We really wondered what took so long as well. The segment would end and everyone would leave the set, including contestants. At first we guessed maybe the judges were going over the segments to make sure it’s on the up and up, but there was so much time in between that it seemed unlikely. No one came out to tell us what to expect or why this took so long. The set doesn’t have to be redressed and obviously there are no lighting or camera changes, so it was a mystery and a big drag. On the soundstage next door we could hear work for the brilliant “The Good Place” going on, and we stood on the parking spaces reserved for the cast. That’s as close to interesting or greatness that we got. dan c
Not exactly a sit com …but close. About 1992 in LA we scored tix for the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.. Lynsey Buckingham was music guest, and Gen Norman Swartzcoff, and some woman comedian can’t remember her name.. long forgotten. Kind of a neat experience at the time.. long ago.
Went to a recording of Monty Python, the one with Mr Neutron in it...most of it was on screens, but there were live segments...
Being publicly funded the BBC didn’t take kindly to multiple takes so yes, productions were encouraged to get scenes done in one take of possible. That’s why you’ll see occasional flubbed lines in BBC productions as they didn’t want to do a re-shoot. A trick some actors used was to use a profanity after a mistake which of course would require a re-shoot.
Not a sitcom per se, but I did attend a taping of the Tonight Show. Jay Leno was host, the entire Osborne clan was his only guests that night. During the show, the daughter’s band (was it Kelly) came out and played one song. Leno came out beforehand in street clothes and did some pretty damn good standup to get the crowd warmed up. All in all an enjoyable experience.
When I was younger there was a particular guy I could pick out on the laugh track. At the time I didn't know it was a laugh track. I just thought "man that guy goes to the filming of EVERY TV show!". I can hear him on M*A*S*H and countless other shows.
I don’t know if it’s considered a classic, but I went to a taping of the NBC comedy “Wings.” I also attended taping of a Bob Hope Special and “Wheel of Fortune”
Not a classic series but a classic duo. I attended the taping of The Smothers Brothers reunion special.
Not a classic at all but in Tampa I was in the audience for the local mid-day show a couple of times in the early 90's. It was live so there was no waiting for re-takes, set-ups, etc. They did have a fellow who told everyone when to applaud and kept folks entertained during the commercial breaks. Both episodes were when the show was on location at local fairs and I just happened to be there and decided what the heck.
Closest experience for me was one of the last Letterman shows, with Norm MacDonald, Oprah and Clooney with the handcuff bit at the beginning. It was definitely a great experience, with fun little details like Oprah having someone come out and tug on her dress during the commercial breaks.
Not a Sitcom but the original “Concentration” with Hugh Downs. It was part of a class field trip to NBC in NY. All I remember was it was very LOUD.
