Bill Maher Live

My friend and I got event-​e-​something tix and were excited to check it out. Then at the last minute I read the other review and almost didn’t go so felt I had to chime in. THIS IS NOT THE SHOW IT IS A REHEARSAL. That means you don’t see the initial interview or the panel. What you do get is double the other stuff. He does a monologue with 24 jokes that will be whittled down to 12 for the next day’s live show. Then he will go into new rules, doing 10, 5 of which will be cut for the live show. Then he’ll do a five page editorial that will be cut in half for the live show. Basically you get to see twice the comedy but none of the guests. As far as studio audiences for live shows go, the wait is considerably less than most. Line up around 2. Doors open around 2:30ish. You’re in your seat in the studio by 3. At about 5 after the head writer comes out, gives a spiel for a few minutes about what you’re about to see and so on and so forth, then Bill comes out and does his thing. There’re no breaks between bits and all told it’s about a half hour plus of material (from Maher) that will be cut down to 15 minutes overnight. Much like any of these shows, the live charisma beats the TV. We were out before 4pm, which is great because if you know the area that gives you JUST enough time to get the f-​word out before Hollywood becomes a parking lot for a few hours. If you’ve got the whole day off, I recommend parking around noon or 1pm and having a beer or two at 326 in the Farmer’s Market (the very friendly bartender lady told me they’re closing for a month or so to become a full-​on local small batch tap house). Compared to any other live TV-​style taping you’ll go to in this town, you’re in and out quickly without much hassle and it’s a genuinely funny show (assuming you know what you’re getting into).*
*though you will have to surrender your cell phone and leave the gun in the car :(

It was fun to see Bill do his schtick, but the experience was completely misleading.
The wait is too long. they say get there and line up before 2, you don’t get ‘let in’ until after 2:30 and then we wait and line up again inside. by 3:15 we finally are in the studio and get to see Bill.
however, this was just a rehearsal. him and the writers are trying out material. while indeed, Bill is ‘live’ and he’s there, it’s not the bill maher live show. i think everyone in the audience was stunned when they came out and said ‘thanks, it’s over’. people were expecting the actual show.
not worth the line up, waiting or even going in to see it. just watch the show.