How to get free tickets to popular NYC talk shows

Actress and host Drew Barrymore in the studio for "The... — Actress and host Drew Barrymore in the studio for "The Drew Barrymore Show." Credit: CBS Media Ventures

By Frank LoveceSpecial to NewsdayUpdated March 17, 2025 8:12 pm

There’s no free lunch, as the saying goes, but there is free entertainment with celebrities every weekday in Manhattan: Daytime and late-night talk shows and the sketch-comedy / music institution "Saturday Night Live" all offer free tickets to fill up their studio-audience seats.

Getting such ducats for yourself and generally up to three guests involves a bit of good luck and timing, but the process is straightforward. In fact, it’s one-stop-shopping for nearly all of these shows via the fulfillment company 1iota.com. That makes the requirements and expectations similar across the board, in terms of how to request tickets, cancellation and no-show policies, disability accommodations, age requirements and more.

For tickets to shows that use 1iota, you need to register with that company online. This includes providing your name and birth date as they appear on the photo ID you’re required to bring with you to the studio. Once registered, you can apply for tickets generally a day to a couple of weeks in advance. You can then check on your request status at your account at the website.

If you get an email invitation, you’ll need to confirm as quickly as you can, because, like airlines, the company overbooks in order ensure all seats are filled. Once you confirm, you’ll receive an e-ticket. That’s still no guarantee you’ll get in: You’ll need to be at the studio early enough that, for the aforesaid overbooking reason, all the seats don’t get filled ahead of you.

There are other rules and specifics regarding things like no backpacks or large bags, no food or drink, no cameras, no clothing with commercial logos and everyone in your party needing to be there at once. Most of the shows, whether at 1iota.com or at their own ticketing page, have an FAQ with specifics.

DAYTIME SHOWS

'The Drew Barrymore Show'

The syndicated talk show, now in its fifth season, stars the actor known for a lifetime of roles in such as films and TV projects as "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" (1982), "The Amy Fisher Story" (1993), "The Wedding Singer" (1998), "Grey Gardens" (2009) and "Santa Clarita Diet" (2017-19). It also features actor and TV personality Ross Mathews, who lives on Long Island’s North Shore.

It generally shoots two half-hour shows a day, three days a week, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Audience members must be at least 18 years old.

Where CBS Broadcast Center, 530 W. 57th St.
Airs Weekdays at 9 and 9:30 a.m. on WCBS/2
More info 1iota.com

'The Kelly Clarkson Show'

Singer and host Kelly Clarkson's show airs on WNBC/4. Credit: Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal/NBCUniversal

Formerly shot in Los Angeles before moving to New York with season 5 in 2023, the syndicated talk show stars Grammy Award-winning singer Clarkson, the inaugural "American Idol" winner back in 2002.

It generally shoots two shows a day, three days a week, at 9:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. Audience members must be at least 18 years old.

Where NBC Studio 6A, 30 Rockefeller Plaza
Airs Weekdays at 3 p.m. on WNBC/4
More info 1iota.com

'Live with Kelly & Mark'

"Live with Kelly and Mark” airs weekdays on ABC. Credit: Disney /Michael Le Brecht II

Starring Kelly Ripa and her actor husband Mark Consuelos, the long-running live syndicated morning show is one of the few that permit audience members to bring cameras — though as its ticket site notes: "We have the right to ask you not to use your camera at any given time. Video cameras and the taking of flash pictures are not permitted."

It generally shoots an hourlong show three to four days a week; Children 10 and older are allowed if accompanied by an 18+ adult.

Where WABC, 7 Lincoln Square
Airs Weekdays at 9 a.m. on WABC/7
More info 1iota.com

'Sherri'

Actor-comedian Sherri Shepherd had filled-in as guest host on the ailing Wendy Williams’ syndicated show until Williams retired for health reasons. Shepherd then segued into her own talk show with the same distributor at the same studio. Season 3 currently airs.

It generally shoots two shows a day, three days a week, at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Audience members must be at least 17 years old.

Where AMV Chelsea, Studio B, 221 W. 26th St.
Airs Weekdays at 10 a.m. on WNYW/5 and 3 p.m. on WWOR/9
More info sherrishowtv.com

'Tamron Hall'

The talk show starring the former NBC "Today" co-anchor and MSNBC "NewsNation with Tamron Hall" host has been renewed for a seventh season beginning this fall. The syndicated series mixes live and prerecorded episodes.

It generally shoots two to three days a week, two shows each, in usually two blocks of time each day: 10 and 11:30 a.m. or 2 and 3 p.m. Audience members must be at least 16 years old.

Where 7 Hudson Square
Airs Weekdays at 2 p.m. on WABC/7
More info 1iota.com

'The View'

Now in its 28th season, with a current lineup of Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Sara Haines, Alyssa Farah Griffin and Ana Navarro, the ABC panel discussion show covers political, relationship and parenting issues, among others, plus news of the day. A weekend edition with all but Goldberg streams on ABC News Live.

"The View" shoots generally Mondays to Thursdays at 9:30 or sometimes 10:30 a.m., while "The Weekend View" shoots Thursdays at 12:30 p.m. Audience members must be at least 16 years old.

Where 7 Hudson Square
Airs Weekdays at 11 a.m. on ABC
More info 1iota.com

LATE-NIGHT SHOWS

'The Daily Show'

The long-running topical-news comedy features revolving hosts including the venerable Jon Stewart plus Desi Lydic, Jordan Klepper, Michael Kosta and others. In addition to the usual celebrities and politicians, the show frequently includes scientists, academics and authors.

The show shoots Mondays to Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. Audience members must be at least 18 years old.

Where The Daily Show Studio, 733 11th Ave.
Airs Mondays to Thursdays at 11 p.m. on Comedy Central with an occasional one- to three-week hiatus.
More info 1iota.com

'Gutfeld!'

Libertarian humorist and author Greg Gutfeld and his panelists poke fun at topical news items

The show shoots Monday to Thursday at 6:15 p.m. and Friday at 2:15 p.m. Audience members must be at least 18 years old.

Where News Corp Building, 1211 6th Ave.
Airs Mondays to Fridays at 10 p.m. on Fox News Channel
More info gutfeld.fox-newschannel.com

'Late Night with Seth Meyers'

Comedian and former "Saturday Night Live" star Meyers hosts this celebrity-guest talk show.

It shoots Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 2 p.m., plus Mondays at 4:30 p.m. Audience members must be at least 16 years old.

Where NBC Studio 8G , 30 Rockefeller Plaza
Airs Weeknights at 12:35 a.m. on NBC
More info 1iota.com

'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert'

Celebrity-guest talk show with satirical political bent, this CBS series stars the former namesake headliner of Comedy Central’s conservative-spoof talk show "The Colbert Report" (2005-14),

It shoots Mondays to Thursdays at 4:15 p.m. Registered ticket holders must be at least 18 years old, but can be accompanied by guests 16+.

Where Ed Sullivan Theater, 1697 Broadway
Airs Weeknights at 11:35 p.m. on CBS
More info 1iota.com

'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon'

Actress Viola Davis is interviewed by host Jimmy Fallon as... — Actress Viola Davis is interviewed by host Jimmy Fallon as she visits "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" at Rockefeller Center. Credit: Getty Images for NBC/Mike Coppola

In the pioneering late-night talk show’s 70th year (71st if you count the locally seen forerunner), comedian and former "Saturday Night Live" star Fallon follows in the footsteps of Steve Allen (1954-1957), Jack Paar (1957-1962), Johnny Carson (1962-1992, with a move to Burbank, California, in ’72), Jay Leno (1992-2009), Conan O’Brien (2009-2010) and Jay Leno again (2010-2014). Fallon returned "Tonight" to its New York City roots.

It shoots Mondays to Thursdays at 3:45 p.m. Audience members must be at least 16 years old.

Where NBC Studio 6B, 30 Rockefeller Plaza
Airs Weeknights at 11:35 p.m. on NBC.
More info 1iota.com

'Saturday Night Live'

"SNL" uses a lottery system to give away tickets. You’re out of luck for the current season, but the 2025-26 lottery runs from midnight Aug. 1 through 11:59 p.m. Aug. 31. To enter, email SNLTickets@NBCUni.com. One email per person, and submissions entered before or after the lottery window will not be considered. Per the website: "Please include your first and last name and tell us why YOU would like to be a part of our studio audience! If you are selected, you will receive a set number of tickets for a random show date and time."

Tickets will be for either the 8 p.m. dress rehearsal or the 11:30 p.m. live show on any given Saturday on which "SNL" will air. Audience members must be at least 16 years old.