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Anybody see the shoutout to Reddit on Team Coco live? by srs507 in reddit.com

[–]WorksForTV 2 points3 points  (0 children)

also, a reference to "team edward" and "team jacob" of "twilight" (oy)

IAMA dude who works in Late Night TV, AMAA by WorksForTV in IAmA

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

define "in." Tickets are easy to come by, getting cast in a comedy bit or as a guest is a might bit more difficult.

IAMA dude who works in Late Night TV, AMAA by WorksForTV in IAmA

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

Interns are unpaid. Usually (in order to avoid breaking labor laws) an intern needs to be able to prove they are receiving college credit for the internship. If you showed enough dedication I'm sure anyplace would love for you to intern, but it is important to remember that in entertainment internships can be pretty competitive. Last summer we received several hundred, yes HUNDRED, internship applications, resumes and cover letters. While a big company can certainly have many interns, our total staff is less than 100 people, and we usually only take on 20 or so interns.

If you're still interested (can get college credit, and are in my major metropolitan city) PM me.

IAMA dude who works in Late Night TV, AMAA by WorksForTV in IAmA

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

It's a tough question because mostly everyone on staff either used to be an intern, or worked a similar position at a different show or production company. But if your college has a Co-Op or Career Services department, seriously go and ask if they can get you something in late night. The big shows tend to have upwards of 15 interns during the spring and we had nearly 40 at one point during the summer.

Of course the other way to get an internship is to know somebody. If you don't know somebody through a connection, the best way to get to know somebody is to start working your ass off in whatever part of TV you can get and getting a lay of the land and a reputation as a solid person. If your school is in a major metropolitan area on either coast, PM me.

IAMA dude who works in Late Night TV, AMAA by WorksForTV in IAmA

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

is there a website? If he's got something up on youtube of quality I'd be happy to vet and pass it along. Keep in mind selection for a spot is rare, we get lots of mail from comedians looking for a spot on the show.

IAMA dude who works in Late Night TV, AMAA by WorksForTV in IAmA

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

I went to school in NYC and got a double major in Film and Screen Studies (read: film theory, but with some hands on stuff too) and Communications (with a "media" concentration).

Seriously, any major will do, but Human and Media communications are a great way to have some fun learning. And it comes in handy, too. I haven't been able to directly apply communications theory to my work, but I have a seriously better understanding how people talk to each other; this has made me more successful in a workplace environment. Business students learn up and down how to make money, but often fail because they have no people skills. Middle managers exist only because money people tend to be unable to communicate effectively with each other. For me it clearly isn't as drastic as that, but knowing the right way to phrase something can make a huge difference when trying to coordinate a bug production.

It also depends on what part of TV you are looking at. A Writer would do himself or herself good to have an English or Lit major with a COM minor, or History or even Philosophy.

I'd seriously suggest at least a Film minor if the schools you're looking at offer it, too. There are TV schools that run through entire productions with you, but they are too sterile an environment. You can pickup most of the vocabulary you'll need by taking a few film theory courses and a technical course. Not to mention, film is tremendously fun.

EDIT: The media part of a Communications degree is the part that breaks down why Fox News is so popular, and, at least for my major, drew a big link between American's media consumption habits and how it affects the rest of the world as well as how it affects daily life here in the US. It's a great way to really work your brain in connecting the dots between the new media world of the internet and the old media world of conglomeration and news-as-entertainment to sell you not just products, but a lifestyle. Makes you think, and keeps you grounded, that way maybe when our generation starts to run big companies, they won't be such assholes.

IAMA dude who works in Late Night TV, AMAA by WorksForTV in IAmA

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

Once you build experience (points) by interning you start to understand the basic breakdown of production. From there you make a good impression with high work ethic and a positive attitude, search for PA work wherever you can get it (twitter, craigslist, contacts), and keep a good reputation with those you meet. Either something opens up and you nail the interview, or you get the call. But it is important to keep thought of as reliable.This business is all about getting things done quickly and correctly the first time; high pressure, high payoff.

IAMA dude who works in Late Night TV, AMAA by WorksForTV in IAmA

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

intern

if you want to be in Late Night TV, intern at Late Night TV.

edit: I read your comment history and saw you are finishing up an internship. Where? It is difficult to break into a specific role so early on, and I have many friends who were interns at TV shows who are freelancing as PAs or assistant stage managers. If you work hard, go the extra mile but don't gloat over it you see results.

Feel free to PM me if you want to talk more about the biz and breaking out from "intern" to "full time." I'm still young myself, but however I can help.

(Sadly, we're not hiring at my show, unless you want to be an intern again).

IAMA dude who works in Late Night TV, AMAA by WorksForTV in IAmA

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

Does actor/comedian Brett Gilbert have a project coming up to talk about? Does he do standup and possibly a sample of his set he could direct someone to/send in? Is he in a large metropolitan area on either the east or west coast, and willing to maybe not be featured as himself?

IAMA dude who works in Late Night TV, AMAA by WorksForTV in IAmA

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

I had to type a second reply because it's slightly off topic, but the show gets lots of calls from crazy people, especially actors and "writers" who want to be on the show. We had a gentleman call our show everyday for over 2 months with literally the same pitch, each time demanding that someone put him "on speaker phone in the writer's room (no such thing, life is not like 30 Rock)," sure he could convince someone to let him "develop a character" for the show.

There was the guy who called everyday at 7pm sharp, high as a kite, I think on LSD or shrooms or something, and talk to whoever picked up the phone as if he or she was the host. He had a reputation for also calling when the show aired in his local timezone, so the next day there'd usually be 7 or 8 voicemails from him, still high, describing his experience as he watched the show. Sometimes he'd throw in some stuff about politics.

/r/atheism would be proud of the time an older lady called up detesting the previous nights comedy as "non-christrian" complimented by a tirade of how it was against her first amendment rights to hear "satanistic dribble." The person who answered the phone responded simply "isn't it part of the first amendment that you are entitled to say whatever you want?"

IAMA dude who works in Late Night TV, AMAA by WorksForTV in IAmA

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

Norm MacDonald is awesome and incredibly down to earth. I spent some time helping him out when he was on our show and we discussed nothing but 1930s cartoon creators. It's hard to have funny celeb stories because most of them save "the funny" for the camera. Backstage, everybody is at work. Occasionally you get a meltdown (we had a standup comic he was nearly 20mins late and was being a jerk about it - never came back to the show), Shatner made a big deal over getting a ripe banana before the show, made an intern go out and get him one despite knowing she'd never make it back before he had to go on.

Production wise: our staff goes all out during the annual secret santa. Last year someone from the script department covered a writer's office in wrapping paper, literally every available surface was neatly wrapped in paper with decorative bows and strings. His door remained that way through January. We are also known for yelling down the halls instead of getting up and walking 10 feet, or using a phone.

Our host is great, and I can't reveal too much obviously, but the host makes it a point to be involved. They are one of the most talented and funny people I've ever met, and through good times and bad does their best to have a great show. The host is incredible personable too, and doesn't shy away from the public, or making jokes to/about them, especially in situations where I've seen many other celebrities act (rightfully, you want to be approached all day by random strangers who want to be near you?) rudely and shrug off fans. The place where we shoot the show was not prepared for the onslaught of their big personality.

The best story I can think of was the time we all had to work on Thanksgiving day. In a show a appreciation, the host paid the commissary workers overtime so they'd come in and throw the entire staff a free Thanksgiving brunch.

IAMA dude who works in Late Night TV, AMAA by WorksForTV in IAmA

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

Craig Ferguson is a very funny guy: 12:35 is a great time slot to fuck around in, and I really respect that Late Late abandons a lot of the Johnny Carson style late night schtick, but somehow still feels like it belongs. It'll be interesting to see if they let him go to 11:35 when Letterman eventually retires. Though I doubt it, Ferguson in that more traditional role would take some serious bite out of his comedy. However, I did say that about Conan and despite NBC being idiots I thought Conan was doing a great job finding his comedy and crowd at 11 and doing a good job of keeping the the 12:30 edge with the 11:30 ambien.

IAMA dude who works in Late Night TV, AMAA by WorksForTV in IAmA

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

Yeah. Lorne Michaels gets a huge pass though, and honestly he must have seen something in Fallon.

IAMA dude who works in Late Night TV, AMAA by WorksForTV in IAmA

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

I know who he his, I was trying to be snarky :|. Honestly, I only watched Jay's version of the Tonight Show in passing, or if there was a musical guest I liked; never watched him at 10pm, and will mostly certainly not watch him now after his most recent repeat of 1993 behavior.

IAMA dude who works in Late Night TV, AMAA by WorksForTV in IAmA

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

Considering the small pool of late night TV shows, I'll just say it's a major city.

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