rather small.  If I had to guess…..I’d say it seated around 300 – 400 people.  This is my 3^rd taping of a show and they always have someone to entertain you in-between the scenes that are shot.  Our guy would play fun music, get us to dance, place games, tell us jokes, or offer us trivia.  The gal setting next to us won a script.   Prior to the actors being introduced they had us watch one of the episodes so we could get to know the characters.  Then the Hollywood magic began!

Each of the characters is introduced and then they jumped right into taping.  Of course you are expected to stay quiet, but encouraged to laugh.  So I find myself trying to have that last laugh so I could hear myself!  I know……what a dork!  I enjoy seeing the difference of what you see in real life verses what you see on your TV screen.  It’s so interesting how small the rooms really are and how the actors are standing just off stage ready to enter the scene.  It’s interesting to see how a scene may have to be done over and over until the Director is happy with the take.

I would say the taping did start at 5:30pm and we were in the studio until around 8:30pm.  I felt like the time went pretty quickly, but again, I enjoyed taking it all in.  Once the Director calls it a wrap each of the actors are brought back out for us to applaud them.

So we watched “See Dad Run”.  Scott Baio is the actor you may recognize, he plays David Hobbs,  the Dad.  David Hobbs was a dad on a sitcom for 10 years and now he is a stay at home dad with a teenage girl, a boy, and another young girl.  His wife is also an actor and is going back to work.  Some other fun characters, his producer and his former stage assistant.  Both of those people are involved with helping him raise his children.  Lots of times David Hobbs (Scott Baio) will try and refer back to an episode on his former show to help in whatever situation he’s in.  It’s a half hour sitcom that is pretty fun.

Here’s the kicker……..I used to have Scott Baio posters on my wall when I was a teenager!!!  So girls everywhere……those teen crushes…..maybe 30 years later you to will be able to be in the same room as your former poster crush!!  Teenage Dreams do come true!!

For a true Hollywood experience, everyone should do this at least once!  The only thing it really costs you is the time and the gas to get there!  Entrance is free, and in some cases, parking is free!!