Whether they were live or taped (or filmed, as in a sitcom), network, syndicated or local -- what have you seen from the studio audience? When? What stuck out to you? hat was cool, what was odd?
My only network show (other than behind the cameras one Sunday afternoon in 1996 for "The NBA Today" with Bob Costas) was The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. It was late 1978, and I want to say it was the week between Christmas and New Year's. Went with my brother and his wife. We sat in the section straight up from the desk, but up in the second tier.
For the audience warm-up, Fred deCordova the producer introduced Doc Severinsen...Who did a few yucks, who then introduced Ed McMahon. Ed was in front of the audience right up until you saw the "slate" (program number, date, etc) show up -- which meant there was 20 seconds left before the show began.
Ed McMahon calmly walked over to where he used to stand -- on the left-hand side of the studio, off from near the desk -- and put the mic in the mic stand we saw all those years (no wireless mic in those days).
Then after 10 seconds, they dropped the slate, and the monitors went to black. Without being told, the audience suddenly fell very silent. I remember looking to my right -- over the audience -- and thinking "wow".
Then you see Doc's arms up -- waiting for his cue -- and then the familiar drum riff that opens the show.
This was in the days of the hour-and-a-half Tonight Show. I wish I could remember more of Johnny's monologue, but I do remember the skit that night was "Floyd R. Turbo, American".
His guests were Robert Blake, Muhammed Ali, and some impersonator who did impersonations of performers like Tom Jones. I don't think he went anywhere after that.
I remember seeing Johnny smoke during a spot break, and the lights of course went down during breaks.
I remember watching the show that night in our motel room in BUrbank.
I especially remember "New York" being mentioned for some reason, and we being New Yorkers clapped. At least 4 years later -- yes, 4 years! - that episode was repeated, and I could hear myself clapping again!
A couple years before that -- in late '76 or very early '77 -- I got to be in the audience for "Bowling For Dollars" at ch. 3 in Syracuse. They had the bowling alleys in Studio B (removed in 1995). They used only two cameras -- one, more or less permanent on a scaffold behind the set (one shot would be on the host, Bud Hedinger, and the bowler for the "chat" intro, then it would swing for the overhead shot down-the-alley for the action). I clearly remember that camera as a TK-44...The classic, boxy RCA camera you saw in NBC studios of that era. Their other camera was used for a more or less head-on shot of the bowler and the audience. That was wheeled in from Studio A, and back then was one of three Marconis.
Of course, the show was Live, weekngihts at 7. Bud (back then their meteorologist) would finish up the six, and come rushing in thruogh the big double doors separating the two studios to say hi to the audience, and get to know that night's bowlers.
I'm not counting the couple times I volunteered for the yearly public TV auction to be a call taker. We all remember those, and this one was no different than any others.
Pretty exciting stuff for a TV geek back then.
My only network show (other than behind the cameras one Sunday afternoon in 1996 for "The NBA Today" with Bob Costas) was The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. It was late 1978, and I want to say it was the week between Christmas and New Year's. Went with my brother and his wife. We sat in the section straight up from the desk, but up in the second tier.
For the audience warm-up, Fred deCordova the producer introduced Doc Severinsen...Who did a few yucks, who then introduced Ed McMahon. Ed was in front of the audience right up until you saw the "slate" (program number, date, etc) show up -- which meant there was 20 seconds left before the show began.
Ed McMahon calmly walked over to where he used to stand -- on the left-hand side of the studio, off from near the desk -- and put the mic in the mic stand we saw all those years (no wireless mic in those days).
Then after 10 seconds, they dropped the slate, and the monitors went to black. Without being told, the audience suddenly fell very silent. I remember looking to my right -- over the audience -- and thinking "wow".
Then you see Doc's arms up -- waiting for his cue -- and then the familiar drum riff that opens the show.
This was in the days of the hour-and-a-half Tonight Show. I wish I could remember more of Johnny's monologue, but I do remember the skit that night was "Floyd R. Turbo, American".
His guests were Robert Blake, Muhammed Ali, and some impersonator who did impersonations of performers like Tom Jones. I don't think he went anywhere after that.
I remember seeing Johnny smoke during a spot break, and the lights of course went down during breaks.
I remember watching the show that night in our motel room in BUrbank.
I especially remember "New York" being mentioned for some reason, and we being New Yorkers clapped. At least 4 years later -- yes, 4 years! - that episode was repeated, and I could hear myself clapping again!
A couple years before that -- in late '76 or very early '77 -- I got to be in the audience for "Bowling For Dollars" at ch. 3 in Syracuse. They had the bowling alleys in Studio B (removed in 1995). They used only two cameras -- one, more or less permanent on a scaffold behind the set (one shot would be on the host, Bud Hedinger, and the bowler for the "chat" intro, then it would swing for the overhead shot down-the-alley for the action). I clearly remember that camera as a TK-44...The classic, boxy RCA camera you saw in NBC studios of that era. Their other camera was used for a more or less head-on shot of the bowler and the audience. That was wheeled in from Studio A, and back then was one of three Marconis.
Of course, the show was Live, weekngihts at 7. Bud (back then their meteorologist) would finish up the six, and come rushing in thruogh the big double doors separating the two studios to say hi to the audience, and get to know that night's bowlers.
I'm not counting the couple times I volunteered for the yearly public TV auction to be a call taker. We all remember those, and this one was no different than any others.
Pretty exciting stuff for a TV geek back then.
