Los Angeles Studio Tours
 

Anyone have any recommendations about studio tours? We're interested in seeing how it works, what the backstage stuff is like, but not necessarily interested in star spotting or gossip. I think I saw positive reviews for NBC and Paramount, but not sure. Thanks!

Warner Brothers is known as the "behind the scenes" tour, basically they drive you around in a golf cart for two hours watching the hustle/bustle...seeing carpenters work building sets, orchestras adding music to a scene etc. It's whatever happens to be going on that day and is hit-or-miss, for instance if you go on a Saturday you will see very little "action".

Universal is the theme-park tour, a short ride around old sets (such as the Pyscho house, recreated) and then hours of fun at stunt shows, on thrill rides, etc. They used to have the Lucy museum but that unfortunately has closed.

NBC is mostly soap-opera based, showing the costume rooms etc, you might see the Wheel of Fortune set or the tonight show auditorium but not much action. It's a short one hour tour and pretty inexpensive compared to the others.

Paramount and Sony have tours that I don't know much about, they are the new tour-kids on the block and modeled after the WB tour I believe.

My daughter and I both enjoyed the Warner Bros. studio tour. It covered a lot of the backstage information you're seeking. I can't make a comparison to NBC or Paramount though.

Another vote for the Warner Bros tour. They are comprehensive and you go in small groups in a large golf cart. They make frequent stops througout the property and take you "behind the scenes" to certain sets both past and present. It was a lot of fun and they have a museum you can tour too.

Thanks, all, for the advice. I'll let you know what happens.

We also recently took the Warner Bros tour and enjoyed it.