Jay Leno Show

My visit to Burbank, California was quick. I went for one reason. To see the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. I grew up watching Jay Leno as a kid. Afterwards, Conan would come on with his “In the year 2000…” skit. By that time I would be pounding away on the keyboard creating a website with my imagination going wild.

That was many years ago, and now only Jay Leno is still on the air. So when I saw that JetBlue flew to Burbank and it wasn’t too hard to get to the studio, I sent in a request for one ticket to the show. A couple of days later I received a response and I was set.

I drove to the security gate where I asked the guard where I was suppose to go. He misunderstood my question as to where would I go to get a ticket to the show.

Instead I took a detour to the guest relations building nearby where I was told my email confirmation was everything that was needed to get in. It was about one o’clock in the afternoon by the time I walked through the metal detector, sat down on the bench with my number 22, and waited.

There were some interesting conversations from the couples who sat next to me. One was passing through the state traveling. It was fascinating to hear how people got to Burbank, and how some had taken the personal tour and saw the Leno’s parking spot.

It didn’t take long until both sides of the benches were filled. We all sat eager waiting to go in. The band started practicing and we could hear them from outside.

The production assistants led us into the studio single file. For each group, an assistant would asked how many people were there and chose seats for us. When it came my turn, I said one, and was led over to the first fixed row on the left of center side of the studio. To the left of me were two seats with tape across them, reserved, and another couple to my right.

Leno came out just before the show started and warmed up the audience. He asked if anyone had any questions. One person stood up and yelled out if they could take a picture with him. It was pretty cool, but felt a little staged.

During the commercial breaks, security came out and formed a loose barrier between the audience and the stage. They were looking for cameras and other devices that are strictly prohibited from capturing any part of the studio or the show. It would have been neat to get pictures of the studio, but my memories will have to do.

The band was incredible in person. They play for the whole commercial break. Even today when I watch the show go to commercial I listen closely, remembering the great memories.

It was an exciting experience seeing how Leno reads the cue cards just before the next segment, how he chats with the guests, and how the crew sets up for the next segment. I’ve been in television studios before, even operated a camera a few times during live productions, but seeing a national show being taped is something that I will never forget.

I guess it is my fascination with video production that had me more interested in what happened behind the camera than who was in front of the camera (Katie Couric and Kurt Warner). David Gray performed “Holding on” which was abeautifulsong to end the show.

After the show ended, Leno taped a few promo pieces that are shown as teasers in commercials before the show airs.

Would I go again? Absolutely. I am intrigued with Warner Bros. studio and the other studios nearby where you can attend live tapings of sitcoms. You could literally spend days just watching these shows get made, and then watch them on television.