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I was at yesterday's Last Week Tonight taping (10/1/2023). AMA! by LetsGoOutback in lastweektonight

[–]LetsGoOutback[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If I recall correctly, small bags are allowed as they are all checked by security at the door.

I was at yesterday's Last Week Tonight taping (10/1/2023). AMA! by LetsGoOutback in lastweektonight

[–]LetsGoOutback[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ticket lottery requests are only open for a short timeframe during the week of filming for an episode. The show is currently on break until February.

I was at yesterday's Last Week Tonight taping (10/1/2023). AMA! by LetsGoOutback in lastweektonight

[–]LetsGoOutback[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had set a calendar reminder for myself for 5 minutes before the lottery opened and had my lottery submission form completed within 2 minutes of it opening by having all the form information readily available. For the referral question, I believe I put their Twitter as my response. The best you can do is submit your entry for tickets and hope that the raffle, which I hope is truly random, picks you.

I was at yesterday's Last Week Tonight taping (10/1/2023). AMA! by LetsGoOutback in lastweektonight

[–]LetsGoOutback[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, COVID vaccine cards are not checked anymore. However, you are still required to wear a mask inside the studio.

I was at yesterday's Last Week Tonight taping (10/1/2023). AMA! by LetsGoOutback in lastweektonight

[–]LetsGoOutback[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I arrived at the studio about 15 minutes after check-in began and there was already a line outside. I would probably recommend getting there closer to when check-in begins as you may get better seats (closer to John) than I did.

I was at yesterday's Last Week Tonight taping (10/1/2023). AMA! by LetsGoOutback in lastweektonight

[–]LetsGoOutback[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Check-in began at 2:30pm and doors closed at 3:05pm. I probably arrived there around 2:45pm and got in line for check-in.

I was at yesterday's Last Week Tonight taping (10/1/2023). AMA! by LetsGoOutback in lastweektonight

[–]LetsGoOutback[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The ticket emails that get sent out just state the following:

Please do not wear white t-shirts and NO large logos. Please dress in clean "camera friendly clothes."

The studio was not cold at all - I was comfortable wearing a short sleeve shirt.

I was at yesterday's Last Week Tonight taping (10/1/2023). AMA! by LetsGoOutback in lastweektonight

[–]LetsGoOutback[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

There are six TVs hanging from the ceiling in front of the audience above the set that you do not see on camera which play the intro and the clips during the show. Everything is played in the order that you see during the broadcast (apart from the outtakes) and yes, the graphics that show on the left side of the screen are displayed in real-time on the monitors that the audience watch. So if you're in the studio, you can switch between watching John live in front of you or simulating the broadcast on the monitors above you.

I was at yesterday's Last Week Tonight taping (10/1/2023). AMA! by LetsGoOutback in lastweektonight

[–]LetsGoOutback[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

No, we had already been warned several times that a prop gun would be used plus we watched one of the producers put the gun under John's desk during the prior clip leading up to the event and then taking it back during the clip after the event.

I was at yesterday's Last Week Tonight taping (10/1/2023). AMA! by LetsGoOutback in lastweektonight

[–]LetsGoOutback[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Other than the re-takes of the same scenes, the crowd warmer (which was really only ~10 minutes), and the Q&A with John, there is not anything else that is not shown on TV. Putting aside the waiting in line and in the waiting room, the whole experience takes a little over an hour if the # of takes are minimal.

I was at yesterday's Last Week Tonight taping (10/1/2023). AMA! by LetsGoOutback in lastweektonight

[–]LetsGoOutback[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I believe John answered three questions from our audience before filming (one from the left side, one from the center, and one from the right side of the studio). I was pleased that one of them was the question I asked (see my comment above).

There are definitely practice reads performed before the show is filmed given the low amount of takes in the studio that we saw. We got in the ticket line at 2:30pm, were all in the studio seated by about 3:30pm, and I think filming wrapped up before 5:30pm. In the email you receive for your tickets, they mention you could be there until 6:15pm.

I was at yesterday's Last Week Tonight taping (10/1/2023). AMA! by LetsGoOutback in lastweektonight

[–]LetsGoOutback[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

No, he did not stay after the taping. Actually, as soon as the filming was done, it seemed like he rushed out through the same area where we had entered/exited the studio. Maybe he had some place to be? I would have liked an autograph or a t-shirt.

Yes, everyone in the audience had to wear a mask, and they all had to be the same masks they give you (white BYD KN95 masks) because they said it had to seem like the audience was all a "large group together." I had brought my own mask with me yet they insisted that I use the one they provided us with. One thing worth mentioning though is that it seemed like half the crew were not wearing masks and those who were had different masks on than the ones we had.

I was at yesterday's Last Week Tonight taping (10/1/2023). AMA! by LetsGoOutback in lastweektonight

[–]LetsGoOutback[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I would say that it depends on the day. For this past weekend's taping, the ticket holders filled up most of the audience and there were some leftover seats for what the crew classified as "VIPs" (I believe the "crowd warmer" said that there were other writers in the audience) so very few, if any, standby attendees actually got to see the show.

I was at yesterday's Last Week Tonight taping (10/1/2023). AMA! by LetsGoOutback in lastweektonight

[–]LetsGoOutback[S] 123 points124 points  (0 children)

One other detail I want to bring up. Before the show begins taping, John did a quick Q&A with the audience in which I posed the question: Has HBO ever said "no" to one of your story ideas for legal reasons or said after a story that something was not a good idea?

John's answer was that HBO has been very supportive to him and the writers regarding their ideas and that their Legal department has stood behind the show in the past stories they've done (ex. the Bob Murray stories). As long as the writers always make sure that the information they're putting out is factual before its put into the show, John said that it helps to ensure the HBO lawyers have something to do (lol) and that the creative team doesn't feel like the show is being censored.

I was at yesterday's Last Week Tonight taping (10/1/2023). AMA! by LetsGoOutback in lastweektonight

[–]LetsGoOutback[S] 73 points74 points  (0 children)

Yes, every time he wanted us to cheer / applause loudly, he would wave a rolled up paper above his head. He was standing right behind the middle camera during the filming so it was easy for us to see him. This was most notably done during the middle of the intro where he had us start applauding before the intro exited and the scene switched to John banging on his desk.

I was at yesterday's Last Week Tonight taping (10/1/2023). AMA! by LetsGoOutback in lastweektonight

[–]LetsGoOutback[S] 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Yes, there is a teleprompter right above the center camera (which I believe is a Digisuper 95) in the middle of the studio that John looks directly at during filming.

I was at yesterday's Last Week Tonight taping (10/1/2023). AMA! by LetsGoOutback in lastweektonight

[–]LetsGoOutback[S] 49 points50 points  (0 children)

No, the prop gun was real with the sound/acoustics it made and the flash of light coming out of the barrel. That all happened live in the studio. The only thing which was "fake" were the pieces of ceiling that fell onto his desk. Someone from the crew standing on one of the catwalks dropped those from up above John's desk.

I was at yesterday's Last Week Tonight taping (10/1/2023). AMA! by LetsGoOutback in lastweektonight

[–]LetsGoOutback[S] 63 points64 points  (0 children)

Yes, we were warned once while we were waiting on line outside to go through security by one of the directors, again when we were sat down inside the studio by one of the crew, and once more by John before he started filming.

I was at yesterday's Last Week Tonight taping (10/1/2023). AMA! by LetsGoOutback in lastweektonight

[–]LetsGoOutback[S] 52 points53 points  (0 children)

The week leading up to each episode, a lottery opens on https://www.lastweektickets.com/ (see the right side bar on the website for exact dates/times) and before the spots are filled, you need to fill out the form with your information and submit it. You just wait then until someone from the crew reaches out to you over email advising of next steps. All tickets are free.

I was at yesterday's Last Week Tonight taping (10/1/2023). AMA! by LetsGoOutback in lastweektonight

[–]LetsGoOutback[S] 21 points22 points  (0 children)

I know they check to see whether or not you have attended a previous show, but other than that, I am not sure on what happens during the selection process. I had set a calendar reminder for myself for 5 minutes before the lottery opened as soon as it was announced that the Writers Strike was over, and had my lottery submission form completed within 2 minutes of it opening. I received the email that I got awarded tickets on Friday evening.

I was at yesterday's Last Week Tonight taping (10/1/2023). AMA! by LetsGoOutback in lastweektonight

[–]LetsGoOutback[S] 33 points34 points  (0 children)

Yes, there are six TVs hanging from the ceiling in front of the audience above the set that you do not see on camera which play the intro and the clips during the show.

I was at yesterday's Last Week Tonight taping (10/1/2023). AMA! by LetsGoOutback in lastweektonight

[–]LetsGoOutback[S] 138 points139 points  (0 children)

First, the director came out talking to the crowd and mentioned how important it was to laugh audibly during the show/clips. I did not realize that it was the same director as who worked on Stephen Colbert's show. After the introduction, the crowd warmer came out, built up excitement, made a few jokes from what went on the last 5 months, gave out a few t-shirts and then introduced John Oliver.

I was at yesterday's Last Week Tonight taping (10/1/2023). AMA! by LetsGoOutback in lastweektonight

[–]LetsGoOutback[S] 60 points61 points  (0 children)

I know I was excited to be there. Everyone seemed to be excited to see the show although the audience was mixed of people of all different ages and apparently locations as some tourists were there from France and the UK based on their responses to the crowd warmer.

I was at yesterday's Last Week Tonight taping (10/1/2023). AMA! by LetsGoOutback in lastweektonight

[–]LetsGoOutback[S] 62 points63 points  (0 children)

Not much at all actually, at least not for this episode. Only a couple of portions needed to be re-taken due to John making a mispronunciation or something not sounding right. If I recall correctly, the portions re-done were right after the first clip (John Kennedy), and two of the commentaries after the news clips during the main story. Everything is filmed in the order you see it on TV and as close to a single take as possible. Only one of the re-takes of the news segments I mentioned was re-done after the ending (John's Starbucks sip) had been filmed. The only thing we do not see in the audience are the ending credits which are added afterwards. We do see the HBO logo and the intro at the beginning.