NBC Tower

I visited the NBC 5 Tower yesterday to attend a taping of the Steve Harvey Show. The reviews from Unilocal were spot on! I had tickets to attend Show A and was informed to arrive at 10:30 am. I took a LYFT to the studio from Midway Airport. The ride took around 25 minutes. Thank god there was no traffic when I left the airport at around 9:10 am. I was a little early getting to the show, so I decided to go to Whole Foods and Walgreens, both are nearby, to kill time. I would recommend grabbing something to eat, i. e light snacks or food from either place, as we did not get out of the taping until around 2:50 pm.
When I went into the studio there was already a line. The lobby is a nice size and there is a special line for audience members. Pictures of some current NBC daytime shows line the walls, for my selfie kings and queens. Security was pretty nice and made sure to explain what was going on as far as security procedures and when we would be allowed to go upstairs. There were no public restrooms in the lobby as other reviewers mentioned, so I would advise to try and go to the bathroom before you actually go inside the building. We waited downstairs for around 30 minutes or so before someone from the show came to check our names/​reservations. We then went in groups to take an elevator upstairs. Once upstairs we were put into a holding area, not sure if this room has vending machines as another Unilocaler mentioned. However, there were restrooms upstairs, which we were allowed to use. The lines were very long. Before I knew it we were then asked to line up to enter into the studio. First those that needed special assistance and then they called off names. Some people seemed really anxious to get in line, but it really doesn’t matter because you sit where they tell you to sit. Also even if you’re one of the first people in line this doesn’t guarantee you a seat (s) up front. Boom!
Overall the taping of the Steve Harvey show exceeded my expectations. I was very surprised with the special guest Steve had on! A true treat! The staff members were very nice and friendly. If it wasn’t so cold I would have walked around the area, great location, but the weather was just too disrespectful. I can’t wait to come back again for another taping in the near future. I’ll make sure it’s in the spring or early summer!

The whole years review on channel 5 at about 4:45 PM today Christmas day there was not one positive thing not one positive thing over the whole year is a true Nbc channel news???

I came here for a taping of the Steve Harvey Show and had a good experience. I’ve been to several studios before, in NY and LA, and this one was definitely one of the better ones. Perhaps it’s due to the weather, but in LA they always make audiences wait outside which is super annoying to me. Here you walk into the building and wait in the very nice lobby. I felt the staff here treated audiences much better than at other shows I’ve gone to, and the audience members themselves seemed to be a step up from the folks who go to some of the shows I’ve seen in LA. The only downside is that, because you have to take an elevator up to the studio where the taping is, and the audience size is so large, there is a slight wait as the elevator takes groups one at a time up and down to and from the studio. Someone joked that they need a larger elevator. Nice building, and I love the location right near Mag Mile.

The NBC building is located by the hotel we were staying at. Stepped inside the building and then stepped right out again. The guard gave me a look that said «get out». Since, I was not there to watch any taping of any show, I just left.
Still, I enjoyed looking at the colorful peacock logo every time we looked in that direction.

Went for the taping of The Steve Harvey show the security line was super cramped and the staff was slightly annoyed. It’s not like we are there everyday and know what to do but some of them tried to keep it fun. The show itself was great. Steve is hilarious. Our show was a giveaway show. The only thing I found a little fishy was that one of the woman in line knew a woman who worked there. She took her out of line early on and seated them before the rest of us. Well guess who won a trip? The lady of the friend who was seating people. Could be a coincidence but seemed strange and upsetting. All in all it was a good experience.

Los hovenes acqi puede estar confidente de los servicios de esta estacione channel 5. Le «network» esta mi favorite a causa de Chicago Fire, sobre que Mayor Rahm Emanuel ha se presentado con el primo presentatione. El Mayor se ponga su lingua a derecha y a isquerda. Muy espiritu sentiment para survive pain.

If you are coming to see the taping of a show, such as, The Steve Harvey Show or The Judge Mathias Show, you better make sure you have a good meal in your tummy before you arrive. Bring single dollar bills or quarters in case you want to buy something from a vending machine. Food and drinks are not allowed so don’t bother sneaking these inside your backpack or tote bag or purse.
This was a long-​ass day of waiting and waiting like a herd of cows on a farm. It was interesting to see how a show is taped, the work that goes into it and what is involved. You may stand for long periods of time, so my tip is to wear comfortable shoes and bring a nice pair with you. When you finally get seated you can put on your nice shoes.
Steve Harvey is a class-​act. I love his sense of humor. I also appreciate the way he treated his audience (with respect, professionalism and dignity). He is a very compassionate individual, which surprised me. He may wear $ 15,000 designer suits and $ 3,000 alligator shoes, but he is very down-​to-​earth in that he had the professional courtesy to thank everyone for coming to his show. At that point the audience responded with a wonderful round of applause (without being prompted to «clap»). We got to see Patti LaBelle in early September. She was demonstrating how to make her healthy salmon made with ketchup, beer, brown sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder and mustard. The studio smelled fab-​u-​licious! Ms. LaBelle also looked fantastic. She was glowing and very beautiful.
I also went to a taping of The Oprah Show over one decade ago. When I used to watch the Oprah Show, a long, long, long time ago, I always thought that Oprah was a genuinely down-​to-​earth person that everyone can relate to, but I quickly found out that Oprah is a snob who was a cold ice queen to her audience.
I found the experience to be A-​OK, and now I understand why tickets are free. The organization of it all was chaos, because communication to the people attending the show was minimal. This is the same building where The Jerry Springer Show used to be filmed. Of course, the Jerry Springer Show moved to Stamford, CT in 2009, and it was not renowned for being a classy show with a big budget. The show thrived on a parade of often trashy guests, like trailer trash guests, whose primary interests tended to be fighting and rolling around on the floor stage or once in a while a paternity test («you are not the father») and cheaters or prostitutes or a crazy love triangle situation. Jerry, Jerry, Jerry, Jerry, Jerry, Jerry (with fists pumped up and down in mid air)!

Gotta love these guys! Although I once was running to catch an elevator that Dick Johnson happened to be in and he laughed when it closed in my face… so now he is my nemesis. Just kidding Dick. or am I???

I recently attended a taping of The Steve Harvey Show. When I got to the Tower, it was my very first time ever being in a television studio. Everybody was nice. I saw Art Norman tweeting in the hallway. I saw another guy who helps Art with all the new technology on the show. He was talking to people and being friendly. My entire experience was great but besides Steve making it great, there was Steve Harvey. s security team. One guy in particular checked everyone in and he was absolutely the funniest security office and the tallest that I have ever seen. He made folks laugh that were standing in line waiting for the great Steve Harvey. Later on at the main level of the studio, Steve had us laughing hysterically because he is as funny in person as he is on TV. I only had one bad experience… there was this short little black man who reminded me of Otis the security guard on Martin and he made me get up from sitting by the flower pot. Several security people saw me sitting there waiting and never said a thing, but this short sawed off little man Tate black security guard just had to show how powerful he was and how much authority he had.
Other than that, great studio, most professional and great Steve Harvey taping.

So we went here for a Steve Harvey taping. All I can say is that it’s no Oprah Winfrey taping! The waiting room is crap. Floors are dirty, tables broken and dirty, vending machines filled with crap. It was just a bad experience. Especially since we got there at 3:30 for a 4pm taping and then had to wait in that crappy room for 2.5 hours!!! They didn’t start seating us until 6:30pm! They were running late and didn’t think it proper to tell us anything. Then we got in there and they had their ‘comedian’ guy warmed us up for another hour and a half. It got to the point where it was not fun or funny any more. Then Steve came out and blah blah blah.
The show was totally disrespectful of our time and patience. They even said something like, «I know it’s been a while but you didn’t pay anything to be here.» Yeah it was the worse use of my free time.

I’ve been to the NBC tower a few times for taping of several different shows and I will say in my experience with the Steve Harvey show it was quite an experience. You definitely need to be very energetic for the taping of this show. Be prepared to be there an entire day! Unless you wear a diaper you WILL NOT be allowed a bathroom break so please go prior to entering the studio.
Had a great time at the show! Can’t wait to be a part of it again.

Channel Five runs NBC national sports at times. Really bad. The national hockey producer obviously has no knowledge of Chicago and it really shows. He/​she is obviously used to the insipid third string singers of the national anthem that stadiums elsewhere think draw crowds. So he/​she pans the players and darks out the stadium and shows the players. The national anthem here and the big voice singing it is the best part of the show along with the crowd’s participation. Send the national guy home and use the locals.
Same with the national coverage of golf. ESPN and the golf channel are much better. I just watched the US Open coverage but then turned it off. The national «announcer» is whispering as if he is right there and the golfers can hear him. Problem is the listeners cannot. (Yes, I could turn up his whisper but then the crowd noise which is at normal volume is overwhelming.)
This station needs a new network affiliation.

I went to NBC Towers to attend The Steve Harvey Morning Show, which was tons and tons of fun, because Steve Harvey is freakin hilarious and wise.
Security is serious in this building. If you go there to watch a show, I recommend working out your trip so that you can leave immediately (cab, CTA, parking garage, whatever). Basically, if you plan on waiting in the lobby for a ride, security will definitely be on your case. The annoying part is that you can’t use your phone during the show taping (which is expected), but that also means that you cannot contact the person picking you up until after the taping is over. Had I known this, I would have made different plans or told the person picking me up to meet me somewhere else. I completely understand that they need to secure the building, and they do not want to encourage loitering, but it just felt like they were ready to kick us out within minutes of the taping ending.
Other than that, not a bad experience.

I’ve been to the NBC Tower twice – once for the Jerry Springer show and most recently for the Steve Harvey show.
The tower is not open to the public. You need to be on the reservation list to enter the building so make sure to bring any confirmation emails stating your reason to be there. The line for security is long so make sure to get there early. We were told to arrive at 4pm. We promptly arrived at 4pm but waited in line to get through the security check for almost 45 minutes.
After security, we were escorted to the audience holding area. Steve Harvey’s holding area was really small and there were not enough seats for everyone. I had to stand the entire time I was there. The area had snacks for purchase and even meals (burgers, hot dogs) for purchase. I’m not sure where or how to order the meals though because I never saw a menu. We waited 20 – 30 minutes in the holding area.
We were finally led to be seated in the stage area around 5:00pm-5:15pm. The show lasted almost 3 hours so we were not released until around 7pm. There are NO bathroom breaks during taping so make sure to go beforehand. There is also NO food or beverages during the taping.
We were told that we were not here to watch the show but to be part of the show. They really mean it when they say that. I missed parts of what was said because I could barely hear what was going on. There are no microphones for the audience to hear better. Being there for three hours actually took a lot of work. There was a lot of standing and clapping and cheering and intermittent periods of dancing. After 3 hours of this experience, we were exhausted. But I’m grateful that we were able to snag some tickets. The audience coordinator was fun and energetic. I can’t imagine how he does it everyday!
I’ve been to a taping of Oprah (when she was till on TV), and she ignored her audience. Not a hello or a thank you. Steve Harvey was much nicer than Oprah. He talked to us for a little bit after the taping was over and thanked us for being there and for supporting him and his show. We have a lot more respect for Steve Harvey and his team after watching this show taping.

Upon entering the facility with 120 twinkies for news reporter Marion Brooks I was approached by security. Friendly and in shock as he glanced over the yellow sponge cakes. I was then directed down a long hallway where a 2^nd security attendant greeted me. Flatscreen televisions everywhere with every NBC broadcasted show.
Seriously comfy couches had me a coma where I was about to doze off.
About 5 mins later my name was called by the «The Talk» show manager with instructions to follow her to the live taping area. Keep in mind I am carrying 120 twinkies and just about everyone stopped with all eyes on me as if Julia Roberts from Pretty Woman walked in.
Of course I was an instant celebrity amongst the crew and even got reporter Rob Elgas to pose for some funny pics holding twinkies.
Super duper experience, treated like royalty. NBC you guys really made my day.
Might I add Marion Brooks is even hotter in person.

I planned to come shop before I went to the studio next door, but when I entered and asked if they had a trash can the clerk and the security guy yelled at me. They said «NO! There’s a sign that says no trash or restrooms!!!» I didn’t see the sign on the door, but wow. That was totally unnecessary. Guess they didn’t need my business after all.

I’ve been to the NBC Tower three times now. Two times to attend the taping of the Judge Mathis show and once now for The Steve Harvey Show. There’s nothing special about being at the tower except for attending a show taping. I would just say be prepared to wait and wait… then wait some more. Also be prepared to stand for some time too. It isn’t much of a problem for me but it gets to the older people and then they scramble in the lobby for any available place to sit.
When you do finally get to the waiting room… you wait some more. This last visit there was a cashier and convenient snacks for purchase but I’m usually good without.
For a Mathis taping you get to sit through about four cases or so and the more your crowd reacts the more lively Mathis will be. One cool part is that the Court Officer Doyle is actually a pretty funny comic. One time he was raggin’ on Judge Judy about her being a bitch but what else is new. Glad they feel the same but solid court show as well.
For me the Harvey Show was a surprise. On this green Earth I couldn’t tell you what makes Steve Harvey qualified to hand out love/​relationship advice but whatever the qualifications check out the show. The crowd control is lively with so much damn dancing. Pretty cool though.
If anyone is going for a taping then have fun and if it’s for the Harvey Show you definitely will. Very live.

The girls are cute. The commercials about investigative reporting are hilarious since none of them due any real investigative work. Dane Placko is a real investigative reporteron Fox.

I remember seeing strikes and people carrying signs in front of the building.

I LOVE the morning news team.
I guess I should start at the beginning. I love NBC 5 news for all news — it’s a much better station than CBS or ABC. I also enjoy their national coverage more than any of the other stations (can you say MSNBC? Keith Olbermann? Rachel Maddow?). But the NBC 5 Morning News Team — they’re my absolute favorite. Rob, Zoraida, Andy, Matt — you make my morning nice and calm. I wake up everyday at 5:15, so I’m always ready for some news, traffic and weather. They give comprehensive reports about all the day’s news, traffic and intense weather reports. They even give national updates about politics and economics. I love the rapport that the all of the members of the team seem to have with each other — they have a great banter that makes the news watchable. I also love Wayne’s Weekends (on Thursdays) because he always has fun entertaining ideas.
Seriously, my favorite news period. Suggestion: make your way out to the NBC 5 Plaza on Michigan Ave. It’s fun because sometimes you can actually talk to one of the anchors and you can call a friend and tell them to look for you on the news (you can see people out on the plaza in the background of the news anchors). It’s always a fun time. Thanks, NBC 5. You’re my favorite news.

I used to love the old morning team, but the new team is awful. Kyla is cringe worthy and Daniella is not much better. Andy is great, but was not set up with a great team!