You really want to get your hands on tickets for The Late Night Show with David Letterman. The problem is you’re not sure where or how to get them. Continue reading and you’ll find out all you need to know to get yourself and a guest inside the Ed Sullivan Theater with ticket in hand, waiting to be seated. After prime time ends, late night begins and for many it is the prime time viewing whether at home in front of your TV or as a member of the audience.
The Late Night Show with David Letterman
So you wanna be in attendance when Letterman rattles off the Top Ten blah blah blah…. Here’s the skinny: There are three ways to possibly be granted your wish of placing butt in chair at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York.
Online at http://www.cbs.com/latenight/lateshow/show_info/ls_show_info_get_ticket.shtml
Yes, CBS has provided a handy dandy form for you to fill out. It includes, first name, last name, daytime phone, evening phone cell phone, email address and three dates you’d like to attend. If you’re going to bring just ONE guest (that’s all you’re allowed) you must provide the first and last name of your guest. Just requesting tickets via the web does not guarantee you a seat; it just gives you a “chance”. Before you get too excited this is how it works. If you’re selected, you’ll receive a call and you will be asked to answer a trivia question about Letterman’s show. IF you answer correctly you’ll soon have tickets in hand. If no call is forthcoming, don’t get your undies in a twist; you can try one of the other venues.
There are a couple standard rules. You must be 18 years of age to attend a taping of The Late show with David Letterman AND you cannot attend or request tickets to attend more than once in every six-month period. If you do… you’re out of luck for who knows how long. Play the game but play it smart.
You didn’t get a call, you didn’t get tickets, but you really want to be in the audience for “stupid dog tricks.” Ok… if you live in or near New York City or just happen to be visiting, you can try the next route.
In Person Request: Shocking but true. You can march your happy butt to 1697 Broadway between west 53rd and west 54th New York. CBS has representatives in the lobby to help you Monday through Friday 9:30am – 12:30pm and Saturday 10:00am – 6:00pm. This is an important rule: DO NOT LINE UP BEFORE 9am! If you do you can kiss your chance of ever sitting in that theater guffawing at Letterman’s jokes goodbye. One more tidbit of info, because you went in person and signed up and showed your Federal government issued ID with date of birth and home address does not mean that you are definitely going to get that ticket. You may request tickets up to one month in advance. You may get a random call from someone at CBS informing you that you’re dream has come true, two tickets to the Late Night Show with David Letterman are yours.
Standby Tickets: It’s come to this. You’ve tried the online route; you followed all the rules and still no ticket. You’re saddened, but with iron clad will you’re going to try the last trick, Standby Tickets. On the day of the taping of at precisely 11:am, pick up the phone and dial (212) 247-6797. This is a first come, first serve game, so your name will be put on a list in the order that your call was received. You can ask for just one ticket. You will be told exactly what time to be at the theater, usually one hour in advance of the taping. Once everyone with a ticket is seated and if seats remained unoccupied, you may have a chance. The number of seats available for standby varies from day to day, so it’s not a sure thing. The phone line does remain open 30-60 minutes or until all available seats are taken. Cross your fingers, hold your breath and click your heels three times whispering, “there’s no place like the Ed Sullivan theater… etc.
The absolutes are as follows no matter how you got your tickets:
1.You must be 18
2.You cannot request tickets or attend a show more than once in any given 6-month period.
3.Due to so many requests for tickets, not everyone who asks will receive.
4.Bring a federally issued ID with birth date and home address.
5.Tickets are non-transferable. You cannot bring a guest other than the person whose name you gave nor can you give our ticket to a friend.
6.Requesting tickets via mail is no longer acceptable.
After the scramble for tickets ends you can sit back and relax while you watch the Late Night Show with David Letterman on CBS with a Cheshire cat grin like the fan that swallowed a ticket. You’re going to be a part of the audience in the Ed Sullivan Theater watching “stupid dog tricks”. Congratulations!
