Just got back from a taping of the Daily Show, which, in it’s 30 minute or so entirety was a lot of fun. Then entire ordeal itself, however, was slightly uncomfortable and anxiety inducing. As I’ve learned over the last few weeks, in the US, if you have tickets for something it does not in anyway guarantee your entrance. For example, the day after Thanksgiving Conall and I bought tickets for the 2pm Greyhound bus from Philly back to New York. I have never heard of a bus being overbooked but for some reason this was and despite showing up fifteen minutes early we couldn’t get on the bus- nor could the TWENTY people behind us. We bought the tickets at the station a few hours earlier, how could it be overbooked? And they expected us to stand in line for two hours for the next bus to arrive (which would subsequently be overbooked too). When Conall complained to the ticket seller she accused him of being sexist. I didn’t really see the connection.
As for the Daily Show, I had the enormous luck of getting two tickets in July (the last two available!) as a birthday present for Conall (October 29th) and we went today (December 9th). It’s a process, one that’s filled with several misleading confirmation emails. The “suggested” time for arrival is between 3:30 and 4, but no later than 4:30. We arrived just before 4pm and there was a long line already all around the studio and there ended up being thirty or so people behind us. At about 4:45 the security started checking the ticket confirmations and handing out numbers. They stopped five people after us and sent the rest home, these people being actual ticket holders as well! They were given an email address to request “VIP” tickets at a later date. Then the next thirty of us were given stand-by numbers. We were 26 and 27. Two more people behind us were let in and an adorable group of Indian men were let go just as they took off their belts for the metal detector. Some of these people must have gotten their tickets a year in advance and were given the boot! Maybe some of them won’t be in New York for later dates…I felt bad, and very lucky at the same time.
So the lesson is: There are no guarantees in life, not even with a ticket. First come, first serve.
Jon Stewart is a funny, classy guy, though. And there sure are a lot of security people. And a lot of gentlemen in suits in the audience.
Unfortunately we missed Mike Huckabee, who was yesterday’s guest, and got Andrew Ross Sorkin, some NY Times columnist griping about the recession. Enjoyable, though.
You know what else is enjoyable?
This:
