Today started with the last sessions for our conference. The first one I attended covered some of the topics of the Affordable Care Act. Most of what they covered I knew, but still got some out of it. It is a complex subject, so always good to get to know more about it. The presenters could have been a bit more organized, they jumped around back and forth in their PowerPoint presentation at times. We then had a quick break with some chips and sandwiches to eat. My second session for the day was on defined benefit plans (aka pension plans). I really should have picked a different session, since everything that was covered I already knew. I guess I keep thinking I’ll get something new out of sessions that cover a topic I’m well versed in, but I guess not. I’ll have to remember that for next year. Also, the materials he handed out seemed like they were quite old and copied many times. He even used transparencies on an overhead for some of his presentation.

I relaxed in my room for a little bit after that session, which almost proved to be a bad idea, before heading to drive across town (and LA is a big town to drive across!) to go to Studio City.  I headed to CBS Studio Center for a taping of Whose Line Is It Anyway? The time on the ticket was for 6 p.m. and said to arrive by 4:30 p.m. I get there around 3:45 pm and get directed where to park. I park and go and get in line. There weren’t that many people there, so I think I’m all set. I get to the check in table and get line # 162 and was told at this point I’m on standby. Just like airlines, they over book their tickets so they can make sure they have enough people for a full audience. I was a little annoyed at this point since I had been there in plenty of time, got my ticket many weeks ago, etc. But I just went with it, since there was nothing else I could do. While waiting in line….

Quick side note – some quick tips for attending a TV show taping. 1) Arrive way early for popular shows to make sure you’ll get in. Mostly the time on the ticket is the show time, they’ll usually give you an arrival time, and then get there even earlier! 2) Bring a pen – just makes it easier if you have to fill out any forms, that way you don’t have to worry about finding one to borrow. 3) Be prepared to wait in line, and sometimes several lines. It isn’t always a quick process to get you into the studio!

Now, back to the line to get into Studio 22 at CBS Studio Center. While I was waiting I started talking to people around me, and one couple had been to Whose Line before and just missed getting into the studio – they would have been the next people in. If you don’t get in, you do get a pass that gives you priority the next time you come to a taping. They didn’t realize they had to call ahead though, so they couldn’t use it. We also kept hearing about a group for Danny – who had like 40 people there or something. We did find out the studio held 320, but with however many VIPs and/or priority people, who knew how far down in the numbers they’d get. We were all thinking back on our day and rethinking choices that we made that caused us to not get to the studio earlier – like me just relaxing in my hotel room.

They started letting some people move from this line to walk over to the studio, but we didn’t seem to be getting too much closer to the front. Then we were finally about 10 people back from the front, and the audience person said he’d be back if he found out they had more room.  He then comes and gets us and brings us closer to the studio, so that as he found room, he wouldn’t have to walk as far. A few more people go in. Then there are only 2 in front of me. Those two get to go, and then I get asked how many in my party, and since I was just 1, I got to go in as well! Finally, I knew for sure my evenings plans weren’t ruined. I know at least a few people after me got to go in as well.

We then got situated in the studio and some of the crew entertained us a bit while everyone got seated. Then the floor director (I think) talked to us a bit and introduced the producer who also talked to us. As a bonus, they were British – I forgot that the show originated in England, so makes sense that some British crew were there. They then introduced the cast and the show started.

Again, I can’t say exactly what happened, but here are some observations about a taping of Whose Line. We started right around 6 and went until 10:30, as the tickets said. There was very little down time during the taping – they tape a lot of material. For the main part of the taping, they started it as the show starts, and then just kept recording different game after game, as if it was just a really long show. They did stop one time to change tapes (I was surprised they actually still used tapes that needed to be changed!). Then towards the end of the taping time, they did a lot of re-tapes of things that didn’t come out quite right, or name brands were mentioned when they shouldn’t have been, etc. They also recorded a lot of different closings, openings, and transition bits. They’ll then piece all these together into some shows. Because of how they recorded it, I don’t know how many episodes they’ll get out of tonight’s taping session. I’m pretty sure I can tell you that the guest comic was Keegan-Michael Key and the guest star was Vernon Davis.

Ahh – to my title for the day. Although it was a long taping – at the studio for about 7 hours, and a 4.5 hour taping, it was well worth it. Very well worth it. Except for the last little bit when they were just recording transitions and other camera shots – it was almost non-stop laughing. And at times – very hard laughing. So I certainly worked my abs from laughing so hard! I had a great time. I can’t wait to see when the episodes air. They didn’t let us know anything, as they probably don’t know yet either.

Then it was another drive back to my hotel to wind down for the evening, get some rest, and get ready for Day 6 – whatever that may bring…