I don't know if you would call me the ideal studio audience member. Some people will laugh at anything. I don't. Some people enjoy clapping. I on the other hand have always found it uncomfortable. Sure, I'll do it for the sake of societal acceptance, but just don't believe for one second I enjoy it. Some people get into the music and even dance in their seats. Me? I see those people and sink into my seat.
Even though I don't naturally do the things a good studio audience member does, I set aside all of these qualms for a taping of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in Burbank, Calif. on Mar. 19. Even though I was forced to clap the entire time, I still enjoyed myself very much.
This wasn't my first time seeing Jay Leno live. Four years ago I went to a casino to see his comedy show just because my uncle offered me a ticket. I didn't know all that much about Leno or his humor then, but I liked the experience so much that I started watching The Tonight Show. Even though I am still a huge fan of both Leno and Conan, I kept watching through Conan's short tenure, and I continue to tune in whenever I can.
When planning our spring break trip to Los Angeles, my mom managed to secure a couple of tickets to a taping of The Tonight Show, and I was thrilled. At the same time, I hoped I wouldn't find out that Leno was a jerk. Everyone has a story about meeting a celebrity and being disappointed by his or her demeanor, and I didn't want to add another jerk celebrity to my list. Plus that would ruin my enjoyment of his show.
I was also worried about having to sit in the studio for five hours, enduring multiple retakes of the show, but the taping turned out so much better than that.
When we arrived at NBC Studios, a line had already formed. There weren't enough people ahead of us to comprise an entire audience, but it just meant we wouldn't get seats anywhere visible on camera. This turned out to be a good thing, because I didn't have to put on a show of my own as a studio audience member.
A pep guy then emerged to use free Leno swag to hype up the audience. Like I said, I usually enjoy myself. I just feel awkward showing it. So of course I didn't get anything, but I did get a kick out of watching what people would do for a free one-size-fits-all Tonight Show t-shirt. Albeit entertaining, it also made me question humanity.
While this was going on, Leno suddenly emerged in his trademark denim outfit. He greeted the crowd and took a few pictures, stopping to joke with (and about) a man and his mom who were in town for a comic book festival. It was all good-natured, although in territory I wouldn't be able to enter for myself. I'm too nice.
Leno went backstage again to put on a suit, and soon after, the show started. I did not need to dread retakes because The Tonight Show uses the first take. Just as it runs for an hour on TV, it runs for an hour during taping. The only weird part was the time: it is at four in the afternoon, not actually at night. But I got used to it after a while.
Leno had a better monologue than usual, and his Headlines feature was great. I could tell he was having fun with his job. Also, it was cool to see the production staff holding up cue cards and running around coordinating stuff as the show was going on. Surprisingly Leno stayed out during commercial breaks. I have always thought he went back to his dressing room for a break, but he was out there during the entire show, staying busy by joking with his guests, Jamie Lee Curtis and Armie Hammer, and preparing for the next segments.
The whole experience was loud (between laughter and music), quick (it was over before I knew it) and fun. I noticed that Leno's non-scripted one-liners were much better than the jokes in his monologue, which is sad because a lot of these didn't make it into the show. But overall, attending the taping of The Tonight Show felt like going to a party hosted by your automobile-fanatic uncle.
Even though I usually show my joy in less bombastic ways than expected for a member of the studio audience, my smile and laughter that afternoon were genuine. My clapping may have been for show, but I truly enjoyed myself in Leno's company.