Not only are tickets to NYC's TV talk shows free, but they offer an opportunity to grab your fifteen minutes of fame. If you are requesting tickets by mail, we suggest that you send your postcard in well in advance of the date you want to see the show, since many tapings have 6-12 month waiting lists. Locals tend to get last dibs on mail-in requests, so if you are a New Yorker, consider having an out-of-town friend make the request on your behalf. Stand-by tickets are available for most shows for those who are willing to arrive (very) early and wait in line.

Geraldo Rivera
524 West 57th Street (between 10th and 11th Avenues)
(212) 265-8520
To receive tickets in advance, send a letter with a self-addressed stamped envelope. Standby tickets are distributed 45 minutes before taping, which occurs Tuesday through Thursday at 1 pm and 4 pm.

Late Night with Conan O'Brien
30 Rockefeller Plaza (between 5th and 6th Avenues)
(212) 664-4000
Send a postcard requesting tickets in advance or drop by before 9 am the day of the show to try to get one of the limited same-day tickets. Taping takes place on Tuesday through Friday at 5:30 pm.

Late Show with David Letterman
Ed Sullivan Theater
1697 Broadway (at 54th Street)
(212) 975-5853
Drop a postcard to Dave in the mail for advance tickets or try to snag standby tickets by waiting in line for the noon distribution. Taping takes place on Monday through Thursday at 5:30 pm.

Maury Povich Chelsea Studios
221 West 26th Street (between 7th and 8th Avenues)
(212) 989-3622
You can request tickets by mail or by phone. Call a day in advance to check on the availability of standby tickets. The show is taped on weekdays at 10:30 am.

Montel Williams
356 West 58th Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues)
(212) 989-8880
Tickets are available by mail or by phone for tapings at 10 am, 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm each Thursday and Friday.

Ricki Lake
2 East 37th Street (between 5th & Madison Avenue)
(212) 889-6767
Request tickets via postcard or show up at least an hour before the taping for standby tickets. Tapings are 4 pm and 6 pm, Wednesday through Friday.

Rolonda
411 East 75th Street (between 1st and York Avenues)
(212) 650-2077
Reserve tickets by phone for tapings Tuesday through Thursday at 5:45 pm and 8 pm.

Saturday Night Live
30 Rockefeller Plaza (between 5th and 6th Avenues)
(212) 664-4000
One of the harder tickets to get by mail: postcards are only accepted during August when the annual ticket lottery is held. Standby tickets are distributed Saturdays at 9:15 am for Saturday tapings at 11:30 pm.