...how long a television sitcom recording can take?
Does anyone know....
(Edited as my first estimate was too short!)
Do you have tickets for something already? What is it? Yes I'm nosey.
Firstly you want to get to the venue early (unless you have priority tickets) as they do oversubscribe and turn people away, especially the more popular shows.
Then you might be herded into a waiting area first before going to the studio.
Once you're in the studio it will probably take about 2.5 to 3 hours, maybe more. It definitely feels like you spend more time listening to the warm up act than watching filming. But they are generally very good too so I've never been bored.
It's a totally different experience and I'd recommend it.
JP
Quote: Jane P @ August 17 2009, 7:53 AM BSTDo you have tickets for something already? What is it? Yes I'm nosey.
Firstly you want to get to the venue early (unless you have priority tickets) as they do oversubscribe and turn people away, especially the more popular shows.
Then you might be herded into a waiting area first before going to the studio.
Once you're in the studio it will probably take about 90 minutes, maybe more. It definitely feels like you spend more time listening to the warm up act than watching filming. But they are generally very good too so I've never been bored.
It's a totally different experience and I'd recommend it.
JP
Well, hopefully My Family although I'm not betting my life on it. It's just that I will need to get a coach there and a coach back which means pre-booking (which, of course, I won't book until I have the tickets). I don't want to book a coach for midnight and not get out of the recording til gone one. But 90 minutes sounds alright. With the doors opening at 7pm, I didn't think it would go past about 10:30. Thanks.
It may be 2 hours but definitely not 3 and a half! Even if it was you could sneak out while they're setting up a shot.
Let us know how it goes. 
Will do.
Quote: Jane P @ August 17 2009, 9:02 AM BSTIt may be 2 hours but definitely not 3 and a half!
You never know. Robert Lindsay might be one of these actors who wants everything perfect thus it taking 3 and half hours. 
Quote: Robert D @ August 17 2009, 8:28 AM BSTWell, hopefully My Family
In that case, however long will seem like a lifetime....
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ August 17 2009, 10:16 AM BSTIn that case, however long will seem like a lifetime....
Well, I'm one of these really weird people who actually like it. 
Weirdo.
Quote: Renegade Carpark @ August 17 2009, 11:56 AM BSTWeirdo.
Oh well.
The filmings I've attended in Los Angeles were all in the 2-3 hours range. Wish I still lived there because it looks like there are still tickets available for Kelsey Grammer's new show.
His last show was one of the worst sitcoms I had seen in years. I hope his new one is better.
Has anyone ever been in the audience for pilots for sitcoms which went on to be big hits? Myself and my (then) housemates were in the audience for the pilot of Father Ted, recorded at Teddington Studios. Unfortunately, none of us kept our tickets (which would probably be worth something now), especially as the pilot show was billed as Father Ted Crilly.
I went to a recording of one of the Armistice recordings, with Iaanucci and co. The recording went on for approximately eight days.
The job of the audience is to laugh at things that, watching them in the cold light of day, they wouldn't find slighlty amusing. This is why turd like My Family and Green Green Grass manage to last. But you all knew that, so why the f**k am I mentioning it? Dunno.
Quote: Jane P @ August 17 2009, 9:02 AM BSTIt may be 2 hours but definitely not 3 and a half!
How many recordings have you attended?
Quote: Robert D @ August 17 2009, 8:28 AM BSTWell, hopefully My Family although I'm not betting my life on it. It's just that I will need to get a coach there and a coach back which means pre-booking (which, of course, I won't book until I have the tickets). I don't want to book a coach for midnight and not get out of the recording til gone one. But 90 minutes sounds alright. With the doors opening at 7pm, I didn't think it would go past about 10:30. Thanks.
Where are you booking the coach to? Victoria?
Quote: Aaron @ August 17 2009, 2:34 PM BSTWhere are you booking the coach to? Victoria?
Yeah. And then I'll get the train on the Staines line.