Craig Ferguson found himself in hot water last month after he taped an episode of The Late Late Show without an audience. The stunt was supposedly an homage to Tom Snyder, who always taped his show sans audience, but Radar Online thinks it has more to do with the fact that Craig pays people to fill seats in his studio. According to an insider, “They have 100 seats, of which 10 are reserved for house guests, and 30-40 members are through requests for tickets. The rest of the seats, about 50-60, are each paid for by the show. At around $20 per person, that’s almost $1,000 per hour-long taping, which is one expensive laugh machine.”
Though it sounds shocking that Craig would pay his audience, it's actually a common practice. Other talk shows, like Chelsey Lately, and game shows, like The Newly Wed Show, have been known to pay audience members in order to fill seats. If you want to get paid for sitting in an audience and occasionally clapping, there are always listings on Craigslist under "Talent" in Los Angeles, and most pay a flat rate of $50.
More ways to clap for money, after the jump.]]>
