There are actually quite a few TV show tapings you can go for free, mostly in New York City, but few in Chicago & Culver City.
Culver City:
The Bonnie Hunt Show
Chicago:

New York City:
===The Daily Show with Jon Stewart===
To request tickets, send an email to requesttickets@thedailyshow.com a week before the date of the taping you’d like to attend. To get stand-by tickets, arrive at the studio well before 5 p.m.
===DaySide with Linda Vester===
For tickets, fill out the form at foxnews.com or call 877-FOX-TKTS.
Tticket holders must arrive by 11:30 a.m., 1211 Sixth Ave., near 48th St.
===Emeril Live===
Visit foodnetwork.com and sign up for the online newsletter to get updates on when to sign up for the ticket lottery.
===Good Morning America===
To reserve tickets, fill out the form at abcnews.com and be sure to include an interesting fact about yourself or other family member. If you miss out on requesting tickets for the show, there’s always the street outside where fans can stand. Tapings held Mon-Fri, 7 a.m.-9 a.m. on 44th St. and Broadway, 212-580-5176.
===Hope & Faith===
For tickets, go to tvtickets.com or call 818-753-3470.
===Last Call with Carson Daly===
Reservations for the show can be made at 1iota.com or by calling 888-4LC-TIXX Mon-Fri, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Pick up stand-by tickets the day of the taping at 11 a.m. at the NBC Experience Store.
===Late Night with Conan O’Brien===
To see Triumph the Insult Comic Dog and other special guests, call 212-664-3056. Stand-by tickets are available at 9 a.m. the day of taping under the "NBC Studios" marquee on 30 Rockefeller Plaza, but do not guarantee access.
===The Late Show with David Letterman===
To secure tickets, submit an online form at cbs.com or go to the studio Mon-Fri, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Sat-Sun, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Stand-by tickets, which do not guarantee entry, are available by calling 212-247-6497 at 11 a.m. the day of taping.
===Live with Regis and Kelly===
It's been known to have up to a yearlong waiting list for tickets, so write at least four weeks in advance to:
"Live with Regis and Kelly" Tickets
Ansonia Station
P.O. Box 230-777
New York, NY 10023-0777
For stand-by admission, head over to the studio as early as 7 a.m.
===The Maury Show===
Be there to watch the drama unfold by emailing tickets@themauryshow.com, calling 212-244-7545, or writing to:
The Maury Show
TICKETS
15 Penn Plaza/Grand Ballroom
New York, NY 10001
===The Montel Williams Show===
To get tickets, fill out an online form at montelshow.com or call 212-989-8101 between 9am and 5pm no earlier than eight weeks prior to the taping.
===The Today Show===
There's no studio audience, but since the show is shot entirely at street level, enterprising fans can always wait outside the studio and watch. Tapings held Mon-Fri, 7 a.m.-10 a.m. at NBC Studio 1A, Rockefeller Plaza, 48th St. between Fifth and Sixth Aves., 212-664-3056.
===Total Request Live===
For reservations, email TRLcasting@mtvstaff.com or call 212-398-8549.
===The View===
To obtain tickets, residents of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania may submit requests by going here:, residents of other states and Canada submit here, or send a postcard with your name, address, and daytime phone number to:
Tickets
The View
320 W. 66th St.
New York, NY 10023
Stand-by tickets are available the day of taping between 8:30am and 10am by the audience entrance to the studio. Note: you must be 16 or older to attend tapings.
===Who Wants to be a Millionaire===
For tickets, fill out the online form at millionairetv.com.
===Saturday Night Live===
To be entered into the ticket lottery for the 2005-06 season, email snltickets@nbc.com during August, and if you win, you will be assigned a date. If you miss the deadline or don’t want to deal with the lottery, you can get standby tickets either for the live show or the dress rehearsal by arriving by 7 am the morning of the performance. Note: you must be 16 or older to attend.