Road trip

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Free entertainment in New York City? What a world! A variety of TV shows tape in the Big Apple and welcome audience members. Friends and I signed up for free tickets for “The Late Show,” and we were treated to nearly two hours worth of fun: warm-up comedian Paul Mecurio; songs by Jon Batiste and Stay Human; the taping of the show that actually aired that night, with guests Ricky Gervais, Matt Czuchry and Bon Jovi, plus the taping, for future episodes, of a J.K. Simmons interview and a second Bon Jovi song. You can register for tickets at 1iota.com, where you’ll see the myriad rules and restrictions. You should hear back within two weeks of the air date to see if you've made the waitlist. You still have to get there early to ensure you get in, because the show overbooks so that the venue is filled. (The show tapes around 5 p.m.) We waited in line for a couple of hours — but it was absolutely worth it.