Photo: Contributed - Mark Stone

The CAA building in Century City

Last week I wrote about a few places you could go if you wanted to do some stargazing in Los Angeles. I promised I’d follow it up with another column that spills the beans on what may be THE best place to catch a close glimpse of your favourite celeb, so this is it.

And you know what the best part is? It won’t cost you a cent! You don’t even have to dress up.

But before I reveal the spot, I’d like to talk about another awesome method (also absolutely free) of putting yourself in the same room as some of Hollywood’s biggest celebs. Universal Studios (or any of the other studio tours for that matter) is cool, but it doesn’t really give you a full appreciation for how a TV show is put together. For this experience, why not take in a taping of one of your favourite sitcoms or talk shows? Tickets are always free, and there are two websites that handle most of the shows.

1iota.com handles most of the talk shows (and some others like The Voice), while tvtickets.com carries most of the scripted shows.

A very helpful quick link for tvtickets can be found here, which lists all the current shows filming over the next few weeks and their corresponding ticket statuses.

Check often as new shows may open up; popular shows like Big Bang Theory and 2 ½ Men “sell” out very quickly. Yes, if you’re in LA while they’re filming, you can be in the audience. It’s an amazing experience.

On our most recent trip to LA, my wife and I took in a taping of Jimmy Kimmel Live. Even if you’re not a fan of Kimmel, it’s a great Hollywood outing that I highly recommend. It was our first big talk show taping after seeing a few other TV tapings, the best of which was Whose Line Is It Anyway – back when it was ultra popular.

Two things to remember about attending a TV taping: one, get there early and prepare for a long stay in the studio... even talk show tapings, which take less than an hour to actually tape, can keep you in the studio for two hours; second, dress warmly if you can. Studios are notoriously cold!

Now, back to the best spot to catch a celeb. Pretty much anywhere near the CAA (Creative Arts Agency) building in Century City will do you just fine.  The building resembles the letter ‘H’, and it’s located at 2000 Avenue of the Stars. If you hang around long enough, who knows what celeb will be there to meet with their agent?

Many films have shot Hollywood insider footage in the lobby, and photography by outsiders is prohibited. That didn’t stop me from getting a quick few seconds of the lobby, right before I was escorted out by building security. Thankfully I wasn’t harmed.

The best tip I can give you in terms of where to hang around in the area is to check out the collection of small cafes right behind the CAA building. There are many places to grab a table and a coffee or snack; you can linger for a while and you never know whom you’ll spot.

Also, don’t forget to do some shopping at the outdoor Westfield Century City mall across the street, where you’ll get free parking as well!