Back to the Blogging!

I’ve been very neglectful of the blog recently so I’m going to do my best to pick up my posts once again.

I want to first do some catching up on my trip to New York a couple weeks back.

We arrived in New York on Friday afternoon, May 9. We had tickets to the Conan O’Brien Taping at NBC Studios so after a quick lunch at one of Manhattan’s countless diners we trudged through the pouring rain to Rockefeller Center.

This was my second Conan taping so the process was not new to me. You have to arrive by 4:15 PM where you are then given a wristband and told to hang around until 5:00 PM or so when you are let in.

Once in the studios, there is a ten minute highlight reel of Conan’s greatest hits followed by a warm up comedian who while repetitive on a second visit has to be given credit for affectively working the crowd. The highlight of his warm-up act is always when he is given the sign that Conan is ready, generally one of the producers pointing to his nose, the comedian replies “okay Conan has finished his coke lets get the show going.”

Conan then comes out and spends two or three minutes chatting with the crowd. What you immediately notice from O’Brien is his non-stop energy. Whether he is chatting with the crowd, chatting with guests, or watching his skits on the big screen, O’Brien is non-stop enthusiasm. Maybe the “coke” joke doesn’t fall too far from the truth.

But in all seriousness, O’Brien in both of my taping experiences has shown himself to be nothing less than a professional. Once the tape starts to roll there are no stops and starts. Conan’s years of experience have seemed to given him an ease on camera that few will ever achieve.

The guests on this particular episode were Saturday Night Live funnyman, Seth Myers, actress Becky Newton from TV’s “Ugly Betty,” and teen-rock-sensation “Tokyo Hotel.” The band ironically hail from Germany.

No matter what guests appear on the particular taping you are in attendance for, the price can’t be beat—tickets are free. And to add to this all audience members were given free tee-shirts too! If you are interested in tickets to a Conan O’Brien taping call 212.664-3056 for more information. Shows tape Monday through Friday and are generally booked four to six weeks ahead of time and I’d call daily to get the up-to-date info that can and will change at a moment’s notice.